Deluxe Northern Portugal & Douro Valley Cycle 6D5N (Ancient Porto & Valley Vineyards), Fully Guided

TWO BIKING OPTIONS:
Level 2, Approx. 32 km (20 miles), Elevation gain: 518 m (1700 ft)
Level 3, Approx. 40 km (25 miles), Elevation gain: 762 m (2500 ft)

Sejam bem-vindos! Today you meet your tour leaders at the lobby of the The Hilton Porto Gaia, at 10.30 am. Please, come dressed in your biking clothes along with a daypack and anything else you might want for today’s adventure and your luggage will be transported to your first night’s accommodation.

After meeting in Porto, we shuttle north into the mountains of the Serra do Gerês. As you spy clusters of stone cottages nestled between green mountainsides, you may find yourself thinking you're in Ireland rather than Portugal!

We arrive at our lunch spot, where we're offered our first taste of the region's simple hearty cuisine. Then it's time for fitting your bike and give a brief talk on biking techniques and safety. When you're ready, set off on two wheels into the lush rugged terrain of Peneda-Gerês National Park, a World Biosphere Reserve and Portugal's only national park. Open mountain views, dense forest and remote villages mark the route as we make our way along a winding road through the park.

Afterward, we all ride (or shuttle!) the same beautiful final climb to Pousada de Mosteiro Amares, our elegant home. for the night. This restored 12th-century monastery has panoramic views of the greenery surrounding it, and an eye for tasteful interior decor. With your bike retired for the day, settle into your room at the hotel. Spend some time lounging by the pool, or relax with a book on the patio with views of the mountains.

Later, we reconvene for a welcome reception before a festive welcome dinner.

THREE BIKING OPTIONS:
Level 2, Approx. 32 km (20 miles), Elevation gain: 792 m (2600 ft)
Level 3, Approx. 63 km (39 miles), Elevation gain: 1158 m (3800 ft)
Level 4, Approx. 76 km (47 miles), Elevation gain: 1615 m (5300 ft)

Today we set off straight from our hotel for the long, winding descent out of the mountains of Peneda-Gerês— with plenty of climbing along the way too! As the elevation drops, we watch the landscape slowly change. Say adeus to the rocky high-mountain slopes covered with pines, and olá to the encroaching presence of cypresses, eucalyptus trees and creeping vines.

Our first stop of the morning is the Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte. Take the monumental elevator to the hilltop where this World Heritage site commands an impressive eyrie, framed by its sweeping 381-foot Baroque staircase. Each zig-zag of the stairs symbolically represents a Bible episode, a tenet of the teachings of Jesus Christ or a host of other contemplative topics which guide pilgrims in their ascent. Whether or not you have a spiritual connection to the site, you're sure to be moved by the grand vision it took to create this special place.

After descending from the sanctuary, head to lunch nearby at a charming country restaurant. Then our route continues through the increasingly lush hills towards our destination of Guimarães. Those who are interested may stop along the way at intriguing Citânia de Briteiros. This Iron Age site's reconstructed cottages and mystical standing stones offer a glimpse of the ancient Celts who inhabited Portugal millennia ago.

Feel free to jump in the shuttle here and skip the last busier stretch into Guimarães—or, of course, to retire your bike at lunch if an afternoon of road-tripping and sesta is on your agenda. Alternately, the afternoon ride to the hotel takes you on the scenic route to Guimarães, with plenty of winding climbs and descents to test your mettle and satiate your need for speed.

Check in Pousada Mosteiro de Guimarães for the next two night stay, an impressive property housed in a converted monastery and palace. Explore historic halls, ornate gardens & peaceful cloisters once home to monks. A unique hideaway.This evening, we come together for another delicious dinner.

THREE BIKING OPTIONS:
Level 3, Approx. 53 km (33 miles), Elevation gain: 944 m (3100 ft)
Level 4, Approx. 74 km (46 miles), Elevation gain: 1188 m (3900 ft)
Level 5, Approx. 85 km (53 miles), Elevation gain: 1524 m (5000 ft)

After breakfast at the hotel we set off to explore the Serra da Cabreira mountain range which flanks Guimarães. We begin at an old railroad track turned into a bike path with sweeping views of the green mountains extending all around us. Our route passes through deep leafy forests and across rushing streams on old stone bridges built by the Romans, a hallmark of this area. The Serra da Cabreira was only recently linked to the rest of Portugal by a paved road. It's still home to timeless pastoral scenes of cows being paraded to the fields, crops stored in espigueiros (stone sheds on stilts) and of course, row after row of vines heavy with wine grapes.

