Mostly on paved cycle paths or roads. The route is mainly flat or downhill with the occasional small climb.
An airport transfer is included to pick you up from Porto airport (please ensure you arrive before 3pm). Driving from the coast into the Serra de Laboreiro mountains you will enter a tiny hamlet and your home for the night.
A pleasant journey today as you cycle across the northern regions of the Gerês National Park; one of the last natural refuges in Portugal for wolves and golden eagles. Passing through silent villages you notice the traditional espigueiros, the granite maize stores on stilts. By the time you reach Monção, the fortified town on the River Minho, you will come to understand why the Portuguese are so proud of the fact that the Spanish were never able to conquer them. Upon arrival it is time to sample some of the local wine, a perfect end to your first day of cycling.
On this stage you pedal westwards, along the River Minho to the Atlantic Ocean. Your journey takes you through extensive vineyards dedicated to the production of Vinho Verde (translates as young wine) which is a slightly carbonated, lower-alcohol wine; the perfect drink for a warm afternoon! You can pick up a bottle at the elegant Brejoeira Palace, which is a leading producer of top quality Vinho Verde. Along today's route you will cycle past landmarks of the battles between Portugal and Spain, such as the 17th Century stronghold at Valença and the Vila Nova de Cerveira fort. That evening arrive in the elegant town of Caminha, located on the estuary of the River Minho, with a history dating back to pre-Roman times.
Today you spend the morning cycling along the dramatic Atlantic Ocean coastline, through fishing villages that appear unchanged for centuries. Arriving in Viana do Castelo the peace and quiet is replaced by the buzz of this lively city, situated on the estuary of the River Lima. Viana has an impressive maritime history and the wealth created by this is demonstrated in the narrow lanes, crowded with Manueline manors and Rococo palaces. A must-see is the 19th Century Byzantine Santa Lucia Church on the hilltop overlooking the city, worth the steep climb for the breathtaking view. From here you cycle inland until you arrive in Ponte de Lima, the oldest village in Portugal. Your accommodation tonight is in a delightfully rural setting, and there is time to taste some of the wine and honey made on the estate itself.
N.B. This hotel does not provide an evening meal service but a meal can be prebooked at a local restaurant (and a taxi can be arranged).
The ride today follows the ancient Portuguese route towards Santiago de Compostela, and whether you are religious or not, is a really special experience. It is a route that those who have walked it for centuries, do so knowing they will meet challenges, experience great joy, and learn the lesson of life. The pleasant route today is through cornfields and vineyards to the pretty town of Barcelos on the River Cavado. Barcelos is the centre of the pottery industry in Portugal. There are markets held in the town on most days and a visit to one of these is highly recommended.
The ride back to the Atlantic today is a short stage, so why not take some extra time to enjoy a great lunch the Portuguese way: a leisurely, several course meal that reminds you again why the Portuguese people are so proud of their cuisine. You arrive in Vila do Conde where you can enjoy a walk around the manors and palaces within the town centre, and take a leisurely stroll along the beach before dinner.
The last stage of your holiday takes you on quiet cycle paths along the coast; along sand dunes, and passing through fishing villages and a seabird reserve. You approach Porto, and enter via the estuary of the River Douro. A UNESCO World Heritage City and best European City destination for 2013, 2014, and again for 2017, Porto is considered one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. The old centre boasts more than 1500 listed monuments, and the history of the traditional Port Wine can be explored by visited many of the Port cellars which are open to the public and can be appreciated during the included Port tasting.
Finish your trip in Porto and take a transfer back to the airport.
Portuguese people are very proud of their cuisine, and the deliciously fresh seafood is a real highlight. You will find fresh fish on most menus, usually sardines, sea bream, hake, sea bass and sole, cooked in a variety of ways. Bacalhau (cured codfish) is a national dish although it can vary depending on the region - there are up to 365 recipes to cook it! Caldo Verde (green soup) is made with potatoes, olive oil and salt, sometimes with garlic and onion, and is typical in the northern region of Portugal. For meat lovers the barrosã meat (steak) is often served grilled and roasted just to it's naturally delicious flavour. There are also several stew dishes to sample, delicacies being Tripas à Moda do Porto (tripe & white bean stew) and Rojões à Minhota (chunks of pork usually cooked with potatoes). 'Francesinha' is an iconic dish originating from Porto and involves layers of different meats (usually beef, ham, grilled pork, linguiça (smoke cured pork sausage) and sausage), between two slices of bread, covered by melted cheese and immersed in a spicy beer & tomato sauce, often topped with a fried egg and surrounded by chips. It is not for the faint hearted!
