- PortugalEcotourism

Cycling & Photography Tour Peneda-Gerês Nat. Park to Douro Valley
Apr.-Oct.
CYCLING & PHOTOGRAPHY TOUR FROM PENEDA-GERÊS
NATIONAL PARK TO DOURO VALLEY, PORTUGAL
[ FOCUS ON NATURE & THE PORT WINE REGION ]
Programme run by ©PORTUGAL ECOTOURISM - organizing ecotours since 2007
Peneda-Gerês National Park © Diogo Carvalho
Corgo River © Diogo Carvalho
Douro Vineyards
© Diogo Carvalho
Corgo River © Diogo Carvalho
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Cycling & Photography Tour Peneda-Gerês Nat. Park to Douro Valley
Apr.-Oct.
GENERAL INFORMATION
7 DAYS / 6 NIGHTS
DATES
April to October
FOCUS
Photography, Nature, and Port Wine
HIGHLIGHTS
- Peneda-Gerês National Park (a Pan Park)
- Port Wine
- Douro Valley Wine Region (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
- Nature Photography - practicing skills in the field
- Rare bird species
- Roman paths and monuments
- Ancient villages and rural countryside
- Castles, monasteries and palaces
Montagu’s Harrier
© Diogo Carvalho
PRICE
1350 €
SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT
125 €
Medieval castle in Montalegre © Clara Espírito-Santo
PRICE INCLUDES
Breakfast and dinner, accommodation, day-time snacks, Port wine tasting, entrances to
monuments when specified, use of a bicycle and helmet, services of specialized guides,
second guide with minivan providing logistical support, luggage transfer, personal
accident and liability insurance, first-aid assistance on location, documentation about the
tour, a PORTUGAL ECOTOURISM® gift, and taxes.
PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE
Flights, travel insurance, lunches* and personal expenses.
* For lunch participants can buy picnic items or stop at a local restaurant, which usually
are fairly good though inexpensive; a full meal normally costs less than 15 €/person.
DEPOSIT (30%)
405 €
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Cycling & Photography Tour Peneda-Gerês Nat. Park to Douro Valley
Apr.-Oct.
GROUP SIZE
5 – 15 participants
GRADING
Leisure. The tour primarily follows lightly travelled paved
roads and, on occasion, uses off-road trails and paths in good
condition. During days 2 and 3 we will sometimes travel
uphill but the remaining days will feature mainly level or
downhill slopes. Distances vary from 30 km (18.6 miles) to
50 km (31 miles) per day, so you will need a reasonable level
of fitness and good health. Total distance: 200 km (124
miles) in 5 cycling days.
Local breed of donkey
© Clara Espírito-Santo
MEETING POINT
Oporto International Airport
MAP – Northern Portugal | Itinerary
INTRODUCTION
This guided cycling tour focuses on photography, nature and wine, and connects two of the
most popular destinations in northern Portugal; the Peneda-Gerês National Park and the
Douro Valley where Port wine is produced. It follows paved roads through the
countryside, Roman paths and old railway lines now converted into cycling tracks and
there is much to be explored, including a national park, amazing landscapes, ancestral
villages, Roman monuments, thermal springs, historic town centres, local delicacies and
wine tasting.
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Cycling & Photography Tour Peneda-Gerês Nat. Park to Douro Valley
Apr.-Oct.
The photography aspect of our tour has been designed to suit both beginners and more
experienced photographers, and will adapt to the interests of the group. Detailed
information on nature and culture is provided by a local guide with a strong knowledge in
bird and other wildlife observation as well as photography.
OUR GUIDES
All of our tours have a minimum of two
guides. Our main guide is part of the
PORTUGAL ECOTOURISM® staff and
handles the logistics of the tour. We also
invite a guide with vast expertise in cycling
and in leading photography workshops in
northern Portugal; he will also provide
general information on nature and culture
© Diogo Carvalho
throughout the tour. Both guides are
biologists and speak English fluently, and
at least one guide with a European First Aid + CPR Certificate will be present throughout
the tour.
EQUIPMENT
CYCLING: We provide Mondraker – Ventura bicycles
with aluminium light weight frame; 24 gears;
Shimano Deore derailleurs, TekTro V-brakes; RST
front suspension, 13 kg weight. Helmet included.
PHOTOGRAPHY: Each participant should bring their
own photography equipment. We strongly
recommend digital cameras so the participants may
easily share their photos at the end of the day
during photo sessions. Feel free to bring tripods
and binoculars if you wish.
© Diogo Carvalho
Each participant should bring a backpack to carry their photography equipment
throughout the tour. Since you will be cycling, please pack lightly.
TRANSFER OF LUGGAGE AND SUPPORT
Throughout the tour a minivan with air-conditioning provides luggage transfer between
accommodations. It will also provide transportation in the case that injury or fatigue
prevents a tour participant from cycling.
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Cycling & Photography Tour Peneda-Gerês Nat. Park to Douro Valley
Apr.-Oct.
