Portugal - Azure Ocean Ride Supported Leisure Bike Tour - 8 Days
E-Bike hire - £355pp
Bike hire - from £215pp
Single room surcharge - £445pp
Overview
This supported holiday explores the west coast of Portugal and has been designed to keep you away from the hustle and bustle of major cities. Instead the route takes you along secondary roads, narrow country lanes and cycle paths. Your GPS will lead you along the route and the support vehicle will never be far away meaning you can just relax and enjoy the views!
The route follows Portugal's stunning western coastline - all the way from north to south. You'll visit numerous beaches, fishing villages and historic towns, with beautiful pine tree forests almost always present on the left hand side of the road. Best of all are the magnificent, blue ocean views from above the cliffs, where the majority of your cycling takes place.
Although much of the route is leisurely, it does treat us to a few climbs throughout the week. We have e-bikes available for those who would like a little boost up those cheeky hills!
We also offer a self-guided version of this tour if you'd prefer to travel on alternative dates.
Highlights
Culture: Portugal is home to many festivals that revolve around their rich food culture and religion. Well known for its wine and cheeses and its colourful architecture.
Nature: Discover a cyclist's dream. Dazzling ocean views, soaring cliffs, sun-kissed beaches and fragrant pine forests combine to create an unforgettable cycling adventure.
Activity: Visit the traditional fishing villages of Furadouro, Praia da Vieira and Nazaré. Explore the historical, walled village of Obidos and the bustling beach resort of Santa Cruz.
Culinary: From traditional dishes like paella and tapas to unique local wines, the Peninsula offers a diverse and flavourful culinary journey. Be sure to try the famous Portuguese custard tarts!
Souvenir: Port or Filigree Jewelry from Porto.
Tour Gallery
Full Itinerary
Arrival into Porto Airport - (Transfer to Porto)
Following your arrival into Porto airport, you will be met by your guide(s) and transferred to your accommodation in the city of Porto (approx. 20 minutes). Porto is Portugal’s second largest city and is located in the estuary of the River Douro. Porto is well known for being the home of Port wine (it’s in the name!) so we’ll be sure to have a glass to salute our journey ahead. Once settled into our home for the night, your guide(s) will fit hire bikes and chat through the week to come.
Cycling Distance: 0 km
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Porto
Porto to Furadouro
After breakfast we'll ride on cycle paths alongside the River Douro, following both the north and south banks with marvellous views of the city, its bridges and the ocean. After pedalling through Gaia, Porto’s neighbouring city, our route continues south along bike lanes that stretch all the way to the seashore.
Half way through our journey today, we’ll stop and explore the bustling seaside town of Espinho, originally a small fishing village where you’ll still see some colourful boats on the sand. As we near the end of today’s ride, our route goes through less populated areas along the shore. Our home for the evening is a small beach hotel in the typical fishing village of Furadouro.
Cycling Distance: 41 km
Climb: 325 M
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Furadouro
Furadouro to Ilhavo
Today’s route leads us to Ria de Aveiro, a natural lagoon of sea water, that extends inland parallel to the coast for approximately 40 kms. The route follows a bike lane next to the road, nestled in between the lagoon and ocean providing us with stunning views as we pedal. Sticking close to the lagoon, we’ll have water, wildlife and tranquility to the left and villages, beach-resorts and Hollywood-style villas to the right – a wonderful contrast!
Halfway through the day’s cycling, we’ll reach the end of the lagoon and it’s time to rest our legs for a few minutes whilst we cross over to the other side on a ferry (Approx 2€ per person, not included in tour cost). Then it’s back on the bikes to continue along the lagoon, through many fishing villages along the south shore of Aveiro. Our destination tonight is Ilhavo, well-known for its glorious beaches and cod!
Cycling Distance: 50 km
Climb: 230 m
Meals: Breakast
Accommodation: Hotel in Ilhavo
Ilhavo to Figueira da Foz
We'll spend the first part of our day cycling along flat terrain on narrow roads through isolated areas and peaceful, pine forests. The second half of today’s route, however, requires a little more of our energy.
