Douro Valley By Bike
8 Days & 7 Nights- Cycle through rolling vineyards, olive groves and hillside villages
- Stay in charming wine estates and boutique hotels
- Indulge in traditional farm-to-table cuisine from the region
- Enjoy wine-tastings at renowned local wineries
- End your journey on a scenic boat cruise back to Porto
Tour Type:
Slower Adventures | Where walking and cycling meet easy-going exploring, our Slower Adventures are the perfect combination. Most days are filled with picturesque journeys with some free time to dive into the destination and experience the people, local food and culture as you go.
Activity:
Leisure Cycling | Leisure Cycling
This trip is suitable for:
Solo Travellers
As a guide, we would suggest that the minimum age of traveler this tour would be suitable for is: 5 Years
Ideal if you have an interest in:
- Foodie
- Wine
- Off the Beaten Track
Activity Level & Terrain
The route has been graded as Moderate overall based on the distances and elevations each day. The route should be manageable for most semi-regular cyclists or those relatively new to cycling but with a good level of fitness.
Pedal on a mixture of quiet country roads, car-free nature trails with 5 days in the saddle, with distances between 32-44km. Day 6 is the shortest ride but you can opt for a longer route if you fancy more of a challenge. Each day takes in rolling terrain, meaning the daily cumulative ascent range is between 500m-790m and descents between 500m-1000m. It's a great trip for anyone with good physical fitness and we recommend you get used to cycling on hills before this tour. However, if you feel the hillier days may be more than you'd like to tackle on holiday then why not opt for some battery-powered assistance by hiring an e-bike.
Navigation
Although turn-by-turn directions are not provided on this tour, by using our smartphone app to follow the GPS tracks provided, navigation is easy. The majority of the time you will be cycling on small roads, so it will be relatively easy to find your way.
Accommodations
On this self-guided cycling tour in Portugal you will stay in a mixture of charming 4-star wine estates (otherwise known as 'quintas') and hotels. In the Douro Valley your accommodation is very much focussed on the historical wine estates, surrounded by vineyards and boasting fantastic views of the Douro Valley. Most have outdoor swimming pools. In Porto you stay in the centre of the city, on Batalha Square and very close to the old Ribeira district.
Alternate Accommodation
During the high season, you might be booked into alternative accommodations that are not listed in the main daily description. If those listed are unavailable the alternative accommodation will be of the same or better standard than those described.
Single Rooms & Solo Cyclists
If you require single rooms within your party we would be happy to accommodate you although there is a single room supplement payable. It is also possible to travel as a solo cyclist, please get in touch with one of our specialists as our solo prices for this trip are on request only due to logistics.
Meals
Breakfast is included each morning. Dinner is also included on Day 1 (excluding beverages), two wine tastings (Day 4 and Day 6), and a lunch on the cruise on Day 7. For the lunches and dinners that aren't included, you are free to choose from local options nearby. For lunch, you will pass through towns and villages en route where you can purchase provisions for a picnic lunch, or your accommodation may prepare a picnic the night before, if this service is available. World-class wines, and of course port, are what the region is renowned for, as well as it's mouth-watering cuisine.
- 7 nights in charming wine estates and hotels
- All breakfasts, 1 dinner & 2 wine tastings
- Arrival transfer from Porto Airport to first hotel
- Luggage transfers on cycling days
- The Douro River cruise on Day 7 (with lunch included)
- A welcome briefing upon arrival
- GPX tracks and access to our smartphone app
- Transfers on Day 7 between hotels and piers (pre and post cruise)
- Travel insurance (required)
- Dinners & lunches not mentioned in the itinerary
- Drinks and snacks
- Personal equipment
- Bike hire (hybrid, e-bike or road)
- City taxes (approx. 3 EUR per person night)
- Additional nights before or after the holiday
- Bike hire (hybrid, e-bike or road)
When To Go
You can begin your trip on any day of the week year-round. Spring and autumn is the best time to visit the Douro Valley. In early March the trees of the almond groves start to blossom with delicate white flowers. While in mid to late September the grape harvest begins and the normally slow pace of life in the Douro Valley kicks up a gear.
Weather and Climate
Generally you'll find that the spring and autumn are the best times for cycling in Portugal, with temperatures from 12-19 degrees Celsius and the added bonus of less summer tourists. However, being in northern Portugal, and therefore cooler than the south, this trip is also pleasant in the summer months, although it will be hotter. Summer temperatures vary from 18-25 degrees Celsius and perhaps into the high 20s on occasion. Rainfall is generally low with a monthly average of no more than 12 mm between March and November. July is the driest month, and May to September tend to be the driest months of the year.Getting to the Start
Porto Airport (or Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport) is the most convenient airport for beginning this trip, and is served by many airlines. You can also reach Porto from Lisbon Airport.
From Lisbon Airport take an airport shuttle bus to the Santa Apolonia Train Station and then a train to Porto, which takes around two and a half hours. Lisbon is served by many airlines in the UK and from many other gateways in Europe and USA.
A private transfer from Porto Airport to your first accommodation in the Douro Valley is included in the price of the trip. The drive to São João da Pesqueira is approximately 2 hours. Your specialist will request your flight arrival details nearer the travel date to arrange your transfer.
Getting from the End
Porto Airport is approximately 11km from the city centre. From Porto, you can use the metro, bus, shuttle or taxi to reach Porto Airport terminal.If you're flying home from Lisbon Airport, take a train from Porto (approx. 2.5 hours) to Santa Apolonia Train Station in Lisbon, then an airport shuttle bus, metro or taxi from there.
Macs Adventure can also arrange private transfers to Porto or Lisbon Airport. Please contact your Destination & Adventure Specialist for details.
Luggage Transfer
Your luggage transfers between overnight locations are included in the tour. We request that you have only one piece of luggage per person and it should weigh approximately 20 kg.
Equipment
Hybrid, Road & E-Bike Hire
Hire of a hybrid, road or e-bike is not included as standard. Choose from either a Ghost Trekking touring/hybrid bike, a Ghost Yamaha E-Bike, or a road bike with a carbon frame.
Included with bike hire is a pannier rack, 1 pannier per bike, handlebar bag, a lock, toolkit, puncture repair kit, pump, spare inner tube, and use of a helmet (please note that a pannie rack and bag ar enot provided on a road bike). We recommend that you bring your own helmet for your own comfort.
For some battery-powered assistance on longer days and to get up hills we recomend hiring an e-bike. The rechargeable battery on your bike will be your reliable riding partner, getting you to the top of hills or to your final destination with more energy in the tank for an afternoon swim or simply for exploring your destination. You can request a Ghost Yamaha E-Bike Touring bike at the time of booking. E-bikes are growing rapidly in popularity so please make sure to request at the time of booking so we can secure availability for your trip and avoid disappointment.