top of page
BOOBS - Portugal wave.jpg

Portugal - 2026

October 2026

Combine a bike trip from London to Portugal with flying the family out to The Algarve for a holiday.

365d

24h

60m

60s

basic plan​

  • Ride from London to The Algarve in Portugal to meet up with David's family who will fly in.  Spend nine days frollicking in The Algarve before riding back to London.

dates​​

  • Restricted by October 2026 half term break, which runs between 17-Oct and 1-Nov. Set dates:

    • Sun 11-Oct: Mark arrives London from New Zealand

    • Mon 12-Oct: going for a curry with work mates near Farnborough

    • Wed 14-Oct: ride from London to Plymouth, catch overnight ferry to Santander

    • Thu 15-Oct: - Tue 20-Oct: ride through Spain and Portugal

    • Tue 20-Oct: family fly from London to Faro, Portugal (2 hour direct flight)

    • Tue 20-Oct to Thu 29-Oct: family holiday in Ferragudo, Portugal

    • ​Thu 29-Oct: family fly from Faro, Portugal to London (2 hour flight)

    • Thu 29-Oct - Sun 1-Nov: ride through Portugal and Spain, overnight ferry to England

    • Mon 2-Nov: return to London​​

    • Thu 5-Nov: Mark departs London for New Zealand​

​

accommodation for family holiday

  • Staying in Ferragudo as we were there in October 2025 and we found it a great location.​

  • We have booked a villa called Casa Da Praia with a swimming pool near the beach, 30 minute walk from Ferragudo centre, located here.

  • There are quite a few mosquitoes in Portugal; pay to pre-load on vitamin B12 and bring some sort of repellent.

​

the ride

  • This is a road based trip, not planning any off-road. October isn't the best weather in England or northern Spain so be prepared for cold and wet; but once in the Algarve temperatures should be 20C-25C.

  • David will take his MV Agusta Turismo Veloce.

  • Mark has bought a Yamaha FJR1300 (the bus) and will store it at David's.​

  • Both bikes have a tank range of about 340kms (200 miles)

​

the route

  • To ride through France would add an extra 3000kms, with very little of interest along the way (other than Le Mans), therefor we will take the ferry from England to Spain and back, operated by Brittany Ferries.

  • ​Following ferries have been booked for Mark and David:

    • Wed 14-Oct Plymouth to Santander, takes 21 hours

    • Sun 1-Nov: Santander to Portsmouth, takes 33 hours

    • Booking includes the first night's accommodation in Spain, as this then qualified for a 30% discount of the ferry price. Private cabin included both ways/

  • ​​Expectation is about 3,500kms total riding.

​​

costs

Estimates (excluding bike purchase):​

  • bike trip costs:​

    • ferries (2 crossings, sharing a cabin per person): £474 each

    • accommodation (share twin where possible): £35 x 10 nights = £350 each

    • food & drink: £40 per day x 12 days = £480 each

    • fuel: 3,500kms at 50 mpg at £1.40 pre litre = £255 each

  • Ferragudo

    • accommodation: £2,000; covered by David and Lisa

    • food and drink: £50 per day x 9 days = £450 each

    • entertainment: £200 each

  • Total: £2,200

Preliminaries

​​​Sun 11-Oct

  • 1:25 (NZ time): Mark leaves Auckland

  • 16:35 (UK time): Mark arrives London Heathrow

  • evening: welcome drinks and dinner at David's. Mark meets The Bus.

​

Mon 12-Oct

  • morning: Mark sorts out The Bus, David works from home

  • lunchtime: Mark and David take a shakedown ride around Surry Hills

  • afternoon: Mark sorts out The Bus, David works from home

  • evening: Curry with David's work colleagues near Farnborough, Lisa might come

 

Tue 13-Oct

  • David works from home

  • Mark does what Mark does

  • Final pack, leave panniers in entrance ready to put on bikes in the morning

  • evening: meal at home and early night

Outbound Itinerary

Wed 14-Oct: London to Plymouth to catch ferry to Santander, 340km/4 hours riding​​​

 

Conditions

  • start Walton on Thames: sun rise/set 7:24/18:11, average low/high: 8C/15C, rain 34%, altitude 56ft.  Generally overcast.

  • end Plymouth: sun rise/set 07:36/18:23, average low/high: 10°C/15°C, rain 40%, altitude 100ft. Generally overcast.

