The Historic Towns in the North Self-Guided

Hybrid Bike | Self-Guided | Historic
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This is the easiest Hybrid Bike tour that we offer. This tour takes place in the North of Portugal, a very hilly region with very green environment; 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 1, Easy (more precisely, level 1.4 between 1~5). It is recommended for beginners and occasional riders.

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 to 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.

This is the perfect bicycle tour for anyone that wants to have a very relaxed vacation, but wants to be active doing some exercise. You don’t have to be a very experienced and fit cyclist to enjoy this tour.

From
Euro 1940
Self-Guided
Tour

7
Days 

Level 1 (1.3)
Easy

Distance
132km/82mi
26km/16mi day
Hotels
Signature, Monument and Historic

Trails
42% asphalt+58% dirt-roads+bike lanes
Start | End
Ponte da Barca | Monção
Dates

Start-End

Availability

Booking

Price

Per Person

April, 2019

Available

Euro 1970

May, 2019

Available

Euro 1990

June, 2019

Available

Euro 2000

July, 2019

Available

Euro 2000

August, 2019

Available

Euro 2040

September, 2019

Available

Euro 2000

October, 2019

Available

Euro 1940

RESERVE THE TRIP OF A LIFETIME

Ready to book? Select tour date.

(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:
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Adults:

Price includes:
7-day Hybrid Bike Tour with a GPS device | Superior quality bicycle rental | Transfers from and to Porto or Lisbon Airport | Accommodations (6 nights): one 16th century Convent, one 18th century Manor House, one 17th century Fortress, one four-star Design Hotel, one four-star panoramic hotel and one four-star modern hotel | Double bedroom occupancy | 6 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 150 | Longer tour: If you wish a longer tour you can do “The Beautiful North of Portugal“, and enjoy a gorgeous and unique hybrid bike tour in Portugal along the beautiful Minho region of Portugal, in a program of 11 days / 10 nights / 8 days cycling / 1 day rest (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 

the historic towns in the north

Day

1

Arrival   

Welcome at Porto airport. 1-hour drive to Ponte da Barca (or 4-hour drive from Lisbon airport), briefing about the tour. Lodging in a Hotel located in a green environment overlooking to a beautiful landscape.

Day

2

Cycling to a beautiful Medieval Town

17km (11mi), level 1 (1.0), total climbing 190m (620ft).
After breakfast you leave Ponte da Barca and ride towards a medieval town, classified as the oldest small town in the North of Portugal, and one of the most well preserved towns with its amazing bridge which was the only safe way to cross Lima river until the end of Middle Ages. Lodging in a modern 4* hotel in the center of the town and near the river.

Day

3

Along the Lima river banks

27km (17mi), level 2 (1.5), total climbing 100m (330ft).
After breakfast you will ride towards another historic town 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 newly renovated 4* Hotel that is located in the historic center of the town.

Day

4

The Atlantic coast

30km (19mi), level 1 (1.3), total climbing 200m (660ft).
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 contemporary 4* hotel which reconciles modernity with the original artwork of the 18th century manor house facade.

Day

5

The fortified town at the border with Spain

30km (19mi), level 1 (1.3), total climbing 220m (720ft).
After breakfast you leave this small historic town near the water to go to a unique example in Europe of a small town composed of two sets of houses, both fortified independently, and both surrounded by another wall that is much bigger. 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

6

The refreshing “Vinho Verde” (Green Wine)

28km (17mi), level 1 (1.2), total climbing 200m (660ft).
After breakfast you will cross the border to Spain, only to say that you rode in Spain! You will come back and ride on several bicycle paths along the Minho river (that marks the border), always with Spain on the other side of the river, until you get to the capital of Vinho Verde.  Lodging in a 4* Rural Hotel, that was a 16th century Convent.

Day

7

Departure

After breakfast transfer to Porto or Lisbon airport  (1-hour and 30-min drive to Porto or 4-hour and 30-min drive to Lisbon).

Total distance 132km (82mi) | Average 26km/day (16mi/day) | 42% asphalt + 58% 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 historic towns in the north portugal bike tours hotel 1
the historic towns in the north portugal bike tours hotel 2a
the historic towns in the north portugal bike tours hotel 3
the historic towns in the north portugal bike tours hotel 4
the historic towns in the north portugal bike tours hotel 1the historic towns in the north portugal bike tours hotel 2athe historic towns in the north portugal bike tours hotel 3the historic towns in the north portugal bike tours hotel 4

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TESTIMONIALS

“This was our first cycling tour. We chose the easiest and self-guided tour so that we could pace ourselves. We had an outstanding time!! Full credit to Luis and the team at Portugal Bike. Specifically:
a) the route was well chosen — a combination of dirt, bike trails, and some road riding
b) the equipment was excellent — SCOTT hybrid bikes in good condition
c) the GPS map was accurate and easy to use after Luis explained it
d) the accommodation was very good
e) the food on the trip was outstanding (we chose the restaurants but relied on the recommendations)
f) on all days we rode between 8.30 and 2 pm that allowed us to spend some time in the wonderful towns we passed through

We really had a good time and will definitely do something similar again.”

Sanjaya Sood, 61 – United Arab Emirates

“Self-Guided tour in the North – a beauty in itself: We just loved our first tour with Portugal Bike, – magnificently planed, beautiful nature, it was easy, the routes were about 30 km a day, every day new and different sights, – we came to terms with the GPS in the end but one should bear in mind that you can’t totally lose your way on the route. I spent too much time trying to deal with the GPS. I ordered a mountain bike, but it is much easier to cycle this route on a normal bike or even on an e-bike! All the hotels were very nice with a great breakfast!”

 Védís Skarphéðinsdóttir, 58 – Reykjavík, Iceland

“Portugal Bike arranged a self-guided tour for my wife and me in the north (Minho) region. Everything about the trip was fantastic. The quality of our hybrid bikes (one regular, one electric) was top notch, the route was well thought out to avoid traffic and maximize scenery, the GPS was very accurate, detailed and easy to use, and the support at the beginning, end and middle of the day was outstanding. Jose was very clearly invested in making sure everything went well. We had pouring rain for part of the day. It is a testament to Jose and Portugal Bike that at the end of the day we could not have cared less that at one point we were soaked. Everything else about the tour was so good that the rain did not matter.”

 John Graham, 58 – Boulder CO, United States

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.

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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.

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