Queijo Serra da Estrela, a rich, buttery sheep’s milk cheese so soft you eat it with a spoon, chestnut soup from the mountain villages, cabrito assado (roast kid goat) slow-cooked with rosemary, smoked sausages cured in the cold mountain air, hearty broa de milho (cornbread) served warm, trout pulled straight from the Serra’s rivers, and a slice of queijada straight from a village bakery.
Dão reds from the vineyards below the mountains, aguardente de medronho to warm up after a big climbing day, fresh mountain spring water straight from the Serra, espresso pulled strong before every ride out, a crisp Douro white once you reach the valley, and a cold Super Bock at the end of a long day in the saddle.
On this week-long, point-to-point odyssey, we’ll explore Portugal from the sea to the mountains and from the mountains to the valleys, all from the vantage point of your saddle, and the dinner table, of course, because this is inGamba. Returning for 2027, this trip starts in Porto and heads north into the Serra da Estrela National Park, home to the highest roads in the country and some of its most spectacular views.
From there, the route finds its way to the Douro Valley, its steep hillsides wrapped in centuries of vineyards, for well-earned wine tasting before finishing back in the enchanting city of Porto.
This trip reveals Portugal’s unique landscape and culture, staying in a hand-picked selection of unique and charming properties along the way, taking you right to the heart of what we still think is European cycling’s best-kept secret. Expect quiet roads and hours of fun on rolling terrain through beautiful countryside.
Borgolecchi is a destination in itself. Non-riding companions can enjoy a full programme of cultural experiences, relaxation, and Tuscan exploration while you’re on the bike.
For cyclists who like to keep the legs turning without too much time out of the saddle. Expect gentle undulations, flowing roads, and a rhythm that lets you soak in the scenery as much as the ride.
Stay in the stunning locations that we know and love, and spent years finding.
The latest DOGMA F engineered for any road, equipped with the lightest electronic groupset available. E-bike option also available.
Every breakfast, lunch and dinner — from handmade pasta to Fiorentina steak grilled while you watch. Wine, espresso and aperitivi included.
Seamless transfers to and from major airports in our inGamba fleet of vehicles.
High-tech performance meets luxury for the optimal riding experience with our Custom 36.5 kit.
Professional soigneurs with peloton experience ease sore muscles and prepare you for the next day.
Five mechanics work meticulously to ensure your Pinarello is race-ready every single morning of your trip.
Don't worry about chores whilst you're away, all cycling kit is cleaned overnight, so it’s fresh, dry and ready to go each morning.
Make use a beautiful day bag from Ideal & Co. Yours to keep after the trip.
Fill your pockets with fresh snacks, or make use of an entire Enervit collection.
Bem-vindo a Portugal. Our first ride is an easy spin through the northern hills, gentle enough to shake off the travel and get reacquainted with your Pinarello. If anything needs adjusting, a mechanic is right there to sort it before the real climbing starts.
Today the road turns skyward into the Serra da Estrela, Portugal's highest mountain range. The route winds through Unhais da Serra and Seia before the climb to Penhas Douradas, a hors catégorie ascent of 20km and roughly 1,000 meters of gain. It's the biggest day of the week, and the national park's quiet, high altitude calm is the reward waiting at the top.
A long descent out of the Serra da Estrela National Park opens the day, dropping you into Beira Alta, the region João's father calls home. The ride finishes in Marialva, a walled medieval village so evocative that Nobel laureate José Saramago once wrote about the lump it brings to a traveler's throat.
Marialva was once a border fortress. Today it's known for granite cottages and a castle that watches over the valley. This loop threads through the quiet countryside of the Beira region, past small towns that rarely see a peloton pass through.
The road turns toward the Douro Valley today, one of Portugal's most photographed landscapes: terraced hillsides, a patchwork of vineyards, and the Douro River winding below. It's a rolling, approachable day, ending on the riverbank in Peso da Régua.
The last day earns its keep early, with the bulk of the climbing in the opening hours as you leave the Douro behind. The gradients ease in the second half as the road follows the river toward Porto, Portugal's second city, where the trip wraps up in style.
