Portugal & Spain
Motorcycle Tour
18 Days
If you're looking for some of the best motorcycle roads in Europe, this guided motorcycle tour through Spain and Portugal delivers an unforgettable mix of spectacular scenery, legendary riding roads, great accommodation and even better company.
24th September to 11th October 2027
Small group tour. Limited spaces.
Starting in Santander on Spain's north coast, we'll leave the busy tourist routes behind and head into the mountains, crossing into Portugal via the stunning Douro region. Famous for its vineyard-covered hillsides, dramatic river gorges and endless twisting roads, the Douro Mountains offer some of the finest riding anywhere in Europe.
From here we continue south through the magnificent Serra da Estrela Natural Park, Portugal's highest mountain range. Expect sweeping bends, mountain passes, quiet roads and breathtaking views as we explore one of Portugal's greatest riding destinations.
Our route then turns north through the beautiful Parque Natural da Serra de São Mamede, where rolling countryside, historic villages and deserted roads provide mile after mile of relaxed and rewarding motorcycling.
The grand finale takes us back into Spain for two to three nights based in the legendary Picos de Europa. Frequently featured in Ride Magazine's Top European Motorcycle Rides, the Picos are a true bucket-list destination. Towering limestone peaks, deep valleys, spectacular mountain passes and endless corners make this one of the most exciting motorcycle touring regions on the continent. Staying multiple nights allows us to enjoy several of the area's best routes without constantly packing and unpacking.
This tour is designed by bikers, for bikers. There are no planned motorways and no hard riding days, with most days limited to around 5–6 hours of saddle time. The planned route is 100% tarmac.
Accommodation is carefully selected and ranges from charming local lodgings to spectacular luxury Spanish Paradors, offering a unique blend of comfort, character and unforgettable locations. All accommodation provides secure or safe parking for your motorcycle.
Prefer to ride independently during the day? No problem. We'll provide the route and nightly destination, allowing you to create your own tracks and ride at your own pace. Alternatively, join the group and enjoy fully guided riding with an English biker leading the way throughout the tour.
Whether you're riding a touring bike, sports tourer, adventure bike or cruiser, this Spain and Portugal motorcycle tour combines the Douro Valley, Serra da Estrela, Serra de São Mamede and the world-famous Picos de Europa into one unforgettable European motorcycle adventure.
What's included?
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Return ferry with shared cabin - Portsmouth to Bilbao/Santander.
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UK guide on a bike.
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All hotel accommodation in good quality hotels or paradors.
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All hotels with secure, garaged or private parking.
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All breakfasts in hotels.
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Tour routes, gpx files and information pack.
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Tour t-shirt.
What's not included?
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Travel insurance.
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Breakdown cover.
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Hotel parking charges.
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Petrol.
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Drinks.
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Evening meals unless listed.
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Anything not listed.
Day 1-2
Portsmouth to Bilbao/Santander ferry
– 0 miles.
Your tour will start at a pub in Portsmouth (good place to start) where you will have the opportunity to meet the rest of the team and your tour guide. Then we will board the ferry for the crossing over the channel and the Bay of Biscay. During the 30 or so hour long crossing you will have time to relax, have a few beers, go dolphin and whale watching in the Bay of Biscay, get some sleep, and chat with the group about plans and routes before reaching the Spanish coast. The ferries are convenient and easy going. Everyone will have a cabin with a shower/toilet (2 people in a 4 berth cabin). In the evening there is sometimes live music in the bar, films or sport on the big screens and several restaurants. It’ll be a great chance for everyone to get to know each other and chill. There's the option to travel from Plymouth for this holiday, give me a call to discuss if this works better for you.
Day 3
Bilbao/Santander to Leon
– 170 miles.
We start our Portuguese motorcycle adventure, in Spain as we leave the ferry in Santander, heading straight into the spectacular landscapes of northern Spain. This guided motorcycle tour takes us through the stunning Picos de Europa, stopping in the mountain town of Potes, before continuing towards historic León. Led by an experienced UK motorcycle tour guide riding alongside you, our route is designed to showcase some of the best motorcycle roads in northern Spain. Wherever possible, we avoid motorways, instead using quieter mountain roads, sweeping bends and scenic routes through traditional Spanish villages and valleys. The ride from Santander to Potes is an unforgettable introduction to the Picos de Europa, with dramatic mountains, twisting roads and incredible viewpoints. From Potes, we continue towards León, enjoying the changing scenery and fantastic riding that makes Spain such a popular destination for motorcycle touring. With motorcycle-friendly roads, stunning mountain scenery and minimal motorway riding, Santander to León is the perfect first stage of a Spanish motorcycle adventure with TravelDude. Santander • Potes • Picos de Europa • León • Northern Spain • Guided Motorcycle Tour
Day 4
Leon to Chaves – 160 miles.
