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.

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.

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.)

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.

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.

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.

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...