Portugal: Douro and Minho Wine Country

† Explanation of BAC Ride Fee – This fee is not included in the Estimated Cost and is non-refundable once submitted. The Ride Fee for US and Canada is $85 and $100 for all other countries, both are per participant.

Ride Description

SUMMARY:  Portugal is one of Europe’s best-kept secrets. This BAC trip through northern Portugal explores the UNESCO World Heritage Douro Valley, famous for Port wine, and then moves into the Minho Valley, with its terraced hillsides and beautiful National Park. The tour finishes in Spain along the Rias Baixas coast.

We begin at the top of the Serra da Estrela, mainland Portugal’s highest mountain.  Passing through ancient stone villages guarded by granite-toothed mountains, we reach the terraced landscape of the Rio Douro (Golden River).  Along the way, we will ride through the glacial Zazére Valley, tour the Burel wool factory, visit a traditional olive oil mill and a wine museum, and learn how to prepare “tapas Portuguesas” at a country wine estate! Besides biking in the Douro Valley, we’ll cruise down the Rio Douro on a traditional rabelo boat.  

A short charter bus transfer brings us to the Minho Region at the heart of the vinho verde wine country. The countryside has a unique look, with terraced hillsides covered by granite-trellised vineyards. Our riding takes us through fertile river valleys, handsome granite villages, and the mountain wilderness of Peneda-Geres National Park. Crossing the border into Spain brings us to the Atlantic along the Galician coast. We will cycle along its wild coastline and visit mystical Celtic ruins and the Chan de Lagoa nature reserve.

Throughout our tour we will have plenty of opportunity to sample the local tinto (red), branco (white), and verde (green or young) wines.

Most of our stays are at luxurious wine estates, boutique hotels and historic manor houses. But there is one night where we will stay in a less luxurious accommodation where not all rooms have private bathrooms and solos (singles who pay extra for a private room) may have to share a room for just this one night.  Our last 3 nights are in the town of Baiona (Spain) at a four-star parador overlooking the bay from the medieval walled Monterreal Fortress. It was here that the Pinta brought the first news of the discovery of America. 

This tour was customized for BAC by Easy Rider Tours, who has run two previous Portugal tours for the club. It combines the best of their Douro & Port Wine Country and Minho Grape Escape tours.

LOGISTICS:  The trip meets in the late afternoon on June 17 at Penhas Douradas (near the town of Manteigas) where the introductions and the first group dinner will take place. Penhas Douradas can be reached via a train from Lisbon to the town of Coviha, then taxi to Penhas Douradas. 

The trip ends at mid-day on June 30 in Porto, Portugal.  After breakfast on June 30, a bus will transport riders and all their luggage (including packed bicycles) from Baiona, Spain, to Porto, Portugal.  This transfer is included in the cost of the tour.

RIDE RATING:  Most daily routes were planned with the intent of providing enough time to fully enjoy the scenery and sites along the way.  But do not be fooled.  This is a hilly tour (especially in the Douro area) and there are occasional steep climbs that exceed 8%.  The 3A ride rating is based on 7 mandatory days of riding of which there are several easy days interspersed with some hard days. 

DAY    MILEAGE      ELEVATION 

02        55 miles         3559 feet      

03        32 miles         2994 feet      

04        20 miles         1750 feet      

06        18 miles         1203 feet                  

08        23 miles         3045 feet      

09        43 miles         4204 feet      

10        32 miles         2360 feet      

There may be options for additional miles on the shorter days and there will be riding options for the non-mandatory riding days.

ROAD CONDITIONS AND BICYCLES:  27-speed hybrid bicycle rentals are available from Easy Rider Tours -- arrangement must be made directly with Easy Rider Tours. 

There are many town centers on our route that are paved in cobblestones.  If you bring your own bike, the recommended tire width is 28mm to accommodate the cobblestones.  A 25 mm tire may work (with some walking) but tire widths less than that are discouraged.  You also need to bring spare tubes and any items that may be non-standard or unique to your bike.  

A maximum of 2 tandems can be accommodated by the van when we transition from the Douro to the Minho.  If you plan to bring a tandem, please notify the ride leader via email when you apply for the ride. 

