Home > Wine and Gastronomy along the Douro Valley

Wine and Gastronomy along the Douro Valley

Découvrir la magie de la vallée du Douro lors de cet itinéraire à vélo 5
Vineyards of Douro Valley The Douro River Grapevine for Porto wine Riding across the Douro River, Portugal Typical boat of Northern Portugal

Cyclomundo offers guided and self-guided cycling trips in Portugal, click here to see the Norte e Porto regional page.

 

  • Self-guided trip: Starts any Saturday from March through June and September through November 2024.
  • 6 nights/7 days
  • Daily mileage from 29 km (18 miles) to 45 km (28 miles)
  • Starts from Porto. Transfer to Miranda do Douro
  • Porto is well-served by low-cost airlines.
  • Accommodation in a 4-star hotel and in charming guest houses or authentic farmhouses
  • Level: 3 (Moderate)

NB: Starting on another weekday is possible for groups (must be 4 or more at time of booking and departure).

Découvrir la magie de la vallée du Douro lors de cet itinéraire à vélo

Wine and Gastronomy along the Douro Valley

  • Level
  • PriceFrom 1,335 euros
  • DAY6 nights / 7 days

More info: Receive detailed hotel list, bike specs, and route description

More infos BOOK NOW !

Description

Situated just 100 kilometers (62 miles) west to the city of Porto, Portugal’s Douro Valley is most famous for its venerable wine-making tradition and production of sweet Port wines. And while the rivers in the region do not quite flow red, viniculture certainly plays an integral role here, even shaping the spectacular landscapes that make the valley one of the country’s most stunning crown jewels. 

 

Experience the magic of the Douro Valley on this week-long tour, cycling from the majestic gorge and cliffs at the easternmost end of the Douro River to the agricultural lands and terraced vineyards at the heart of the Alto Douro Wine Region. Ride through the wilderness of the Douro International Natural Park; hop on a Rabelo boat, a key mode of transport in the historic Port wine trade; and discover the charms of towns like Mogadouro and Pinhão. Each stage of the trip offers a shorter and longer route option for you to choose from, as you pedal leisurely downriver along old railway tracks through vast forests, almond and olive groves, and past breathtaking vine-covered hillsides.

 

There is plenty of opportunity to enjoy the fruits of the land too, as you’ll taste wine, olive oil, and some of the finest local cuisine at typical quintas (estates) along the way. At night, you’ll rest well at specially selected accommodations (including a traditional olive oil estate); ensuring that your bike tour is unforgettable from start to finish, much like the Douro Valley itself.

Itinerary

D1Saturday: Arrival in Porto. Transfer to Miranda do Douro

 

Our local representative will meet you at 2 pm at Porto Airport for a briefing and transfer to the easternmost point of your cycling holiday -- Miranda do Douro. Enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way -- the landscape of the Douro River Canyon and its cliffs towering over 200 meters (656 ft) are sure to have you forgetting about your jet lag!

 

Isolated for centuries from the rest of Portugal, Miranda do Douro has its own distinct culture, with the ancestral ways kept alive in its customs, language, and even its cuisine. Explore the town’s old quarter (dating back to the Middle Ages), and if you’re up for it, a traditional meal of Posta à Mirandesa (a heavy thick steak) and a glass of the region’s high-alcohol wine will have you feeling right at home.

D2Sunday: Miranda do Douro - Sendim 41 kilometers/25 miles, 530 meters or 1,740 ft of climbing

 

Rise, shine, and cycle! For your first day of riding, you’ll be winding through the Douro International Natural Park, a gentle highland plateau known for its wilderness and picturesque landscapes. Keep your eyes peeled as you cycle along this quiet expanse; wild boar, the occasional Iberian wolf, and over 170 bird species (including rare Egyptian vultures) call this park home. In Sendim, you’ll find thriving local artisanship near the church, and a delightful rural charm. You will be accommodated in a small typical hotel.

D3Monday: Sendim - Torre de Moncorvo 38 km/24 miles, 250 meters/820 ft of climbing

 

After breakfast, we’ll transfer you to Lagoaça, where you’ll begin your ride. An eco-trail along the route of a former railway line will lead you to today’s destination of Torre de Moncorvo. Pedal through the Portuguese countryside of tranquil forests, scattered woods, fields, and agricultural land, perhaps even stopping to take a selfie with a friendly shepherd on your way. Circle the Mua mine, one of the country’s largest iron ore reserves, and continue along expanses of olive and almond groves. The area is especially gorgeous in February and March, awash in the pink and white blossoms of the almond trees.