​

Description

Up early with a two hour ride out of London to a biker cafe/museum for breakfast, then make our way south-west, visiting a few biker hangouts before getting to the ferry, departing mid-afternoon.​​​

Gas is considerably cheaper in Spain than the UK, but we will be cutting it fine if we were to do London to Plymouth in one tank, so fuel up somewhere along the way.

​

Itinerary 

​​​

The Ferry

The onboard experience is designed like a "cruise-ferry," primarily served by the flagship Pont-Aven. Facilities focus on comfort and entertainment for the 20+ hour crossing. 

The bikes

  • No need to bring straps, they will have them, although worth having something to protect the seat where the strap goes over, e.g. gloves.

  • Fine to leave helmet with the bike, perhaps use David's cable lock to put them together through a wheel.

  • Have an overnight bag handy to take to the cabin, you won't be able to return to the bike.  Ensure it has all your paperwork, meds, change of clothes, bathroom bag, shoes.

Dining & Drinks

  • Le Flora Restaurant: A flagship fine-dining venue offering à la carte French cuisine with panoramic sea views.

  • Self-Service Dining: La Belle Angèle provides informal family meals like fish and chips or roast dinners.

  • Le Café du Festival: Ideal for light bites, baguettes, and pastries.

  • Bars & Lounges:

    • Le Grand Pavois: A two-storey main lounge bar featuring a grand staircase, cocktails, and live entertainment.

    • Le Fastnet: A quieter piano bar adjacent to the fine-dining restaurant.

    • Les Finistères: A pool-side bar open during the summer and peak crossings. 

Leisure & Entertainment​

  • Cinemas: Two onboard cinemas showing the latest film releases; tickets are usually available at the Information Desk shortly after departure.

  • Wellness & Spa: A dedicated space for spa treatments, facials, and pedicures.

  • Live Shows: Seasonal entertainment including cabaret singers, live bands, magicians, and DJs.

  • Shopping: Large boutiques on decks 6 and 7 offering duty-free prices on perfumes, spirits, fashion, and souvenirs. You can drink your own duty free in your cabin.

  • Wi-Fi: Free Wi-Fi is available in most public areas.

Thu 15-Oct: Santander to Potes, 110km/2 hours riding

 

Conditions

  • start Santander: sun rise/set 08:31/19:33, average low/high: 11C/21C, rain 30%, altitude 49ft. Generally overcast. Clocks have gone forward an hour.

  • end Portes: sun rise/set 8:23/19:38, average low/high: 3C/17C, rain 23% - 60%, altitude 3,291ft.  Unpredictable due to altitude. ​​

​

Itinerary 

  • 13:00: land ahoy! Ferry docks at Santander​

  • 13:00 - 14:00: disembarkation and border control processing

  • 14:00 - 17:00: ride directly to the mountain cable car: Teleférico Fuente Dé, 130km, two hours

    • head up the cable car for great views of the Picos​.  Check weather, if it looks bad don't bother as will be clouded in.

​

Other options

​​

Details

  • intentionally a shorter ride to allow for ferry delays and boarder processing when we arrive in Spain.

  • stay in the Picos de Europa National Park; at Hotel Infantado, this is pre-booked and paid for via Brittany Ferries. A twin room has been booked and includes breakfast.

  • evening: Although Hotel Infantado has a restaurant, the bars and restaurant of Potes are a 20 minute walk away, so suggest we go check those out; there are several tapas bars... I feel a tapas bar crawl coming on

Screenshot 2026-08-13 at 08.34.38.jpg

Fri 16-Oct: Potes (Spain) to Braganca (Portugal), 350km/6 hours riding​

​

Conditions

  • start Potes: sun rise/set 8:23/19:38, average low/high: 3C/17C, rain 23% - 60%, altitude 3,291ft.  Unpredictable due to altitude.  Clocks go back an hour when we enter Portugal.

  • end Braganca: sun rise/set 07:40/18:44, average low/high: 9C/18C, rain 32%, altitude 2,211ft. Generally overcast.

​​

Description

There are a few things worth checking out in the Picos if we get in early or start early and plan for a long day, as it is a five hour ride to get us into Portugal.

  • mountain cable car - Teleférico Fuente Dé - which could be fun, and a great ride to get there.