Porto has a temperate maritime climate with a strong Mediterranean influence. The climate here is long, warm summers and mild winters, with most rain falling in the winter months, but possible in all other months. Seasons are marked, with pleasant temperatures in the spring, in the summer and in the autumn. Heat waves can push up temperatures occasionally. Summers are warmer and drier in the interior and moderated by the sea, as winters are cooler inland and mild by the sea. At Porto, the average maximum temperatures in August –the hottest month - is 25 degrees Celsius, and the average maximum temperatures in January –the coolest month - is 14 degrees Celsius. May and October have an average midday temperatures of 20 Celsius, and even April and November have an average midday temperatures around 17 and 18 Celsius.
Average daily ride: 42km (26 miles). There is also the opportunity to increase the daily distance by taking the slightly harder option - you can decide this on the day.
Terrain & route: Mostly on cycle paths or roads. Whilst the majority of the cycling is on paved roads there will also be times you are cycling on cycle paths - these can be of mixed terrain and are sometimes affected by adverse weather conditions (i.e. they can get muddy). You will be warned at the introductory briefing if there are any sections of the route where you need to take extra care because of this. We would also like to point out that cobbled roads are included in our description of 'paved roads'; something you should take into consideration when booking.The route is mainly flat or downhill with the occasional small climb.
Self-guided cycling holidays are a perfect option for families as they offer the freedom for you to take your holiday at your own pace. You can stop as and when you want and need, at the cafes and restaurants that suit your family and the sites that interest you. As a guide we have suggested that 14 years is the minimum age for this trip, but as it is self-guided and you will be leading your own family we will ultimately leave this decision up to you. The daily distances are all published in the trip notes along with a description of each days cycling so you have a good idea of what to expect. On this trip, children should be expected to ride on roads with traffic. If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact one of our experts. The principle idea is that these holidays can be as flexible as you like, with logistical support but no group or leader to dictate the daily activities.
An adventure around every corner, beautiful scenery, amazing food and a real feeling of getting away from it all. Met so many people walking their pilgrimage to Santiago which was amazing and made us feel part of something bigger than just a cycle trip. Some long days in the saddle and a good variation of surfaces to mix things up. The variation in landscape was also great. One day would be zipping down mountain roads listening to cow bells, the next mile would be in vineyards, another day you could cover plenty of miles along smooth cycle paths alongside the mighty Minho river looking across at Spain, the next bumping along cobbles and tracks in fragrant eucalyptus woodland or dodging joggers along the boardwalks next to the Atlantic. Awesome trip!
* Cycling along the boardwalks trying to concentrate where you're going an not just stare at the Atlantic. * Saying Bom Dia to every pilgrim we passed. * The lovely welcome we got at our accommodation in Ponte de Lima * Adjusting to the hustle and bustle of Porto after the quiet countryside * Totally gorgeous food everywhere we went even if it was bread and cheese at lunchtime normally sitting in the shade of a stunning church. And most inspirational moment was the whole experience of staying at Solar de Serrade. Such a beautiful place - I didn't want to leave.
Yes! The bikes were top notch but I forgot to bring my own comfy saddle so was pretty sore for a few days. Make sure you do some training. There's some relentless hills to climb and if you go when it's hot you can run out of energy mid afternoon. Buy bread, cheese and drinks in the morning incase you don't find anywhere for lunch. Oh and make sure you eat plenty of Portuguese egg tarts, they're delicious!
Book the wine and dine package. We had a fabulous, intimate meal at Solar de Serrade washed down with their own Vinho Verde wine. Relaxing in the garden sipping wine after a long day in the saddle was just perfect. The meal in Porto at LSD restaurant was awesome also and thoroughly recommended. Both meals we were treated as extra special guests which made the whole experience even more special. We stayed an extra day at the end of the holiday in Porto to explore the city. The route notes were accurate and helped identify places of interest and the GPS was a bonus. We used both.
This is a leisurely trip with some lovely rides in mountains, along rivers and by the coast. There are some nice little villages and quaint towns. The food and local wines were all superb everywhere I went.
Staying at the Solar do Serrade in Moncao was amazing. The people were so nice. I sat outside drinking one of their wines with the pleasure of knowing that the grapes were grown in the next field and picked by hand. The bottling was done in the building just behind me. Finding lovely little places for a drink and a snack, both on the route and at each destination. The riverside views were amazing.
N/A, but the GPS was much easier to follow than I anticipated!
Take it easy to enjoy the views and soak up the atmosphere. For my level of fitness the routes were short enough to give me plenty of time to stop and look around some of the towns and villages but I could still arrive at the next hotel early enough to explore that town too. You could get to the next place before lunch if you wanted to, but what's the rush? I found that most of the hotels didn't do an evening meal unless it had a specific attached restaurant. These hotels were Design and Wine in Caminha and Hotel Bagoeira in Barcelos both of which I found enjoyable. But in all the towns (even tiny Castro Laboreiro) there were plenty of places to eat and from my experience all good.
