Cycling Portugal - Porto to Lisbon - 8 Days

Our trip begins today in Porto. Portugal's second city straddles the River Douro with its atmospheric historic centre sprawling upwards from the northern bank, while port wine cellars line the river in the Gaia neighbourhood on the southern side. Our tour leader plans to meet you in the hotel reception at 6pm for a welcome meeting followed by an orientation walk. There'll be the chance to go out for dinner afterwards for those who wish. If you'd like an airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive into Porto Airport (OPO), which is a 30-minute drive from the hotel. If you miss the briefing, our tour leader will inform you of any essential information as soon as you catch up. No cycling today.

After breakfast this morning, we'll make sure we're happy with our bikes and make any minor adjustments before we pedal off. We'll start our cycling journey through Porto's atmospheric downtown neighbourhood before crossing Luís I bridge, giving us wide-open views of the Douro River and the city beyond. Later, we'll continue along the Atlantic Coast to Furadouro and our hotel for the night. Furadouro is a small, unspoilt resort with a long stretch of sandy, pine-fringed beach. Tonight, we'll stay in a premium hotel right by the dunes with views of the Atlantic. There are plenty of bars and restaurants nearby to refuel after a day's cycling. Our total cycling distance today is approximately 43 kilometres/26.7 miles with 180 metres/590 feet of ascent and 250 metres/820 feet of descent.

Today's ride starts from our hotel and takes us through rural scenery and along large estuaries and lagoons . Sandwiched between white sand beaches, dunes, pine forests and marshes, the landscapes along our ride are quite simply spectacular. Plenty of birds can be spotted. From Sao Jacinto village, we'll take a short ferry ride and then continue cycling to Aveiro, a charming town that is known for its canals, Art Nouveau architecture and colourful Moliceiros boats. In the afternoon, there is time to explore the centre of Aveiro (often called the Portuguese Venice) or you can take an optional boat tour along the canals. Our hotel for the night is a typical Portuguese townhouse located close to the centre of town. Our total cycling distance today is approximately 55 kilometres/34.2 miles with 100 metres/328 feet accumulated ascent and descent. 3km of riding today are on good unsurfaced sections

After breakfast this morning, we'll pedal off, cycling past the colourful beachfront houses in the Costa Nova neighbourhood. The surrounding area is a shallow coastal lagoon rich in birdlife and our route takes us south, through the plains and marshland close to the sea, to finally reach Praia de Mira where our ride ends. We'll then travel to Nazaré where we'll spend the night. Nazaré is a seaside town that has become famous amongst surfers thanks to its monster waves, created by a trench close to shore, that can reach over 20 metres/65 feet high in the winter months. Our hotel is located less than 100 metres/328 feet from the beach and the breakfast room has panoramic views of the town and Atlantic Ocean. In the afternoon, we'll spend time at the beach or climb up to the viewpoint and lighthouse. Our total cycling distance today is approximately 40 kilometres/24.8 miles with 75 metres/246 feet accumulated ascent and descent.

Our cycle route this morning follows the coast south towards the charming beach town of Sao Martinho do Porto. From there, we'll continue to Foz de Arelho for a much-deserved lunch on the beachfront. The afternoon is free to enjoy the beaches of Foz de Arelho which remains remarkably undeveloped and boasts a vast beach on the estuary, popular for windsurfing, as well as a great seafront beach just a 15-minute walk from town. Our hotel for the night is conveniently located in between the old centre of the village and only a 10min walk away from the waterfont. Our total cycling distance today is approximately 30 kilometres/19 miles with +/- 350m (1150ft)

Our final ride hugs the sea as we cycle south until Peniche. In between, we'll make a stop inland, in Obidos for a walking tour. Obidos is considered one of the most picturesque and well-preserved medieval towns in Portugal. We'll spend some time exploring the old cobbled streets, artisan shops and old town walls - and possibly refuel with a pastel de nata (a traditional Portuguese custard pastry).

After our visit, we'll cycle back to the coast and arrive in Peniche for the night. Set on a headland surrounded by the sea, the town remains an important fishing port as well as home to stunning beaches and surf. After settling in our hotel, there is time to explore the walled historic centre and see the old fort where Salazar's regime imprisoned political prisoners only a few decades ago.For those who fancy extending the ride - the 9km- loop around Peniche peninsula features some of the most stunning rock formations of the entire Atlantic coast in central Portugal.

Tonight, we'll stay in a family-run hotel in a 19th-century building located in Peniche's lively city centre, a 5-minute walk from the Atlantic Ocean and the Peniche Fortress. Our total cycling distance today is approximately 44 kilometres/27.3 miles with 450 metres/1476 feet accumulated ascent and descent. 6km of riding today are on good unsurfaced sections

This morning, we'll drive to Lisbon (a 90-minute journey) where our tour leader will take us on an orientation walk before the afternoon is free to discover the city at your own pace. Resting on seven hills overlooking the estuary of the River Tagus, Lisbon became the capital of Portugal after its conquest from the Moors in 1147. As Portugal built a global empire, Lisbon became the hub of international trade and the heart of this maritime Golden Age of discovery, reflected in the monumental architecture. A devastating earthquake and resulting tsunami almost totally destroyed the capital in 1755 and now Lisbon appears as a carefully planned 18th century city. As well as awe-inspiring views and characterful buildings, Lisbon offers a good selection of restaurants. We'll celebrate the end of our journey with a meal followed by the option to see a live Fado performance for those interested.

Our trip ends after breakfast at our hotel in Lisbon. There are no activities planned today, so you're free to depart at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day, luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you'd like an airport transfer today, you'll need to depart from Lisbon Portela Airport (LIS), which is a 15-minute drive from the city centre. There's so much to see and do in Lisbon, it's impossible to pack it into one day. If you'd like more time to explore the city, we recommend adding a few extra nights post-tour. Contact our sales team to book accommodation.