We leave León behind and head west and south into some of the most rewarding riding in northern Spain. As we move away from the city, the landscape opens into rolling countryside, quiet mountain roads and remote Spanish villages, giving us a real taste of rural Spain. Choosing twisty back roads and scenic routes that are made for motorcycles. The route takes us through the changing landscapes of Castilla y León, gradually climbing and descending through the mountains as we make our way towards the Portuguese border. Crossing into Portugal, the scenery changes once again as we ride towards Chaves, a historic town in the north of the country known for its thermal springs, Roman heritage and beautiful surrounding countryside. For us, this is all about the journey rather than simply getting from León to Chaves. We ride great roads, discover quieter parts of Spain and Portugal, stop for coffee and photographs, and enjoy the freedom of travelling by motorcycle with the group. We're in Chaves for two nights. León • Northern Spain • Portuguese Border • Chaves • Guided Motorcycle Tour • Spain & Portugal
Day 5
Chaves to Chaves
– 230 miles.
We head out from Chaves for a long day in the saddle, with some of the most spectacular and rewarding motorcycle roads of the trip ahead of us. This is a day built around the riding. Long, gently arcing ‘straights’ feed seamlessly into sweeping bends, which tighten into more challenging corners and the occasional hairpin. The roads twist and flow through the landscape, giving us a fantastic variety of bends and plenty of opportunities to settle into a rhythm. With excellent road surfaces, very little traffic and mile after mile of flowing mountain roads, this is the kind of riding that makes a motorcycle tour in northern Portugal so memorable. We’ll take our time, enjoy the scenery, stop when the views demand it, and make the most of every corner before returning to Chaves after a genuinely memorable day on the bike. Chaves • Northern Portugal • Mountain Roads • Sweepers • Hairpins • Guided Motorcycle Tour
Day 6
Chaves to Geres – 120 miles.
We leave Chaves behind and head west towards Gerês, taking a route through some of northern Portugal’s most beautiful countryside. The ride is a great mix of flowing bends, open mountain roads and tighter sections as we gradually make our way towards the Peneda-Gerês National Park. Traffic is generally light, giving us plenty of opportunity to enjoy the roads and the changing scenery. As we get closer to Gerês, the landscape becomes increasingly rugged and green, with wooded hills, valleys and spectacular mountain views. It’s a rewarding day of riding that gives us a real taste of northern Portugal, finishing in the heart of one of the country’s most impressive natural areas. Chaves → Gerês — quiet roads, great bends and beautiful Portuguese mountain scenery.
Day 7
Geres to Pinhao
– 120 miles.
We leave Gerês and head south-east through the mountains of northern Portugal, taking a route that delivers some fantastic riding before dropping us into the spectacular Douro Valley. The roads become increasingly rewarding as we cross the Portuguese countryside, with flowing bends, tighter mountain sections and plenty of elevation changes. We avoid motorways wherever possible, favouring quieter roads that take us through remote villages, wooded valleys and open mountain landscapes. As we approach the Douro Valley, the scenery changes dramatically. Steep hillsides covered in vineyards replace the mountain landscape, and we begin to follow roads that wind through Portugal’s famous Port wine region. The final approach to Pinhão is particularly impressive, with spectacular views across the terraced vineyards and the Douro River. We arrive in Pinhão, right at the heart of the Douro wine country, having enjoyed one of the most varied days of riding on our Portuguese motorcycle adventure. Gerês → Northern Portugal → Douro Valley → Pinhão
Day 8
Pinhao to Covilha
– 130 miles.
We leave the vineyards and terraces of Pinhão behind and head south through the heart of northern Portugal, with the Serra da Estrela National Park ahead of us. This is a route of contrasts. We start amongst the dramatic landscapes of the Douro Valley, following winding roads through the hills before gradually climbing towards the high country of the Serra da Estrela. The roads become more mountainous as we gain altitude, with long sweeping bends, tighter corners and spectacular views stretching across central Portugal. The Serra da Estrela brings a completely different feel to the ride. We cross high mountain landscapes, remote valleys and rugged terrain before beginning the descent towards Covilhã, one of the main gateways to the Serra da Estrela. It’s a proper mountain day on the bikes, with plenty of variety and some unforgettable scenery. We’ll have time to stop and enjoy the views, but the real highlight is simply being out on the road and discovering another side of Portugal together. Pinhão → Douro Valley → Serra da Estrela → Covilhã
Day 9
Covilha to Covilha
– 180 miles.
