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21 Sep 2025
27 Sep 2025

DISCOVER: Dão

Explore the Burgundy of Portugal

21 Sep 2025
27 Sep 2025

Dão

$8,950
Lead Guide:

Sancho da Cruz

ABOUT THIS TRIP

Experience the charm of Portugal’s historic Dão wine region with inGamba! Nestled between the famous Douro wine region to the north, Bairrada to the west, and Beira Interior to the east, Dão boasts a rich wine-making heritage dating back to 1908.

Following Portugal’s EU membership, this mountainous region underwent a transformation, transitioning from tannic, unremarkable wines to producing some of the country’s most exquisite, characterful reds. Officially designated as a DOC wine region in 1990,

Dão now showcases its elegant, mineral-rich red wines, reflecting the region’s unique terroir and history. Named after the river that winds through its picturesque landscape, Dão is also home to the stunning city of Viseu, adding to the allure of this captivating region. Discover the heart of Portugal in this historically rich area, brimming with charming villages, mouthwatering gastronomy, and warm, welcoming hospitality.

Included With Trip:

  • All lodging*†
  • All food and beverages**
  • Pinarello Dogma F Disk with SRAM RED eTap AXS
  • Daily Bike Wash
  • Custom Q36.5 × inGamba cycling kit
  • Daily post-ride massage from a professional soigneur
  • Laundry service for cycling clothing

*Pre/post-trip lodging is not included
†Flights are not included
**Beverages ordered by guests beyond normal amounts and away from group activities will incur additional charges

MEET THE GUIDES

Sancho

Sancho da Cruz

The late bloomer

Sancho had a late start to cycling, but he has been very passionate about bikes ever since. His love for the sport even made him change career paths to race professionally — until, oh, the pandemic. Covid saw him go back to school; he became one of our guides after interviewing João for his masters final thesis on Active Tourism. Today, he is more than happy to share his passion for the sport with you, helping you on and off the bike, whether your goal is to go full gas or simply take it easy and make the most of the scenery.

THE TRIP AT A GLANCE

START LOCATION:

Porto

FINISH LOCATION:

Porto

TOTAL ELEVATION:

5,946m

TOTAL DISTANCE:

293km

DAYS RIDING:

6

GROUP SIZE:

8-14

LONGEST DAY:

Day 6. Viriato Route. 61km

BIGGEST CLIMBING DAY:

Day 2. On the banks of Dão. 1,193m

View Bike Options

DAY BY DAY BREAKDOWN

1

Vila Longa

Sunday | 31km & 599m

Bem-vindo a Portugal! More specifically to the north-central region of Portugal. We are surrounded by the Serra da Estrela, Serra do Caramulo, and Serra da Nave mountain ranges, which protect the Dão from the Atlantic Ocean to the west. These mountains are granitic, so you’ll find granitic soils in many of the Dão’s vineyards, resulting in more mineral wines. This is an easy ride to get rid of any cobwebs and ensure everything on your Pinarello bike is to your liking. If something isn’t right, now is the time to talk to the mechanic.

2

On the banks of Dão

Monday | 61.3km & 1193m

On our second day, we explore the breathtaking mountains surrounding the Dão River. We’ll ride around Pedras Altas, Santo Ildefonso, and Vila Mendo, with the highlight being Penalva do Castelo, home to the majestic medieval castle at the heart of the Dão valley. Our route will take us through the serene countryside, passing charming towns, and vineyards along the way. As we journey through the Dão valley, we’ll discover its rich cultural heritage, including numerous Roman bridges and stepping stones that allow us to cross the river.

3

Towards Gouveia

Tuesday | 51km & 1145m

This route leads to Gouveia, a prominent town in the Serra da Estrela region. We will be heading south, with Gouveia situated on the western slope of Serra da Estrela, offering breathtaking views of the Mondego valley. There will be some rolling hills and climbs along the way.

