Portuguese wanderings
I had a longing to do another tour but this time I fancied some company. Alison had just come back from the Channel to the Med with Peak Tours and the next thing I knew we had booked Portugal end to end for May 2025. And so the training began…
I met up with Alison at the hotel in Porto and met the rest of the riders, all 26 of us. There were 24 guys and 4 gals all with differing speeds. Many had been with Peak Tours before – I think that’s a good endorsement.
11 days cycling from North to South averaging 62 miles per day will lots of climbing-we did over 46000ft for the holiday!
We started at the Spanish border in the north and worked our way south, every day stopping at a great array of accommodation some with pools, all with bars and a good restaurant nearby, if not in the hotel.
I would thoroughly recommend Peak Tours – they are organised, savvy, inclusive etc etc. We had a blast!
Anyone fancy Dover to Durness in July 2026?
Day 1 Paradela to Mondim de Basto 44 miles 4650ft ascent 14 May
The ‘eager beavers’ crew…
A grey day to start but soon brightened up and we had glorious weather for the rest of the holiday.
Steep climb to the hotel – a regular feature throughout the villages of Portugal COBBLESl
Lovely colours on them there hills
Day 2 Mondim de Basto to Quintao (Duoro Valley) 55 miles 4780ft 15 May
Fantastic view down the valley
Day 3 The Douro River to Friexinho 52 miles 5069ft 16 May
A well deserved rest after tackling the cobbles
Day 4 Freixinho to Belmonte 65 miles 5480ft 17 May
Traffic jam…
Day 5 Belmonte to Monsanto 50 Miles 5030ft 18 May
Day 6 Monsanto to Alcantara 39m 2223ft 19 May
Day 7 Alcantara to Marvao 50 miles 4350 20 May
Day 8 Marvao to Vila Vicosa 75 miles 4143ft 21 May
Border crossing
Portuguese and Spanish roads guess who has had funding and who has not…?
Day 9 Vila Vicosa to Moura 65 miles 3307ft 22 May
Day 10 Moura to Mertola 66 miles 3173ft 23 May
Day 11 Final day Mertola to Tavira 58 miles 4560ft