After cycling through the forest, we’ll make a stop in Quiaios, a rustic village situated on the foothill of the Serra de Boa Viagem mountain range. Then there’s a cheeky ascent with some steep sections. The climb is smooth and progressive and the ocean views from the top make the ride well worth it! Down the other side, we’ll reach Figueira da Foz and the largest, most famous beach along the west coast. Our hotel for the evening is located on the seafront, right on the beach and is the tallest building in town, offering you great views.
Cycling Distance: 66 km
Climb: 650 m
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Figueira da Foz
Figueira da Foz to São Pedro de Moel
In order to reach some more relaxing cycle lanes, we begin our day by travelling across the River Mondego over the main road bridge (don’t worry, you can cycle on a side path alongside the road, keeping away from the traffic). After following the road for a couple of miles, we’ll once again be cycling along narrow country roads inside pine tree forests – these will take us all the way to the coastline again!
Along the way, we’ll pass through Praia de Vieira. If we time it right we might head over to the far end of the beach where we'll be able to help the fishermen pull their nets from the ocean. The day’s catch will be sold at the local fish market - you can’t get fresher than that. The fish you’ll taste in this area really is the best! Our hotel tonight boasts a cliff top location, overlooking the beach.
Cycling Distance: 60 km
Climb: 500 m
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in São Pedro de Moel
São Pedro de Moel to Óbidos
This morning’s ride will take us along bike lanes following the coast line, with magnificent views of the ocean. The most amazing views will come once we reach the village of Sitio, where we’ll make a quick stop, as the viewpoint in the centre of the village is a must! The frame is composed of the town of Nazaré in the foreground and you can see miles and miles of stunning shoreline with the deep blue ocean and crashing waves in the background. Really something not to be missed!
We’ll then descend to Nazaré, one of the most famous fishing villages along the western shoreline, which also boasts one of the region's most beautiful beaches. Moving south, the flat terrain we’ve left behind gives way to a more undulating landscape, with a few hills to climb. Our reward - more beautiful views! Today’s ride finishes in Óbidos, a village surrounded by castle walls, bursting with history and medieval culture.
Cycling Distance: 65 km
Climb: 680 m
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Óbidos
Óbidos to Vimeiro
Following breakfast we'll ride west towards the town of Peniche. Here we’ll cycle a short loop around the coastline of the peninsula of Carvoeiro, giving us magnificent views to the high cliffs and the distant islands of Berlengas. Our route then continues south along a narrow road next to the shoreline. We'll meander through neighbouring coastal villages towards the beach of Areia Branca.
The ride to tonight's destination is varied and the latter part takes us through a canyon ending at the beach of Porto Novo. Our hotel overlooks the ocean from its cliff-top position.
Cycling Distance: 63km
Climb: 680 m
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Vimeiro
Departure from Vimeiro - (Transfer to Lisbon Airport)
After a leisurely breakfast at our hotel, your guides will whisk you away to Lisbon airport (approx one hour) for your flight home.
Cycling Distance: 0km
Meals: Breakfast
Download the Itinerary PDF here
All distances are approximate. Our tours often go off the beaten track and follow routes that are not always predictable. We cannot always guarantee the weather. For these reasons we may occasionally have to update our itineraries. We will only do this to improve your experience or for safety reasons. Our listed accommodation is always accurate at the time of writing but should we need to change you can rest assured that it will be for similar or better. Display price may differ to what is quoted as this tour is invoiced in the currency stated, and can be dynamic with daily exchange rates.
