Bem vindo a Portugal!

You will be met at Porto Airport and taken to your hotel, with your bikes and luggage. if you have ordered bike hire, we will ensure that these are set up ready for you at the hotel.

Enjoy an evening in this breathtakingly beautiful city - visit the tile museum, try the grilled sardines and wander the cobbled streets.

This is a comfortable hotel with great airport links and plenty of space in the garage here to set up bikes and get ready for the tour!

TBC

Your journey starts by rail. At Porto you will board the Miradoudo train through the hills to Moisteró. The original carriages are still in use today.

Make sure you have your ID, snacks, water and your and ticket!

We will meet you at the station when you get off the train.

Once on your bikes, you will leave the well-trodden banks of the Douro for the rugged hills to the north. After winding through vineyard-covered slopes you will descend to the Rio Tâmega, and cycle along its valley to your hotel along an old railway line.

Amarante is a stunning riverside town and one of the oldest settlements in northern Portugal.

Duration

42km, 1028m+

27km - Marco de Canaveses

In the heart of historic Amarante, this modern hotel is comfortable and spacious, with highly attentive staff and a lovely view from the terrace.

Local restaurant - TBC

Today you will ride deep into empty and unspoilt countryside, where life has changed little for centuries. Look forward to the awesome gravel tracks in the hills before the long descent to Mondim de Basto.

Duration

60km, 1504m+

The location of this hotel is spectacular. Perched on a spur above the Tâmega and surrounded by green hills, the views are just wonderful.

Add a gorgeous outdoor pool and you have a recipe for a perfect stay.

Hotel restaurant

From Mondim de Basto you will strike out on gravel tracks, cobbled streets and tiny roads, into remote and forested hills. On the way you will pass through villages such as Viera do Minho, which are built right into the granite. The chapel, to Nossa Senhora de Lapa, in this village is pictured to the left.

This is one of the longer days, but the reward is finishing on the edge of the Peneda-Gerês National Park.

Duration

77km, 1869m+

16km - Arco de Baúlhe

69km - Vieiro de Minho

This beautiful hotel has a stunning natural setting on the Rio Cávado. The rooms are snug and homely, with historic character throughout.

TBC

Pedra Verde

Av. Da Caniçada n°625, 4850-054

Today you will be in the heart of the National Park, surrounded by pristine nature and wildlife. Keep your eyes open - you may spot a graceful roe deer or a herd of gerrano ponies. The cold, emerald waters of Casaca de Homem may tempt you in for a dip, or the hot springs at Termas de Lobios!

Once you pass through the village of Geres, you will climb up and over the border into Spain, where you will spend the night in Loibos.

If you're up for it, you can take an extra ride from Lobios to see the Roman Baths to the North.

Difficulty

52km, 1275m+

or

85km, 1856m+

12km - Geres

This beautifully renovated country house has a homely, traditional atmosphere, but still provides high quality rooms and service. Its very peaceful here - a lovely spot to relax after the ride.

Local restaurant - TBC

This ride will take you east through the forests of the National Park. Climbing steadily into the Serra da Larouco, you will cross back into Portugal.

Montalegre, where you will spend the night, is home to a 13th Century castle and is famous for its sausages and ham!

Difficulty

63km, 2089m+

35km - Pitões das Junias

This is a lovely spot. Here you can take a dip in the pool and lounge in the hammock on the terrace, watchin the sun go down and reflecting on the day you've had!

Local restaurant - TBC

Your final day will take you west into the heart of the National Park on gorgeous small roads and tracks.

The route includes an optional out and back to Sete Lagoas (Seven Lagoons), a stunning set of natural pools on the Cávado River.

You will finish in Gerês itself, a beautiful little village with Roman origins and a long history as a thermal resort.

Difficulty

75km, 1856m+

54km - Ponte Nova

56km - Pincaes

60km - Fafião

Time for a spot of luxury to round off your tour! This beautiful spa hotel features a seasonal outdoor pool, a top-quality restaurant and a wellness centre just over the road. Let us know if you would like to be booked in for a treatment.

TBC

We will be sad to see you leave!

We will take you to Porto Airport in time for your flight.

Até a proxima...