  • ride the Potes Triangle, a 200km - 3.5 hour rout around the Picos.

  • ride to Caín de Valdeón, sandwiched between two mountains right in the middle of the Picos.

Taking a no-motorway route; we would pass Hotel Moto-Rural "VEGALION"  on the way, so could check it out as an option on the way back.

Bragança is a historic, "off-the-beaten-path" city in Portugal’s far northeastern Trás-os-Montes region, known for its authentic medieval atmosphere, rugged natural surroundings, and quiet pace of life. Often described as a "hidden gem".

Gas is considerably cheaper in Spain than Portugal, so fill up in the last Spanish town on Puebla de Sanabrial, probably the BP.

Apparently this area of Portugal is very safe and it shouldn't be a problem parking bikes on the roadside overnight (with a disc-lock and cover, recommended).

​

Accommodation options:

​

Bars/restaurants of interest:

Potes to Samil.jpg

​​Sat 17-Oct: Douro Valley, 300km/5 hours riding

 

Conditions

  • start Braganca: sun rise/set 07:40/18:44, average low/high: 9C/18C, rain 32%, altitude 2,211ft. Generally overcast.

  • end Castelo de Paiva: sun rise/set 07:54/18:51, average low/high: 10°C/19°C, rain 52%, altitude 410ft. Generally overcast.

​​

Description

The EN222 (Estrada Nacional 222) is one of Portugal's most famous scenic roads, stretching 226 kilometres across the width of Portugal. It is widely celebrated for its stunning views of the Douro Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the world's oldest demarcated wine region. The 27-kilometre stretch between Peso da Régua and Pinhão is particularly iconic. In 2015, the car rental company Avis named it the "World's Best Driving Road" based on a formula that calculated a near-perfect 10:1 ratio of straightaways to curves.

 

Option 1: head south until we intercept the EN222, the head west until we want to stop for the night

Option 2: head a little further south and taken in Arribes del Duero Natural Park before turning north-east to join the EN222​

Cover anywhere between 250km. and 350km.

​

Accommodation options:

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​​

​

N222.jpg

​​​​Sun 18-Oct: Douro Valley to Serra da Estrela Nature Park, 165km. 3.5 hours

 

Conditions

  • start Castelo de Paiva: sun rise/set 07:54/18:51, average low/high: 10°C/19°C, rain 52%, altitude 410ft. Generally overcast.

  • end Mantiagas: sun rise/set 07:53/18:50, average low/high: 10°C/20°C, rain 42%, altitude 2,559ft. Generally overcast.

​

Description

Serra da Estrela Nature Park is widely considered one of Europe's most underrated riding destinations. It offers a high-altitude Alpine experience with "perfectly ironed" asphalt, dramatic granite scenery, and significantly fewer crowds than the Alps. The park is defined by sweeping elevation changes and technical switchbacks that lead to Torre, the highest point in mainland Portugal (1,993m). 

  • N339 (Seia to Covilhã): A 44km "asphalted snake" that is the area's crown jewel. It features grippy tarmac and passes through boulder-strewn meadows and the park's ski resort.

  • N338 (Manteigas to Torre): Iconic for its section through the Zêzere Glacial Valley. It offers stunning views of the U-shaped valley floor and is famous for "crinkling" marvels that many riders do both ways.

  • N232 (Gouveia to Manteigas): Known for being exceptionally twisty with technical hairpin bends. ​​

Find accommodation in Manteigas.

​

Accommodation options:

Screenshot 2026-06-27 at 08.26.43.jpg

​Mon 19-Oct: Manteigas to Elvas, 250kms / 4 hours riding

 

Conditions

  • start Mantiagas: sun rise/set 07:53/18:50, average low/high: 10°C/20°C, rain 42%, altitude 2,559ft. Generally overcast.

  • end Elvas: sun rise/set 07:49/18:50, average low/high: 13°C/24°C, rain 28%, altitude 1,063ft. Generally clear.

