The Charming Pousadas in the North Self-Guided

Hybrid Bike | Self-Guided | Historic
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This is a gorgeous Hybrid Bike Tour in Portugal which takes you to several Manor Houses, Palaces and Monasteries; these magnificent places were once inhabited by the clergy or the Queens and Kings of Portugal and now are converted into exquisite lodgings, which we call POUSADAS.

The overall difficulty level of this tour is 3, Intermediate (more precisely, level 2.7 between 1~5). It is recommended for “bikers” and “cyclists”. It is supposed that you are in good shape.

This Bicycle Tour in Portugal starts in Valença do Minho which is a historic village in Northern Portugal located near the Spanish border; the borderline is the beautiful river Minho and the village is surrounded by walls. There is a fortress with two towers and double walls, several manor houses and small palaces and several churches too. Then we will ride to Viana do Castelo, a town founded in the 13th century and whose port was one of the main ports from which the Portuguese explorers set sail, due to the Discoveries in the 16th century.

We will cycle along the river Lima to Ponte de Lima, admiring an astonishing view and luxuriant vegetation. Ponte de Lima is a beautiful small town whose name derives from the bridge (ponte) which was the only safe way to cross the Lima river.

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. We will stay in a Convent dated of the 12 century.

From
Euro 1940
Self-Guided
Tour

7
Days 

Level 3 (2.8)
Intermediate

Distance
206km/128mi
41km/26mi day
Hotels
Signature, Monument and Historic

Trails
74% asphalt+26% dirt-roads+bike lanes
Start | End
Valença | Guimarães
Dates

Start-End

Availability

Booking

Price

Per Person

04 to 17 September, 2022

Available

Euro 2330

18 to 30 September, 2022

Available

Euro 2400

01 to 15 October, 2022

Available

Euro 2360

21 Oct – 27 Oct, 2022

Confirmed

Euro 2150

Available: You can sign up any date for a self-guided bike tour, but you must wait for our confirmation.

Confirmed: This date is already confirmed and you can also sign up.

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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:
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WHAT’S INCLUDED

7 days / 6 nights / 5 days cycling

Support Level

  • Initial briefing providing all the necessary details
  • A Garmin GPS computer with all traks recorded
  • Our comfortable transfer vehicle van with air conditioning
  • All transportation from airport pick-up to drop-off
  • All baggage transportation by taxi
  • Documentation booklet about PortugalBike Tour
  • Personal Accident Insurance and Liability Insurance

Accommodations

  • One Pousada – Monument Hotel (12th century former Augustinian Monastery – Small Luxury Hotel)
  • One Pousada – Monument Hotel (12th century former Cistercian Monastery)
  • One Pousada – Historic Hotel (20th century former Palace)
  • One Pousada – Charming Hotel (located in a 13th century Fortress)
  • One Pousada – Charming Hotel (Mountain Chalet)
  • One 4* modern hotel

Meals

  • 6 Breakfasts

Gear

  • Superior quality hybrid bicycles with hydraulic disc brakes and 30 speeds, tailored to your height and specifications
  • Portugal Bike cycling jersey to keep
  • Portugal Bike water bottles to keep
  • Specialized helmets

Please note:

Prices are based on a double bedroom occupancy (hotels may be different depending on availability) | 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 300 | On Self-Guided tours we can offer you any date, depending on our availability. If the tour starts and ends in different months/fortnight the price will be adjusted accordingly, depending on how many days in each month/fortnight. The price on festivity dates will be adjusted accordingly.

DAY BY DAY 

Portugal Bike Tours - Charming Pousada in the Norththe charming pousadas in the north portugal bike tour

Day

1

Arrival   

Welcome at Porto airport. 1-hour drive to Valença, briefing about the tour. Lodging in a Pousada which is set on the highest place of the old fortified area of Valença, with a great view to the Spanish border. Lodging in Pousada de Valença, Charming Hotel, located in a 13th century Fortress.

Day

2

Cycling along the coast

62km (39mi), level 4 (3.5), total climbing 750m (2460ft).
After breakfast you leave Valença and ride towards a city that was founded in the 13th century and whose port was one of the main ports of sailing during the Portuguese Discovery Journeys in the 16th century. Lodging in a Pousada set on a hill, overlooking the city and the beautiful estuary of the river Lima. Lodging in Pousada de Viana do Castelo, Historic Hotel.

Day

3

Along the Lima river banks

38km (24mi), level 2 (2.0), total climbing 390m (1280ft).
After breakfast you ride towards the oldest small town in Portugal with its amazing bridge which was the only safe way to cross the Lima river until the end of the Middle Ages. Lodging in a 4* modern hotel. Lodging in In-Lima Hotel & SPA.

Day

4

The most typical views in Minho region

50km (31mi), level 4 (3.5), total climbing 960m (3150ft).
After breakfast you ride on the green and luxuriant Gerês Hills 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. Lodging in Pousada Mosteiro de Amares, Monument Hotel.

Day

5

Climbing the green luxuriant hills

18km (11mi), level 2 (1.9), total climbing 550m (1800ft).
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. Lodging in Pousada da Caniçada, Charming Hotel (Mountain Chalet).

Day

6

Guimarães, the birthplace of Portugal

38km (24mi), level 3 (3.2), total climbing 1090m (3580ft).
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. Visit the medieval historic center, the castle and palace where you can feel the medieval atmosphere around you. Lodging in a Pousada which is the result of the restoration of a former Augustine Monastery of the 12th century. Lodging in Pousada do Mosteiro de Guimarães, Monument Hotel, a Small Luxury Hotel.

