DAYS RIDING

6

TOTAL DISTANCE

~1,500 km

DIFFICULTY

Easy–Moderate

FROM

€2,095

DAY

0

Arrival & welcome · Vigo/Nigrán

Airport transfer · Evening

Route: 45-minute orientation: bike, panniers, GPS, route briefing, insurance recap.

Highlights: Welcome dinner in Vigo. Glass of Albariño included.

Hotel: Vigo/Nigrán.

Pickup: Santiago de Compostela (SCQ) or Porto (OPO) airport; transfer to Vigo/Nigrán.

DAY

1

Costa da Morte loop · Vigo/Nigrán → Fisterra → Vigo/Nigrán

~350 km · 5–6 hours

Route: AC-543 to Negreira, AC-552 along the wild Atlantic to Cabo Fisterra. Return inland via Brion.

Highlights: Cabo Fisterra lighthouse — end of the world. Combarro’s granite hórreos.

Recommended: O Centolo in Fisterra — seafood at the cape.

Difficulty: Easy. Warm-up day.

Hotel: Vigo/Nigrán (return).

DAY

2

Across to Portugal · Vigo/Nigrán → Rías Baixas → Viana do Castelo

~150 km · 4 hours

Route: South via AP-9, then PO-340 coastal road. Through Pontevedra and Vigo. Cross the Minho at Tui/Valença (twin fortresses). Continue south to Viana do Castelo via Caminha.

Highlights: Tui and Valença fortifications, Atlantic at Caminha, Santa Luzia sanctuary above Viana.

Recommended: Caminha riverfront — grilled fish, or Açude in Ponte de Lima.

Difficulty: Easy. Coast and short bridge crossings.

Hotel: Viana do Castelo.

DAY

3

Into Peneda-Gerês · Viana → Braga → Amares

~150 km · 4–5 hours

Route: East via N201 to Ponte de Lima, then N101/N304 to Braga. From Braga, climb into Peneda-Gerês via N308 through Gerês village to the park interior.

Highlights: Ponte de Lima riverfront, Bom Jesus do Monte in Braga, alpine roads in Gerês NP, wild horses, granite peaks.

Recommended: Ponte de Lima — Açude in the old town.

Difficulty: Moderate. Park switchbacks, narrow roads, possible cattle on the road.

Hotel: Amares (Peneda-Gerês).

DAY

4

To the Douro · Amares → Chaves → Douro Valley

~210 km · 5 hours

Route: East across Trás-os-Montes via Vila Real on the IP3, then drop south to the Douro at Régua via the legendary N222 — voted one of the best driving roads in the world.

Highlights: Chaves Roman bridge and thermal town, Vila Real noble mansions, the first big view of terraced Douro vineyards from the N222.

Recommended: Vila Real — Terra de Montanha for hearty Trás-os-Montes food.

Difficulty: Moderate. Mountain roads, the famous N222 twisties.

Hotel: Pinhão (Douro Valley).

DAY

5

Douro wine day · Vineyards, river, port

~140 km loop · 4 hours (light day)

Route: From Pinhão up the N323-3 to Sabrosa, across to Casal de Loivos for the postcard panorama, down to Régua, lunch by the river, then N222 east to Pocinho and back.

Highlights: Casal de Loivos viewpoint, Quinta do Crasto port tasting, the Foz Tua railway bridge.

Recommended: DOC by chef Rui Paula on the riverbank in Folgosa.

Difficulty: Easy. Photos and wine day.

Hotel: Same as Day 4. B&B with evening port tasting on the terrace.

DAY

6

Back across the border · Douro → Bragança → Nogueira de Ramuín

~260 km · 5–6 hours

Route: North on N212 then IP4 across Trás-os-Montes to Bragança, then cross back into Spain at Verín. North on N-525 to Ourense and west into the Sil canyon.

Highlights: Bragança citadel, the wide empty roads of inland Portugal, the first canyon viewpoints of the Sil.

Recommended: Solar Bragançano in Bragança — game and chestnut dishes.

Difficulty: Moderate. Longest day of the tour. Empty roads make it feel shorter.

Hotel: Nogueira de Ramuín (Ribeira Sacra).

DAY

7

Return through wine country · Sil canyon → Santiago

~150 km · 4 hours

Route: Up out of the canyon via LU-933 through the steep-slope vineyards of the Ribeira Sacra, north through Chantada and Lalín, then N-525 back to Santiago.

Highlights: Adega Algueira winery, Romanesque chapels, the granite landscape of the Galician interior.

Recommended: Adega Algueira winery lunch with terraced vineyard views.

Difficulty: Easy. Wrap-up day.

Hotel: Vigo/Nigrán. Farewell dinner in Vigo.

DAY

8

Drop-off · Vigo/Nigrán

Airport transfer · Morning

Route: Transfer to SCQ or OPO airport for outbound flight.

Highlights: Optional: add 2 nights in Santiago to walk the cathedral and explore the old town.

Bike drop: Morning return at the rental office, paperwork, final coffee.