The Details
- 7 nights accommodation (shared twin / double en suite rooms) in high quality hotels
- Meals: as per the itinerary
- Support vehicle, driver and luggage transfers
- Group airport transfer on scheduled arrival day from Porto airport (OPO)
- Group airport transfer on scheduled departure day to Lisbon airport (LIS)
- GPS routes provided
- Flights, airport taxes, passport & visa expenses
- Meals not listed in the itinerary
- Bike hire (available at extra cost)
- Single room surcharge
- Travel insurance (compulsory)
- Optional trips, sightseeing tours & entrance fees
- Pre and post tour nights
- Personal expenses & drinks
- Airport transfers on days other than the scheduled arrival / departure days
- Tips for guide(s) and drivers, support staff
These trips are for the recreational cyclist with a good level of fitness who rides regularly and is looking for a bit more of a challenge.
These trips have more variety in day to day riding, and include longer or more challenging climbing days as well as sections of varying terrain (eg. forest tracks, gravel paths etc)
90% of this tour follows the coast. For the first couple of days the route takes you along mostly flat terrain. As the week progresses, the landscape gets more rugged and you’ll have some longer, steep climbs to conquer. Day 6 will pose the biggest challenge, being one of the longest and hilliest.
Around 35% of the route is traffic free on separated cycle paths. The rest is on the road. Parts of the road route has designated cycle lanes and some you’ll be riding with traffic.
While most roads are quiet, there will be some busier sections, particularly as you head into and out of towns. Riders will need to be confident in some traffic.
For this tour we recommend a hybrid bike, however road bikes can be used, if preferred (with slick or semi slick tyres (25mm/ 1 inch or wider). If you‘re looking for a more relaxed cycling experience, opting for an e-bike will help those cheeky climbs up to the scenic views on days 6 and 7 feel a bit easier. E-bikes can also help when riding in the heat.
Please note if opting for an e-bike the pace of riding will be set by the hybrid riders.
If you're unsure about anything, please see our FAQs page for extra information.
FAQsBooking information
Participants will be asked to complete a booking form after confirmation of their booking.
BOOKING CONDITIONS
To ensure the trip's viability with our suppliers, a minimum number of participants is usually required. Upon submitting your booking request, we will provide specifics regarding minimum numbers. Following trip confirmation, you may proceed with flight bookings and other travel arrangements. A ‘Limited’ trip status signifies limited spaces available. For trip status inquiries, kindly email or call our office.
DEPOSITS AND PAYMENTS
A deposit is required to secure your place on your selected tour departure. On receipt of your deposit, Global Cycling Adventures will email you a confirmation to verify your travel arrangements and advise final payment details. The final payment is normally required 60 days before departure date unless otherwise specified.
CANCELLATIONS & AMENDMENTS
All tour cancellations will require notification in writing to Global Cycling Adventures by the person participating on the tour. Please be advised that booking cancellations or amendments will incur relevant fees. Cancellation charges are tour-specific and timing-dependent. For a comprehensive outline of our terms and conditions, including the cancellation policy, please refer to the travel proposal provided by our team.
We recommend that you purchase cancellation insurance on payment of your tour deposit in case unforeseen circumstances force you to cancel your tour.
OVERSEAS JURISDICTION AND TERMS
For all overseas tours, the terms and conditions, laws, and jurisdiction of the destination country will apply. By booking a tour with us, you acknowledge and agree that local regulations, industry practices, and terms specific to the destination country may supersede or modify our standard terms. It is your responsibility to understand and comply with all applicable local laws and regulations while participating in the tour.
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After 6 trips with Global Cycling this has to be up with the best! Mike our guide was outstanding. This tour was unforgettable, enough excitement without being dangerous, with very good quality hotels, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend.
Kristine & Ron
This was my first major overseas trip, and WOW what an experience. The trip was really well organised. I felt safe all the time, and the guides made sure that they took excellent care of us. We always knew what was happening and the non-cycling excursions were fantastic. I can't wait to do my next trip!
Kim Hamill
Excellent tour great to have 2 days at some places! Good mates and loads of fun! Rene was amazing - seems to really enjoy seeing the regular faces, always cheerful and ready to help!
