The Portugal's N2 cycle tour from north to south is a remarkable journey that offers a diverse range of experiences. The N2 is Portugal's longest road, spanning approximately 738 kilometers from Chaves in the north to the Algarve region in the south. The cycle route takes you through a variety of landscapes, from the lush greenery of the north to the rolling hills of central Portugal and the Mediterranean landscapes of the south. You'll encounter picturesque countryside, charming villages, vineyards, olive groves, and stunning vistas along the way.
Portugal N2 Cycle Route Tour Map
Distance and Climbing
The Portugal End-to-End ACTIVE tour is a moderate tour. Days vary, but generally the route has some climbs of medium difficulty. You will need to ensure you are fit enough to complete the distance and climbing.
This Portugal cycle tour is suitable for our ACTIVE Riders. Find out if you are an AVID or ACTIVE style of rider here. It is approximately 75 km and 1,000 meters of climbing per day.
For something a little more challenging you can find out about our 8-Day AVID Portugal N2 Cycle Tour here.
Price
The price is £2,200 per person sharing. Some single rooms are available for an additional supplement of £750.
What is included in the tour
- Accommodation and breakfast in great hotels
- Luggage transfer
- Advice on places to stop for your morning coffee
- Water, Soft drinks, fruit, cakes and bars en route
- Van and mechanical support
- GPX route files
What is NOT included in the tour
- Airport transfer from Porto Airport at the start can be provided for an additional fee (£70)
- Airport transfer from Quarteira to Faro Airport at the end can be provided for an additional fee (£50)
- Bike box or bag removal at start, secure storage and delivery to finish can be provided for an additional fee of £70
- Lunches - there are many cafés, bars and restaurants along the way
- Evening meals - Our stopovers all have reasonably priced restaurants and pubs nearby and most of the hotels have good dining. Breakfast IS included
- Optional trips / entry fees for any excursions you arrange independently
- Insurance - you need to organise your own bike and travel insurance as required
- Gels, high energy bars, energy powder and shakes - bring your own as per what works best for you and your tummy!
- Flights to Porto / from Faro
An email will be sent out prior to the tour with a link to order extras such as bike box storage, airport transfers and merchandise
Portugal N2 GPX / GPS Files
All our cycle tours are supported with GPX files of the entire route. These start at the door of the hotel you are leaving and finish right at your finish hotel. The GPX route files for your Portugal N2 End to End cycle tour will be sent well in advance for you to check uploading to your bike computer. Any revisions will be resent.
Portugal End to End N2 ACTIVE Cycle Route & Daily Itinerary
The route is very scenic with the following itinerary:
- Arrival Day and Bike Tour Preparation (no cycling)
- Cycle Chaves to Vila Real - 65 km 939 m
- Cycle Vila Real to Lamego - 50 km 1130 m
- Cycle Lamego to Viseu - 66 km 1115 m
- Cycle Viseu to Gois - 100 km 1478 m
- Cycle Gois to Serta - 65 km 1196 m
- Cycle Serta to Ponte de Sor - 92 km 1319 m
- Cycle Ponte de Sor to Montemor-o-Novo - 93 km 815 m
- Cycle Montemor-o-Novo to Odivelas - 65 km 644 m
- Cycle Odivelas to Almodovar - 85 km 811 m
- Cycle Almodovar to Quarteira - 79 km 1,052 m
- Departure Day and Finish of the Cycle Tour (no cycling)
Routes are subject to change if necessary.
Your Portugal N2 GPX files will be sent in advance for you to upload to your bike computer.
Cycling Terrain and Bike Suitability
The tour is primarily on quiet roads with a small number of joining sections on busier roads. Some cycling in towns and cities is necessary, particularly at the start and end of the day. Roads are generally well surfaced and suitable for road bike tires of 25 mm or more. We recommend a good quality and well-fitted road bike with dropped handlebars. If bringing your bike in a box, we can remove it and return it to you at the end of the tour.
Accommodation in Portugal
On the N2 Portugal End to End bike tour you will stay in comfortable, clean and good quality hotels. Bike storage will be available. Some hotels have restaurants. We have personally selected (and usually stayed in!) all the hotels we use. You will enjoy a fantastic breakfast each morning to fuel you for the day.
Your luggage will be transferred each day. Our support van will be there in a jiffy if you need any assistance during the day.