Storage of bike cases during the tour, and transfer of the cases from the start location to Baiona, Spain, is included in the cost of the tour.

WEATHER: Average low temperatures in June are in the mid-70s and the average highs are in the low-80s F.  Although rain is less likely during June, rain can happen at any time.

COST AND ADMINISTRATION:  The cost of the trip is $3,700 and includes:  13 nights lodging with breakfasts, 10 group dinners including wine, snacks at social hours, maps, cue sheets, GPS files, daily luggage transfer, emergency van pick-up, bike box storage/transfer, bus transfer from Baiona, Spain to Porto, Portugal, boat cruise with lunch, and 2 picnic lunches. A suggested tip for the guides is included in the cost but the final tip details will be discussed during one of the happy hours.  Due to hotel restrictions, there will be a cash bar at most social hours.  Not included in the cost are drinks at social hours and transportation to Penhas Douradas.

The first deposit of $1,400 will be due within 2 weeks of acceptance on the ride.  The second deposit of $1,400 will be due September 1, 2016.  The last deposit will be due January 1, 2017.   A solo single supplement is an additional $850 and is due with the second payment on September 1, 2016.  

SINGLES & SOLOS:  Single participants are welcome on this trip whether sharing a room with another single or you choose to pay the solo supplement for a room of your own.  Due to room configurations, only 2 solo rooms can be accommodated on this trip.  Also, as noted above, there is one night where solos may have to share a room.

If you are a single or solo, please send the ride leader an email when you apply for the ride to let her know (a) you are a single who has a room mate in mind and the name of the room mate, or (b) you are a single who wishes to share a room but do not have a room mate, or (c) you wish to pay the solo supplement for a room of your own. If you do not have a roommate in mind, the ride leader will assist you by providing names of other singles seeking a roommate who have signed up or indicated an interest in the trip.  No single who wishes to have a room mate will be moved to the participant list until a room mate is identified and both deposits have been received.

CANCELLATION POLICY: The BAC ride registration fee is not refundable unless the entire tour is cancelled.  Refunds for cancellations will depend upon whether a replacement rider signs up and/or on costs that can be recouped. The amount refunded will be based on the principle that the tour’s remaining participants will not incur any additional cost as a result of cancellations. If a canceling participant cannot be replaced, any refund will be determined after the ride and the final expense report is completed.   If a single participant cancels and a replacement roommate cannot be found, the cancelling roommate will be liable for the single supplement fee of the roommate remaining on the tour in addition to any other costs that cannot be recouped.

Since Easy Rider Tours will make reservations for BAC, the cancellation policy for the Easy Rider Tour fee portion of the cost for participants who are not replaced is as follows: 

• 45 – 90 days before the start of the trip: 50% refund
• <45 days before the start of the trip:  no refund

RIDE PARTICIPANT RESPONSIBILITY: The most important rider responsibility is to read and fully understand the ride description.  BAC tours depend on participants providing much of their own support.  The primary purpose of the support vehicle is to transfer luggage, not for people who do not feel like riding.  Riders will only be transported if sick or injured, have a major mechanical problem, scheduled transfers, or for anyone who gives it the good old college try and simply runs out of time. 

Participants are expected to come to the ride well trained, in good health and ready to accomplish the required daily riding using well-maintained bicycles.   All participants should accept responsibility for a safe and enjoyable tour.  Respond promptly to calls for payments and emails from the ride leader.  Do not interfere with the ride by inviting non-participants onto any portion of the ride or tour.  Keep the ride leader informed of any special request you might have and respect the ride leader’s decisions.  Request immediate clarification or assistance before and during the tour rather than waiting to complain at the end of the tour.

SIGN UP: To submit a request to join this ride use the links displayed above the Ride Description. When you are accepted, the Ride Leader will move you from the Waitlist to the Pending List, and you will receive an email notification to login to the BAC website to sign the release of liability (ROL) and pay the non-refundable BAC ride registration fee online. You will also be notified by the Ride Leader regarding the payment details for the initial deposit.  When your deposit check has cleared your bank (for both riders in the case of double occupancy), the Ride Leader will move you to the Participants list. Contact the Ride Leader with any questions: andersonbobcarol@comcast.net or 978-270-5438 (before 9 PM ET).