Upon arriving in medieval Torre de Moncorvo, a warm welcome from your host will usher you into your elegant townhouse accommodations. (Insider tip: her homemade liqueurs go beautifully with the locally-grown Moncorvo almonds.)

D4Tuesday: Torre de Moncorvo - Vila Flor/Assares 29 km/18 miles, 280 meters/920 ft of climbing, or 38 km/24 miles, 430 meters/1,410 ft of climbing

 

Wake up in the morning with a nice downhill to the edge of the Douro River. Your route today is flanked by vineyards and olive groves, where some of the best olive oil in the world is produced. You’ll find some of the best views here too, as you cycle along the flat expanses of land, with blue hills ahead in the distance and all your cares behind you.

 

Charming red-roofed whitewashed houses dot the way into Assares, where you’ll stay the night in an olive oil estate. We hope you’ve cycled up an appetite, because tonight’s dinner is something special! Homemade cheeses, sausages, baked bread and olive oil, home-grown oranges, and homemade wine make up the delicious menu for this countryside feast. On a clear night, an after-dinner stargazing walk around the estate is simply irresistible.

D5Wednesday: Vila Flor/Assares - Tua - boat to Pinhão and transfer to Sabrosa 29 km/18 miles, 130 meters/425 ft of climbing or 32 km/20 miles, 240 meters/785 ft of climbing

 

From Assares, we’ll take you to the starting point of today’s ride through the Alto Douro Wine Region, which has been producing wine for over two thousand years! Feel the breeze as you follow the landscape downhill, passing the terraced vineyards and neatly-kept quintas (wine estates) where the area’s world-renowned Port wines have their origins. With a final coast down to meet the Douro River, grab your bikes and board a Rabelo boat, which will take you on a mini river cruise to your next stop at Pinhão. Enjoy the afternoon in this lovely town, touring the famous Port wine estates and visiting the train station with its tile mosaic depicting the grape harvest -- everything here really revolves around wine! Later, we’ll give you a lift up to the adjacent hillside, where you’ll spend the night in a charming 17th-century house.

D6Thursday: Sabrosa - Peso da Régua 45 km/28 miles; 540 meters/1,770 ft of climbing

 

Breathtaking views and tranquil roads await on your last day of riding in the Douro Valley. Setting off from Sabrosa, you’ll follow a trail through quiet back roads, before descending upon a cycle path that leads back to the riverside. Flanked by picturesque vine-covered hills wherever you look, it’s impossible to not feel the magic of the valley as you pedal along.

 

Your ride and your tour wind up in Peso da Régua, the center of the Port wine-growing region and the capital of the Douro district. Savor a special dinner and wine at one of the local quintas; a perfect way to cap off this cycling holiday in the Douro Valley.

D7Friday: Transfer to Porto. Departure

 

Pack up your new bottles of olive oil and Port wine and say goodbye to the unforgettable Douro Valley. We’ll transfer you back to Porto Airport, from where you’ll make your return to the real world...

Booking & Prices

  • Price details
  • 6 nights’ accommodation in 4-star hotels and charming guest houses or authentic farmhouses

  • 1,335 euros per person in March, April, October and November. Single supplement is 385 euros
  • 1,385 euros per person in May, June and September. Single supplement is 420 euros

These prices include:

  • 6 nights’ accommodation
  • Daily breakfast
  • 1 dinner
  • 5 picnics 
  • Meeting with our local representative
  • Luggage transfers
  • Transfer from Porto airport to your first hotel on Day 1 at 2:00 pm
  • Transfer from your last hotel to Porto airport on Day 7 at 10:00 am
  • Transfers during the tours on Day 3 from Sendim to Lagoaça, and on Day 5 from Vila Flor to Samões and from Pinhão to Sabrosa
  • Boat ticket on Day 5 from Tua to Pinhão
  • Route notes
  • Pre-loaded GPS unit (subject to availability)
  • Assistance if necessary (you will be provided with our local rep’s mobile number)
  • All tax and service charges

These prices do not include:

  • Expenses of a personal nature
  • Wine pairing dinners on Days 5 and 6 
  • Olive oil visit and tasting at an olive oil producer in Vila Flor (on Day 4) and wine tasting in a Douro producer in Régua (on Day 6)
  • Travel insurance
  • Bicycle rentals. Hybrid bikes are available at the rate of 120 euros per bike. E-bikes are available at the rate of 220 euros per bike.

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