Helene Hudson
The Croatian Islands are truly beautiful, each one with its own unique feel. We were lucky, due to an itinerary change, to also see the island of Brac. We met a great group of people on the tour and shared so much fun & laughter with them.The ceaseless attention and hard work of our guides (Toni & Josh) and their support crew (Captain Pave & his team) ensured that the week was absolutely amazing!
Sue & Geoff Welsh
The trip was, as expected, fantastic. Weather great, food great, company great, and fabulous accommodation. It was nice to be able to get in from a long days ride, and have a nana nap in a really nice hotel. ... on the last day I rode one of the new fangled e-bikes for the last stage into Santiago, and am now a convert. My road bike will probably never go on another tour. What a revelation. ... So in closing, probably one of the best tours I’ve been, I thoroughly enjoyed it and would absolutely recommend it to anyone.
John Hedge
I keep coming back because of the excellent service and results. They truly care about their clients and it shows in their work.
Great experience overall! The staff was friendly and knowledgeable, making the process smooth and enjoyable. I am very satisfied with the results.
Fantastic service! I was impressed by how quickly they responded to my inquiries and the quality of the final product. Highly recommend!
Excellent trip. I can't give Jo (tour leader) enough praise for the job he did and the support he gave us. The conditions for the majority of our trip were really challenging (weather-wise), and he was always there with a positive and friendly attitude. Ten stars!!! Lorna (guide) was incredible plus her salads were divine. The day cycling through Edinburgh was amazing, I so loved it in every way. The history, the miles of cycle paths - we went straight through the city center - just fabulous. I also loved Scone Palace for tea and scones, and cycling into Bettyhill - a relaxed day of beautiful scenery and easy riding. Guide lunches and snacks fantastic - so thoughtful and tasty for hungry riders!!
Wendy Norwood
Had an epic trip.
Well organised, great food, super accommodation, brilliant guides.
Bloody amazing Weather.
So pretty happy.
Maree
Super well organised - guide’s were very attentive to us all.
Super weather 1hr of rain for the whole 22days - John-o Groats was 14 degrees sunny, no wind, beautiful.
Well fed - morning and afternoon teas and lunches too.
Well worth the effort.
A great way to see the country at a slower pace.
Andrew
Andrew and I enjoyed our time in Madagascar immensely. The team were very well organised (in the context of the general chaos that is Madagascar!)
Naina, Tina, Fenu and Tulca were all excellent, and went to great lengths to make sure that we were having the best experience possible.
The route was very interesting and traversed evolving landscapes and communities as we headed South.
The rides were interspersed with non-riding days, that had hikes or interesting stopovers and/or gave us exposure to native flora and fauna.
The team provided excellent fresh food each day, with great variety and plenty.
Peter and Andrew
“We would highly recommend Global Cycling Adventures golf tour to Scotland. Our trip was very well organized playing a range of challenging Links courses on Scotland’s East Coast.
The Hotels, transport and staff were superb. A golf enthusiasts dream come true!”
Chris and Judy James
It was our first tour and was way above expectations---thank you
Bill & Christine
The overall experience was wonderful. A mix of fantastic scenery, daily exertion on the bikes, excellent tour guides who blended history ,geography and language with ensuring all participants were treated well.
Kees and Monica Haverkamp
This is a thank you and a huge recommendation to anyone interested in seeing Croatia the way we did with Global Adventure Guide. Everything about our trip in September was perfect, the boat, the guides, the food, the riding and Croatia itself was awesome. Our global adventure was brilliant!!
Ros
I enjoyed the Croatia bike and sail tour very much - making new friends, learning to e-bike and the beautiful warm clear azure blue sea are great memories of the trip for me.
Gary
The guides and crew were exceptional on our tour. I can’t say enough about how pleasant they all were.
Courtney Fraser
The tour guides and all crew made the experience exceptional. We chose this tour so that I had the option of either the Ebike or ordinary and ended up deciding each day which I would choose depending on the climbs.
