Follow scenic coastal routes cycling the Atlantic Coast of Portugal Blessed with sun-kissed beaches, colourful and vibrant fishing villages and scenic routes, the Atlantic Coast of Portugal offers some fantastic cycling holiday opportunities.
This tour starts in Porto, a UNESCO World Heritage city, and the
itinerary follows relatively easy flat or undulating cycling trails through a variety of landscapes and along the stunning coastline, with stops in different villages and towns for a full immersion in the relaxed Portuguese way of life. Highlights include a scenic ride through the dunes of the São Jacinto Natural Reserve and an overnight stay in the picture-perfect fortified village of Obidos. After a week of cycling along some of the best coastline of Portugal, a full day is dedicated to the visit of Lisbon, one of the most charming capital cities in the world.
Start in Porto. Depending on the time of your arrival, your leader will arrange a short orientation tour in the historic centre. Porto is a UNESCO World Heritage city and a real historic jewel with more than 150 listed monuments. There is plenty to see and for this reason we recommend travelling a day earlier if you are interested in exploring more of its vibrant centre. Before dinner, we will enjoy a guided visit and wine tasting at a traditional Port wine cellar. Overnight in Porto
This morning we leave the hustle and bustle of the city behind and immerse ourselves in the more peaceful atmosphere of the Atlantic shore. Starting from Porto, we will ride along the Douro River until
its estuary. We then follow the coast, mostly on cycling paths, enjoying some inspiring views of beautiful sandy beaches along the way. During this ride there will be some opportunities to stop for drinks or snacks in traditional Portuguese cafes, right by the Atlantic Ocean! After following a cycling path which crosses a pine tree forest, we reach lively Furadouro, a seaside town renowned for its excellent fish. Free time for a swim (seasonal), before riding to historic Ovar. The pretty town is famous for the glazed
tiles known as “azulejos”, which adorn many of the local houses in the old part of the town
Today’s ride follows the Aveiro lagoon and the nature reserve of Sao Jacinto, one of Europe’s last remaining untouched coastal marshland and habitat of numerous bird species. We pedal through a scenery of sandy beaches, marshland and rolling dunes peppered with grasses and creepers. This is home to a plethora of birds, insects, small animals and unusual flowers and plants. After a short transfer by ferry, we leave the lagoon and continue cycling to the small town of Costa Nova, a picturesque village characterised by multi-coloured striped houses. Our ride ends in the seaside town of Mira, known for its infinitely long beach rated as one of the best in Portugal
Today’s ride takes us through one of the biggest dune systems in the area covered in pine tree forest. The route is mainly flat or undulating and the roads quiet and peaceful making the cycling very pleasant. There is a final short but relatively steep climb up the beautiful Serra da Boa Viagem before reaching the
lively town of Figueira da Foz. The rest of the day is free to explore the town of Figuera da Foz and its extensive beach (nicknamed ‘Rainha das Praias’ – Queen of Beaches) – there are lots of lovely cafes and bars to enjoy a pre-dinner drink, and some excellent restaurants. Overnight in Figueira da Foz
Today we enter the Portuguese Silver Coast and ride a cycleway that follows the Estrada Atlântica (Atlantic Road). We’ll be riding mainly through pastoral land and the remains of vast pine forest, the Pinhal de Leiria (Leiria Pine Forest), which was originally planted in the 15th century to provide timber for the construction of the Portuguese shipbuilding industry during the Portuguese Discoveries. Unfortunately, vast areas of the forest were destroyed in 2017 by one of the fiercest forest fires in a century. Little more than 3,700 acres (1,500ha) remain from a total of 27,200 acres (11,000ha). Although maritime pine is considered a fast-growing tree, it will take many more years for the forest to regenerate. The tour company is supporting the regeneration of the forests, working with local schools and communities to replant trees.
On our exit from the forest, we take a coastal route in the afternoon to reach the picturesque town of São Pedro de Moel and enjoy time to relax at the beach or at the comfortable hotel with a sea view
This morning you can opt to either transfer or cycle (approx. 20km) to Nazaré, one of the most famous fishing towns in Portugal. Here fisherwomen still wear seven colourful layers of skirts, as well as wooden clogs and a traditional black headscarf. There will be the opportunity to enjoy some spectacular ocean views from the popular panoramic terrace. It was in Nazaré’s Praia Norte that the world record for the largest wave ever surfed was set, an estimated 30m high! From Nazare’ we ride all the way to Obidos, a charming small fortified town which resembles a medieval film set. It has been carefully preserved by its inhabitants who take real pride in maintaining the architectural image of the village characterised by narrow winding streets and white-washed houses.
The morning is free for further exploration of Óbidos and try not to leave town without trying the famous drink from the region, ginjinha, a sour cherry liqueur served in a small edible chocolate cup. After lunch we transfer (approximately one hour) to the great capital city of Lisbon; here we enjoy an orientation walk through the historic centre observing its beautiful architecture before the groups farewell dinner. Why not find a location after dinner to sample the traditional Fado music made famous from Lisbon
All prices double occupancy in Canadian Dollars. Subject to confirmation on booking
| Date | Price | Optional Single Supplement |
| May 18 | $3115 | $665 |
| May 25 | $3115 | $665 |
| June 1 | $3270 | $941 |
| June 8 | $3270 | $941 |
| June 15 | $3115 | $941 |
| June 22 | $3115 | $941 |
| Aug 31 | $3270 | $941 |
| Sept 7 | $3270 | $941 |
| Sept 14 | $3115 | $941 |
| Sept 21 | $3425 | $941 |
| Sept 28 | $3115 | $941 |
| Oct 5 | $2885 | $665 |
| Oct 19 | $2885 | $665 |
| Nov 2 | $2725 | $665 |
Route
This trip is classified as Road. Average daily distance: 55km (34miles) No. of days cycling: 5 We use mainly cycle paths and quiet roads where possible. Occasionally we will cross or ride along some busier roads. The first three rides are shorter, mainly flat and easy and on Day 4 the ride is longer and more hilly. The ride on day 6 has the most ascent as the terrain changes, but the pace will be slow, and with plenty of coffee and cake stops. A support vehicle (with limited seats) is available throughout the trip, however, it will not be able to follow the group at all times but it will meet you at the end of cycle paths and at junctions to give route directions and allow access to any items you don’t wish to carry on the bike. The trip will require a good level of fitness as some of the rides are on undulating roads with occasional steep but short ascents in places varying from 1 to 4km. We strongly encourage you to request an electric bike prior to departure (available for a supplement) if you have limited cycling experience. This would improve your experience and ensure the trip is led at a comfortable pace for everyone in the group.
This is a partner tour.
