Camino de Santiago - The Way of St James

Santiago Compostela, Portugal Bike Tours

	Guided	Unguide	Notes
June, September	2,090 Euro	1,660 Euro	Per person/week
July	2,190 Euro	1,750 Euro	Per person/week
August	2,250 Euro	1,820 Euro	Per person/week

*Please contact advertiser for rates & availability for your travel dates.

Santiago Compostela, Portugal Bike Tours

Active Adventure

Tour Highlights

1. Braga: the oldest Portuguese city and one of the most ancient Christian cities in the world
2. Feeling the mystic atmosphere along the way
3. Adventure, Art and Mysticism
4. Churches and religious symbols everywhere
5. The way covered by pilgrims since the 9th century.
6. The medieval architecture in Ponte de Lima
7. The fortified city of Valença
8. The luxuriant vegetation in the north of the Iberian Peninsula
9. The rich gastronomy and the famous wine of the region: vinho verde
10. The Romanic Cathedral in Santiago


Summary

Camino de Santiago is a tour that is different from all the other Portugalbike tours. This is not a touristic tour like the other Portugalbike tours, where we ride along awesome places and spectacular views. On this tour we follow the way to Santiago de Compostela, a city located in Galicia, a province in the north of Spain. This way is very mystic, full of positive energy, of belief and of faith. This is a way that has been covered by thousands and thousands of pilgrims along the centuries since the 9th century. We cannot say that there is only “one” way (“camino”) to Santiago de Compostela. There are several, because the idea is to get to the Cathedral in Santiago de Compostela. This way was originally covered on foot by devote pilgrims, beggars, clergymen and nobles; it is still covered today not only on foot but also by bicycle by people from all over the world and for many different reasons. It follows off-road trails, narrow roads and footpaths, always in a straight line when possible in order to make the way as short as possible to get to Santiago de Compostela. This PortugalBike Tour takes us along the Portuguese Way to Santiago, also known by the Medieval Way. The tour starts in Braga’s Cathedral, the city that was called Bracara Augusta by the Romans; it covers innumerous paths and trails, ancient Roman roads, dense woods, crosses small stone bridges, covers footpaths and roads among small houses, crosses streams and mountains… Many sections of the original way have been asphalted and civilized, …but it is still “O Camino de Santiago” (The Way to Santiago).

Typical Day

Programme

Day 1: Arrival - Welcome at Oporto (or Lisbon) airport. 00H40 (or 03H40) drive to Guimarães, briefing about the tour followed by dinner. Lodging in a Pousada which was a beautiful 12th century Monastery.

Day 2: Riding to the medieval town of Ponte de Lima - 61km (38mi), level 5. After breakfast we leave the ancient city of Guimarães following the ways covered by the pilgrims until we get to the medieval city of Ponte de Lima, bathed by the river. Picnic on the way. Dinner with the group. Lodging in a new 4* hotel overlooking Lima river and very near to the historic center.

Day 3: Riding to the border, always following the way �" 38km (24mi), level 2. After breakfast we continue riding towards the Spanish border, but we spend the night in Portugal, in the beautiful medieval city of Valença do Minho, which is protected by a fortress with double walls. Picnic on the way. Dinner with the group. Lodging in a Pousada located in the historic center and which is a Manor House that was converted in a Charm Hotel.

Day 4: Crossing the border by bicycle �" 53km (33mi), level 5. After breakfast we finally cross the border and the first Spanish city is Tui, before we get to Pontevedra where we spend the night. Picnic on the way. Dinner with the group. Lodging in a 4* hotel near the historical and commercial centre in Pontevedra.

Day 5: The luxuriant vegetation and the mysticism of the way �" 41km (25mi), level 4. Breakfast. Before we get to Padrón we cross the thick woods with a luxuriant vegetation. Picnic on the way. Dinner with the group. Lodging in a 4* hotel with a swimming-pool; the building was built in the 16th century and it was the vacation house for the archbishops from Compostela.

Day 6: Mixed emotions when we arrive to Santiago �" 26km (16mi), level 3. Breakfast. Finally we get to Santiago de Compostela and we feel we accomplished our “mission”. Free afternoon to wander around this mystic city and do some shopping. Dinner with the group. Lodging in a beautiful 4* hotel ideal to rest after this long ride and very near to the historical center of Santiago de Compostela.

Day 7: After breakfast transfer to Oporto (or Lisbon) airport. 3H00 (or 7H00) drive to the airport.

