Gerês-Xurés Cross-Border Biosphere Reserve e-Bike Cycling Holiday

Cycle quiet mountain roads on a unique cross-border journey through Portugal’s Peneda-Gerês National Park and Spain’s Baixa Limia-Serra do Xurés Natural Park

Discover one of Europe’s best kept secrets on this self-guided cycling holiday through northern Portugal and northwest Spain. You’ll ride on peaceful mountain roads, explore traditional villages, and enjoy the nature, culture, and cuisine of two countries in one unforgettable trip.

You’ll be cycling in the Gerês-Xurês Cross-Border Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO-designated landscape where nature, biodiversity, and rural life thrive side by side. This protected area spans Portugal’s only National Park, the Peneda-Gerês, and Spain’s Baixa Limia-Serra do Xurés Natural Park, with the route crossing seamlessly between the two countries.

Your adventure will begin in Ponte de Lima, one of Portugal’s oldest towns, with a warm up ride through the Lagoas de Bertiandos nature reserve. This peaceful haven is full of birds, wildlife, and native woodland.

We’ll then transfer you to Sto António de Mixões da Serra, a small hilltop village in the Peneda-Gerês National Park. Enjoy the scenery as you descend to the Geira Roman Road. Also known as the Via Nova (Roman Road XVIII), this 2,000 year old military route once connected Braga to Astorga, crossing the Peneda-Gerês and passing through Lobios. At the Spanish border, a long winding descent will take you to Lobios, where a well-earned soak in the natural thermal springs awaits.

As your journey continues, you’ll cycle through tucked-away Galician villages like Esperanzo and Puxedo, where time seems to slow down. You’ll then stay for two nights in the tiny hamlet of Porqueirós, nestled among forested hills. It’s the perfect base for a circular loop around the Salas Reservoir, riding through woodland and villages that seem untouched by the modern world.

Towards the end of the week, you’ll climb to Castro Laboreiro, a mountain village full of rural history and tradition. At over 1,000 metres high, the views here are incredible. On the final day, you’ll descend from the mountains to the lush Minho Valley and join the Ecopista do Minho. This traffic-free trail leads all the way to the fortified town of Valença with its historic centre and traditional shops.

With stunning scenery, quiet roads, and traditional villages, this cycling trip is perfect for those who want to slow down, get off the beaten track, and immerse themselves in nature. It brings together the very best of northern Portugal and northwestern Spain in one unforgettable cross-border adventure

Itinerary – Day by day

Day 1: Arrival in Ponte de Lima | Ponte de Lima loop via Lagoas de Bertiandos

Distance: 19.3 km (12.0 miles)
Elevation (gain/loss): +247m / -246m

Ponte de Lima is one of Portugal’s oldest and prettiest towns. On arrival here, a member of our team will meet you at your hotel to deliver the bikes and give you a full briefing. They’ll also ensure everything is set up for the days ahead.

Today’s ride is a gentle loop through the surrounding countryside. You’ll follow quiet backroads past vineyards, woodland, and small villages, giving you a real flavour of rural life in the Minho region.

During the ride, you’ll cycle through the Lagoas de Bertiandos nature reserve, a peaceful and protected landscape rich in biodiversity, wetlands, and native woodland. It’s a beautiful area of woodland paths beside crystal clear streams, surrounded by the sounds of birdsong and other wildlife.

After the ride, you’ll have time to explore Ponte de Lima on foot. Stroll along the riverside paths, wander the cobbled streets of the historic centre, and visit the Roman bridge that gave the town its name. With its relaxed pace and welcoming atmosphere, it’s the perfect place to begin your adventure.

Accommodation: Ponte de Lima, 4-star hotel

Day 2: Mixões da Serra → Lobios

Distance: 34.0 km (21.1 miles)
Elevation (gain/loss): +573m / -911m

After breakfast, a short transfer will take you into the Peneda-Gerês National Park. You’ll begin cycling from the hilltop village of Mixões da Serra, famous for its annual Blessing of the Animals event. At 728m high, expect incredible views from the very first pedal stroke.

