Porto Coastal Cycling

Experience Overview

Your holiday starts in Porto, where shuttered townhouses tumble downhill to colourful rabelo sailing boats cruising the Douro River and passing world-famous wine cellars. From here, you'll beach and bay hop south to your luxury beachfront hotel in Furadouro, before heading via the Aveiro Lagoon, home to pink flamingo and colourful birdlife, to Aveiro for two nights in a waterside mansion. Known as 'Portugal's Venice', this is where colourful moliceiro boats cruise along canals beneath tall palm trees, while alleyways are filled with tempting restaurants. Your final cycling stretch takes you back to the ocean to high sand dunes, meandering through pine and acacia forest, to Praia de Mira. Please note: Cycling helmets are a legal requirement in Portugal for anyone using an e-bike.
Profile
— 7 nights hotel-to-hotel in 4 star accommodation — Management by your local Headwater-appointed agent — E-bike hire available on request (supplement applies) — Headwater navigation app
At a Glance
— 7 nights hotel-to-hotel in 4 star accommodation — Management by your local Headwater-appointed agent — E-bike hire available on request (supplement applies) — Headwater navigation app
Trip For You
Cycling ConditionsClassification: Self-GuidedActivity Level: 1 (Leisurely)Average daily distance: 28.2km (17.8miles) Please note that these are the averages for the shorter walks , however on three of the days there is the opurtunity to extend them.No. of days cycling: 5Terrain and route: The suggested routes mainly follow a mixture of dedicated cycle paths, either beside the road or separate from the road, and along some tracks.Vehicle Support: This is a self-guided trip for those who prefer to cycle independently, but with our assistance to take out the stress of the logistics and planning. We arrange your accommodation, provide you with a map and route notes so that you can cycle at your own pace, while your bags are transported from one hotel to the next. It is important that you are happy reading maps and following route notes, we make these as accurate as possible and they are regularly checked. As this is a self-guided holiday there is no group and no leader. There maybe others on the same departure date as you, but you will not be organised together. The routes notes contain a 24-hour emergency assistance telephone number should you need it and in emergencies, the hotels are normally able to dispatch a taxi or pick you up themselves. They may wish to charge for this service.
Group Description
As this is a self-guided holiday there is no group and no leader. Your luggage is transferred and route notes and maps are provided. The route notes contain a 24-hour emergency assistance telephone number. In emergency, the hotels are normally able to dispatch a taxi or pick you up themselves. They may wish to charge for this service.
Eating Drinking
Portuguese cuisine is wholesome, hearty, and rarely fancy and relies heavily on the use of different herbs and spices due to its Moorish influence. Fish dishes are more predominant in the south, although northern regions often offer delicious freshwater fish dishes.The region is also famous for sticky desserts that use egg yolk. During the Golden Age (15C and 16C), the area was very rich because of all the treasures that were brought back from the discoveries of the New World. These riches paid for many convents. The nuns needed egg whites to starch their habits so they used the egg yolks in many gooey desserts that have curious names like monk’s breast and nun’s stomach.The Alentejo is also a highly respected wine region. The Romans were the first to start cultivating vines here. You’ll find a whole range of different vintages to try en route, the best known ones include Roupeiro, Rabo do Ovelha and Antão Vaz (white) and Periquita, Trincadeira and Aragonez (reds), although many small family run vineyards produce their own versions as well. The majority of the wines served in Portugal come from this region. If you enjoy a very young wine, try Vinho Verde from the North. Calcos do Tanha from the Douro region is a good red wine as are Cozinha Velha, Esporão and Ma Partilha from Terra do Sado. Try one of the many excellent ports as a digestif.
Joining Instructions
Alternative Air TravelAlternative flights, onward rail to your holiday area, and connecting private transfers can be arranged from most UK airports. If you would like to use one of the many 'low cost' airlines, we can book these on your behalf (£30 admin fee per person). We can also book UK shuttles to connect with your onward flight, please call for details and prices. Alternative transfersIf you require alternative transfers (because you will be arriving at a different time to our standard flights), then we can usually arrange these for you (there may be an additional charge).
Transfer Details
Air-rail prices include our standard flights, onward rail and station transfersTAP Air Portugal Gatwick to Porto 11:50/14:10 then transfer to hotel 20 mins Return: Transfer to station 50 mins then rail Aveiro to Porto Campanha 14:02/14:36 and TAP Air Portugal to Gatwick 17:55/20:05. Standard transfersTransfers included from Porto airport at 14:10, and back to Aveiro station at 13:00.
Weather Information
Porto has a temperate maritime climate with a strong Mediterranean influence. The climate here is long, warm summers and mild winters, with most rain falling in the winter months, but possible in all other months. Seasons are marked, with pleasant temperatures in the spring, in the summer and in the autumn. Heat waves can push up temperatures between mid June and September.

Highlights