PORTUGAL

ACT Portugal track

ACT Portugal offers you a five-day 1250km adventure route, that travels from Bragança on the northern border to Tavira on the south coast.

Travel through verdant green valleys, over tree-lined mountains, pass between fields of gold, ride along centuries-old trails, bumping over the cobbles of the narrow village streets, discovering Portugal’s rich history, rural culture and rarely seen back country.

Although relatively small in size, Portugal is a very diverse country from the landscape perspective. By defining a track from north to south, we were able to cross all sort of different regions that will for sure call the attention of travellers and ask for a photograph. There are breath taking sceneries that will demand for a stop and for some contemplation. The track starts in the more mountain populated north, crossing valleys, mountain tops, famous vineyard area of the Douro valley and then going to the south, where the plains take care of the landscape.

The ACT Portugal was prepared in order to specifically cross remote areas of the country. It avoids the busy sea coast and more touristic areas. Nevertheless, the track is constantly crossing small villages, old castles, historically relevant areas and, places where you can have all sort of local experiences. It ranges from great landscapes, remote populations, food, roads and, something that Portugal is a top producer: wine.

It will therefore be possible to plan your adventure so that you can enjoy the ride and the track during the day, and then at the evening, after a good bath, enjoy the diverse and rich food of Portugal, the culture and the huge variety of winery’s and wines. Portugal is one of the oldest countries in the world with the oldest defined frontiers and it is the oldest state-nation in Europe. This means that the entire country is historically populated with remaining’s of this long history that dates to the XII century.

The chosen track is perfectly suitable for beginners and the stretches where better skills may be required, the rider can take an alternative if it does not feel ready or in the mood to try it. These cases are nevertheless, rare. The track diversity is rich and it presents up and down tracks crossing the mountains, river crossings, old ancient roman bridges crossings, mountain tops riding, rock bed tracks, faster gravel roads and twisty old tarmac roads. All in the track offering a unique riding experience for the adventurers. Portugal is an off-road paradise and the track is defined only using authorized roads.

WARNING: Please always download the latest version of the track before going into the trip as it can be constantly modified in order to be accurate and reflect changes in the terrain.

OFF-ROAD PERCENTAGE

65%

PICTURE GALLERY

EXPERTIZE LEVEL

Beginners with off-road experience

LENGTH

1200 km

TRACK TYPE

Tarmac, Gravel, Rocks, mud (on wet season)

RECOMMENDED DURATION

5 days

ACCOMODATION

Camping and small Hotels

LANGUAGE

Portugues

DAY 1

OFFROAD PERCENTAGE
0 %

Bragança

START

Torre de Moncorvo

END

180 km

Length

Easy / Medium

Difficulty

Although Day 1 has the shortest amount of kilometres, the track presents a accentuated degree of altitude differences and tight corners and bends.

Therefore, it is the slowest day of all. It has some technical sections and we have prepared two alternatives in two specific areas where, if with adverse weather, an alternative may be required. You will have dirty and rocky roads and will be crossing some beautiful ancient Roman bridges and a castle. On hot days, when already at the Sabor river lake, you should take time to have a swim on the inviting blue waters. The arrival at Torre of Moncorvo is preceded by some tracks crossing the top of the mountains and from where you can stop and contemplate the beautiful and famous Douro Valley.

Hotel & Food

Hotel São Lázaro
Avenida do Sabor, Lote 24
5300 – 111 Bragança
Telephone: +351 273 310 070
Visit website

Camping & Bungalows:
Cepo Verde
Lugar da Vinha do Santo
5300-561 Gondesende – Bragança
Telephone: +351 273 999 371

Restaurante O Poças
Rua Combatentes da Grande Guerra, nº200
5300-113 Bragança
Telephone: +351 273 331 428

Tasca do ZéTuga
Rua da Igreja, nº66
5300-000 Bragança
Telephone: +351 273 381 358

DAY 2

OFFROAD PERCENTAGE
0 %

Torre de Moncorvo

START

Vale do Rossim (Serra da Estrela)

END

255 km

Length

Easy

Difficulty

Day 2 is a mixed day regarding off-road and tarmac.

Nevertheless, even when not off-roading, the tracks are amazing, twisty and funny to ride. Always with great landscapes surrounding you, you start the day still and the amazing Douro Valley, home of the famous Portuguese wines. You will cross an area that we have baptized of Touratech Valley due to the gorgeous color of the rocks when the sun is hitting them. At a certain point in time, you are meters away from Spain and only the river is separating the two countries. You will visit Castelo Rodrigo, an ancient historical place for Portugal and contemplate the old castle. Later, you will be arriving at Serra da Estrela which will be offering you an unique off-road experience. Beautiful landscape and fun off-road.

