Looking for a very different mountain biking or gravel experience? Like really different? Why not consider the Madrid-Lisbon, a 15-day guided tour from the Spanish capital to the Portuguese capital.
Paid partnership with Portugal Nature Tours
Designed to deliver the most authentic cycling experience of the two Iberian Peninsula countries, this 1200+km journey from the heart of Spain to the coast of Portugal includes daily consecutive stages as follows:
MOUNTAIN BIKE
A distance of 1 260km comprising 15 stages (one per day) with 24 600 metres of ascent! Broken down, that’s an average of 84km with 1640m of vertical ascent gain per day. The route includes a mixture of country roads, back roads and singletrack.
GRAVEL
A distance of 1 250km comprising 13 stages (one per day) with 22 300 metres of ascent! That’s an average of 96km with 1 715m of vertical ascent gain per day. The route includes a mixture of country roads and back roads.
Madrid-Lisbon is one of several cycling tours designed and operated by Portugal Nature Trails, an adventure and nature tourism company that was established in 2004. It’s a full-service tour that includes daily meals and accommodation, mechanical support, back-up vehicle, luggage transportation, arrival and departure airport transfers and more.
“Our Madrid-Lisbon tour is very attractive because it goes from the capital city of Spain to the capital city of Portugal. It’s a riding experience that’s rich in both scenery and culture. The stages are challenging but not excessive, making it possible for reasonably fit riders to complete each day and be recovered for the next day. It’s not a race, which means there’s no pressure, but its a special supported point-to-point journey from inland to the coast,” said António Gavinho, Founder and Chief Adventure Creator of Portugal Nature Trails.
Keen South African mountain bikers have been enjoying tours with Portugal Nature Trails for some years. They say it’s a fresh alternative to doing only stage races in South Africa.
“Portugal Nature Trails, provides bike tours with a great selection of road, mountain and gravel tours, special, scenic MTB trails with top-class accommodation and excellent rider support.
In my last Madrid to Lisbon MTB tour, the experienced team delivered magnificent crafted guided routes with comfort and smooth hotel transitions. The on-route halfway lunches were well stocked with delicious buffets and cycling nutrition, ensuring riders’ readiness for each day’s adventure challenge. In my three decades of MTB tours and races, these multi-day tour experiences have given me life-long memories and I highly recommend them.” – Victor da Silva, Bedfordview.
“Our group of 14 friends recently completed a seven-day Camino MTB bicycle tour with Portugal Nature Trails, starting in Belmonte, Portugal and ending at the stunning Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. From start to finish, the experience was exceptional.
Everything was taken care of – airport transfers, meals, hotel accommodation, daily luggage transfers and on-the-route support. The logistics were seamless, allowing us to truly immerse ourselves in the ride and the beauty of the Camino.
A special thank you to Antonio and his team for their warm hospitality and professionalism. Their friendly support and attention to detail made our journey truly unforgettable. Well done to the entire Portugal Nature Trails team!” – Roberto Paulo De Oliveira, Johannesburg.
“I have done four tours with Portugal Nature Trails from Across Portugal to Spain to the Azores Islands and my tailor-made tour of the Caminho do Santiago. Antonio, the owner of the company, is a passionate cyclist. He has always given us unforgettable experiences and joined me of all my tours. The company delivered outstanding service and always exceeded our expectations. Truly amazing! So, if you’re planning to do a cycling holiday or Tour of Portugal look no further.” – Johnny Teixeira, Johannesburg.
To find out more about the Madrid-Lisbon tours click here. To see other popular tours hosted by Portugal Nature Trails, check out the website here.
