Douro Valley

Today you leave the bustle of Porto behind and head north through rolling hills and eucalyptus forests to the elegant spa town of Vidago.

The Intermediate ride follows quiet country roads through rural villages and farmland. The terrain starts gently before building to some modest climbs as you enter the foothills of the Trás-os-Montes region.

Leisure riders take a more direct route on flatter roads, joining the Intermediate route before Vidago.

Challenge riders take a longer, hillier route through the forested highlands north of Porto.

Today you ride from the spa country of Vidago through the granite highlands and vineyards of the Trás-os-Montes region to the historic city of Vila Real.

The Intermediate ride follows scenic country roads through typical Trás-os-Montes villages — characterized by grey granite houses, cobbled streets, and terraced vineyards.

Leisure riders take a flatter route through the valley floors, joining the Intermediate route near Vila Real.

Challenge riders explore higher, more demanding terrain through the hills above the Corgo Valley.

Today's ride to Pinhão takes riders into the heart of the Alto Douro — an area that has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001. The area is visually spectacular and has a rich history in wine growing, dating back over 2,000 years.

After an initial climb from Vila Real, the Intermediate route winds through small country roads, passing small villages, farms, and rugged forests. The final seven miles is a twisting descent into the pretty town of Pinhão where riders get their first sight of the magnificent Douro River.

The Leisure route starts with a transfer to the village of São Martinho de Anta where it joins the Intermediate route.

The Challenge ride winds deeper into the rugged countryside to the east of Vila Real before turning south to the pretty medieval villages of Sabrosa and Provesende. The route joins the Intermediate route for the final section into Pinhão.

The Epic follows the Challenge route to Provesende where it takes a much longer loop to the southwest, before following the Douro River to Pinhão.

All today's routes start by climbing the steep hill out of Pinhão to the village of Casal de Loivos where riders can take a short detour to the viewpoint — justifiably claimed to be one of the most beautiful views in the world.

The Leisure ride is a simple out-and-back to the viewpoint.

After the viewpoint, the Intermediate route continues to climb through wine country to the pretty village of Alijó — a great option for lunch. After Alijó, the ride is a relatively easy cruise downhill back to Pinhão.

The Challenge route continues west from Alijó past terraced vineyards before descending into Sabrosa — another stunningly pretty village and another great option for lunch. After Sabrosa, the route turns south and passes quinta after quinta before descending back to Pinhão.

The Epic ride follows the Challenge to Alijó where it heads southeast to begin a challenging loop that takes in the riverside town of Tua as well as some spectacular mountain passes on both sides of the Douro River.

Today's routes head west along the Douro River from Pinhão to Peso da Régua.

The Leisure route starts with a train ride from Pinhão to Covelinhas. In Covelinhas, it is a steep climb out of the train station but the views over the river and the surrounding landscape are spectacular. The route then parallels the Douro River into Peso da Régua.

Note that there is no Intermediate route available today.

The Challenge route begins with a tough 7-mile climb to the northwest of Pinhão, passing through vineyards as well as rugged, wild countryside. At the top of the climb, you begin a long, rolling cruise past vineyards, cobbled villages, and olive groves. The final descent to Peso da Régua is fast and technical.

The Epic route heads into the hills south of the Douro River with three big climbs, each winding climb giving front-row seats to the colossal landscape of the Douro Valley.

Today's rides head across the car-free bridge to the south bank of the Douro River.

The Leisure ride is an out-and-back ride on small lanes alongside the river. The roads are rolling with fine views of vineyards, their quintas, and of course the river.

The Intermediate ride follows the Leisure ride for five miles before heading uphill to the historic town of Lamego with its castle, cathedral, sanctuary, and iconic stairway. After enjoying lunch in Lamego, you descend quickly back to Peso da Régua.

The Challenge route follows the Intermediate for the most part but adds in more riding west, alongside the Douro River.

The Epic route is the same as the Challenge route with an additional loop south from Lamego through remote villages, fruit orchards, and pretty countryside.