Hotel & Food

Hotel Casa Dona Maria Luiza
Rua Vasco da Gama 43
5160-297 Torre de Moncorvo
Telephone: +351 279 254 086
Visit website

Hotel – Quintas do Valbom e Cuco
Quintas do Valbom e Cuco
E.N. 325, Km 8.5
5160-206 Torre de Moncorvo
Telephone: +351 936 424 961

Restaurante o Lagar
Rua do Hospital Velho nº16
Torre de Moncorvo
Telephone: +351 279 252 828

Taberna Do Carró
Largo Gen. Claudino 25
5160-243 Torre de Moncorvo
Telephone: +351 279 252 699

DAY 3

OFFROAD PERCENTAGE
0 %

Vale do Rossim (Serra da Estrela)

START

Alamal

END

235 km

Length

Easy

Difficulty

Again another day with high quality off-road tracks riding through the Serra da Estrela and Serra da Gardunha mountains.

Your fun is assured here with beautiful mountain roads. You have all different styles of off-road and you get in touch with the Tejo River. The biggest river in the Iberia Peninsula that starts in Spain and cuts Portugal in half. The end of the day is at Alamal on a beautiful river beach from where you can contemplate the ancient Belver Castle. This is where in the ACT Portugal video you can see the boat trip and the fireplace.

Hotel & Food

Hotel – Vale do Rossim Eco Resort
Parque Natural da Serra da Estrela
6290 – 909
Telephone: +351 275 981 029

Hotel – Pousada de Manteigas, São Lourenço
Parque Natural da Serra da Estrela
6260-200 Manteigas
Telephone: +351 275 980 050

Hotel – Casa Das Penhas Douradas
Parque Natural da Serra da Estrela, Penhas Douradas
6260-200 Manteigas
Telephone: +351 275 981 045

Restaurante Vale Do Rossim
Parque Natural da Serra da Estrela
Telephone: 275 981 029

DAY 4

OFFROAD PERCENTAGE
0 %

Alamal

START

Moura

END

285 km

Length

Easy

Difficulty

This is the day where you make the transition between the north part of the country and the south.

Therefore you leave the mountains and you enter the plains of the south. Landscape changes completely and you have to visit the magnificent castles of Estremoz and Monsaraz. You will be entering the also famous wine region of Alentejo. The off-road is fun with not so technical tracks and in the end of the day you will be riding around the biggest artificial lake in Europe, the Barragemd o Alqueva lake. Beautiful shots can be taken here and off-road fun is 100% assured. You will be getting dirt on your motorbike and riding gear. This is the longest day of the trip and it is clearly a connection day between two different regions.

Hotel & Food

Hotel – Alamal River Club
Praia Fluvial do Alamal
6040-060 Gavião
Telephone: +351 275 981 029
Visit website

Hotel – Casa Covão da Abituteira
Rua da Estação nº3
6040-024 Belver
Telephone: +351 241 635 211

Camping
Praia Fluvial do Alamal
6040 Gavião

Bar Alamal
Praia Fluvial do Alamal
6040-060 Gavião
Telephone: +351 241 631 221

DAY 5

OFFROAD PERCENTAGE
0 %

Moura

START

Cacela Velha

END

245 km

Length

Easy / Medium

Difficulty

The adventure enters the last day, but be sure, it ends in greatness.

This is the day with the most percentage of off-road and you will be delighted with the tracks and landscapes you will be visiting.  Fun and quicker tracks and then you will visit the Minas de São Domingos, alien landscapes that you can ride through. You continue crossing the beautiful town of Mertola with an historical castle and town center. When everything seems that is ending, you get the final stretch of off-road: the Algarve mountains that separate this famous tourism destination from the rest of the country and that also creates the special “summer all year” weather of Algarve. This last part of the track will make sure you leave Portugal with a big smile on your face. An unbelievable off-road experience. The end of the adventure is at the very small village of Cacela Velha on a very small castle. It is literaly on the end of the country as you will be contemplating the sea from the castle above. A last picture to remember the great adventure of Adventure Country Tracks Portugal.

Hotel & Food

Hotel – Herdade do Sobroso*
Pedrogão, Apartado 61
7960-999 Vidigueira
Visit website

(*this is the winery that can be seen at the video, it has a restaurant inside)

Hotel – Casa de Pedrogão
Rua Luis Vaz de Camões 1-3
7960-054 Pedrogão
Telephone: +351 284 544 558
Visit website

Hotel de Moura
Praça Gago Coutinho, 1
7860-010 Moura
Telephone: +351  285 251 090
Visit website

Praia Verde Boutique Hotel
Praia Verde – Altura
8950-434 Castro Marim
Telephone: +351 281 530 600
Visit website

 

Hotel Vila Galé
Quatro Aguas
8800-901 Tavira
Telephone: +351 281 380 800
Visit website

Camping & Bungalows:
Parque de Campismo Ria Formosa
Quinta da Gomeira – Cabanas de Tavira
8800-591 CABANAS TAVIRA
Telephone: +351 281 328 887

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