13-DAY TRIP/10 DAYS OF CYCLING
Highlights of this guided cycle tour (new for 2020) include a really diverse mix of landscapes and a chance to ride the country’s best ‘rail trail’, plus visits to Roman ruins, a stunning Knights Templar fortress and two major historic cities.
This trip starts from Portugal’s highest city of Guarda and ends at sea level in an Atlantic beach resort.
Introduced for 2020, this route explores Portugal’s rugged central region during the late spring. Starting in the wild, hilly country of the Beira region, we visit castles and small villages as well as the cities of Viseu and Coimbra, before following the Mondego river towards the Atlantic.
Like all our tours, this trip will be led by my wife and I, following a route we’ve designed ourselves based on our personal knowledge of Portugal. Scroll down to read more.
Castle walls at Trancoso
Why this tour?
This new route is a chance to explore some of the highlights of central Portugal, from the hill country near the Spanish border to the pine trees and sandy beaches of the Atlantic coast.
Starting close to the northern end of Portugal’s highest mountain range, the Serra da Estrela, the route initially goes north through the wild and rugged countryside of the high Beira region, visiting small towns and villages with some picturesque castles.
Turning south-west, we head for the ancient city of Viseu, known as a centre for sacred art as well as for the region’s Dão wines. Occupied since pre-Roman times, Viseu has a wealth of history and architecture but was also recently voted Portugal’s best city to live in and has an increasingly bustling nightlife.
We continue south on the Ecopista do Dão – an old railway line that’s been converted into a wonderful off-road cycle path. This takes us into the valley of the Mondego, one of the biggest rivers flowing down out of the Serra da Estrela. We keep following the Mondego to Coimbra, which was Portugal’s capital for more than a century and is still home to one of the world’s oldest universities.
Turning south, there’s an opportunity to visit Portugal’s most significant Roman ruins at Conimbriga and to follow sections of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route (the wrong way!) towards Tomar, home to the magnificent, UNESCO-listed Convento de Cristo, a former abbey/fortress once belonging to the Knights Templars.
For the last two days of the tour, we turn roughly west, crossing the hills of a major natural park, visiting historic Batalha, before heading out to the coast and ending at the small beach resort of Foz do Arelho.
Distances & Difficulty
The daily rides range from around 45-70km (28-44 miles). There are no major mountain ranges involved but the ride is not flat and most days involve a reasonable amount of climbing.
Note: The main riding days should present no major challenges for anyone who is reasonably fit and used to cycling. However, riders must be able to cycle the relevant distances on consecutive days.
Weather
We will be riding in late spring when the typical weather is starting to get quite warm (hot). Most days you can expect temperatures well into the 20s Celsius (70-80°F), but afternoon highs can reach around 33°C (91°F). Some thundery downpours are likely put prolonged periods of rain are not normal.
Where do we go?
The tour zigzags across the width of Portugal, from close to the Spanish border to the Atlantic coast.
We will ride from the wild hill country of the Beira region and follow one of Portugal’s biggest river valleys, visiting ancient towns and cities, castles and abbeys, before reaching the coast at Foz do Arelho.
Although not car-free, as much of the route as possible is on quiet lanes and back roads where traffic is very light – including one day mostly spent on a converted railway line.
There will be two rest days during the tour (with options for an additional ride on Day 5).
Starting from Guarda, Portugal’s highest city (elevation 1,056m/3,464ft), the planned itinerary* is as follows:
- Day 1: Arrive in Guarda and meet your fellow riders. Explore the old town, get the bikes ready and enjoy your first group meal.
- Day 2: We head north through rugged countryside and small villages to Trancoso, a picturesque small walled town with a ruined castle. 48km
- Day 3: We do a loop through a remote rural area, visiting another castle and the shores of a lake before staying in a quiet rural hotel. 51km
- Day 4: Turning south-west, we continue through an area of woods, fields and small villages to reach Viseu, the provincial capital and a major crossroads since ancient times. 62km
- Day 5: Take a rest day to explore Viseu or enjoy a morning ride in the surrounding area.
- Day 6: We leave town on the Ecopista do Dão cycle path and continue to the small town of Santa Comba Dão. 53km
- Day 7: A mostly gentle day following the Mondego valley downstream to the former capital and university town of Coimbra. 61km
- Day 8: We visit the Roman ruins of Conimbriga early in the day’s ride before heading south, following parts of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route. 56km
- Day 9: Another relatively gentle ride takes us further south through villages and countryside to the riverside town of Tomar. 50km
- Day 10: We have a rest day in Tomar and a chance to explore the the wonderful Convento de Cristo.
- Day 11: We continue on rural roads, cutting through the limestone hills of the Serras de Aire e Candeiros natural park to Batalha, a historic town known for its huge abbey. 65km
- Day 12: The final day of riding takes us past the famous monastery at Alcobaça and on through more small villages and countryside until we reach the Lagoa de Óbidos, which opens into the Atlantic ocean at the small beach resort of Foz do Arelho, where our tour ends. 56km
- Day 13: transfers by bus to Lisbon or Porto
*Please note: the exact itinerary may change depending on accommodation availability and other similar factors.
Cruising down the Mondego valley on a Sunday morning
Pedal Portugal 