Cycling Lisbon to Porto Via the Historic Interior

Our tour, Lisbon to Porto, which we just completed was simply amazing. Our leader, José and support driver, Rita were great. They knew the history of the region, had done the trip before and had many great insights along the way. The area of travel was a great combination of back roads, rail trails and quiet tarmac. The landscape was breathtaking. We availed ourselves of E mountain bikes and it made everyday just a nice workout instead of a punishing ride. Can't say enough about [the tour operator] and their partners. Great job to make this another memorable trip!

Our experience (again) with [the tour operator] has been excellent. The two guides that we had were so skillful in every way. That really made the tour complete. The beautiful route that we took in Portugal, we could have never found that ourselves. Really amazing and relaxing to feel that everything from beginning to end was well taking care of.

As the trip notes said: cycle from one idyllic medieval village to the next; enjoy rural scenes and wild landscapes well off the beaten path; be challenged by hilly terrain but rewarded with quintessential Iberian wining & dining; cozy accommodations; and unique experiences, including a train ride and boat cruise. This tour offered all that and SO MUCH MORE.

Our guides, Jose and Rita, were not just capable; they were smart and fun, and quickly had insight into our personalities and skills, working seamlessly as a happy team.

The bicycles were in great working order and well suited for the tour. Lightweight, and durable with appropriate gearing, the bikes were perfect for the terrain and landscape of picturesque rocky vineyards, cork and olive groves, vast fields of lavender, farmsteads, and villages. As someone who is not a mountain biker—no matter. Each of our group agreed the conditions were challenging, but manageable and, importantly, gave us access to postcard-worthy sights and quiet roads.

Snack stops were nicely timed and always in a scenic spot. Lunches were a good mix of restaurants and picnics: the picnics so tasty, beautifully displayed, and relaxing that I always looked forward to them.

We ended the trip sailing into Porto, greeted by Rita's friendly waves on shore. It was bittersweet to see her smile: we'd missed her on the cruise—and would now need to say goodbye to her, Jose, and our new beloved "family" of travelling companions.

I've described a small sampling of the tour. Simply put, from the moment we were greeted at our hotel by our friendly guides, to the very end, this will forever be a memorable, fantastic trip!

P.S. So nice to see efforts to reduce waste each day—particularly plastic water bottles.

When I signed up for this 6 day mountain bike tour through the rugged interior of Portugal, I'll admit I was feeling pretty apprehensive. I am an avid road bike cyclist and the thought of navigating hilly, off-road terrain on a mountain bike for nearly a week had me questioning what I'd gotten myself into. However, from the moment I started pedaling, my worries immediately went away.

First, our guides Jose and Rita were simply outstanding - both were incredibly knowledgeable about the region, its history, culture and every twist and turn of our routes. Both guides provided outstanding support throughout the ride - Rita was responsible for logistics including transporting our belongings and making sure we were well fed and fuelled during periodic rest stops and outstanding picnic lunches. Jose's encouragement and calm expertise gave me the confidence I needed to tackle each day's challenging ride.

And this was one challenging bike tour. The terrain was not easy to navigate, with endless hills, rocky paths and technical single-track that put my rudimentary mountain biking skills to the test. I was amazed at how quickly I adapted to riding a mountain bike over such extended distances and elevations. I have done several multi-day road bike tours and this tour was just as challenging as the hardest road bike tours I have ridden.

What made the difficulty level not just bearable but incredibly fun was the incredible scenery we pedaled through each day. From rolling vineyards to ancient olive groves, from quaint villages to rugged mountain forests, the landscapes of inland Portugal are breathtaking. Just as important was riding with a great group of riders of different skill levels who all got along with each other like we were lifelong friends.

Portugal's interior may be off the beaten tourist track, but it deserves to be firmly planted on any avid cyclist's bucket list. By the sixth day, I never wanted the journey to end. Thanks to Jose, and Rita (and my newfound mountain biking talents), this bike tour challenged me in ways I never expected while delivering an unforgettable biking adventure.