The route winds through remote mountain villages and past grazing livestock, with long sweeping descents opening out to breathtaking views across the countryside. In many villages, you’ll pass traditional Espigueiros, stone granaries raised off the ground to keep grain dry and safe from rodents, a distinctive feature of rural life in northern Portugal.

In Campo do Gerês, one of the five official gateways to the Peneda-Gerês National Park, you’ll find a small museum sharing stories of this area’s traditional way of life. From here, you’ll join the Geira Roman Road – also known as the Via Nova (Roman Road XVIII) – a well-preserved 2,000 year old military route that once connected the Roman cities of Braga and Astorga. Named the ‘New Road’ because it was the second one built between these two centres, it’s one of the best preserved Roman roads in Europe. As you cycle along this ancient gravel track, look out for moss-covered milestones, many still bearing Latin inscriptions, that once marked distances along the route.

The final climb of the day crosses into Spain and the Baixa Limia-Serra do Xurés Natural Park. Then, it’s time to enjoy a long, winding descent into Lobios where you can relax your legs in the natural thermal springs.

Accommodation: Lóbios, 4-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast

Day 3: Lobios → Porqueirós

Distance: 30.5 km (19.0 miles)
Elevation (gain/loss): +861m / -422m

Leaving Lobios, you’ll climb gently to ride above the source of the Lima River. Today’s route passes through traditional Galician villages like Esperanzo and Puxedo, where murals celebrate the cultivation and processing of rye. Life moves at a much slower pace around here, and you’ll be pedalling along quiet, shady roads with hardly any traffic.

Around the halfway point of the ride, you’ll reach the Outeiro do Muíño viewpoint. It has stunning views over the Xurés mountain range and the River Mao – a perfect place for photos and to soak in the scenery.

Shortly after, there’s a turning for the village of A Cela. It’s worth a quick detour to see the Bolos de Cela, an ancient wolf trap, and the traditional houses built among giant granite boulders.

The route continues, gently winding through the hamlet of Prado and on towards the picture-postcard village of Porqueirós. Tucked into forested hills, this tiny village makes a perfect peaceful retreat for the next two nights.

Accommodation: Porqueirós, Country hotel
Meals: Breakfast

Day 4: Porqueirós loop via Tourém

Distance: 40.8 km (25.4 miles)
Elevation (gain/loss): +704m / -703m

Today’s ride is a superb loop through remote countryside, with a quirky twist – you’ll cross the border between Spain and Portugal twice, with the clocks changing each time.

Setting off from Porqueirós, you’ll ride on quiet rural roads through traditional villages like Randín, Feás, and Calvos on the Spanish side, and Tourém on the Portuguese side. The pace of life is slow here, and the scenery truly beautiful.

The area around the Salas Reservoir is called the Valley of Death because of its many megalithic tombs, and you’ll pass by one alongside the road. Soon after is the Foxo do Lobo do Salas, the remains of an ancient wolf trap. These stone structures, once used to protect livestock, are a fascinating insight into traditional mountain life.

Between Guntumil and Tourém, look for a white border stone marked with an ‘E’ on one side and a ‘P’ on the other. Crossing into Portugal, the clocks go back an hour. Only 15 minutes later, you’ll return to Spain and jump forward again. It’s a fun and slightly surreal reminder of this trip’s cross-border nature. The final part of the ride climbs gently into oak-covered hills before dropping to the small town of Calvos. It’s a great place for coffee before returning to Porqueirós for the evening.

Accommodation: Porqueirós, Country hotel
Meals: Breakfast

Day 5: Porqueirós → Castro Laboreiro

Distance: 39.4 km (24.5 miles)
Elevation (gain/loss): +867m / -747m

After a peaceful stay in Porqueirós, it’s time to ride back into Portugal. The route begins with a gentle cycle through rolling countryside. Early on, you’ll pass a lovely viewpoint overlooking the Lima reservoir, perfect for a morning photo stop.