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.
After an impressive pro career that started back in 2003, Sérgio Paulinho joined the inGamba team at the start of 2022 after his retirement. But we’ve known him for a long time, as not only did he race against our founder João Correia, but he was also a teammate of our star guide Manuel Cardoso back in the day. A two-time national champion in Portugal, Sérgio has also won stages at the Tour de France and Vuelta a España, and in 2004, he won a silver medal in the road race at the Athens Olympics. So it’s fair to say the man has pedigree! It isn’t the racing victories that impress us most about Sérgio though, it’s his personality, his friendly nature on and off the bike, and the fact that he’s always ready with a smile. That said, if you find yourself running out of gas on a big climb, it certainly helps to have someone like him beside you!
”"We're specifically trying to give our guests the closest experience of what it means to be in a pro team, at any speed."
With years of experience in the professional peloton, our mechanics and soigneurs bring WorldTour-level care to every detail of your ride. Up to five mechanics work meticulously each day to ensure your Pinarello is perfectly tuned and adjusted for you alone—not just race-ready, but dialed to your precise preferences. Meanwhile, our soigneurs draw on their own experience as professional riders to anticipate your needs before you voice them: bottles filled and positioned exactly right, ride food prepared and timed to fuel you through the hardest climbs, post-ride massages that ease tired muscles, and the kind of quiet, confident support that prepares you mentally and physically for whatever the road brings next. This is the care that once belonged only to the pros. With inGamba, it’s yours.
H2otel, Casa das Penhas Douradas, Casas do Côro, Quinta da Pacheca, Palácio do Freixo
Your week moves from mountain thermal springs to a walled medieval village to the vineyards of the Douro. It opens at H2otel Congress & Medical Spa in Unhais da Serra, built around the Aquadome thermal pool complex, then continues to Casa das Penhas Douradas, the highest hotel in mainland Portugal, built from the ruins of a sanatorium and finished in cork, birch wood, and handwoven burel wool.
Two nights follow at Casas do Côro, a cluster of restored granite cottages woven into the medieval walls of Marialva, one of Portugal’s twelve Historic Villages, before the route drops into wine country at Quinta da Pacheca, an 18th century Douro estate known for its Wine Barrel suites tucked among the vines.
The trip closes at Palácio do Freixo, a restored 18th century Baroque palace on the Douro riverbank in Porto, wrapping up the week in the city where it began.
”"An amazing travel experience. They make you feel like a star. I was blown away by the treatment that can only be likened to a professional athlete — just without the race."
Daniel B.Guest in 2024
”"The whole experience is magical. The rides are stunning. The care and attention to detail is first class. The massages are a lifesaver."
Lyn K.Guest in 2018, 2019 & 2023
”"The best in the industry. A once in a lifetime experience every time! The people that make inGamba are the reason you will want to travel with them again and again."
Victoria P.Guest in 2024
Single Supplement: $1,200 per person · Private Trips: Available on request for groups of 6+
Guests of inGamba are passionate cyclists who love the sport and the lifestyle that surrounds it. Most of our community are experienced riders of all ages and various abilities, who appreciate great roads, fine food, and unforgettable company.
While everyone enjoys a challenge, no one’s chasing a pro contract here. Instead, the focus is on sharing incredible rides at a comfortable pace, soaking in the scenery, and enjoying the journey. You’ll find more “middle of the pack” and “social” riders than hard chargers at the front, and with our exceptional staff-to-guest ratio, every rider is fully supported, no matter their speed or style.
Fly to: Porto Airport
Pick-up: Porto Airport 11:00
Drop-off: Porto Airport, departure from hotel at 8:30am
We recommend arriving the night before. Our concierge can help with hotel recommendations.
Gratuities are customary if you feel the staff delivered an exceptional experience. Most guests find 10-20% of the trip cost appropriate. All tips are split evenly among the entire team.
We recommend purchasing travel insurance to protect your booking. View our cancellation policy →
Need to change dates? Contact us as early as possible and we’ll do our best to accommodate.
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