You can choose between three cabin categories: category A, C, or D. By choosing this category D option, you will get a cabin on the upper deck with a drop-down panorama window. More information on cabins is found in the Things to know section. Itinerary remains the same.
This Douro bike and wine tour offers an unforgettable exploration of Portugal’s Douro Valley, where guided bike tours and scenic boat cruises unveil the region’s rich wine-making heritage and breathtaking landscapes. Pedal through terraced vineyards, historic villages, and picturesque towns, and sample authentic port wines! With all-inclusive meals and gear provided, this guided bike and boat tour provides a seamless and immersive experience amidst the stunning beauty of this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Ready for an active holiday? Upon arrival in Porto, the river cruise awaits on the southern bank of the Douro River. We will be welcomed aboard the A-ROSA ALVA at 4:30 pm. From the ship we can enjoy wonderful views of Porto’s old town—colorful, stacked houses on the steep slopes, as well as the Eiffel Bridge Ponte Dom Luís I., an iconic symbol of Porto. Before dinner onboard, we will explore the city proper with a local guide.
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: River cruise cabin
The ship leaves Porto before breakfast, cruising upriver to Peso da Régua, the main town of Alto Douro, the oldest protected wine-growing region in the world. Following lunch onboard, we will be transferred into the hilly hinterland and embark on our first bike tour, descending through scenic landscapes. Marvel at the views of the winding river valley as we pedal back to the riverbank. The ship docks in Pinhão for the night, a quaint wine-growing town at the heart of the port wine region, also famous for its “Quintas” (Manor houses) — and we’ll have dinner in one of them. How exciting is that?
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Biking: 16 miles / 25 km
Accommodation: River cruise cabin
Day 3 begins with a morning bike tour north of the river valley, passing through the mountainous hinterland and the birthplace of Magellan, Sabrosa. We’ll return to the ship through scenic vineyards along the river loops of the Rio Pinhão, which flows into the Douro River.
After lunch, enjoy the beautiful river landscape from the sundeck as the ship heads east towards Spain. Barca d’Alva, the last place before the Spanish border, offers a glimpse into the region’s history and remote beauty within the Douro Natural Park. Dinner will be served onboard, concluding a day filled with exploration and stunning scenery.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Biking: 15 miles / 23 km
Accommodation: River cruise cabin
Today, our ship anchors in the Spanish-Portuguese border region, offering a chance to explore historic fortress towns. After breakfast, we will transfer south to Almeida (44 kilometers / 27 miles), known for its well-preserved star-shaped city walls.
On the return, we’ll cycle through serene valleys and farming communities, passing by an impressive fortress atop a hill, Castello Rodrigo. As we near the ship in Barca d’Alva, enjoy panoramic vistas of the Douro Valley while biking downhill along the Águeda river, parallel to the Spanish-Portuguese border. Dinner awaits onboard as the ship moors overnight at the border.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Biking: 37 miles / 59 km
Accommodation: River cruise cabin
The ship will stay on the Spanish border until midday, so we’ll use the morning and start our day with a cycle tour. We’ll be driven up the steep serpentines to the high plateau of the north bank of the Douro. From Poiares, we’ll ride back to the boat and down into the river valley, exploring the wild gorge and panoramic views. After lunch on board, we can relax on the sundeck as the boat cruises through the heart of the Alto Douro wine region, revealing spectacular river bends. We’ll arrive in the charming village of Pinhão in the evening for dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Biking: 10 miles / 16 km
Accommodation: River cruise cabin
After breakfast, we leave Pinhão and the ship returns to Régua. From there, a minibus will take us to Lamego, a historic pilgrimage site south of the Douro Valley. We’ll visit the impressive “Nossa Senhora dos Remédios” church atop a hill on the outskirts of the city. Enjoy a beautiful view before going on a panoramic cycling tour through Lamego’s old town, winding back to the riverbank in Peso da Régua. Lunch will be served onboard as the ship continues back to Porto.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Biking: 14 miles / 22 km
Accommodation: River cruise cabin
We will wake up in Porto, where our Douro River bike and wine tour began. Hop on e-bikes directly from the ship and head towards the Atlantic shore. Cycle along sandy beaches, through pine forests, and past dune landscapes towards Furadouro, a charming seaside resort. Enjoy a café break by the beach before returning to Porto by bus, a journey of about 45 minutes.
In the evening, join a guided walk to a port winery in Vila Nova de Gaia district, known for its impressive wine cellars. We will taste port wine and visit a traditional Port winery. We’ll conclude our journey with a final onboard dinner in Porto, where the ship stays overnight.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Biking: 28 miles / 45 km
Accommodation: River cruise cabin
Following a lavish breakfast buffet, you have the option of a free transfer to the airport, departing around 9 am. The airport is 20 km away, and the drive lasts approximately 25 minutes. Alternatively, you can consider extending your stay in Porto.
Meals: Breakfast
Note: Due to maritime regulations, ships are only allowed to sail during daylight hours, which may lead to adjustments in the time allocated for shore excursions, particularly in the fall season. In such cases, the guides modify bike routes to accommodate shorter daily programs
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—premium pedelecs equipped with Bosch or Shimano mid-mounted motors with full control over assistance levels, so you could adjust it to your needs.
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!