Crossing the River Lima, you’ll climb gradually through one of the region’s most picturesque landscapes to the highpoint of the trip. Midway, you can stop in Entrimo for a coffee break before continuing. Take your time on the climb, the views over the Baixa Limia-Serra do Xurés Natural Park are worth it.

Back in Portugal, you’ll see a noticeable shift in the landscape. Across the valley are the Inverneiras, traditional winter homes used by shepherds in the transhumance. Though many are now abandoned, they tell the story of traditional mountain life. The shepherds’ summer homes, the Brandas, are located higher up on the plateau.

You’ll finish the day in Castro Laboreiro, perched 1,000m above sea level. The village has breathtaking scenery and a small museum dedicated to the region’s heritage. A short walk to the ruined medieval castle is a perfect way to end the day – the views from the top are worth every step.

Accommodation: Castro Laboreiro, 3-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast

Day 6: Castro Laboreiro → Valença do Minho

Distance: 54.0 km (33.4 miles)
Elevation (gain/loss): +388m / -1.279m

Your final day on the bike will begin with a long, scenic descent from the mountains to the lush Minho River valley below. It’s a breathtaking ride, with wide open roads, rolling hills, and sweeping views.

You’ll pass through Lamas do Mouro, one of the five official gateways to the Peneda-Gerês National Park. It’s a great place to stretch your legs and learn more about the area’s natural and cultural heritage.

Reaching the valley, you enter Alvarinho wine country, known for its crisp, refreshing white wines. Before long, you’ll arrive in Monção, a lovely spa town on the banks of the River Minho. It’s the perfect place to stop for a coffee or leisurely lunch while watching the world go by.

From Monção, the route joins the Ecopista do Minho, a traffic-free trail all the way to Valença, where your cycling adventure will end. Take a little time to explore Valença’s fortified walls, cobbled streets, and traditional textile shops. Or you could cross the International Bridge to nearby Tui in Spain for a final taste of Galician life. Either is great way to soak up the last moments of this incredible trip.

Accommodation: Valença do Minho, 4-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast

Day 7: Free day in Valença do Minho and Porto

Spend part of the day discovering Valença do Minho – consider walking the Fortress Walls or dip into cobbled lanes lined with traditional shops (linen, crafts) and step inside the Igreja de Santo Estêvão to admire its serene interior and baroque altar. When ready, take the train or bus to Porto for the final stop on your Northern Portugal adventure. The rest of the day is yours: wander the historic streets, browse for souvenirs, admire the viewpoints or tour the port wine cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia. Choose from a wealth of restaurants, from fine dining to traditional eateries.

Accommodation: Porto, 4-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast

Day 8: Departure

After breakfast, prepare for your onward journey. If time allows, take a stroll through Valença’s old town or cross the International Bridge to Tui in Spain. There, you’ll discover historic streets, a magnificent 12th century cathedral, and friendly tapas bars.

Meals: Breakfast

Like what you see but it’s not quite a perfect fit?

• • Simply get in touch to tell us what you’re looking for. We’re happy to tailor the trip and create your ideal holiday.

Looking for more cycling holiday inspiration?

• • Explore our full range of self-guided biking and cycling holidays in Portugal and Spain, including other routes through northern Portugal and Galicia.

Want to visit the Peneda-Gerês National Park but prefer hiking to cycling?

• • Please take a look at our walking and hiking holidays in the Peneda-Gerês National Park

Map

Gerês-Xurês Cross-Border Biosphere Reserve

What’s included

• 7 nights’ hand-picked accommodation with breakfast;
• 6 days electric bike rental (TREK Allant + 7 with 27.5” wheels + panniers + helmet);
• Transfer between Ponte de Lima and Mixões da Serra (day 2)
• Luggage transfer between accommodations;
• Detailed route notes;
• App with trail information for use on a smartphone;
• In-person welcome briefing;
• 24-hour emergency contact number (English-speaking).

What’s not included

• Lunches and dinners; Insurance; Tourist taxes; Personal equipment; Personal expenses; All items not mentioned in “Included”.