Family cycling holiday in Portugal, 5 days
Price includes: accommodation, breakfast daily, luggage transfers, local emergency support, transportation as in program, road book with maps, suggestions for visitation , bike
Description of Family cycling holiday in Portugal, 5 days
Take off with the family for five or eight days of cycling around Peneda-Gerês National Park in Northern Portugal.
The self-guided itinerary below can be adjusted to suit your family’s preferences with more or less time in the saddle combining wonderfully well with strolls along the rivers Lima and Vez, and time spent exploring in some of the oldest inhabited villages in Portugal.
Cycling between the historic villages of Sistelo, Soajo and Ermelo is a real joy with achievable daily distances of 20 – 40kms on quiet tarmac roads adding to the laid back agricultural ambience of this lesser-known rural area.
Not only is this region of Northern Portugal abundant in ancestral heritage and flat terrain but it’s also a lot milder than the rest of the country making it an ideal environment for cycling holidays.
Dedicated cycling paths criss-cross the Peneda-Gerês National Park and provide a truly peaceful and picturesque vision of Portugal, far from the crowds congregating closer to the coast down south.
Throughout this self-guided family holiday you’ll receive full details of cycling routes, bike support, maps and airport transfers as well as warm and welcoming B&B accommodation and a trip to the city of Porto on your final day. A local cycling guide can also be included at an additional cost.
Price information
Price includes: accommodation, breakfast daily, luggage transfers, local emergency support, transportation as in program, road book with maps, suggestions for visitation , bike
Departure information
Travel guides
Reviews
1 Reviews of Family cycling holiday in Portugal, 5 days
Reviewed on 14 Sep 2018 by Anne Fegan
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
It was the feeling of being in an area where the natural environment was truly valued and every effort was being made to promote sustainable tourism. It was the opportunity to spend a few days close to nature but having good fun too. We both loved discovering this region that was new to us and having a brilliant host Joao who assisted us in many ways, guided us to lovely places and provided so so much information on the history, geography and culture of this part of Northern Portugal.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
It is necessary to be reasonably fit for the cycling and walking. Bring cycling shorts! Ensure that all maps provided by Joao are carefully studied and understood as it is possible to go off track. Be sure that you enjoy quietness and tranquility.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes, the farm houses are constructed using all sustainable materials and in a traditional style. They blend in with the landscape. This agro tourism enterprise provides employment and guests are encouraged to visit local restaurants, shops and bars and to buy locally produced food products.The owner Joao actively promotes recycling on the farm. He is also very knowledgeable about the necessity for conservation of the local environment and showed us so clearly how conservation and tourism can be two compatible aims of the National Park.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
The accommodation was brilliant and we loved the Tree House, the garden, the pool and the sounds of running water and crickets chirping at night! Joao is an energetic, enthusiastic and obliging host. Nothing was too much trouble and he did all that he could to ensure that we had a perfect holiday. I could strongly recommend this operator for an activity holiday.
Responsible Travel
Planet
We have a commitment and friendship with the environment. Not only because we must be responsible, but because we are inserted in the protected landscape of UNESCO the National Park Peneda Gerês. We make use of rainwater for irrigation, reuse litter from food as well as separation of litter so that it has less impact on nature and local fauna; Like the Wolf, the Corsican, or the boar.Every year 10% of our budget goes to associations of protection of the local fauna, so that we can help to preserve the species.
Over the years all this work have helped or contributed to other business partners are more attentive will help they can give to the environment and to its protection.
One of the most difficult factors to overcome was to-find responsible suppliers. Only after this phase is surpassed we left for the construction of our houses, wooden houses. Are all built in wood Nordic spruce and for every 10kg of worn wood is planted a tree in this way to reduce the impact.
Also in our food we were careful to analyze the suppliers that met the environmental standards. It was this last question that we build on Farm a biological vegetable garden for guests.
People
Over the years we have developed a working partnership with local schools, thus allows students from schools in their free time to collaborate with the activities at the same time acquire knowledge. We will provide local people the opportunity to provide food to our guests as well as encourage you to carry out purchases in own territory.We have been giving preference and with good results to local workers, giving them jobs or allowing carrying out work stage with us.
A fundamental aspect is that all who visit us, the guests know the territory and his story about the origin what is now Portugal and for this to be possible nothing better than a good relationship with the local population. So we use guides in our activities of own territory and along our walk we invite them to eat and may spend spaces are served by locals. So they feel better territory
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