Day

7

Departure

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

Total distance  206km (128mi) | Average 41km/day (26mi/day) | 66% asphalt + 34% 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)

the charming pousadas in the north potugal bike tours 3
the charming pousadas in the north potugal bike tours hotel 1
the charming pousadas in the north potugal bike tours hotel 4
The charming pousadas in the north of portugal
the charming pousadas in the north potugal bike tours hotel 1the charming pousadas in the north potugal bike tours hotel 2the charming pousadas in the north potugal bike tours hotel 4athe charming pousadas in the north potugal bike tours hotel 4

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TESTIMONIALS

My Family of four loved the bike tour titled “The Charming Pousadas of the North.” Portugal Bike did a superb job in all phases of our trip. From picking us up at the airport and orienting us (Luis is friendly, a wealth of information about Portugal, and helpful in every way), to providing amazing accommodations in spectacular settings, to brand new bikes with great, safe bike routes and excellent Garmin GPS guidance, to responding quickly and courteously to any requests or problems (the wonderful Cristina and Jose drove 8 hours to bring us a new bike when one had a problem), Portugal Bike is world class. This is one of the best experiences our family has ever had. You can trust the integrity of Cristina and Jose to deliver an above and beyond cycling experience in Portugal. Go for it!

John Bosetti, 59 – California, United States

Unique rides, great bikes and wonderful service!
My husband and I just completed the 7 day self-guided Pousadas in the North tour. We had a great time. The bikes we were provided were great quality and in good condition. The routes each day provided a ton of variation and we felt we got to see some very beautiful and unique areas of Portugal. The hotels (pousadas) were all very nice and we felt very lucky to be able to stay in these restored properties. Each day was challenging but doable. When I booked and saw the distances I figured the rides would be pretty easy because I typically ride much farther distances at home but I had no idea about the hills in Portugal. Plus add on cobblestone in many areas and I was more than ready to reach the destinations each afternoon! If you are considering a bike tour in Portugal, I highly, highly recommend booking it with Portugal Bike.

Cory Janssen, 39 – Edmonton, Canada

“We had a great bike tour in Northern Portugal. Portugal Bike Tours was efficient and super well organized. Our ebikes were excellent and really helped with the hills. The tour was very well laid out and following the route with the gps was easy. Luis provided great support for the trip and was fun to be with. I would highly recommend Portugal Bike Tours to anyone who wants to discover the beauty of Portugal.”

Jean Bickal, 66 – New Jersey, United States

“My husband and I just completed the 7 day self-guided Pousadas in the North tour. We had a great time. The bikes we were provided were great quality and in good condition. The routes each day provided a ton of variation and we felt we got to see some very beautiful and unique areas of Portugal. The hotels (pousadas) were all very nice and we felt very lucky to be able to stay in these restored properties. Each day was challenging but doable. When I booked and saw the distances I figured the rides would be pretty easy because I typically ride much farther distances at home but I had no idea about the hills in Portugal. Plus add on cobblestone in many areas and I was more than ready to reach the destinations each afternoon! If you are considering a bike tour in Portugal, I highly, highly recommend booking it with Portugal Bike.”

Nicole Janssen, 39 – Edmonton, Canada

“We chose Portugal Bike’s ‘Charming Pousadas in the North’ self-guided tour immediately followed by their guided ‘Marble, wine and heritage’ tour in Alentejo. Both were superbly organized with carefully chosen routes that stuck to quiet and scenic roads wherever possible. We found the supplied bike satnav easy to use and its ‘purple line’ guided us along charming tracks and backroads that we could not have found on our own. Jose, our guide for the second week was a lot more talkative and entertaining than the satnav, but the routes were equally enjoyable! It was a pleasure getting to know him and the ever efficient and elegant Cristina, over every evening’s wonderful Portuguese food and wine. This was our tenth and best cycling holiday!”

Jonathan Campbell, 62 – Southampton, United Kingdom

“My daughter and I just completed this self guided tour in June. It was everything as advertised and more. The bikes were great quality, the route was well thought out, the maps and GPS worked perfectly. The Pousadas are wonderful and you will feel that you deserve it after riding up the hills to get to them! Jose and Christina were very gracious hosts and ambassadors for their country. We can’t recommend this company highly enough, and we will be back for another trip – with more family members.”

Susan Wilkins, 60 – Vancouver BC, Canada

See detailed reviews

TOUR GEAR

On this tour you can ride with one of these bicycles
portugal bike tours hybrid bicycle

SCOTT SPORTSTER

COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE

Sporster 20 Solution emphasises comfort and convenience for touring and transportation. Equipped with a lockout fork and Syncros components, the Sportster is set up perfectly for your excursions with a more vertical and comfortable position.

SEE MORE

portugal bike tours electric bicycle Bosch

BOSCH SYSTEM 

E-BIKE

Now you don’t have any excuse for not participating on a Portugal Bike Tour! Don’t be afraid of not being able to keep up with the group. Now you can ride an e-bike without feeling too exhausted! The system works as if someone is pushing at your back! The more you pedal, the more electric assistance you have.

SEE MORE

From Our Blog

by an amazing client

The Charming Pousadas by an Amazing Client
The Charming Pousadas In The North Portrayed by An Amazing Client

One day we had a special client doing this tour; he was an artist! Every morning, before cycling, he sat somewhere painting with his watercolors. Here is the Charming Pousadas in the North portrait, day-by-day.

Read More 

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