ACCOMMODATION
Three and four star family-owned hotels
and family-run rural houses. Comfortable
rooms with en-suite facilities. Most hotels
have a swimming pool, so be sure to bring
your swimming suit and cap.
FOOD & BEVERAGE
Peneda-Gerês National Park © Diogo Carvalho
Breakfast and dinner is included in the
price of the programme. Wine and soft drinks are also included during meals (except for
dinner on day 6). Other drinks (e.g. beer, cocktails) are at the participants’ own expense. If
you have special dietary requirements please note them in the booking form and we will
do our best to accommodate your needs. Portugal is famous for its excellent cuisine and
wines. Often throughout the programme we provide picnics for lunch with the best homemade local foods. Our guides live in the region and know where to find high-quality
products.
ITINERARY
DAY 1 – SATURDAY
Pick-up: Oporto international airport |
Transfer and Overnight: Tourém
(Peneda-Gerês National Park)
On day 1 of the tour we will meet at the
Oporto international airport and begin by
Peneda-Gerês National Park © Clara Espírito-Santo
travelling (2h15 driving) to the wellpreserved village of Tourém in the beautiful Peneda-Gerês National Park, the only park on
the Iberian Peninsula recognised as a Pan Park (http://www.panparks.org/). Only 13
parks exist in Europe with this classification, the goal of which is the protection of the
continent’s most undisturbed natural areas. If time permits we will visit the village on foot
or go for a short bicycle ride. In the evening there will be a presentation on the basic rules
of taking good photographs as well as an informal session on how to make the most of
your camera (digital camera highly recommended).
Dinner and accommodation: Family-run rural house in Tourém
DAY 2 – SUNDAY
Cycling: Tourém > Montalegre | 36 km; 22 miles | Overnight: Montalegre
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Cycling & Photography Tour Peneda-Gerês Nat. Park to Douro Valley
Apr.-Oct.
Today there will be excellent opportunities for photographing a diversity of natural
landscapes and a bucolic countryside. We cycle through the beautiful county of Montalegre
(meaning alegre=happy, monte=hill), in Peneda-Gerês National Park, famous for its rich
biodiversity, beautiful landscapes and historical villages where local people still lead a
pastoral lifestyle. It is a park of natural waterfalls and mountain meadows – lameiros –
mixed with oak forests. It is also the land of Iberian wolves, Iberian wild goats, eagles and
wild horses, some of which we should be able to see along the way. This is one of the best
places in the country to see various bird species such as the Red-backed Shrike, the
Ortolan Bunting, the Black Redsart, the Alpine
Accentor and the Rock Thrush.
We will also see old villages where granite houses
with thatched roofs and corn granaries are still
present, and while cycling the eastern area of the
park we pass one of the highest villages of Portugal
(Pitões das Júnias, 1100 m high) with its XII century
monastery hidden in an isolated valley. We arrive in
Montalegre in time to enjoy refreshments at the
medieval castle of Montalegre (XIII century) and
taste the local delicacies, like rye bread and smoked
meats. After dinner there will be time for a photo
session where participants can share their photos
and discuss the results with the tour guide.
Dinner and accommodation: Hotel in Montalegre
Roman road © Clara Espírito-Santo
DAY 3 – MONDAY
Cycling: Montalegre > Chaves | 50 km; 31 miles | Overnight: Chaves
On day 3 the tour travels along the Roman Road - called Via XVII - that linked Braga in
Portugal to Astorga in Spain during the Roman Empire. While we will be travelling on
paved roads on occasion we will also follow the original stone paths of the Roman Road.
Along the way there are Roman milestones, the miliarium, bridges and ancient villages
close to the former mansiones. The day
ends with our arrival in the beautiful city
of Chaves – Aqua Flaviae - an important
Roman settlement located at the
convergence of three important Roman
roads. We pass through the narrow streets
under colourful balconies in the historic
centre before reaching the great Trajan’s
Bridge with its many arches, an
emblematic point of the city and a must for
City of Chaves © Clara Espírito-Santo
photographers. Along the Tâmega River a
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Cycling & Photography Tour Peneda-Gerês Nat. Park to Douro Valley
Apr.-Oct.
trail takes us to thermal hot springs with some of the hottest waters in Europe (73ºC).
There will be free time to explore on your own (suggestions: visit the Castle Keep and
taste the local pastry). Today will be a great opportunity to photograph local culture and
urban architecture.
Dinner and accommodation: Rural hotel in Chaves
DAY 4 – TUESDAY
Cycling: Chaves > Vila Pouca de Aguiar | 35 km; 22 miles | Overnight: Vila P. Aguiar
Following the Corgo line, an old narrow gauge
railway that has now been adapted as a cycling
route, we travel alongside the Tâmega River, a
tributary of the Douro River. Along the way we get
the chance to appreciate an old steam-locomotive
and several railway stations of the past. We then
head south to a land of spa towns with thermal
springs and an old holiday resort where the last
king of Portugal spent his summers.
