Douro Wine Tour
"Easy" level tour
This cycling tour can be made for the entirety of the year. We recommend doing it between the months of September and October, especially during the wine production season.
A cycling tour that combines the hospitality of wine making farms, with bike rides through the well known vineyards and olive fields of The Douro Valley. With a resting day, in order to visit the Paleolithic open-air paintings and its museum in Vila Nova de Foz Côa. If good wine, amazing sights and calm and relaxing cycling areas his what you are looking for, then you must take this journey along the incredible Douro region, considered natural heritage by UNESCO.
Route description:
- Mostly steep. Up and down route.
- 100 % paved roads with very low traffic.
- 1895 meters of cumulative ascents.
Itinerary:
Day 1: Porto – Pinhão (110 km, train transfer)
Day 2: Pinhão – Tabuaço (15 km)
Day 3: Tabuaço – Penedono (36 km)
Day 4: Penedono - Loop (40 Km)
Day 5: Penedono – Marialva (30 km)
Day 6: Marialva – Vila Nova de Foz Côa (22 km)
Day 7: Departure
Travel by train following Douro's riverside. You shall attend at the hotel’s reception to get the bicycles you will be using through out the tour. The night will be spent in Pinhão. You’ll have enough free time to visit the Pinhão railway station, its main church and, if you would like, to enjoy sightseeing, having a cruise on the Douro river.
Cycling always on the road with an acceptable slope. You are going to cycle along the incredible view of the Douro River, entering through Portuguese World Heritage. Be marveled with the vineyards of the Douro Valley and its cultivation.
Our cycling journey continues throughout the green landscape of the Douro region, constantly surrounded by vineyards. Our destination will be Penedono. You can visit the castle and explore "Sírigo", which holds a circular route that takes the traveler through the neighboring villages and outskirts, such as the villages of "Ferronha" and "A-do-Bispo".
Enjoy a free day or cycle a loop to get to know surrounding villages. In case you opt for cycling, you will leave Penedono and find yourself in the middle of traditional farmlands. The landscape is dominated by vineyards and chestnuts, so much so that "Sernancelhe" area is known has the chestnut county. You will understand how much chestnut the region actually produces on the road side scenery. With the river Távora by your side you can enjoy the wonderful geography, with mountains and valleys, which is a trademark image of this part of the country. If you have the time, take a visit to the XIIth century church.
Break ties with the Douro River and head South, finding your daily hospitality in Marialva. You can take a visit to the castle and the incredible church of "Santiago". A land full of history, being classified as one of several historical villages of Portugal.
The final streach will involve returning to the vineyards once more. Now we can also watch the astonishing olives, another important Portuguese heritage, used especially as a sauce for refined dishes. Our route back, approaching the River will be traversing its highest part, ending with an accommodation in Vila Nova de Foz Côa, a very well known site for its Paleolithic paintings.
Observations:
- Prices are based for 2 people sharing the same standard room;
- Sea view (when available) or premium rooms, price on request;
- Prices can suffer updates due high season, holidays or weekends
- Beverages are not included at lunch and dinner when included in the package
- If in a triple room with parents Children up to 10 years old - 35% discount. Children from 11 to 14 years old - 20% discount. Children from 15 to 17 years old - 15% discount.
Extras
- Electric bicycles price: 240€
- Supplement for single room: 385 €
- Solo traveler: 280 €
- Extra nights: on request
- Private group price on request
- City taxes is not included in the price package (approximately 2€ per person per night - payable on site - in Lisbon city tax is 4€ per person per night)
- Ferry (boat) in river / lake crossing is not included in price package (approximately 2€ to 10€ per person)
Gallery
What People Are Saying
Andy, Melbourne, Australia,We did the Douro valley 6 day easy cycle trip with this lovely local company run by passionate cyclists in September. We were very unlucky to hit a patch of unseasonal rainy days but still enjoyed the sensational scenery. We elected to skip one day of riding which was just too wet and windy to be fun, and company were happy to transfer us, luggage and the bikes in a van. Luggage always arrived at next destination before we did, went very smoothly.
The trip was marketed as 'Douro very easy' one but a word of caution - it had some rather steep hills. We are merely amateur cyclists! My husband was challenged (but coped) but I'm less fit and ended up opting for an electric assist bike (very glad I did, it helped on the big hills). Suggest you know your own limits and look carefully at the trip terrain maps to make sure it's good for you. There are some flatter routes (eg Portugal Coast trip) for different abilities. Bikes were great quality.
The routes and places we visited were just wonderful, and Fold n Visit found some fantastic accommodation for us, great variety and very enjoyable. Although not designated bike paths for the most part, the roads were good surfaces, were quiet and felt safe. Great villages on the visit, diverse scenery - felt we saw the real Portugal. Very rural and peaceful, very relaxing. Foz de Coa palaeolithic rock art was a highlight as was the beautiful Hotel in the ruins of a castle. Staying on a working farm (Quinta) was great fun too. We selected the deluxe accommodation and think it was well worth it.
We had one glitch with a broken bike chain and got terrific personal support to fix it. The best thing about this young business is they really want you to have a fantastic experience and will go 'above and beyond' to make that happen. The service was completely personal and tailored to our interests and needs, you aren't just another person in a big group.
Portugal is a beautiful country with amazing diverse scenery, cycling was a great way to see it. Happy to support and thoroughly recommend this great local business.