You only get a short time with the local tour rep at Porto airport, so make sure everything is ok before you transfer to Castro Laboreiro, especially knowing how to use the GPS! But even if you get slightly lost its easy to find your way back to the route. Most days were easy cycling, there's just one day that has a couple of climbs of any note. Also, most of the route is away from traffic, on quiet roads and some of it on a shared path with pedestrians, but there are a couple of busy sections. I found the Portuguese drivers very considerate. Even when I was walking in town they stopped at crossings every time. If you've got time before or after the trip, take a train to Lisbon. I booked a 1st class seat in advance and got a ticket for 22 euros.
When from good roads tracks to very busy roads and poor tracks. The not so good roads /tracks out numbered the good ones ..not sure this was a exodus holiday .
A truly fantastic trip passing through the Vinho Verde wine producing region. We started off in the mountains at 950m and ended in the colourful, historic and beautiful city of Porto at the end of our cycling holiday. The trip was a great way to see the rural life of Portugal and I would highly recommend this trip.
The most inspirational moment of the trip was staying at Solar de Serrade. It was incredible to see 18 acres of family owned vineyards with a friendly proprietor who takes pride in the wine she produces. We were able to witness a family run winery right on site, under 5 minutes away from our room. From seeing the growing grapes, to storage, to labelling the bottles and packaging them by hand - it made the experience feel very real and authentic.
This was a self-guided trip and we found the GPS to be clear with directions. The route notes help to supplement the GPS with full written directions.
I'm sure this is temporary but the city of Viana Do Castelo had major roadworks running through which affects the GPS. Cycle by the waterside, cross some roads and get to the bridge to exit the town of Viana Do Castelo (Day 4).
Mountains to the sea, Potugal.
From Castro Laboreiro to Porto. 6 days of cycling with stop overs at some wonderful Portuguese villages and towns, sampling the local cuisine and wines along the way. The scenery varied from picturesque mountains to coastal plains with cycle paths and rustic roads (cobbled surfaces so take padded shorts or saddle gel for maximum comfort). The hire bikes were excellent, Specialised Rockhopper 29s and all were fairly new. The transfers and baggage taxiing from hotel to hotel were faultless. One of the best cycling holidays we have had.
Cycling into Porto along the mouth of the Douro river. The cycle paths through the mountain woods opening out onto beautiful farmlands. Cycling along kilometers of wooden broadwalks along the Atlantic coast, watching surfers and seagulls. Vino Verde.
We self guided so my husband was the leader as he had the GPS. He was fairly average.
Just do it. This has to be one of the best ways to visit the northern region of Portugal on a more intimate level. The place was so friendly and hospitable.
The only downside was the lack of maps and minimal information in the route notes, I understand that this was a new holiday and route and I would expect that these items will be considered for 2017. Apart from this, the holiday was superb and thoroughly enjoyable.
This trip was obviously intended to give a range of scenery and experience. In practice, the descent from mountains to sea was rapid and we spent most of our time on cobbled roads and tracks through villages and vineyards. The hotels were varied, comfortable and interesting. It would have been of considerable help to have known which did not provide evening meals. A simple added note in the destination hotels section of the booklet would have warned us to eat, or collect food on the way and saved us some late night cycling in search of an evening meal. The kit provided was comprehensive and good quality except for the GPS of which more later. However, although mentioned in the trip notes, there were no maps provided and no first aid kit. We had considerable problems with navigation. This caused our days to be considerably longer than we expected and left little, if any time, for sight-seeing. We had bought maps before we went but found them little use because we did not know the route. It was a mystery tour. The GPS was not of sufficiently good quality to give a clear display. We are older people and perhaps our vision is not as acute as that of a younger person, but we are used to GPS and use it frequently. At every junction, and there were many, we had to stop and select our route by trial and error. All too often, we were in error and had considerable distances to retrace. Only one GPS was provided! and this is a point I made before we set off; that we should both have had one. I enjoy the navigation as much as my husband and felt considerably frustrated with my role as 'follower' Two heads would definitely have been better than one. At the very least, the provision of a map would have eased our problems. We had no directions on our GPS, to our last hotel in Porto. Fortunately I had taken co-ordinates for the hotels from Google Earth before setting off and this, together with a street map acquired in another hotel in the town, got us to our destination.
We both enjoyed the run down the coast on the last day. On a bright , sunny, clear, warm day,the views were glorious and more importantly, there were no navigation issues.
The hotels at Monaçao and Porto de Lima do not provide evening meals although we were allowed to use the kitchen to prepare an evening meal at Casa do Barreiro, after a visit to the nearest supermarket. Bring a good pair of reading glasses.
