Daily Itin­er­ary

Arrival
Transfer, from the Porto Airport to Quinta Nova, in the Douro wine region, where the famous port wine is produced.
Lodgement: Quinta Nova de Nossa Senhora do Carmo

Quinta Nova de Nossa Senhora do Carmo | Marialva
Today we will ride in the Upper Douro and enter the Villages Historic Portugal. The day begins with a train ride along the Douro river to Pocinho. After a short transfer you will visit the Côa Museum. Then you will start cycling in the highlands on the south bank of the Douro River, progressively away from the Douro. The day still has a passage through Quinta da Ervamoira with a lunch among the vines. This valley, between Barqueiros and the Spainborder, is the result of the force of nature, but also the effort and energy expended by humans in their transformation. The vine that generates the grapes of the famous Port wine is the cause and  higher reason of all this hard work. Centuries of toil, fatigue, human sweat and earth paunching removed the massive schist, shaped walls and terraced vines raising this colossal work, which Marquis of Pombal would reward, in the eighteenth century, with the title of the first demarcated region in the world.
Lodgement: Casas do Côro

Marialva Historical Village | Linhares Historical Village
The Historical Village of Marialva is a medieval village that will make you travel in time. Its origins date back to the twelfth century. The legend tells us that Marialva was donated by King Afonso II to a woman called Maria Alva, by whom he had fallen in love, hence the name Marialva. On this day, the route will unite the Marialva Historical Village and Linhares Beira, the capital of paragliding in Portugal, located within the Parque Natural da Serra da Estrela. Cold and windy, Linhares da Beira, with simple and hospitable people, has an imposing castle that must be visited.
Lodgement: Inatel Linhares

Linhares | Penhas Douradas
Today you will climb the Serra da Estrela, exceeding 1500 m of altitude, with fantastic landscapes in sight. The Serra da Estrela Natural Park is the largest protected area of Portugal, with about 1000 km2 | 386 mi2. Some of the major Portuguese rivers (Mondego, and Zêzere and Alva) have their headwaters within the limits of the Natural Park, which also contains traces of former glaciers (u-shaped valleys, ponds and granite stones and irregular holes). The park is home to the highest point in mainland Portugal, the Tower, which reaches a height of nearly 2000 m. You will ride by some of these interesting places. A journey full of magnificent landscapes. At the end of the day you will have time to relax in the magnificent SPA House of Penhas Douradas.
Lodgement: Casa das Penhas Douradas

Penhas Douradas | Belmonte
Today you can rest and get to know the historical village of Belmonte, the birthplace of Pedro Alvares Cabral. After a transfer to Belmonte, visit the Museum of Discoveries which is explains the fifteenth century maritime adventures of the Portuguese, highlighting the arrival to Brazil, in 1500, by Pedro Alvares Cabral. Beyond this museum you can also visit the Jewish Museum and the village center, with its castle and the Church of Santiago. On the other hand, if you prefer to ride this day, you can ride a circular path allowing you to understand a little more about Serra da Estrela.
Lodgement: Casa das Penhas Douradas

Penhas Douradas | Piodão - Aldeia das Dez
Piodão, the final destnation of the day, is between three mountain ranges (Açor, Lousã and Estrela), which requires a tumultuous journey in loose stone paths, full of ups and downs where your endurance will be put to the test. On this day, the first village you will cross is the village of Sabugueiro, which is located at 1100 meters above the sea level, therefore known as the "highest village of Portugal." Following the tour, you will go through several sites of interesting landscapes, history and architecture such as the Senhora do Desterro dam, the river beach of Lapa dos Dinheiros, which was built in the course of the unpolluted Alva river waters and by a Roman bridge. Finally, you will reach the village of Piodão that, for its harmonious houses, resembles a nativity scene. It is a mountain village, with rural features, and difficult access. An excellent example of how the human being, over centuries, adapted to the most inhospitable places. Transfer from Piodão to Aldeia das Dez, therefore arriving at the Hotel Rural da Quinta da Geia.
Lodgement: Hotel Quinta da Geia

Aldeia das Dez | Cerdeira
Today you will ride inthe  full protected Landscape of the Serra do Açor toward the Schist Villages. Aldeia das Dez village and its dream landscape continues until the stunning and welcoming Maceira Valley where the Santuário de Nossa Senhora da Preces lies. In this mountain, with 1244 meters | 4081 ft of altitude, you can see endless panoramas and the schist slopes of the Serra do Açor. You will pass through the beautiful Schist Village of Benfeita near the fabulous Mata Margaraça and Fraga da Pena. This is a forest with rare specimens of natural vegetation of the schist slopes. Fraga da Pena is the result of a geological accident that caused a collection of several drops of water along a water course therefore being a place of great scenic beauty. In the village of Benfeita enjoy the white houses with narrow streets and characteristic walkways on which stands out the Peace Tower, with an interesting story to tell. Shortly after you arrive at the Cerdeira village and Quinta da Palmeira where you can rest.
Lodgement: Quinta da Palmeira

Cerdeira | Ferraria de S. João
Transfer to the Schist Village of Ferraria de São João. Today you can try some of the Schist Villages traditions. Try the delicious goat cheese and the bread made on a traditional oven.
Lodgement: Casa do Zé Sapateiro

Departure
Transfer to the airport of Porto