​​​

Description

Head south through rural Portugal hugging the boarder with Spain, taking in national parks, mountain roads and ancient villages.  Last night on the road so decide where we want to stop based on how far we get today and how far we want to ride tomorrow. For the sake of planning, lets assume we overnight in Elvas, a major UNESCO World Heritage site in the Alentejo region, best known as the largest fortified city in Europe. Located just 8 km from the Spanish border, it feels like a quiet, "off the beaten track" garrison town where military history is visible at every turn.  The town is entirely encircled by star-shaped walls and dry moats. Inside, you'll find steep, narrow cobbled lanes, whitewashed houses, and family-run restaurants (tascas) that still cater primarily to locals. Tourists are relatively scarce, even in late summer, giving it a peaceful, authentic vibe.

​

Things to see along the way:

​

Accommodation options:

Screenshot 2026-08-02 at 08.21.18.jpg

​​​Tue 20-Oct: Elvas to Ferragado, 300km / 4.5 hours

 

Conditions

  • start Elvas: sun rise/set 07:49/18:50, average low/high: 13°C/24°C, rain 28%, altitude 1,063ft. Generally clear.

  • end Ferragado: sun rise/set 07:54/18:54, average low/high: 15°C/23°C, rain 18%, altitude 49ft. Generally clear.

​

Description

Need to time the end of this ride with arriving at the accommodation (Casa Da Praia) in Ferragudo at 4pm for check in. Another rural ride as we head south.

Things to see along the way:

Untitled.jpg

Return Itinerary

​​​Thu 29-Oct: Ferragudo to Nezare, 370km / 4.5 hours

 

Conditions

  • start Ferragado: sun rise/set 06:54/17:39, average low/high: 15°C/22°C, rain 26%, altitude 49ft. Generally mild.

  • end Nazare: sun rise/set 07:01/17:35, average low/high: 12°C/19°C, rain 32%, altitude 128ft. Generally mild.

Accommodation

​​​​

Screenshot 2026-08-06 at 07.20.19.jpg

​​​Fri 30-Oct: Nezare to Chaves, 350km / 4 hours

 

Conditions

  • start Nazaré: sun rise/set 07:01/17:39, average low/high: 12°C/20°C, rain 27%, altitude 89ft. Generally mild.

  • end Chaves: sun rise/set 07:15/17:34, average low/high: 8°C/17°C, rain 36%, altitude 1181ft. Generally cool.

Accommodation options

​​​​

Screenshot 2026-08-16 at 15.25.32.jpg

​​​Sat 31-Oct: Chaves to Las Salas, 360km / 5 hours

 

Conditions

  • start Chaves: sun rise/set 07:05/17:35, average low/high: 8°C/17°C, rain 36%, altitude 1181ft. Generally cool.

  • end Las Salas: sun rise/set 08:15/18:26, average low/high: 4°C/14°C, rain 29%, altitude 3291ft. Generally cool.

​

Clocks go forward an hour.​​​​

Could stay at Hotel Moto-Rural VEGALION.

Avoid going to Potes as road could by icy going north the next day so would require a long back-track.

Screenshot 2026-08-16 at 15.47.17.jpg

​​​Sun 1-Nov: Las Salas to Santander, 220km / 3 hours

 

Conditions

  • start Las Salas: sun rise/set 08:16/18:25, average low/high: 3°C/13°C, rain 30%, altitude 3291ft. Generally cool.

  • end Santander: sun rise/set 07:50/18:06, average low/high: 10°C/16°C, rain 47%, altitude 49ft. Mostly cloudy.

​

Fastest route back and not over the Picos due to chance of ice on the road.​​​​

Ferry departs at 2pm, so need to be there by 1pm. The boat is the Salamanca.

Overnight ferry to Portsmouth, inside four birth cabin booked, about 30 hours.

Screenshot 2026-08-16 at 15.58.12.jpg

​​​Mon 2nd-Nov: Portsmouth to London, 100km / 1.5 hours

 

Conditions

  • start Portsmouth: sun rise/set 06:55/16:39, average low/high: 7°C/12°C, rain 34%, altitude 30ft. Overcast.

  • end Santander: sun rise/set 07:50/18:06, average low/high: 10°C/16°C, rain 47%, altitude 49ft. Mostly cloudy.

 

​Ferry docks at 5:30pm, allow an hour for disembarkation.​​​​ Clocks have gone back an hour. This will be a night-ride, should be home by 8pm.

Screenshot 2026-08-16 at 16.11.22.jpg

Resources

maps

  • google maps points of of interest

  • google my maps with interesting routes​

references

spain scenery.jpg.webp
bottom of page