Duero River from Spain to Portugal Bike and Wine Tour

Your Bike Spain Tours guide will pick you up from your hotel in Madrid, and we’ll travel together by van to Sepúlveda, in the province of Segovia. This charming medieval town was most affluent in the 11th and 12th centuries, as evidenced by the splendid architectural legacy dating back to this era.

From Sepúlveda, we’ll continue to the stunning gorges of the Duratón river, Las Hoces del Duratón, set in their own protected Natural Park, populated by eagles and vultures. Our route takes us around the Natural Park, following the course of the Duratón river past centuries-old castles and windmills and eventually through vineyards as we enter the Protected Designation of Origin wine region of Ribera del Duero.

We’ll spend the night in one of the best-preserved 12th century Cistercian monasteries in Europe. Overlooking the Duero River, the views from the hotel stretch across over the surrounding vineyards and countryside.

Tonight, we’ll celebrate the start of our bike and wine tour with a delicious dinner together at our hotel.

We’ll start our ride in the town of Pesquera del Duero, known for growing some of the best grapes in the region, and dedicated almost exclusively to wine production.

From here, we’ll follow the course of the Duero river through a sea of vineyards, finishing at the historic fortified town of Peñafiel, one of the region’s centres of wine production. The town’s castle, the oldest part of which dates back to the 9th century, has been repurposed into a Wine Museum.

From Peñafiel, we’ll head to a nearby bodega, where we’ll enjoy a guided tour and tasting, followed by a fabulous lunch of traditional Castilian fare, paired with the bodega’s very own wines.

In the evening, we’ll enjoy a gourmet dinner of traditional fare in a refurbished historic windmill.

Due to its strategic location, Toro has been of great importance over the centuries: a stronghold for the Moors and then the Christians in medieval times. The town is built in the shape of a fan, and offers views of the surrounding fertile plains, known as the Oasis of Castile.

From Toro, we’ll jump on our bikes and enjoy a gentle ride through picturesque, agricultural countryside with lots of sprawling vineyards. Toro is a relatively new wine-making region, which is slowly gaining recognition. Today’s route ends with a delicious lunch at a local winery in Toro.

Tonight, we’ll stay at the luxurious Valbusenda Hotel Bodega and Spa*****, where you can enjoy fabulous views of the surrounding vineyards from your room, and pamper yourself with the soothing properties of the local grape at the wine spa.

Dinner tonight is included at the hotel restaurant.

After breakfast, we’ll travel by van around the spectacular La Almendra dam, one of the biggest in Europe.

We’ll hop on our bikes and follow the course of the river across the border into Portugal. Our cycle route takes us through the Arribes del Duero Natural Park, recognised as a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO due to the huge variety of flora and fauna that inhabit the area. Keep a look out for the famous black storks! We will also enjoy spectacular scenery as the river courses through a deep canyon, which marks the division between Spain and Portugal.

After crossing the border near the Salto de Saucelle dam, we’ll follow the river (now called the Douro in Portuguese) towards the beautiful riverside town of Barca d’Alva, surrounded by terraced vineyards and picturesque olive and almond groves. This area offers some of the best birdwatching in Portugal: buzzards, falcons, swifts, and black storks and nesting eagles!

We’ll enjoy lunch in Barca d’Alva before travelling by van to our final destination, the beautiful medieval village of Colmeal, which is just a stone’s throw away from our eco-friendly hotel.

Tonight, we’ll enjoy our first dinner in Portugal together at a nearby taverna.

Our day begins with a visit to one of the most interesting archaeological sites in Europe. The Côa Valley is home to over a thousand outcrops with rock art, predominantly from the Upper Paleolithic, dating back to 30.000 years ago. The valley comprises a fascinating open-air prehistoric art gallery, set in a spectacular location above the Douro river, and has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

From here we make our way to the start of today’s bike ride, a beautiful route along quiet roads, with vineyards blanketing the landscape. We’ll reach the Douro River Valley at the beautiful town of Pinhão, where we’ll be able to enjoy spectacular views of the terraced vineyards that cover the valley slopes. We’ll make a stop here for lunch, before continuing to pedal through beautiful landscapes to our hotel, set in a vineyard of its own.

Tonight, we’ll enjoy a delicious dinner at our hotel, paired with locally-produced port wine.

On arrival in Peso da Regua, known as the Port wine capital, we will visit a beautiful port wine quinta, for a guided wine tasting and a lunch of delicious local fare – the perfect opportunity to relive the week’s biking adventures.

After lunch, your Bike Spain guide will say goodbye to you as they make their way back to Madrid. You will travel by van to the colourful city of Porto, where you will spend the final night of your bike and wine tour.

Enjoy a morning at leisure in the beautiful UNESCO World Heritage city of Porto.

Arrival airport: Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas (MAD)

Direct flights to Madrid are available from a number of destinations worldwide.

Your guides will pick you up from Madrid airport, or your city centre hotel, and transfer you by van to the start of the tour in Peñafiel.

Please consult with your Bike Spain Tours travel coordinator if you wish to book extra nights in Madrid before the start of the tour. Some of our favourite hotels are:

• Ocean Drive Madrid****: Elegant, modern option with a rooftop pool.
• Petit Palace Posada del Peine****: Charming historic option, in operation for over 400 years.

Departure airport:

Porto-Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport (OPO)

Direct flights are available from Porto to a number of destinations worldwide.

You might also consider taking a train from Porto to Lisbon (approx. 3 hours) and flying out of Lisbon (LIS).