This tour is best ridden any time between April and September. Spring and autumn, in particular, bring magical colours to the trees and to the the vines in the Douro Valley. The climate here is mild, so riding in the summer is still very pleasant.

The mountains experience heavy rain in the winter months, so prepare well, and bring good all-weather gear if you plan to ride this tour between October and March.

This tour is suitable intermediate cyclists with a good level of fitness . The longest day is 82km, with 2200m of climbing.

Routes are selected and tested by our team, and very little of this route is highly technical. You will find an mix of awesome, rolling gravel tracks and small, traffic-free backroads, so even if you haven't ridden gravel before, this is an easy introduction.

Expect fantastic Portuguese cuisine suitable for cyclists and great coffee stops during the ride. We like to eat like the locals when we ride, and this means supporting local businesses wherever possible. Evening meals will be at your hotel or within walking distance.

We will, of course, do our best to cater to specific dietary requirements. Just let us know in advance.

If you book a self-guided tour, we are always on the end of the phone. This means that if you need mechanical support, want to change a booking, or anything else which may crop up on the road, our friendly (bilingual!) team are here to help

Please note that due to availability, accommodation may vary from the hotels listed above.

Depending on your group size, we may be able to offer you a choice of hotels. Where possible we will do our best to accommodate you in small, traditional hotels and guesthouses where you will enjoy a truly unique experience each night.

• Bike*

• Inner tube, hand pump, levers, multitool*

• Pedals

• Helmet

• Cycling shoes

• Powermeter/Di2/Sram batteries/Garmin chargers as appropriate*

• Sunglasses (including clear lenses if you have them)

• Cycling gloves (depending on season)

• Cycling rain jacket

• Saddle (All of our hire bikes are equipped with a saddle, of course. However, we recommend that you bring your own if it is comfortable for you rather than spending a week sitting on a saddle that may not be suitable for you.)

• Suitcase (see below)

• Bib shorts, jersey, gilet, socks- minimum 4 sets.

• Arm/leg warmers

• Rain/wind vest

• Base-layer (depending on season)

• Chamois Cream

• Rear bike light + chargers

• Water bottles x 2 (we have bottles available to purchase).

• Garmin/Wahoo and mount

• Energy bars/snacks that you particularly like!

• Regular clothes and light jacket or jumper for evening

• Swimsuit (many of the hotels have pools or spa)

• Evening shoes / sandals

• Passport (Check expiry date)

• Travel Insurance

• Sun protection

• USB charger

• First aid kit

• Toiletries

• Cellphone and charger

• Id or passport

• Credit/debit card

• Medications and prescriptions

• Power adapter

• Ear plugs / eye mask

• Powerbank

• Airport transfers from Porto

• 7 nights accommodation in handpicked, bike friendly hotels

• Buffet breakfast each day (apart from in Montalegre)

• Restaurant reservations each evening

• Detailed route planning (suited to group), GPX files given in advance plus itinerary

• Large luggage storage (bike boxes for example) throughout

• Civil Liability Insurance

• Telephone support whenever you should need it.

• 5 star Service – our promise

• Lunch, dinner or coffees bought at cafes en route

• Flights

• Transfers from airports other than Porto

• Other costs not listed above

• Luggage transfers + mechanical support vehicle (€360/group per riding day) = €2160

• Luggage transfers (€150/group per riding day for groups up to 5) = €900

• Luggage transfers (€200/group per riding day for groups 6+) = €1200

• Guide (€260 per guide per riding day) = €1560

We have a range of rental bikes to suit different styles and budgets, including e-bikes. Below are a few examples. For full details and prices, see our website.

• Megamo. SRAM APEX AXS. 12 speed.

• Meagmo. SRAM Apex Eagle. 12 speed.

• Megamo Lande Premium e-Gravel. Bosch Performance Line.

• Megamo e-Gravel. Bosch 600wh.

Our bike rental partners are scaled to support large group, of 40+ riders.

Paradise Cycling Tours Unipessoal LDA

Bairro da Boavista 6
8100-016 Alte
Portugal
NIPC 517913704
RNVAT 11760

Contact:
Fiona Hunter Johnston +351 931325694

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