4

Serra da Estrela

Wednesday | 43km & 1090m
Today, we climb into the foothills of the Serra da Estrela, Portugal’s highest mountain chain. Our picturesque ride will take us to the ascent to Santo Estêvão, one of the mountains’ viewpoints—a climb of almost 20km with about 1,000 meters of elevation gain. After a tough day on the bike, we will be welcomed back into our base in the peaceful surroundings of the national park of Serra da Estrela.
5

Towards Santar

Thursday 45km & 673m

This point-to-point route takes us northwest as we leave the Serra da Estrela mountain and head towards Santar. Santar is a beautiful aristocratic village located 25 minutes away from Viseu at the heart of the Dão Wine Demarcated Region. The heart of Santar is comprised of granite and manor houses, all with incredible gardens.

6

Viriato route

Friday | 62km & 1,246m

During our final day, we’ll follow the path once traversed by one of Portugal’s most renowned figures. Viriato, or Viriathus in English, is typically the first historical figure Portuguese children are introduced to in school. Viriato was a prominent leader of the Lusitanian people who opposed Roman expansion into the western areas of Iberia. Statues and representations of Viriato can be found in the Viseu and Serra da Estrela regions. Viseu is famous for a local sweet pastry known as a “viriato,” shaped like the letter V. Despite having lived 2200 years ago, his legacy remains a significant and enduring part of Portuguese identity.

7

DEPARTURE

Saturday
This is our final morning together and after a leisurely breakfast, it will be time to say goodbye, or at least arrivederci, until we meet again. Transfers to the airport will be arranged by our hard-working crew but if you’re planning on staying a few extra days, let us know if we can help with reservations or a few recommendations.

STAYING LONGER?

Adventure Continues…
Do you plan to come a few days early, or stay on after your inGamba adventure has ended? Our concierge can help you plan with a carefully curated selection of hotels, restaurants, bars, and guides. All of our recommendations have been hand-picked by a team of local experts, so you can spend more time enjoying all that this destination has to offer.

The latest version of the DOGMA features an advanced fiber with remarkable tensile strength, which enables Pinarello to improve the bike’s lateral stiffness performance. With this enhancement, the New DOGMA F is engineered to tackle any road challenges, establishing itself as a reliable option for all kinds of rides.

In addition, it comes equipped with the new SRAM RED AXS, the lightest electronic groupset to date. The controls have been redesigned to offer smooth, comfortable ergonomics for a wide range of hand sizes. What makes this groupset stand out is the effortless braking, allowing for one-finger braking with minimal effort. The RED brakes now require 80% less effort when braking from the hoods and 33% less effort from the drops, delivering more power and reducing hand fatigue.

WHEELSET:

Zipp 303 S Carbon Tubeless

FRAMESET:

Pinarello New Dogma F

COCKPIT:

MOST Talon Ultra Fast

TIRES:

Vittoria Corsa N.Ext

GRUPPO:

New SRAM RED AXS (Powermeter Included)

BOTTLE CAGES:

Elite Custom Race

PEDALS:

Speedplay

BIDON:

Elite Jet

SADDLE:

Prologo

COMPUTER:

Garmin Edge 1040

COLOUR:

inGamba Red

The NYTRO GRAVEL has a pure road racer DNA which upon launch marked an era in the E-BIKE/GRAVEL world. Featuring an iconic design, the Nytro Gravel is perfect for anyone looking for a road bike with powerful support for the toughest climbs.

WHEELSET:

Zipp 303 S Carbon Tubeless

FRAMESET:

Nytro Gravel E-Bike
(available for an additional fee)

COCKPIT:

ZIPP Service Course SL

TIRES:

Vittoria Corsa N.Ext

GRUPPO:

SRAM RED eTap AXS

BOTTLE CAGES:

Elite Custom Race

PEDALS:

Speedplay

BIDON:

Elite Corsa Team

SADDLE:

Prologo

COMPUTER:

Garmin Edge 1030

COLOUR:

Saturn Silver

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