On arrival, make you way into Porto to your hotel. The rest of day is yours to explore this beautiful and vibrant city. Take a stroll along the banks of the Douro River below the famous Dom Luis I bridge. Centuries ago this where British merchant ships moored-up to collect cargoes of port wine. Today you will find an array of hip new bars and cool outdoor restaurants lining the quayside. At some point we highly recommend you try the local speciality pastèis de nata (simply delicious custard tarts) as well as visiting one of the city's famous port wine cellars. As you wander the cobbled streets of the old quarter you will find many facades tiled with the traditional blue and white azulejo tiles, perhaps the most beautiful and striking example is the Church of St. Ildefonso. In the evening you will have to choose from a dizzying choice of fine restaurants throughout the city

And so it begins, your first ride tracks the southern bank of Douro River out to its mouth at the Douro Estuary Nature Reserve. Yout then turn south and begin to follow a very pleasant cycle path along the coast. You will pass beach after beach on today's ride so it's a good idea to pack some swimwear in your pannier in case you feel like taking a dip at some point. The Atlantic breakers to your right coupled with the procession of small seaside villages and towns to your left make this a highly enjoyable first day in the saddle. The small town of Espinho witgh its white sandy beach and good choice of restaurants is a good place to stop for lunch before cycling through the peaceful, shady pine forest for the final 10km of today;s ride. Your destination is the small seaside town of Furadouro. The wide, white sand beach invites you to cool off with a post ride dip before sampling one of the towns fine fish restaurants.

Today's ride leads you alongside the Aveiro Lagoon, one of Europe's last remaining untouched coastal marshlands. This 45 kilometre long lagoon is a haven for numerous bird species and a fisherman's paradise. The town of Torreira marks the halfway point of today's ride and is a good place for a lunch break. In the village of São Jacinto, a little further on, we highly recommend a short detour out to the São Jacinto nature reserve, a magnificent wide expanse of Atlantic breakers and endless sand dunes. Afterwards it's a ferry ride across the mouth of the lagoon followed by a short ride to the bustling little town of Aveiro where you will stop for the night. Aveiro is often dubbed the Portuguese Venice thanks to its small network of canals however, instead of gondolas, Aveiro has Moliceiros, - brightly painted wooden boats, once used for harvesting seaweed but now used for canal cruises.

Today's very pleasant route leads you back out to the Atlantic coast alongside a canal and then beside the Aveiro lagoon southwards. The colourful beach houses of Costa Nova are iconic and always a draw for photographers. The Atlantic Ocean is a few hundred metres to your right and numerous access paths give access to the glorious and peaceful sandy beach. Vagueira is a nice little beachside village where you might want to stop for lunch before following a peaceful lane through green fields for about 10 kilometres. The ride finishes in the pleasant little beach town of Praia de Mira. As you have come to expect by now, another fabulous sandy beach awaits if you fancy a dip. Afterwards you can try one of the town's many great seafood restaurants.

Today's ride leads you through a landscape of sand dunes and forests. The crickets provide the soundtrack to your ride and the glorious beach off to your right seems endless. At Cabo Mondego stop to admire the stunning views along the coast to today's destination, the charming little town of Figueira da Foz. This winding alleys of this bustling little place are a joy to explore on foot and reveal a wealth of great little bars and restaurants to choose from.

In the morning you and your bikes are transferred to Sintra in the foothills of the Serra de Sintra. The town is regularly voted one of the best places to live in Portugal and it won't take long to understand why. Once a retreat for nobility and royalty from nearby Lisbon this gorgeous little town boasts an enticing array of palaces and castles. From this elevated position you then enjoy a pleasant and easy descent back to the coast. You then follow an undulating route along the coast, past some lovey bays and sandy beaches to the charming resort town of Cascais where you will spend the night. Stroll along the town's lovely promenade before ducking into the alley-ways of the old town to find somewhere to eat.

Follow the cycle path along the shoreline to the town of Estoril. Not long afterwards you will reach the mouth of the River Tagus and the old fortification, the Belem Tower which signifies you are entering Lisbon. Ride under the suspension bridge and into the heart of the city.

The rest of the day is your to explore Portugal historic and vibrant capital. The cobbled streets and soft colours of this medieval city are often bathed in the special Atlantic light that gives it a seemingly ethereal quality. There are many Miradours (beautiful viewpoints) around the city and our favourites include São Pedro de Acâtara, a tiny park offering superb views across the city and great coffee, as well as Miradouro da Graca, from where you can admire the 11th century Moorish Palace and Lisbon's huge natural harbour in the distance. You should also not miss Bairro Alto, a picturesque bohemian quarter of the city where you will find some great bars, restaurants and the traditional Fado Houses where you can listen to this unique style of singing.

After breakfast it's time to check-out and head for home.