Cycling in the Douro Valley
Cycling in the Douro Valley
Cycling in the Douro Valley
7 Days Starting in Castelo Rodrigo and ending in Porto
Visiting: Portugal
Tour operator:
Tour code:
C06DV
Group Type:
Independent
Guide Type:
Self Guided
Age range:
14-99
Special diets catered:
Please inform Exodus of specific dietary requirements
Tour operated in:
EnglishActivities:
Tour Overview
This cycling holiday in the Douro will acquaint you with fascinating and magical surroundings, delicious cuisine and some of the world's finest wines (including, of course Port Wine, for which the region is famous). The ride begins in Castelo Rodrigo, a medieval village close to where Portugal borders Spain, and home to an ancient castle and arched palace gates. Your cycling heads across the highland plain to the Spanish border and on through historical villages to the River Douro. You'll cycle through uniquely terraced vineyards and take in the typical towns and villages of the region, including Pinhao, where many of the famous Port wine estates are located. The accommodation is all chosen with the greatest care and you'll stay in different types, from delightful rural houses to 3 and 4 star hotels.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Start Porto Airport; Transfer Approx. 3 Hours To Castelo Rodrigo, Not Far From The Spanish Border
Pick up a shared transfer from Porto airport (included at 14:20) to the easternmost point of your holiday; Castelo Rodrigo. Enjoy the beautiful landscape and scenery that unfolds along the way, entering the fascinating landscape of the Douro River Canyon and its 200 metre high cliffs. The historical village of Castelo Rodrigo deserves an exploratory walk, with its cobbled streets, palace ruins, old walls and ogival arched gates, 16th century pillory and medieval church. Your hotel is located in Castelo Rodrigo with great views over the surrounding plains, mountains and all the way to the border with Spain.
Day 2 : Cycle Across High Plains To Almeida And Escarigo On The Spanish Border
Meals Included: Breakfast
The first day of cycling takes you across high plains to the historical village of Almeida, one of the most important strongholds in Portugal's history. Although it had been occupied by humans since the Palaeolithic era, it was only during the Arabic period that the name of the village came about - Al Meda meaning "the table". There is an ancient tale that a sumptuous table embedded with precious stones once stood in this spot. However, Almeida's military importance was yet to come...taken and re-taken many times during battles between the Portuguese and the Castilians, in 1296 a new castle was built by the Portuguese, then in 1640 an enormous star-shaped fortress was built around the town to defend against Spanish and French attacks. Eventually falling to Napoleon's armies it was later used by the Portuguese as a political prison. Also visit the village of Vilar Torpim, with it's chapel and manor house, and Escarigo, right on the Spanish border. Return to Castelo Rodrigo for your overnight.
Day 3 : Cycle To Aldeia Do Juízo Along Backroads With Beautiful Landscapes
Meals Included: Breakfast
At the beginning of the day, cycle around the Serra da Marofa mountain range. Experience stunning views over the Iberian Plateau and from the top you can also see the Douro river system (which, beyond this river, includes Côa and Águeda rivers), to the East. Continue on to Aldeia do Juizo, a rural village with 2 chapels, several wineries and a community oven that is surrounded by vineyards, olive groves and almond orchards. On the banks of the river, there are vegetable-gardens, where the locals produce a wide variety of agricultural products. Stay in a delightful village house, part of a rural tourism complex of restored houses, all with private bathroom facilities.
Day 4 : Cycle Through The Historical Villages Of Marialva, Meda And On To Penedono
Meals Included: Breakfast
On the ride today you cycle through two historical villages, Marialva and Meda before your approach to Penedono, with views of its almost hexagon castle, perched on an outcrop. After the first 10 km you will be able to see the Castle of Marialva. When you reach the village, explore the streets, lined with buildings that have stood the test of time and which lead to the citadel surrounded by ancient walls. The next highlight is Meda - in medieval times this village was essentially a border town and the setting for hard-fought skirmishes between Christians and Muslims. The watchtower was one of the most important strategic defence points in the region and combined with the castles of Marialva and Longroiva. Today the village is quiet and the main activity is farming and wine-making. Continue on to Penedono and its medieval castle, a unique example of military architecture that dominates the surrounding countryside.
Day 5 : Ride To The Unesco World Heritage Listed Vineyards Of The Douro Valley
Meals Included: Breakfast
The Alto Douro winemaking region is most famous for its Port wine, but the region also produces world-famous wines from the Touriga grape. The terraced vineyards are so typical of the region that they are listed a UNESCO World Heritage site and are a delight to behold. The neatly-kept wine estates rise proudly amidst the vineyards, their names clearly visible to everyone who passes. The last stop is at the town of Peso da Regua. The town's name originated from the name of a Roman house that once stood here - the 'Villa Reguela'. Its great development only began however after 1756 with the creation of the Real Companhia Geral da Agricultura das Vinhas do Alto Douro (Royal Company of Vine-Growers from the Alto Douro Region), which set up the world's first-ever demarcated region for wine production.