Lakes,
luxurious gardens and palaces provide a unique
environment for special photo sessions. After
relaxing at the hotel we offer an optional guided
visit by minivan to see the Roman Golden Mines of
Tresminas, the largest open-pit gold mines of the
“Poldras” over Tâmega River
Roman Empire, as well as learn about a complex
© Clara Espírito-Santo
system of underground galleries. It is common to
see the Booted Eagle, the Short-toed Eagle and the Black-winged Kite flying over the valley
of Vila Pouca de Aguiar. We will also get to view a nest of White Storks. After dinner we
will hold a photo session, in which participants may share pictures taken during the last
two days, as well as discuss and learn how to improve photography skills.
Dinner and accommodation: Hotel in Vila Pouca de Aguiar.
DAY 5 – WEDNESDAY
Cycling: Vila Pouca de Aguiar > Vila Real
| 30 km; 19 miles | Overnight: Vila Real
A flat, well paved cycling track offers the
chance to enjoy some leisurely cycling
along a fertile agricultural valley by the
Corgo River. We can appreciate scenes of
Oak tree forest © Clara Espírito-Santo
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Cycling & Photography Tour Peneda-Gerês Nat. Park to Douro Valley
Apr.-Oct.
local people going about their daily routines, like using ox-drawn carts to haul hay. We
pass by small villages surrounded by green pastures where cattle and donkeys roam
peacefully, and there will be plenty of chances to see the Hoopoe, the Rock Bunting and the
Pallid Swift. At the end of today’s tour we reach the main city of Trás-os-Montes – Vila Real
– with a beautiful historic centre. We will follow its narrow streets passing by churches
and store fronts until we reach popular pastry shops and do what local people do: sit
outside and enjoy a coffee, fresh orange juice or local delicacies made following traditional
recipes. After settling in at the hotel you might consider a visit to the romantic gardens of
the famous Mateus Palace (optional). Today there is the opportunity to capture the
contrast between rural and urban settlements, as well as photograph scenes of the
Portuguese countryside lifestyle.
Dinner and accommodation: Rural hotel in Vila Real
DAY 6 – THURSDAY
Cycling: Vila Real > Pinhão | 49 km; 30 miles | Overnight: Folgosa do Douro
Today we enter the Douro wine region where the landscape begins to change dramatically.
After leaving Vila Real we resume cycling along the old Corgo railway. The narrow valley
of the Corgo River offers splendid views of characteristic vineyards clinging to nearly
vertical slopes. Along the way we
expect to see the Cirl Bunting, the
Blue Rock-Thrush and the Black Kite.
Next we will have an opportunity to
capture some beautiful photos of the
Corgo River joining the larger Douro
River on its way to the ocean, as well
as have a chance to view the Golden
Oriole along the riverside vegetation.
We then arrive at the city of Peso da
Régua, the commercial centre of the
region. The city gained importance in
Vineyards at Douro Region © Clara Espírito-Santo
1756 when the Marquess of Pombal
designated which vineyards of the Douro would be better for production of Port wine - a
quality brand for export. After a short tour of the downtown area, we follow a scenic road
leading to Folgosa, a small town on the banks of the Douro. Today is the day to capture the
essence of the Douro wine region in an image to remember forever. On a farewell photo
session there will be on more time to share photos and appreciate why northern Portugal
is so special.
Dinner and accommodation: Hotel in Folgosa.
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Cycling & Photography Tour Peneda-Gerês Nat. Park to Douro Valley
Apr.-Oct.
DAY 7 – FRIDAY
No cycling | Visit: Douro UNESCO Site
On the last day of our tour we will explore the region where the famous Port wine is
produced – the Douro Valley. It was the first region in the world to be demarcated (1756)
and is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site with incredible views over the terraced
vineyards of the private Estates – the Quintas. After a sightseeing tour in one of the Quintas
and a tasting of Port wine, we tour the photogenic Douro River by boat, near Pinhão,
allowing for an excellent chance to capture new perspectives of the vineyard terraces and
explore different angles and lighting. We then have lunch at a local restaurant near the
river. This is the end of our programme.
INDEPENDENT CONTINUATION OF YOUR TRAVELS
After lunch you may choose to continue exploring the Douro Valley on your own or head
to Oporto, Lisbon or another destination in Portugal. We will be pleased to help with your
extended travel plans. Please feel free to ask.
Contacts:
Clara Espirito-Santo
Office: +351-259 433 146
Mobile: +351-933 237 709
E-mail: [email protected]
This programme is organized by PORTUGAL
ECOTOURISM®, a brand of Montes de Encanto®, a
nature tourism company fully licensed (RNAAT nº
49/2008) by the official Portuguese Tourism Office,
with experience in organizing ecotours since 2007.
Our local travel agent partner is Ponto por Ponto –
license RNAVT nº 3645.
This and other ecotourism programmes in Northern
Portugal
are
available
at
www.portugalecotourism.pt. For any questions
please contact me at [email protected] .
Sweet chestnut trees
© Clara Espírito-Santo
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