Day 1 Arrival in Porto
Fly to Porto from various German airports. Welcome and pick-up by the tour guide and short transfer to our stylish Palazzo, which will spoil you for the next 3 nights. Opportunity to refresh yourself in the hotel’s own pool and dinner.
Day 2 Porto city tour and cycle excursion 22 km
Experience the special flair of the old trading metropolis on the Douro estuary during our city tour. Our city tour takes you to the most important sights of the old town, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will be particularly impressed by the magnificent 19th century Stock Exchange Palace, the Romanesque cathedral and the famous baroque Clérigos Tower, one of the tallest church towers in Portugal. Afterwards, you will learn interesting facts about the production of the famous wine in one of the region’s typical port wine cellars and, of course, the tour ends with a tasting! In the afternoon, we discover the city from a different perspective, namely by bike. We will also cycle part of the newly created coastal cycle path.
Day 3 Porto and the Douro river valley 33 km
Short transfer into the hinterland of Porto to the Serra de Valongo nature reserve, where the river Rio Ferreira has carved its wild and romantic path. We follow the wooded course of the river in the valley. At the confluence with the Rio Sousa and the beginning of the Sousa valley, we follow the river until it meets the Douro. A unique backdrop awaits us. The lively hustle and bustle along the river, consisting of excursion boats, restaurants and stores, offers an impressive contrast to the morning. A special highlight is the return trip along the river to the entrance to Porto. On the newly constructed cycle path, the backdrop of the old town is an unforgettable sight.
Day 4 Porto – Guimaraes – Amante 37 km
Transfer from Porto to Guimaraes. The castle of Guimaraes with its time-honored alleys on the castle hill (UNESCO World Heritage Site) looks like an ancient magic. It is said that Alfonso I, the first king of Portugal, was born here, which is why this place is considered the cradle of the nation. Guimaraes is also the European Capital of Culture 2013. A tour through the old town streets with beautifully restored town houses and palaces and numerous street cafés that invite you to linger in idyllic squares. You can also see the medieval city walls, the Dukes’ Palace and the Romanesque chapel of S. Miguel. With our bikes in our luggage, we take the cable car up the 400m high local mountain Penha. After visiting the pilgrimage church and enjoying the breathtaking panoramic view, the route descends through the eucalyptus forest and along flat paths to the famous vineyards of Vinho Verde. With the river Vizela on one side and the vines on the other, this is a truly enjoyable bike ride. Short transfer to Amarante.
Day 5 Amarante round trip 38 km
Amarante is romantically surrounded by mountains on both banks of the Rio Tamega. Manor houses and estates from the 17th century with colorful, varnished wooden balustrades line the narrow streets. Transfer to the recently developed disused railroad line, Linha do Tamega, which has not been in operation since 2009 and took 40 years to build. It is now the basis for a wonderful cycle route through the mountains, accompanied by the Rio Tâmega, which has its source in Galicia, Spain, and flows into the Douro after 145 km. Today’s cycle route offers vineyards, deep valley views and magnificent vistas. Back in Amarante with its romantic scenery, the day ends with another delicious dinner.
Day 6 Douro Valley 32 km
We leave Amarante and make our way to one of the most beautiful wine and river regions in Europe: the Douro Valley. Today’s cycle route reserves incredible views which open up on a predominantly flat and only occasionally ascending cycle tour. After a visit to a winery followed by a picnic, the traditional Rabelo boats await us. The Rabelo boats are the traditional ships that used to guarantee the transportation of wine barrels due to their shallow draught. Somehow they had to get to the sailing ships moored in Porto. On this river cruise, you can enjoy the Douru Valley and its terraced vineyards in a relaxed manner and certainly with your camera at the ready! After arriving in Pinhão, it is not far to our beautifully situated hotel. Relax in a wonderful atmosphere with a glass of vino tinto and a stylish dinner.
Day 7 Round trip Pinhão Favaios 36 km
Before setting off on today’s cycling day, we stop at the Pinhão railroad station, which is well worth seeing. It is known for its predominantly blue tiled scenes that tell the story of rural life in Pinhão. The small winegrowing town is considered the center of the port wine region. The port wine trade has been at home here for decades and important wine farms are located in the surrounding area. In the morning, we cycle through vineyards and olive groves with sweeping panoramic views up to Favaios, whose historic village center is a listed building. Another picnic with a view awaits us on the way. We visit the “Pão e Vinho” (bread and wine) museum and enjoy a glass of “Moscatel do Douro”, which is only grown here, on the panoramic terrace. We then roll downhill through the vineyards to the small village of Casal de Loivos. Here we visit a family-owned historic oil mill and taste the local wine before rolling the last 4 km downhill back to Pinhão.
Day 8 Porto
Transfer after breakfast to Porto (2 hours). Departure in the afternoon – Adeus Portugal!
Comments