Age range, type of group

Technical Data

Type: mountain bike tour
Class: HISTORIC TOUR
Version: Guided or Self-Guided
Regions: North of Portugal (Minho) and Spain (Galicia)
Duration: 7 days / 6 nights / 5 days cycling
Begin: Braga (Minho)
End: Santiago de Compostela (Galicia)
Difficulty level (1-5): 1 2 3 4 5
Intermediate. You must be in good shape
Distance: 219km (136mi)
Average: 44km/day (27mi/day)
Trails: 38% dirt roads - 62% asphalt

Sleeping and meals

The price includes:

- 7-day mountain bike Tour with a Guide (*)
- Mountain Bike rental with helmet and backpack
- Transfers from and to Oporto Airport (or Lisbon airport)
- Accommodations (6 nights): 2 Pousadas (one 12th century Monastery and one 17th century Fortress), 2 four* Historic Hotels (one 16th century Monument Hotel and one 18th century Historic building), 2 four* modern Hotels. Double bedroom occupancy.
- 6 Breakfasts
- 4 nourishing and energetic picnics (*)
- 6 Dinners (including our famous wines, our amazing cheeses and lovely desserts) (*)
- Daily energy-bars and water (*)
- Luggage transport from Hotel to Hotel
- Documentation about PortugalBike Tour
- Liability Insurance
- Personal Accident Insurance
- Techno-Mechanical Assistance
- First-Aid assistance on location
- Permanent Backup Vehicle (*)
(*) Not included in Self-Guided Tours

Rates

Dates and Prices for 2012:

June 24 - 30:
Guided: Euro 2090 (Single Suppl. + € 230)
Self-Guided: Euro 1660 (Single Suppl. + € 230)

July 15 - 21:
Guided: Euro 2190 (Single Suppl. + € 260)
Self-Guided: Euro 1750 (Single Suppl. + € 260)

August 19 - 25:
Guided: Euro 2250 (Single Suppl. + € 290)
Self-Guided: Euro 1820 (Single Suppl. + € 290)

September 16 - 22:
Guided: Euro 2090 (Single Suppl. + € 250)
Self-Guided: Euro 1660 (Single Suppl. + € 250)


=> Prices per person, double bedroom occupancy, 4* quality Hotel.
=> If you want a different date, ask us about prices and availability.

Other Information

On this tour you will ride with this bicycle

MOUNTAIN BIKE: BH A60k Expert Disc
DETAILS:
Frame: Light alluminium
Fork: Front suspension 100mm with lock on the handlebar
Brakes: Hydraulic disc brakes
Gears: Shimano XT/LX, 27 speeds
Pedals: Normal (with cages or not) or Shimano SPD
Tires: MTB 26"x2.1
Weight: 11,8kg
Other: Man or woman seat
(please see the picture #26)

Santiago Compostela, Portugal Bike Tours

Santiago Compostela, Portugal Bike Tours

Cristina Henriques (View My Profile)
Being a Portuguese-owned Company, we know our country better than anybody else and we want to expose people to places and curiosities about Portugal that only a Portuguese knows! Our goal is that you visit Portugal …riding a bicycle!

On PortugalBike Tours you have the opportunity to visit our historical, cultural and landscape heritage in our National Parks, enjoy the sun and the beaches, and at the end of the day you can recover your strength with an exquisite dinner. You can taste our famous wines, amazing cheeses and lovely desserts, and sample typical dishes of each region of Portugal.

Travelling with PortugalBike will connect you deeply with the country, becoming part of its everyday life, observing details that typical tourists miss and enjoying spontaneous encounters along the way. You will rest in cosy and charming accommodations. We always choose 4-star quality hotels whenever possible in each region or Bed & Breakfast units. Our accommodations are always the best offer of each region.

PortugalBike Tours are designed so that we begin at a certain point and we end elsewhere. You do not start and end at the same place. We think that is the best way to discover Portugal ...riding a bicycle! Read the specific information about each ride to learn more details.

PortugalBike Tours have a maximum of 16 participants, and a minimum of two. Larger groups are also possible upon request and according to our availability. Our Bike Tours are prepared for one week (7 days / Sunday to Saturday).

The dates of PortugalBike Tours are according to our calendar, or on request, according to our availability. The prices below are for the scheduled PortugalBike Tours. If you wish a different date, ask us for prices and availability.

WE ARE PROUD TO OFFER YOU A GOOD PRODUCT AND A QUALITY SERVICE