Minho to Porto self-guided bike tour

Eight days cycling from the mountains of northern Portugal down to the Atlantic coast at Porto, following the Minho, Lima and Douro rivers as they change character along the way. You ride at your own pace, self-guided, with route options that let you choose an easier or longer, tougher day depending on how your legs feel.

The region moves from Peneda-Gerês National Park through mountain villages and fortified historic towns, then out to fishing villages and golden-sand beaches before finishing in Porto. Food is a big part of it — mountain cooking inland, fresh fish and shellfish on the coast, all washed down with local Vinho Verde.

This is a private, self-guided trip, so it suits people who want to move through a region independently, at their own rhythm, with plenty of chances to talk to locals along the route — fishermen, farmers, shopkeepers, and the people running your accommodation.

What you'll do

• Cycle through Peneda-Gerês National Park, home to the Iberian wolf
• Explore fortified historic towns and traditional mountain villages
• Taste Vinho Verde at vineyards along the route
• Ride through fishing villages and golden sandy beaches on the coast
• Browse handicrafts and hand-painted pottery in Barcelos
• Finish in Porto, a UNESCO World Heritage city