The Beautiful North of Portugal Self-Guided

Hybrid Bike | Self-Guided | Historic

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This tour is the result of the combination of two of our tours: “The Historic Towns in the North” and “The Charming Pousadas in the North”. This tour takes place in the North of Portugal, a very hilly region with very green environment, but it is not a difficult tour: this gorgeous bicycle tour mainly runs on bike paths, bike lanes and some dirt roads along rivers and the Atlantic Ocean.

The overall difficulty level of this tour is 2, Moderate (more precisely, level 1.6 between 1~5). It is recommended for enthusiast bikers.

Minho is one of the most beautiful regions of Portugal. It is very green and there are many beautiful historic evidences. You can feel the History just looking at the historic buildings that are spread along the way, the historic main squares in each small town, in the local commerce, in the medieval structure of each town that we will cross on a bicycle!

This fantastic bicycle tour must be done with a hybrid bicycle, because we will ride on several bike paths that allow us to discover the green environment that is along the river banks, to enjoy the coolness of the paths during the summer days, to admire the landscape and to experience the History. By the way, Portugal is an independent country since the 12th century and everything started in the north.

We will cycle along the Lima river admiring an astonishing view and luxuriant vegetation. We will cross the hills in Gerês and will stay in a 12th century Monastery converted into a charming hotel. Next stop will be in a Nature hotel located in the heart of Peneda/Gerês National Park with a breathtaking view over the river and the peaceful Caniçada dam.

On our last day we will cycle to Guimarães which is traditionally known as the birthplace of the Portuguese nation. You can visit the medieval historic center, the castle and the palace nearby and feel the medieval atmosphere around you.

From

Euro 2530

Self-Guided

Tour

11

Days

Level 2 (1.6)

Moderate

Distance

226km/140mi
28km/18mi day

Hotels

Signature, Monument and Historic

Trails

51% asphalt + 49% dirt-roads+bike lanes

Start | End

Monção | Guimarães

Dates

Start-End

Availability

Booking

Price

Per Person

April, 2019

Available

Euro 2580

May, 2019

Available

Euro 2580

June, 2019

Available

Euro 2580

July, 2019

Available

Euro 2580

August, 2019

Available

Euro 2630

September, 2019

Available

Euro 2580

October, 2019

Available

Euro 2530

RESERVE THE TRIP OF A LIFETIME

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(Your booking will be confirmed when our specialist contacts you.)

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Minimum number of people: 2

Location: Porto and the North

Price per person:

Single room supplement:

Price includes:
11-day Hybrid Bike Tour with a Guide | Superior quality bicycle rental | Transfers from and to Porto or Lisbon Airport | Accommodations (10 nights): one 16th century Convent, one 17th century Fortress, one 12th century Monastery, one 12th century Convent, one typical House in the mountains, one four-star Design Hotel, one four-star panoramic hotel, one four-star modern hotel and one four-star modern hotel with a museum (2 nights), | Double bedroom occupancy | 10 Breakfasts | Luggage transport from Hotel to Hotel | Documentation about PortugalBike Tour | Personal Accident Insurance and Liability Insurance | Visit to the Chocolate Museum.

Please note:
Self-Guided version: We require a minimum of 2 people to confirm a Self-Guided departure | Groups: Discount for Groups of 4 or more people | E-Bike rental: + Euro 240 | Shorter tour: If you wish a shorter tour in this region you can do “The Historic Towns in the North”, in a hybrid bike tour of 7 days / 6 nights / 5 days cycling (minimum of 2 people) | On Self-Guided tours we can offer you any date, depending on our availability. If the tour starts and ends in different months the price will be adjusted accordingly, depending on how many days in each month. The price on festivity dates will be adjusted accordingly.

DAY BY DAY

Day

1

Arrival

Welcome at Porto airport, 2-hour drive to Monção (or 4-hour and 30 min drive from Lisbon airport), briefing about the tour. Lodging in a 4* Rural Hotel, that was a 16th century Convent.

Day

2

The fortified town at the border with Spain

27km (17mi), level 2 (1.5), total climbing 370m (1210ft).
After breakfast you will ride on several bicycle paths along the river (that marks the border), always with Spain on the other side of the river. You will cross the border to Spain, only to say that you rode in Spain! You will come back and you continue cycling until we get to the fortified small town. Lodging in a Pousada which is set on the highest place of the old fortified area of this historic town, with a great view to the Spanish border.

Day

3

Towards the mouth of the river

30km (19mi), level 1 (1.2), total climbing 240m (790ft).
After breakfast you will ride along the river along a beautiful cycle lane. Lodging in a contemporary 4* hotel which reconciles modernity with the original artwork of the 18th century manor house facade.

Day

4

The Atlantic coast

28km (18mi), level 1 (1.3), total climbing 290m (950ft).
After breakfast you will ride to another small and beautiful historic town, sometimes very close to the Atlantic Ocean where you can feel the fresh breeze that comes from the beaches; other times cycling along winding roads sided by small houses and crossing small villages. Lodging in a 4* hotel, a century restored building where chocolate was once produced and that keeps its history and memories alive.

Day

5

Free day

Free day to rest, to visit the Chocolate Museum and to visit the historic town.

Day

6

Crossing a dense forest to get to another medieval town

27km (17mi), level 1 (1.3), total climbing 330m (1080ft).
After breakfast you will cross the bridge and leave town and you continue cycling along the river within a dense forest. Lodging in a new 4* hotel overlooking Lima river and very near to the historic center.

Day

7

Along the Lima river banks

17km (11mi), level 1 (1.2), total climbing 340m (1120ft).
After breakfast you leave the hotel and you will cycle along the river banks to the next town. Lodging in a 4* Hotel with Spa a great view.

Day

8

The most typical views in Minho region

41km (25mi), level 3 (3.0), total climbing 820m (2690ft).
After breakfast you ride on the green and luxuriant hills typical of this region and here and there you can find some houses. Lodging in a Pousada that is the result of the restoration of a former Cistercian Monastery of the 12th century.

Day

9

Climbing the green luxuriant hills

18km (11mi), level 2 (1.9), total climbing 550m (1800m).
After breakfast you leave the 12th century Monastery and you ride up the green Gerês Hills. Your ride is short but very steep until you get to your next Pousada; however the dazzling views make the effort worth. Lodging in a nature Pousada with a unique location, right in the heart of Peneda/Gerês National Park.

Day

10

Guimarães, the birthplace of Portugal

37km (23mi), level 3 (2.7), total climbing 710m (2330ft).
After breakfast you ride towards Guimarães, the birthplace of Portuguese nationality. You leave the Peneda Gerês National Park and you start to ride down to this historic city. Lodging in a Pousada which is the result of the restoration of a former Augustine Monastery of the 12th century.

Day

11

Departure

After breakfast transfer to Porto or Lisbon airport (40-min drive to Porto or 3-hour and 40-min drive to Lisbon).

Portugal Bike The Beautiful North of Portugal RouteMap

Total distance 226km (140mi) | Average 28km/day (18mi/day) | 51% asphalt + 49% dirt-roads and bike lanes

SEE CLIMBING PROFILE

ACCOMMODATIONS

Accommodations for this tour include Signature Hotels (the best charming Hotel of the region, usually stylish 4-star hotels or 5-star properties), as well as Monument and Historic Hotels (gorgeous Castles, Palaces, Monasteries and Convents once inhabited by the clergy or the Queens and Kings and now converted into exquisite lodgings)