Day 1
Arrival Lisbon or Porto
Arrival at Lisbon Airport (optional Oporto), transfer to the Hotel (308km / 3 hours trip).
Check-in at the Hotel, briefing after the check-in.
Dinner and overnight.
Day 2
Mantegias round - 72km / +1200m
Breakfast at the hotel.
From Manteigas to Belmonte, you will take an easy and beautiful road along the Zezere River Valley for about 15km.
From Belmonte, of of the most known towns for its Jewish traditions.
You'll climb up through Seixo Amarelo, surrounded by the big granite bolder hills and typical villages in between some breathtaking landscapes.
Reaching the top at about +1400m, you'll ride down through an amazing road, full of turns on the varied forest of Famalicao da Serra, with its pine and oak trees along the valley that will lead us back to Zezere River.
Lunch in Manteigas.
Dinner and overnight.
Day 3
Barragem do Caldeirao to Sao Lourenço - 89km / +1966m
Breakfast at the Hotel.
Today, you'll take the van to Aldeias dos Meios, a small village in the north part of Serra da Estrela Geopark.
From there, you'll cruise down to Caldeirao Dam and Aldeia Viçosa, the views are amazing, and the car-free roads are full of repeated and endless turns.
The challenge starts from this village by the Mondego River and towards Linhares das Beira, a 12th-century medieval village with unequaled architecture and a masterpiece castle.
Linhares received its first chapter from the first king of Portugal in 1169, and since then, it has been preserved in all its originality and traditions.
Here you'll have your coffee stop.
Reaching Folgosinho, another challenging uphill is waiting for you!
After you reach the highlands of Serra da Estrela at about +1800m, you'll take one of the coolest and unknown roads to Covao a Ponte.
Your riding day will end at Penhas Douradas, a high peak at about +1500m altitude, where you'll have lunch: a correct name of this village is actually Poio Negro, and it was known as a place to cure people from pulmonary illnesses.
Casa de Sao Lourenço is a fancy traditional restaurant with breathtaking views towards the glacier Manteigas Valley.
For sure an unforgettable experience.
Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 4
Manteigas to Manteigas - 72km / +1903m
Today is another climbing day!
Breakfast at the Hotel, but what else to do when you're in the mountains?
Leaving directly from the hotel, today is the big day, and you'll reach the highest peak of Serra da Estrela at +1993m.
Time to taste the local Queijo da Serra, the traditional buttery cheese made in the region!
From Sabugueiro, a unique "serrana" village of Serra da Estrela (actually the highest small village in Portugal), the climb to Torre is long.
With average gradients of about 10-12%, the views at the top are well worth the effort.
This will probably be something you have never experienced before in your life... some people say that it reminds them of the Scottish mountains but more raw, pure, massive and more impressive.
The downhill ride back to Manteigas is an unforgettable experience, about 25km of a fast, downhill road within the central massif of the highest Portuguese mountains.
Lunch and relaxation time.
Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 5
Guarda to Subagal - 54km / +915m
Breakfast at the Hotel, followed by a transfer to Guarda (about 40km / 50 minutes).
Today, you'll have a rather short ride, but with a special focus on Guarda, where you'll start riding, and Sortelha, one of the most amazing and ancient Portuguese villages, that maintained its urban and architectural appearance since the Renaissance period.
Guarda is the capital of Beira Alta, and it's known for being the city of the 5 F's: Forte (strong), Fria (cold), Farta (abundant), Fiel (faithful), and Formosa (charming).
From the top of Guarda, at about +1000m high, you'll ride down to the flatlands eastwards towards the Spanish border.
About 40km later, and just before Sortelha, you'll shortly climb up to visit the village and stop for a coffee at the local bar.
Only about 15km, basically downhill, will end the day at Sabugal, a well-known town for its castle that has been the base for British and Portuguese troops during the third French invasion around the year 1800.
Here, you have lunch and taste some of the best meals, wine, and products from this region.
The way back to the hotel will be done by van.
Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 6
Torre to Piodao - 46km / +1072m
Breakfast at the hotel.
Today is your last riding day of this great and challenging adventure.
Only another 45km are waiting for you!
Starting at the top of the glacial Manteigas Valley (alternatively at the highest peak of Serra da Estrela), you'll slowly climb up to Torre before a long descent to the unique black schist village of Piodao at Serra do Açor, in the southern part of Serra da Estrela.
Let yourself be enchanted by the protected, majestic, and pure landscapes of this sublime place.
At Piodao, you'll have lunch at a local restaurant, before you enjoy a nice walk through the schist village.
Transfer by van to the Hotel for about 60km and 1.5 hours.
Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 7
Departure
Breakfast at the Hotel.
Transfer to Lisbon airport with assistance from your guide.
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