Kate Williams
Fellow cyclists were a great bunch, we were lucky that we all got on so well, a lot of laughs. The most clearest of water and to be able to swim off the back of the boat, fab.
Chris Cantwell
Our special experience was the close encounter with the Lemurs at small nature reserve of Anja exceeded expectations.
Mora Mora.
Alistair and Ann
The group was very good, good atmosphere and help from all participants.
Jef Raus
The whole tour was fantastic. Loved the food/culture/people and of course the bike riding. The support from staff during the tour was beyond the call of duty and the local guides were wonderful.
Greg Griffith
It was excellent! Our tour leader was helpful on every front, plus we had 5 others as part of the support team. They all worked really well together, were lovely and made things seamless for us. We ate really well, the lunches they prepared for us on the road were great, I might even say they were the best I had on a cycling tour. The restaurants they picked for the restaurant meals were good choices to give us some variety.
The routes were generally good, giving us a nice variety of landscapes and towns. To my surprise (I’m not much into hiking) I enjoyed the hikes and parks on the non-cycling days, particularly the latter 2. I wanted lemurs and I got many as well as cool other creatures in those parks as well as in our stay at Camp Catta (great location).
Our group got along really well & friendships were made. Anyway, it was a great trip, I am really happy with the experience. So a big thank you for everything!
Linda S
I have done a few bike trips with GCA and Costa Rica/Panama lived up to the usual high standards. We had excellent care and service from the local guide (Mike) and his crew. The biking highlight for me was descending the Irazú volcano, a drop of some 2000 meters on excellent road. Some non riding highlights would be Ziplining through the tropical rainforest.
Robin Morton
The Costa Rica/Panama cycle tour was a magnificent blend of biking and exploring these two countries hitting all the high points, from sandy beaches on the coast to active volcanoes in the interior as well as numerous other activities, including rafting, exploring wildlife in the immense jungles and of course the canal; couldn't think of a better way to do it, Global Cycling put together a truly memorable itinerary. Amazing to think what was packed in to just two weeks!
Martin Moore
I want to give a big shout out to Ralph and Global Cycling Adventures (GCA) for the recent bike tour through Costa Rica and into Panama. This was our second tour with GCA (following a tour through Vietnam and into Cambodia back in 2019). My wife and I joined the Costa Rica tour with 15 others and had a blast. Throw some zip-lining and white water rafting in and there was something new and different every day. A highly recommended this tour for those who want to experience Central America through Costa Rica into Panama via MTB.
Matthew Riordan
Enjoyed the Gobi Desert with visits to Flaming Red Cliffs and Singing Dunes. The friendly locals and the little 'treats' they gave us.
Greg Griffith
An amazing experience for a keen mountain biker who has been with Global Adventures for several trips throughout the world and for years to come. My wife also loves the way she is catered for as a non-biker. The experience starts with the promotional material, then the detailed notes, the trip itself and the final celebratory dinner.
John Brannock
This trip was an awesome adventure to a very special unique country. The nomadic people showed us how simple yet rewarding life can be, in what can be a very harsh environment.
Ann & Alistair Bennett
A very special challenging 3 weeks spent in a gorgeous part of the world with awesome company. To quote the feelers "It's as good as it gets".
Pete Richards
Fantastic trip. Cycling the HCM trail was superb. We understand many of the cycling trips are only down the southern coastal route but the northern sector from HaNoi down the HCM trail is a must. Highly recommend Global Adventure.
Ross
The whole thing was special for us, we had a great time. Great group of people.
Eddie and Anita Corrigan
Ajaccio to Calvi was one of the best road rides I've done anywhere, Excellent mountain roads, well graded climbs, coupled with great scenery, through a world heritage area & overlooking the Mediterranean.The Sardinian Island of San Pietro was nice riding and very interesting from a traditional cultural perspective.Robert, our guide was extremely helpful and looked after the riders very well. He was attentive but still allowed us to do our own thing. VERY safety conscious which is crucial.