Perhaps a simple guide to using the GPs might be useful for people not familiar with its operation. Exodus office have responded promptly to my enquiries and the travel arrangements with Authentic Trails in Portugal, went very smoothly. In the absence of any knowledge of Portuguese, I found that French was very useful for communicating with the older generation in the rural areas.
Overall this is an amazing trip with many fantastic attributes, only spoiled by a lot of unseasonal rain prior to the trip (a bit during the trip) and a number of small points that could be improved in the organisation. However, these did not really detract from the overall trip experience,Th and my partner and I would not hesitate in recommending this cycling trip to others.
My partner was in awe of the vineyards that we went through as we dropped out of the mountains, but I was inspired by the last leg from Vila do Conde to Porto, completely along the coast at the back of the beaches, sometimes along specially constructed boardwalks. Also the sections along the Caminho de Santiago de Compostela (in the opposite directions) had a 'spiritual' feel.
One word of caution, this trip was rated as 'Easy' and whilst most of it is, there are a number of off-road sections where the track is very steep and badly worn, and from our previous experience we would rate this as moderate. Bring good quality padded gloves as many roads are granite setts and a number of the tracks are constructed from stones. Also tag a couple of days on to your trip and enjoy Porto and the Douro Valley.
This is an amazing trip that could be improved further with a few minor improvements: 1) Directions to accommodation where it doesn't coincide with the day's finish 2) Mud-guards on bike 3) Panniers should be waterproof or dry bag provided.
This trip combines a great variety of terrains, villages, towns and cities with fantastic accommodation, equipment and food in one of the unexplored gems of southern Europe.
There were a few climbs and each one felt very rewarding to get over, but the best feeling was probably after the second day of cycling when we made it to the sea (for the first time on the trip) and it was beautiful.
Bring sandals and shorts as you may need to cross a river while the cycles can get pretty hot. The map was slightly out of date when we were there so be prepared to keep checking it to know where to go! It was very easy to go off track but also very easy to get back on track. Look up the general route before each cycle and then if you go off route you'll be able to carry on and meet back with it soon. Get the Wine Tasting package in Porto, it was superb!
Self-guided Cycling in Portugal - do it!
This trip was just incredible, beyond words! The scenery that we cycled through was so varied, from vineyards to mountainous regions to the wonderful sea, and even though some cycles were tougher than I thought, I thoroughly enjoyed it. The accommodations that we stayed in were lovely, especially the 17th century farmhouse - it was probably the most beautiful and characterful place I have ever stayed in before. You really get a sense of the 'real' Portugal on this trip, miles and miles (literally and figuratively) from the beach resorts of the Algarve.
The most inspirational moment of our trip was when we rescued a kid (baby goat!) that had been stranded! The first couple of days were really deserted but it was wonderful to be alone and surrounded by such beautiful scenery, feeling like you had just stumbled upon hidden gems yourself. The oldest village in Portugal, Pont de Lima, was a highlight as it is very pretty.
Do the dine and wine package in Porto! A 4/5 course meal with a different glass of vino with each course, set in a stunning restaurant on the river - peaceful, great food and a lovely end to the trip.
Fascinating region but expect a bumpy ride!
Loads of stunning scenery in a region with fascinating history, and some really interesting hotel stops. Although rated as easy, this is not a trip for people who aren't comfortable with cycling off-road. Many of the tracks are badly rutted and rocky, and you might find yourself having to do a fair bit of pushing. Even long sections of the tour that are classed as 'paved' are actually over large cobblestones - not a comfortable ride! The local Portuguese partners Vinitur don't seem well-organised. Though they provide a mobile phone for emergencies (nice touch admittedly), that's not much use when they fail to respond on either their office number or their mobile number. Plus they somehow contrived to cancel one of our hotel reservations.
Coming down from the clouds in the mountains and being able to see the landscape for the first time.
Helmets and a reasonable first aid kit are provided, so you can save some packing space. Check the contents of your repair kit carefully. Only when we needed it did we find we were without a spare inner tube (and later found that another couple were given three!) and that the pump didn't fit our existing valves (confirmed by cycle shop guy in Moncao so not just us being stupid). You're not provided with actual maps (only the Garmin GPS), which is disconcerting. Try printing some off before the trip. Two of the hotels (Moncao and Ponte de Lima) are far away from the town centre, so grab a meal on the way. (Bike lights aren't provided, which rules out riding into town.) The Garmin won't take you as far to the Ponte de Lima hotel stop, so make sure you know how to get there from the centre. In Porto, it's well worth doing the 'Porto Walkers' walking tours.
Communications between Exodus and Vinitur took a painfully long time; e.g. literally weeks when I just wanted to book an extra few days in Porto (never a problem I've had with any other similar company). I suspect the problem is mainly at the Vinitur end, but Exodus needs to be aware of its reputation and work on the relationship!