Lunch, Snacks and Refreshments
There is a lot of choice when it comes to stopping off for lunch in local cafés and restaurants. Lunch and evening meals are not included in the price. On occasions you may choose to have an evening meal together with the group, or you are free to stroll around and explore the local cuisine which Portugal is known for!
Water, fruit, bars and snacks are available without limit each day from the support van. Just help yourself.
Arriving for Your Portugal N2 Cycle Tour
The tour starts in the beautiful and historical town of Chaves on the first date of the advertised tour with a detailed briefing. Flying to Porto is your best option. Direct flights to Porto are very reasonably priced from most UK cities (2 hr 30 mins approx) and elsewhere. We then prepare our bikes and spend the night in the our hotel. This first night is included in the price of the tour. Please contact us if you have other travel requirements you wish to discuss and we will do our best to assist!
Departure Planning
The tour finishes in Quarteira where we spend a final night in our chosen hotel. From here you can arrange your onward travels. We can provide transfers from our finish point to Faro Airport. You can fly to many UK cities (approx 2 hr 45 mins).
What to Expect on Your N2 ACTIVE Cycle Tour of Portugal
Weather
Our N2 tours run in late spring and autumn (fall). These are the best seasons for cycling in Portugal. Of course the weather will vary between the north and the coastal south.
From March to May, the country is in bloom and waking after the winter. In May you can expect daytime temperatures between 17 C and 24 C. May is generally a sunny month with low rainfall. Of course the weather will vary between the north and the coastal south.
From September to October the sun is still shining, the weather is warm, and many of the crowds have dispersed. In September you can expect temperatures between 19 C and 29 C. September is generally a sunny month with low rainfall.
Group Size and Tour Leaders
Our groups are generally around 12 to 18 people. All our Portugal tours go ahead with a minimum of six people.
Our groups are supported by a tour leader and assistant, both of whom have previous tour support experience and are themselves cyclists who fully appreciate just how it feels however your day pans out. The tour leader and assistant ride in the van to better aid a speedy assist where required. On most tours we also have a rider on the road with basic mechanical and first aid skills who will try to ride ‘mid-pack’, but the van generally gets there first.
At the initial briefing all cyclists are provided with the tour leader and assistant’s number, as well as that of the emergency services which they are instructed to use in the event of an emergency.
English is fairly widely spoken in the larger towns in Portugal and where possible we will have Portugese speakers available to assist.
Camaraderie
Camaraderie forms a big part of the whole experience our tours provide and although single supplements are available, our tours are priced and catered for such that a single cyclist can feel comfortable making a booking and opt to share a twin room with someone they don’t know.
People tend to settle into their own way of cycling throughout the day and groups can vary from day to day and evening to evening. You can cycle at your own pace for a solitary cycle or join others.
Navigating the Portugal N2 Cycle Route
We recommend you bring a bike computer onto which you can upload the GPX files of the route. GPX files of the Portugal N2 route will be emailed to you before the start of the tour.
We will also email route profile sheets to help with finding your way.
Direction of Travel
We travel north to south. The prevailing wind is westerly.
Bike Maintenance
Each morning (and evening) bike cleaning materials, basic tools, pumps and lubricants will be available so you can groom your trusty steeds.
You can telephone any time for mechanical support where required.
Mechanical Issues
With regards to mechanical issues it’s helpful if everyone knows how to repair a puncture or replace a tube. However, we are on call if you need help re-seating a stiff tyre on the rim.
Minor mechanicals can be dealt with roadside and where more specialist help is required we can transport you and your bike to a local bike shop to carry out repairs.
Support Van & Cyclist
Our support van with water and refreshments will pass you at least once each morning and afternoon en route to lunch and hotel so you will normally be able to access your day pack before lunch, at lunch and in the afternoon.
We usually have a Support Cyclist on the road as well.
In the afternoon we ensure we get your bag to the hotel before you arrive.
Daily Routine
Every day starts with a hearty breakfast and a briefing.
Breakfasts vary but for the most part will include cereals, fruit, eggs in various guises, cheeses, meats and breads with coffee, juice and tea.
We’ll advise of a suitable morning coffee stop for ‘second breakfast’ and we’ll also specify a lunch stop where the van can be found. Sometimes there will be a choice of restaurant but in remote areas there may only be one suitable.
Evening meals are available in some of our Portugal hotels. We do however advise a little walk each evening just to sample the delights these towns have to offer.