We enjoy lunch at a country agroturismo where the ingredients come directly from the garden to the table. Then shuttle or pedal back to the hotel to relax by the pool or perhaps indulge in a massage. (Massage requests must be made at least 24 hours in advance. Massage and spa treatments are not included in the price of the trip.) Afterward the night is yours to take to the streets of Guimarães. First we all meet for a quick shuttle into town and a walking tour of the historic center, lined by palm trees and watched over by an impressive castle. Then dinner is on your own at one of the many enticing restaurants lining the tiled alleyways.

THREE BIKING OPTIONS:
Level 2, Approx. 47 km (29 miles), Elevation gain: 792 m (2600 ft)
Level 3, Approx. 64 km (40 miles), Elevation gain: 1158 m (3800 ft)
Level 4, Approx. 80 km (50 miles), Elevation gain: 1585 m (5200 ft)

Savor a morning coffee and breakfast, then hop on your bike and get ready to swap regions again as we make for the verdant shores of the Douro River. The fragrant smells of dry grass and oak leaves waft over our route as we pedal through the countryside, connecting quaint villages whose streets are ensconced in whitewash and dusty tile.

Our morning route ends in charming Amarante, where Romanesque houses with wrought-iron balconies hang precariously over the waters of the Tâmega River. Take a break from the saddle here and stroll the town's peaceful center in search of a place that entices you to grab lunch on your own. Then ride onward through the increasingly dry landscape of brush and olive trees as the elevation continues to drop. In this sun-swept countryside, the views over wrinkled mountains seem to go on forever.

Of course, you're also welcome to shuttle straight from lunch to our destination, the gorgeous Casa da Lavand'eira. This country house-style retreat drips with luxe modern furnishings and dreamy gardens, with bowers of wisteria and grapevines hanging over the traditional central courtyard. Spend the golden hours of the afternoon lounging by the pool, relaxing in your room, or treating yourself at the spa before we gather in the evening and head to a restaurant hidden in an old stone village house for dinner.

THREE BIKING OPTIONS:
Level 2, Approx. 37 km (23 miles), Elevation gain: 762 m (2500 ft)
Level 3, Approx. 50 km (31 miles), Elevation gain: 1097 m (3600 ft)
Level 4, Approx. 66 km (41 miles), Elevation gain: 1433 m (4700 ft)

Today is all about the lifeblood of the Douro river valley: wine. Our cycling route follows heavenly winding roads through the terraced vineyards that cling to the steep hillsides of this lush region, creating a breathtaking cultivated landscape—no wonder it's recognized as a World Heritage site. The climatic influence of the river and the nearby coast keeps the valley humid and green, a stark contrast to the dry hills through which you descended yesterday afternoon to arrive here.

We stop for a picnic at a winery to taste the local elixir. The Douro is most famous for producing the fortified port wine which has taken its great city's name. However, the slopes above the river also make excellent table wines such as Tinta Roriz (better known by its Spanish name Tempranillo), Cabernet Sauvignon-like Touriga Nacional, and of course young Vinho Verde. 

Some of these varieties will accompany our lunch as we picnic among the vines, refueling for this afternoon's ride back to the hotel. Of course, you're also welcome to retire your bicycle at lunch and return to Casa da Lavand'eira for an afternoon contemplating the property's sweeping views of the Douro River.

Tonight, we reconvene at the hotel to toast to a wonderful week in Portugal's captivating north before sitting down to a farewell dinner in the hotel's stunning dining room overlooking the valley.

Level 2, Approx. 23 km (14 miles), Elevation gain: 488 m (1600 ft)

After a week of riding through some of Northern Portugal's finest landscapes, we complete our journey with one last spin along the meandering Douro. If you'd prefer a more leisurely morning, relax over a long breakfast or catch some last rays in the courtyard or pool deck of the hotel.

Freshen up after and bid farewell to your tour leaders as you board the shuttle to The Hilton Porto Gaia where this adventure ends.