Cycle from Minho to Porto

This cycling tour is suitable for most regular cyclists. You'll spend much of the day on the saddle and you should be experienced with this to enjoy your holiday.

To get the most out of the tour we recommend a good level of fitness, and it's a good idea to get out on your bike for a couple of consecutive days in the lead up to your tour so you can get used to riding back to back days.

The route is a mixture of quiet roads, cycle paths and long distances. While some days are largely flat, others take in rolling terrain.

E-bikes can be requested if you would like a little extra boost during your cycling day. Please note we need plenty of time to confirm an e-bike upgrade due to limited availability.

This tour is graded moderate. Within the tour individual days may vary in difficulty - some might be a bit tougher or easier than the overall rating suggests.

You'll stay in charming, hand-picked 3-star-plus and 4-star hotels throughout. During high season, you might occasionally be booked into an alternative hotel in the same 3 to 4-star range that isn't listed in your daily itinerary.

You're welcome to add extra nights, subject to availability. If you're flying in directly, we'd recommend a pre-night in Porto so your first day's schedule (which includes your transfer, welcome briefing, bike fitting and a wine tasting) isn't rushed. Monçao, the spa town where the tour begins, is also a lovely spot for an extra night, as is Porto at the end to explore the city further. Vila do Conde is a good choice for an extra night or rest day if you're after some beach time in the warmer months.

Unfortunately, this is not available to solo travelers. We can, however, offer single rooms if you are traveling with others. These are available for a supplement.

Breakfast is included each morning. Lunch and dinner aren't included, so you're free to choose from the options along the way - pick up picnic provisions in the towns and villages you pass through for lunch, and check with your accommodation or do a little research for dinner, booking ahead where you can. The region is known for world-class seafood, crisp vinho verde white wines, and of course port. Your tour includes a wine tasting in Monçao, a taste of local products in Ponte de Lima, and a port tasting at a cellar in Porto.

You can start this tour any day of the week from March 1st to October 31st. Spring and autumn are generally the best times for cycling here, with temperatures of around 12-19C/54-67F and fewer summer crowds, though March, April and October can feel chilly in the mountains. Because northern Portugal is cooler than the south, this tour is also pleasant in summer, with temperatures of 18-27C/65-81F - on the hottest days in June and July, you might enjoy a long lunch or some beach time to avoid cycling in the midday heat, though the Atlantic breeze tends to keep truly hot days rare. Rainfall is generally low throughout the season, with May to September the driest months.

Your bags will be collected from your accommodation each day and moved onto your overnight accommodation. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 20kg/44lbs per person.

An extra bag per person can be added free of charge.

It’s vital that you adhere to these limits. Heavier bags, or additional items might not be transferred, and you may be charged locally. Airlines may have different allowances, but our luggage handlers do not have the same capacity or equipment, and their health and safety is our priority.​

Navigation is straightforward using our app which has maps, tracks and daily route info. Simply download the information and tracks for offline use and follow the route on your phone. Once on the trail you do not need signal for the app to work and follow your progress.

Getting to the start
Porto Airport (OPO, Francisco Sa Carneiro Airport) is the most convenient airport for starting this tour and is served by many airlines. You can also fly into Lisbon Airport (LIS), served by many airlines from the UK, elsewhere in Europe and the US, then take an airport shuttle bus to Santa Apolonia train station and a train on to Porto (around 2.5 hours).

A transfer to and from Porto Airport (or Porto train station or your hotel) is included for your first and last accommodation. Your arrival transfer from Porto to Moncao takes around 1.5 hours by car - your specialist will request your flight details nearer your travel date to arrange this, and we recommend trying to arrive before 1pm on Day 1, or arriving the day before with an additional pre-night in Porto.

You'll need your standard cycling gear. Bike hire comes with a pannier rack and bag, a pump, lock, a basic repair kit, and handlebar phone. On booking, our Tour Info will give you a complete packing list.

Since you'll have your bike with you, shortening or skipping sections may not be easy. For the best local advice on transport options for cyclists, please consult your accommodation provider or reach out to our local bike partner, where applicable.

We highly recommend that you have travel insurance when you book with Macs Adventure. Your policy should cover medical treatment (including repatriation and emergency evacuation by air ambulance or helicopter), injury, death, third-party liability, and trip cancellation

We hire bikes suited to the terrain, including e-bikes for a bit of extra assist, in a range of sizes - just let us know your height when booking so we can get your frame right. If you would like to bring your own bike then, in the majority of cases, this is not a problem – please contact us to talk it through. We encourage all cyclists to wear a helmet, and it is law in many countries across Europe. We recommend bringing your own helmet for hygiene and safety reasons, however on most tours you can hire one.

The following bikes are available for hire:

Included: Trek Marlin 6 (or similar). Wheel size 27.5" for S, 29" for M-XL. Shimano Deore M4100, 10-speed.

Upgrade to e-bike: Trek Allant+ 7 (or similar). Wheel size 27.5". Shimano U400, 9-speed. Battery: Bosch PowerTube 625Wh. Motor: Bosch Performance CX, 250W. Weight: 25kg.

Tandems are not available on this tour. Brand and model may vary depending on availability. Minimum age for e-bike hire is 16 years. Bikes are delivered at the start of your tour.

Every bike comes with a rear pannier rack and bag, bottle cage and water bottle, helmet, adjustable phone mount, bell, bike lock, battery charger (for e-bikes), and a small group repair kit (spare inner tubes, tyre levers, pump, chain oil, chain link, disposable gloves and a multi-tool).

Many people choose to hire an e-bike for the extra assistance, though note e-bikes are heavier than standard bicycles. Gravel and road bikes are only recommended for experienced cyclists comfortable with that riding position and the fitness it requires.

If you'd like to hire an e-bike, it's worth requesting this as early as possible, as availability is limited.

This region is popular, especially from May to June and in September, so we'd recommend booking as early as you can - particularly if you'd like to hire an e-bike, as availability is limited.