Atlantic Coasting - 3 weeks
Western Spain (Galicia) and Portugal

On this page, you'll find...
Our Trips
Overview Map
of all of our routes

Departure Calendar
of our regular trips
What's Included
in the Trip Cost
Additional Services
you can add to the bike trip.

A whimsical excursion in western Europe’s farthest outpost. You are riding to the west of Dublin and the south of Naples, 1,000 miles from Paris. This isolation pays off in unspoiled scenery and villages where touring bikes are as rare as spaceships (and your helmet completes the illusion)....

The rugged lands along the ocean, cut off by mountains from Spain, turn seaward. Seafood aficionados will be delighted, even far inland. Architecture also reflects the ocean, influenced by explorers who set sail for “new worlds” returning with culinary and cultural surprises (and whatever else they could stuff in their pockets). Tiny Portugal was once the world’s wealthiest and most powerful nation!

En route treats include glorious cities: Santiago de Compostela and Lisbon; Coimbra and her University (founded in 1291, it was a contemporary of Oxford); “local” music, with overtones African to Celtic; port tasting in the city that gave the wine its name; and the scenic joys of two national parks. Boa Viagem!
Atlantic Coasting
2008 Dates
Baggage Services Offered*
(optional)
Trip Price
Sept. 15 or 16 - October 3

Daily
Half
Lite
From $3,750, US or C
From 2,175€

Prices in $ and € do not include precisely the same things. Click here for details, and for prices of optional extras (private single rooms, baggage services, “Access Packages”).

Concerning the Variable Trip Start Dates:...
The first corresponds to a trip meeting in Monforte on Monday morning (most will arrive Sunday night... dinner and lodging are included in the Access Package). The second corresponds to a meeting in Ourense on Tuesday morning (again, most will arrive Monday night... dinner and lodging are included in the Access Package). See the detailed intinerary for the Galicia section of the trip for details.

* At least 4 riders must subscribe to a given baggage service for it to operate (except for Lite, which always operates on this trip). Services already confirmed to be operating appear in bold. If the “Daily” service is confirmed, the “Half” service may no longer be offered to future sign-ups, though it will be provided to those who have previously selected it. See here for a discussion of our baggage services.


Thumbnail view of the trip’s itinerary.
For details within each region, click on the name under "Region Visited"...
Days
Days of the Week
 Region Visited Details
0 - 7
 Galicia See Access Package for options to reach Monforte or Ourense. If you join the trip in Monforte, you will typically arrive on Sunday afternoon. If in Ourense, on Monday afternoon.
Mo
 Monforte, the Rio Sil (optional additional day)
Mo - Th
 The Miño Valley
Fr & Sa
 Along the Atlantic Coast
Sa & Su
 Santiago de Compostela
7 - 19
Portugal
Su - Tu
 The Minho Valley
Tu
 Train to Oporto
We - Fr
 Bairrada, the Buçaco Forest
Fr & Sa
 The Mondego Valley, Coimbra
Sa - We
 The Silver Coast
Th & Fr
 Lisbon. Extend your stay if you have time... this is one of Europe’s most beautiful and interesting cities. We can book additional hotel nights upon request.