Bem vindo a Portugal!

You will be met at Porto Airport by one of our transfer partners and taken to your hotel, with your bikes (if you are bringing your own) and luggage.

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

One of our team will meet you at the hotel and we will go over the tour with you and help set up your bike or build your bike if you've travelled with it. We will ensure you are 100% ready to go on your adventure!

This is a great hotel in the centre of Porto. It's within walking distance of the train station - where you will go the next morning.

Plenty of space in the garage here to set up bikes and get ready for the tour.

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In the morning, we will take your suitcases and bikes from you, leaving you to enjoy the next section hassle-free.​

You will start your journey on one of the most scenic train journeys in Europe – along the Douro River covered in vineyards to Peso da Regua, the heart of the wine growing region of the Douro Valley.

Your hotel in Peso da Regua is a 10 minute walk from the train station. You will find your bikes and your bags waiting for you.

You might enjoy an easy spin during the afternoon to explore the area - we have given you an easy 35km loop to use should you wish!

Duration

35km, 900m+

100% Tarmac

The Casa São Domingos is a stunning renovated estate overlooking the river Douro and the town of Peso da Regua. The staff are fabulous and our guests love staying in this guesthouse.

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Peso da Regua has plenty of options for a wine or port tasting experience in the town. Let us know and we can help you arrange this!

'O Maleiro' for a really fun Portuguese experience, or 'Castas e Pratos' for a more up-market experience with fabulous wine.

You will start your tour with an amazing steady 20km climb of 'Eco Pista do Corgo' - an easy gravel trail that was once the old railway line to Vila Real.

This is a fantastic local town with a beautiful central square, ideal for a coffee or lunch break.

From you here you will keep climbing gently back into the vineyards and descend a really quiet way into Pinhão. The second half of the day is all on tarmac on very small backroads.

Duration

63km, 1200m+

65% Tarmac / 35% Gravel

Vila Real

This is a lovely guesthouse overlooking the valley and vineyards below, with the village of Pinhão a few minutes drive away.

There is a restaurant on site, but there are plenty of restaurants in the village of Pinhão on the river, a 10 minute drive away if you'd like to explore.

Out of Pinhão, you will head south, crossing the Douro river and continue on the south side of the river all day to Torre de Moncorvo. You will pass the Valley of Côa, which is famous for it's incredible ancient engravings found there, dating back 20,000 years.

Torre de Moncorvo is a stunning ancient town, right close to the Spanish border, with a beautiful old town centre, cathedral (pictured below) and some fantastic restaurants.

Duration

85km, 1600m+

60% Tarmac / 40% Gravel

Sebadelhe

Experience the charm of Casa Dona Maria Luiza, located in Torre de Moncorvo. This accommodation offers a warm atmosphere, historic architecture, and locally sourced breakfast options. Enjoy proximity to stunning landscapes with rich cultural heritage of the region.

Our favourite restaurant is 'O Lagar' in the town centre, a 2 minute walk from the hotel.

This day starts with a beautiful descent to the Douro from Torre de Moncorvo, and then a long and beautiful climb up into the hills in the ‘Alto Douro’ before a stunning descent through the vineyards to the small and quiet village of Tua, where you will stay the night on the banks of the river Douro. Enjoy a dip in the river when you are finished if it's warm enough!

Duration

63km, 838m+

60% Tarmac / 40% Gravel

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Perfectly situated, here at Casa da Tua you can enjoy a recovery swim whilst looking out over the Douro. The Portuguese family who run this cosy hotel will make you feel right at home as soon as you arrive.

Calça Curta or Beira Rio, both within walking distance of your accommodation.

Cycling from Tua to Tabuaço will take you through some of the most picturesque roads of the Alto Douro, including a section right along the riverside itself.

At Tabuaço you will stay at a winery, and have the option of experiencing a wine tour and tasting from the beautiful estate.

Duration

68km, 1700m+

90% Tarmac / 10% Gravel

TBC

Nestled in a serene valley between the Douro River and the surrounding mountains, Quinta do Monte Travesso is a family-run estate in Portugal’s Cima-Corgo sub-region with a rich winemaking heritage dating back to 1896. Owned by the Nápoles de Carvalho family for five generations, the quinta combines tradition with innovation: its 16 hectares of schist vineyards produce DOC Douro wines and olive oil, vinified in the same cellar that has been in continuous use since the estate’s founding. For guests, the property offers two beautifully restored country houses (Casa da Tília and Casa do Sousão), framed by gardens and a historic chapel, plus immersive wine tourism experiences: guided vineyard and cellar tours, tastings (both wine and olive oil), picnics, vintage van rides, and more. Awarded for sustainable wine tourism (“Best of Wine Tourism 2019”), this quinta is a peaceful retreat full of character, authenticity, and timeless Douro charm.

We can arrange a wine tasting and guided tour around the Quinta do Monte Travessa estate during the afternoon at your accommodation.

There are a couple of great restaurants in the village of Tabuaço, a 5 min taxi drive away. (3km)

Your last riding day will involve even more stunning riding through some of the oldest vineyards in the region, hidden forested valleys which are like going back in time, finished off with a stunning climb up to Lamego, the world-famous sanctuary 'Nossa Senhora dos Remedios' on the top of the hill.

We have deliberately made this ride short enough for you to explore the town and sanctuary in the afternoon should you wish, but of course we can lengthen this day too.

Difficulty

53km, 1700m+

60% Tarmac / 40% Gravel

TBC

We will be sad to see you leave!

We will take you to Porto Airport in time for your flight, around a 1.5hr journey by car.

If you'd prefer to take the train back to Porto from Peso da Régua we will also arrange that.

Até a proxima...

Spring and autumn are both wonderful seasons for this tour, with pleasant temperatures and minimal chance of winter rains. However, it can be undertaken all-year round, as the climate here is milder than the south of the country.

If you want to catch some of the grape harvest, then September is the month to enjoy this tour!

This tour is suitable for riders with a good level gravel cycling experience and an intermediate - advanced level of fitness. The Douro Valley is one of the hilliest areas of Portugal, so you have to be ready to embrace the climbing on this tour. One day has significant elevation gain, of 1750m over 68km. Having said that, not many of the climbs are steep - they are usually long steady climbs with switch backs through the vines, pretty much as good as climbing gets!

Routes are selected and tested by our team, and little of this route is technical. The roads are very small, and the most traffic-free we can find. Gravel tracks range from 'Eco-Pistas' (usually converted railway lines) to tracks suitable for a 4x4 vehicle. There is no hike-a-bike on this tour!

Luckily Portugal has no shortage of cafés in all the small villages you will pass! Expect fantastic Portuguese cuisine suitable for cyclists in the evening and good coffee stops and pastel de natas during the ride. Please note that some of the more rural cafés might only take cash. Recommended dinners will be either at the hotel, within walking distance or a short taxi ride.

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 Airport to Porto Hotel

• Airport transfers from Lamego to Porto at the end

• Train Tickets from Porto to Peso da Régua

• 7 nights accommodation in handpicked, bike friendly hotels

• Meet and Greet / Orientation

• Buffet breakfast each day

• 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) = €2,160

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

• Luggage transfers (€200/group per riding day for groups 6+) = €1,200

• 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.

• Megamo. 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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