The Douro River Valley—an idyllic place to venture off the beaten track. From Spain to Portugal, discover old-world Europe along this enchanting river. Jumbled hillside villages and sun-soaked vineyards. Churches clad in gleaming azulejos. Port wine in Porto. Experience one of Europe's best-kept secrets with us.
Day
1 From Salamanca, a World Heritage site, venture to the sleepy village of Lumbrales 
Bike in the Spanish highlands, savoring sweeping views as you coast into the Douro Valley and arrive at our ship. (Overnight Vega Terrón)
Day
2 Pedal in a vast natural park amid high plateaus and plunging gorges Cycle to a fortified hilltop village for epic vistas into Portugal and Spain Sail the Upper Douro River through a region of steep rocky slopes. (Overnight Pinhão)
Day
3 View the dazzling tiles in Pinhão, a mecca for wine lovers Ride through the Alto Douro region, a World Heritage site thanks to its 2,000-year-old wine-making history. (Overnight Peso da Régua)
Day
4 Ride along the river with a lovely backdrop of terraced vineyards Enjoy lunch at a family-run quinta (winery) while admiring views of the riverside scenery Visit Lamego, home of one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Portugal. (Overnight Caldas de Aregos)
Day
5 A scenic morning ride takes you to small Portuguese hilltop towns before descending back to the river The afternoon may find you enjoying deckside views from aboard our ship or taking another spin through the vineyards and quintas that have made this region so famous. (Overnight Bitetos or Entre-os-Rios)
Day
6 Cruise the final stretch of the Douro into Porto, where a private guided walking tour awaits This alluring World Heritage city will charm you with its splendid architecture, winding alleyways and ever-changing views. (Overnight Porto)
Days
7-8 Bike along a wildlife-rich estuary, pine forests and the Atlantic Ocean Arrive back at our ship with superb vistas of Porto. (Overnight Porto)
Please note: Due to the multiple stateroom options available on this trip, reservations can only be made by contacting one of our Trip Consultants at 800-462-2848 or via email.
On this incredible trip, you'll cruise, pedal and discover all the things we love about northern Portugal's Douro River Valley. You'll feel like you've been transported to old-world Europe as you ride amid gorges and granite peaks of rugged natural parks and sunny farmland shaped by generations of hardy farmers. You'll discover port wine vineyards, churches clad in gleaming azulejo tiles, and hillside villages that look like they've jumped right out of a painting. We're so excited to introduce you to one of our favorite places to explore off the beaten track!- Europe
We want to make sure you're on the right trip and that you have the best experience possible. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception. Read the Straight Talk
We want to make sure you're on the right trip and that you have the best experience possible. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.
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This beautiful ship envelops you in luxury, whether you're soaking up views from the balcony of your plush and spacious stateroom, relaxing with a massage or enjoying fine cuisine alfresco with new friends. (pool)
View the deck plans. See Dates & Prices for specific ship, stateroom category availability and embarkation/disembarkation details.
There's no better way to find out about Backroads than by hearing it from the people who have traveled with us. For more about the Backroads Experience, read our Guest Testimonials.
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Comments about Portugal's Douro River Cruise Bike Tour:
On this incredible trip, you'll cruise, pedal and discover all the things we love about northern Portugal's Douro River Valley. You'll feel like you've been transported to old-world Europe as you ride amid gorges and granite peaks of rugged natural parks and sunny farmland shaped by generations of hardy farmers. You'll discover port wine vineyards, churches clad in gleaming azulejo tiles, and hillside villages that look like they've jumped right out of a painting. We're so excited to introduce you to one of our favorite places to explore off the beaten track!
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The earlier you book, the more choice you'll have and the lower your price. And you can always change your mind—you won't be charged to transfer to a different trip before your final payment is due.
Please click on a date below for specific pricing and possible itinerary variations.
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AVAILABLE TO BOOKi GOING FASTi CONTACT USi PRIVATE TRIP - RESERVEDi
Interested in a Private Trip? Check out the Make It Private tab for private dates available, or call us at 800-462-2848.
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one day to the next—and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.
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| Daily Route Options | ||||||||||
| Day | EASYGOING | ACTIVE | AVID | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 | Level 5 | ||||||
| miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | |
| 1 | 23* | 1100 | 44 | 1700 | ||||||
| 2 | 25* | 1100 | 33 | 2800 | ||||||
| 3 | 30* | 1700 | 47 | 2900 | ||||||
| 4 | 20* | 1500 | 40 | 3700 | ||||||
| 5 | 27 | 2700 | 42 | 4300 | ||||||
| 6 | Porto Guided Walking Tour (2 Hours) | |||||||||
| 7 | 17 | 600 | 53 | 1200 | ||||||
| 8 | Disembarkation in Porto, transfer to Lisbon | |||||||||
Note:
* Includes shuttle.
Learn more about how we determine our activity levels and fully support a range of abilities and interests.
Please note that our distance and elevation figures come from Ride with GPS. Other sources (such as Map My Ride and Garmin devices) may give differing elevation figures due to different GPS and mapping technologies. Readings from a Garmin or a smart phone are influenced by other factors such as air pressure.
We've been bringing Backroads guests to Spain and Portugal for more than 20 years and know all the ingredients of a great biking trip – including the deep local connections required to craft the best possible routes and arrange the most fascinating personal encounters. And now we've succeeded in creating an experience no one else offers: an ideal blend of luxury cruising and explorations by bike along the historic Douro River.
On our Douro River trip you head off each morning after choosing among several expertly designed routes—all with detailed directions, mileage and shuttle options. Unlike trips with one fixed daily route (or worse, one guide that everyone's obliged to follow), you're free to enjoy the best of the region at your pace, stopping wherever you want to explore further.
On our Douro River Cruise Biking trips we have two extra leaders supporting you along the road—for a total of four, compared to the industry standard two. So we can be in more places at once, giving personal attention to guests traveling at their own pace. Here's more on our Trip Leaders.
Backroads is the only active travel company providing two support vans in Spain and Portugal—because we know it's essential to ensure a truly great travel experience. It doubles our ability to be there when you need us to offer hydration, lighten your load or give you a lift if it's time to take a break. Read more on why two vans make all the difference.
Backroads pioneered the active river trip, partnering with AmaWaterways, the leader in river cruising, to create a new kind of travel experience featuring biking and walking explorations from an elegant floating hotel. Read more about this ideal way to discover the heart of a region.
Backroads has been welcoming active travelers to Europe since before the Berlin Wall came down. Today it's virtually our second home. We know the perfect roads and trails, the most scenic valleys and hilltop towns, the hidden churches and gem-like museums, the up-and-coming vintners and celebrated chefs—and, of course, all the best places to stay.
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Gather your favorite people to share a Backroads adventure on a ready-to-book Private Trip - featuring all the legendary Backroads hallmarks from expert leaders to unforgettable activities. Call or email us to reserve your date.
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Invite your family and friends on an adventure that's entirely your own - for your group of 8 or more. Find out more
I simply can't imagine a better way to immerse yourself in the life of a region, to explore hidden corners and appreciate nuances while enjoying the benefits and enormous satisfaction of traveling under your own power. These are experiences you cannot have behind the wheel of a car, or on a train or a tour bus. Active travel is, at its heart, a way of connecting more authentically with the world. Sure, Backroads provides amazing leaders, superb accommodations and meals, and opportunities you could never arrange on your own. But all of our comprehensive planning and support is aimed at something far simpler: bringing you the immediate, highly personal satisfaction of discovering a new world on your own terms.
— Tom Hale, Founder & President