Day 6 : Peso Da Regua Loop Cycling Along The Douro River
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today you cycle to Lamego, a picturesque town that seamlessly blends history, natural beauty and cultural charm. This enchanting city boasts a rich historical heritage that dates back to Roman times. Its well-preserved historic centre, characterised by narrow cobbled streets and centuries-old churches, offers a glimpse into Portugal's past. The city is graced by the imposing Sanctuary of Our Lady of Remedies, a Baroque masterpiece perched on a hill and accessed by a grand staircase decorated with intricate azulejos (tiles). Lamego is also renowned for its role in the production of Portugal's famous wines, particularly Port. We recommend you have lunch in Lamego before heading back towards Peso da Regua, stopping on the way at Quinta da Pacheca for a wine tasting.
Day 7 : Transfer Back To The Airport, Or Choose To Spend Extra Time In The Cosmopolitan City Of Porto
Meals Included: Breakfast
This morning you check out from your hotel and are transferred back to Porto at 10am; here you can choose to spend some time in this cosmopolitan city, or go straight back to the airport for your flight home. Extra nights in Porto can be requested at the time of booking.
What's Included
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Meals
6 breakfasts, 0 lunches, 0 dinners.
* All breakfasts and 1 dinners
* 6 nights in hotels, guesthouses and rural tourism houses (see
accommodation section)
* Luggage transfers
* Local bike hire
What's Not Included
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Electric bikes (available at a supplement)
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Flights from London (available on request)
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Single accommodation (compulsory supplement applicable)
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Travel insurance
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Solo traveller supplement (where only one person is travelling on a departure date)
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Visas or vaccinations
Food
A typical hotel breakfast consists of: cake, toast/bread with jam,or honey,
cheese and ham, served with coffee, tea, milk, orange juice, fruit, cake and
yoghurt.
The Douro region is well-known for an endless number of meat dishes, which
include the famous roasted baby goat with rice and potatoes, wild boar stew,
posta mirandesa (veal steak), cozido à portuguesa (boiled meat, sausages and
cabbages), partridge on a skewer, arroz de cabidela (chicken or rabbit with
rice) and feijoada à trasmontana (bean stew).
The region’s fish is caught in the Douro river and its tributaries, and is
served fried or marinated. The codfish is also a famous alternative to meat
dishes. The typical desserts include traditional pastries such as the
peixinhos de chila or the biscoito da Teixeira are famous in the region. The
region is also known for the delicious pão-de-ló (sponge cake) and the
bolo-rei (fruit cake), manly eaten during local celebrations. The rice
pudding and the aletria (vermicelli with cinnamon) are also some of the
region’s specialties.
Most of the time, meals in Portugal are served with bread. If you visit the
Douro region, you must try the traditional breads made with meat or olive
oil. Normal bread can be savoured with regional honey or home-made jams.
Regional cheeses and smoked sausages can also be eaten at any time of the
day, either by themselves or with a piece of bread.
There is also a wide variety of fruit in the region, which are picked in
different seasons. Cherries, almonds and apples are the most abundant fruits.
Roasted chestnuts, nuts, diospyros kaki (persimmon) and tangerines are
typical of the colder months. Olives and grapes are the main fruits in the
region, even though they are used more to make olive oil and wine than for
direct consumption.
Olive oil is used in most dishes, whether to cook the dish or as seasoning.
Every dish is seasoned with salt, or it can be replaced by herbs, which are
plentiful in the region. Rosemary, parsley and bay leaves are some of the
most commonly used herbs, mainly to cook meat.
There is nothing better than starting a meal by drinking a glass of Port wine
to open your appetite. The Favaios wine is also served as an aperitif, while
the Douro wines are served with the main course. The liqueurs produced in the
region, which are the result of the mixture of spirits and fruits, such as
the arbutus, blackberries or cherries, are served as digestifs, replacing the
international scotch. For those who do not appreciate alcoholic beverages,
fruit juices and herbal teas are always a treat, especially because these
juices and teas are made with fresh and crystalline water from the several
springs in the Douro region.
Accommodation
The accommodation on this trip is chosen with the greatest care and varies from one stop to the next. You stay in guesthouses, rural village houses, giving you a feel for the local community and 4 star hotels. Some of the properties have swimming pools for you to relax in after a day of cycling.
Check out our Q&As
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Are airport transfers included in this tour?
Only Luggage transfers.
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes
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Are vaccinations required for this tour?
There are no specific health risks.
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Are children permitted to take part in the tour?
14+ age people can go on this tour
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
If you wish to make any changes to your booking, particularly if you need to alter any flights booked through us, please let us know as soon as possible. There is a booking or flight amendment fee of £40 per change and flight amendments often incur extra airline costs depending on the changes to be made and if the ticket has been issued or not.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Exodus has been trading since 1974
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Your final joining instructions and flight details, if booked with us, will then be sent out 2 to 3 weeks before departure. If you would like a hard copy posted, or if you require these any earlier, please contact the customer operations team. We advise that if you are booking connecting travel before receiving these, please ensure you leave plenty of time.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Travellers are welcome to opt to share a room with a tour member of the same gender for no additional charge. If you'd like your own room, we can request a single supplement so that you will have your own room throughout.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
You are welcome to meet the group after the tour has departed however there is no reduction in rate for joining a tour after the departure date.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Exodus Adventure Travels allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform exodus adventure travels, 43 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Exodus Adventure Travels requires a minimum deposit of 25% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of exodus adventure travels charges.
Up to 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.