John
The wonderful scenery & the choice of towns/cities were well researched. We both had a great time.
Marianne & John
Our special experience: Mingling with the "real" people of Africa and realising how lucky we are in NZ. Our in- house quote was DIA, meaning 'dis is Africa!
Alistair & Ann
Twice on tour I had the best day of my life!
Gary
The people were wonderful - so friendly, the children would run from far in the fields to see us on our bikes for lots of high 5's. The game drives were amazing, we saw so much in Ngorongoro and Lake Manyara...I loved Tanzania and this experience got me out of my comfort zone
Murray Booth
If you could hand pick your group you would never come up with a team like this one. The biking is the catalyst but it was so much fun that some days, the face and the sides hurt more than the legs.
It seemed that most of the time there was a thrilling view or a surprise around every corner.
The inclusion of some iconic cultural and heritage sites into the program is a highlight.
Carolyn & Warren Mckenzie
So many special experiences with lots of "Firsts" ie. 141kms in one day!!!! Klaus and Sabine's dedication to us, making it such an awesome experience with their ongoing help in explaining and interpreting local customs and language.
Alistair and Anne
If you want a tour where every day is different, the scenery stunning and the distances long enough that you have earned that extra piece of apple strudel then this is the tour for you!
Vicki
The trip exceeded my expections and we all loved Hoa. He was perfect for our group! Even the things out of our control (weather, flights being on time, etc) went perfect.
Kymberly Lehenbauer USA
We had an amazing time on our trip and would like to take this opportunity to say how great the three guides were. They looked after us so well, providing snacks, checking our bikes and ensuring that our experiences were outstanding. I have no hesitation in recommending this tour and the Halong Bay trip to anyone that will listen. Thank you to you for your part in the organization of our trip as well.
Peter
I thought the Island of Corsica was the highlight. Cycling predominately near the coastline,and the deep blue of the Mediteranean was very picturesque. Looking forward to the next trip.
Graeme Oakley
Everything was done very well. South Africa is a magical destination for cyclists.
Sue Semple-Rowland
The e-bikes certainly enhanced our enjoyment of the spectacular journey this tour offers. Totally would recommend e-bikes on this tour!
Alistair & Ann Bennett
Overall the tour was excellent!
David Williams
My special experience of the tour was: My decision to go with the ebike. Great experience using the Stromer. Made my holiday very enjoyable.
Cheryl Van
The whole tour was fantastic. Loved the food/culture/people and of course the bike riding. The support from staff during the tour was beyond the call of duty and the local guides were wonderful.
Greg Griffith
Destination excellent, fellow passengers like a family outing, very congenial atmosphere.
Fantastic experience and great scenery.
Great fun and a wonderful way to sight-see.
Top notch, as good as it gets. A very special trip spreading the Kiwi love.
We had an awesome time in both Bhutan & Sikkim. The cycling was hard in both places - either up or down - there is no flat - but the scenery, people, culture etc. made all the effort worthwhile.
The guides and crew were exceptional on our tour. I can’t say enough about how pleasant they all were.
A great blend of adventure, fun and social activity!
What an incredible romp through Bavaria and along the Danube! An amazing journey of changing sights and sounds, whether biking through meadows accompanied to the sound of cow bells, past castle ruins, under historic Abbeys, through vineyards, or alongside the mighty Danube it was never a dull moment.
Why Travel with global cycling adventures?
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Connect with ease. Our dynamic New Zealand based agency specialises in elevating your international cycling and golf getaways.
Tried and trusted
We have over 20 years experience and many of our clients tour with us year after year. Several clients have done over 25 tours with us.
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We value the privilege to explore the world by bike. We partner with organisations and people that behave with respect and awareness to minimise any negative impact.
Giving Back
We believe our tours should improve life for the people and places we visit and leave a positive impact. We work in partnership with local people and providers who have local knowledge.
