Welcome to Portugal’s Douro Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where every turn reveals a new vista of breathtaking beauty and cultural richness. Imagine cycling through terraced vineyards, sipping world-renowned port wines, and cruising along the tranquil Douro River—all in one unforgettable journey. Whether you’re a wine enthusiast, outdoor adventurer, or history buff, this guided Douro bike and wine tour offers the perfect blend of exploration and relaxation. With expert guides, luxurious accommodations, and mouthwatering meals included, get ready for an immersive experience that will leave you captivated by the charm and splendor of the Douro Valley. Prepare to pedal and pour famous local wines!
We did a very relaxing and breathtaking bike tour along the Douro River in Portugal, including overnight stays on a boat. The scenery was breathtaking, the cycle paths were great and the food on board was delicious. Thank you for putting the trip together so well!
Active discovery of Portugal on the Douro River bike tour. Great scenery, charming villages, vineyards, comfortable overnight stays on the boat and delicious food. Recommended for anyone who enjoys cycling.
What you get on this adventure:
What’s not included:
This Douro bike and wine tour is well-suited for beginners with some biking experience. The e-bike route spans approximately 125-129 miles / 200-206 kilometers through wine-growing landscapes. To ensure a leisurely ride, transfers from the river bank to hilltops are arranged, as the inclines are too steep for casual cyclists, even with e-bikes.
Despite Portugal’s mountainous terrain, the routes are generally moderate, with most days starting with a transfer to high points followed by mainly downhill rides offering spectacular views. Expect easy riding along rural roads with minimal traffic, except for brief encounters with more cars in Lamego and along a two-lane road on Days 5 and 6, respectively. On Days 4 and 7, the ship’s berthing times allow you to cycle long distances.
Gradients are manageable with provided e-bikes—premium pedelecs equipped with Bosch or Shimano mid-mounted motor, making this tour easy to moderate depending on your preference and assistance level.
Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:
Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.
Be prepared for changeable weather, since you travel through a climatic region between mountains and sea. It can often be quite cool and temperature fluctuations between morning and evening are the rule—so you need clothing for both hot and cool conditions.
Don’t forget to pack a warm jacket or sweater and rain protection, as weather changes and occasional rain showers are common in northern Portugal during spring and autumn.
All meals are included throughout your Douro bike and wine tour, from dinner on the first day to breakfast on the last. Enjoy varied buffets with regional and seasonal specialties, daily live cooking and wine list adapted to the region. Lunch is provided either as a picnic or onboard buffet, depending on the itinerary.
Enjoy buffet breakfasts and indulge in seven multi-course buffet dinners. If the weather allows, there will be a BBQ buffet on the sun deck. All beverages are included, except for champagne, bottled wine, and exclusive rarities. Special dietary needs like vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free are easily accommodated.
The boat
During this Douro bike and wine tour, you’ll be staying at ALVA Douro River cruise ship. The “ALVA” stands for the epitome of modern luxury, representing the newest addition to the esteemed A-ROSA fleet since its construction in 2018. Spanning 80 meters (260 ft) in length, the ship offers an expansive layout of public spaces.
Onboard the A-ROSA ALVA you can find…
With a maximum speed of 22 km/h (14 miles/h), the A-ROSA ALVA ensures a comfortable and peaceful cruising experience along the Douro River.
Spa & fitness
Participants of the Douro bike and wine tour also have an opportunity to experience the ultimate relaxation onboard the A-ROSA ALVA with the SPA-ROSA facilities. Indulge in a wide range of beauty and body treatments with high-quality BABOR products. Unwind in the sauna and chill out in the relaxation room—professionally trained spa and beauty team is at your disposal.
For those seeking an active escape, the well equipped fitness room offers modern cardio equipment including elliptical trainers, bicycle ergometers, and treadmills. With awesome lounges and amazing views, find your holiday chill zone on this Douro bike and wine tour.
Cabins
The ship boasts 63 spacious, comfortable cabins accommodating up to 126 guests. There are three categories of cabins, and for your Douro bike and wine tour you can choose the one you prefer. All three cabin types are equally equipped and they have the same layout: they feature modern furnishings and amenities including air conditioning, safe, TV, fly screen, hair dryer, telephone, bathroom with shower and toilet, sauna towel, wool blanket, and bathrobe on request. The difference among cabin types is the deck and the windows.
For your Douro bike and wine tour, your guides will provide e-bikes. The rental e-bikes have an aluminium frame and Bosch motors. You’ll also get additional gear such as bike locks. Standard bikes are also available for rental.
If you want, you can also rent a helmet with your guides. Let us know if you’re interested upon checkout.
Group sizes and pricing
Douro bike & wine tours can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements
If your group has riders under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
To get to your Douro bike & wine tour, most people fly into Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport (OPO), only 30 minutes from Porto. From there, you can rent a car or take a bus, taxi or metro to the city center.
When booking a flight, please bear in mind that it should not arrive later than 3 pm, since your guide will welcome you aboard the ship at 4:30 pm and take you on a guided city tour afterwards.
Your river cruise ship A-ROSA ALVA will be moored on the southern bank of the Douro River, with a wonderful view of the monumental old town and the Eiffel Bridge Ponte Dom Luís I., a symbol of Porto.
We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with both emergency medical and travel insurance.
With medical insurance, if you have an accident or medical emergency on or off the mountain, you’ll avoid paying out of pocket for costly expenses. This covers everything from hospital treatments to emergency air transportation and more. Travel insurance covers canceled flights, natural disasters and other scenarios that may interrupt your travel plans.
We also expect you to respect local regulations and take measures to protect yourselves, your guides, and the communities you’re traveling to.
If you need assistance selecting the right insurance for your group, let us know and we will be happy to help!
To secure your spot, a deposit in the amount of 30% is required at the time of booking. The remaining amount must be paid 90 calendar days prior to the trip departure. Once the trip is confirmed by the guide, the cancellation policy stated below applies. If you cancel the booking…
Please note that booking fees are non-refundable in all cases and will be deducted from the refund amount.
The Douro River bike tour in Portugal by bike and boat was an unforgettable experience. We explored the countryside by bike and visited many historical places and vineyards. The overnight stays on the boat were very comfortable and the food was really delicious. The guides were also super knowledgeable and told us a lot about the region and its culture. If you want to experience Portugal from a different perspective, this trip is for you.