We’re based in Covilhã for two nights, giving us the perfect opportunity to leave the luggage behind and spend a full day exploring the spectacular Serra da Estrela mountains. This is our definitive Serra da Estrela riding loop, bringing together the must-ride roads and mountain passes in the region. The highlight is undoubtedly the N-330, known as the ‘Portuguese Stelvio’, which we ride in both directions – giving us two completely different perspectives of one of Portugal’s most memorable mountain roads. We’ll climb through the high mountains, link together a succession of fantastic bends and enjoy the wide-open views across the Serra da Estrela. Target is the Torre in the Serra da Estrela. The highest road in Portugal. With the bike unloaded and a full day ahead of us, we can properly enjoy the roads without worrying about reaching the next hotel. It’s a day to ride, explore and enjoy the mountains – with plenty of twists, turns and spectacular scenery before we return to Covilhã for our second night. Covilhã • Serra da Estrela • N-330 ‘Portuguese Stelvio’ • Mountain Passes • Full-Day Motorcycle Loop
Day 10
Covilha to Badajoz
– 150 miles.
We leave Covilhã and the Serra da Estrela behind, heading east towards the Spanish border and into the wide-open landscapes of Extremadura. After the mountain roads of the Serra da Estrela, the scenery begins to change as we cross the border into Spain. We trade the high mountains for rolling countryside, open roads and long, flowing bends, riding through some of the quieter parts of western Spain. We’ll keep to the more interesting roads wherever possible, avoiding the motorways and taking the scenic route towards Badajoz. As the kilometres pass, the landscape becomes increasingly open, with small Spanish villages and vast rural plains providing a completely different character to the riding we’ve enjoyed in Portugal. Our destination is Badajoz, close to the Portuguese border and perfectly placed for the next stage of our Spanish adventure. It’s a day that gives us a real change of scenery – from Portugal’s highest mountains to the open roads of Extremadura. Covilhã → Serra da Estrela → Portuguese/Spanish Border → Extremadura → Badajoz
Day 11
Badajoz to Serta
– 120 miles
We leave Badajoz and cross back into Portugal, heading north-west through the quiet countryside towards Sertã. The character of the ride changes throughout the day. We move from the wide, open landscapes around the Spanish border into increasingly wooded and hilly terrain as we head deeper into central Portugal. The roads become more sinuous, with a great mix of flowing bends and tighter sections that keep us entertained all the way. Away from the major routes, we’ll ride through small Portuguese villages and remote countryside, discovering a side of Portugal that is easy to miss when travelling on the main roads. The closer we get to Sertã, the more the landscape takes on the green, rugged character of central Portugal. It’s another great day of motorcycle touring in Portugal, with plenty of bends, changing scenery and quiet roads before we arrive in Sertã for the evening. Badajoz → Portuguese Border → Central Portugal → Sertã
Day 12
Serta to Vila Real
– 170 miles.
Our route takes us from Sertã towards Buçaco National Forest, where we head into one of Portugal’s most beautiful wooded landscapes. The forest roads wind beneath towering trees, with a great mix of flowing bends and tighter corners making this a hugely enjoyable section on the bikes. From Buçaco, we continue north through the Portuguese countryside, linking together quiet roads and increasingly mountainous terrain as we work our way towards Vila Real. The scenery changes constantly throughout the day, from dense woodland and rolling hills to open mountain landscapes, with plenty of villages and viewpoints along the way. By the time we reach Vila Real, we’ll have enjoyed another proper day of Portuguese riding, using the smaller roads wherever possible. Sertã → Buçaco National Forest → Northern Portugal → Vila Real
Day 13
Vila Real to Zamora
– 150 miles.
We point the bikes north-east from Vila Real, leaving the vineyards and mountains of northern Portugal behind as we work our way towards the Spanish border. This is a great day for exploring the quieter side of the Iberian Peninsula, with a mixture of sweeping mountain roads, open countryside and smaller routes linking remote villages. We cross the border into Spain, where the landscape becomes more open and rugged as we continue towards Zamora. The final approach brings us through the wide landscapes of Castilla y León, with long flowing sections of road providing a change of pace after the more technical mountain riding of Portugal. By the time we reach Zamora, we’ll have crossed two countries and enjoyed another varied day on the bikes, with the emphasis firmly on finding the best roads rather than simply getting from A to B. Vila Real → Northern Portugal → Spanish Border → Castilla y León → Zamora
Day 14
Zamora to Sergovia
– 120 miles.
We leave Zamora and head south-east across the wide-open landscapes of Castilla y León, following a route that gradually takes us towards the mountains and the historic city of Segovia. The riding changes as we progress, from open plains and sweeping roads to more undulating terrain and flowing mountain sections. We’ll favour the quieter roads wherever possible, linking together the best stretches of tarmac as we make our way across central Spain. Our destination is Segovia, one of Spain’s most impressive historic cities. The real reward at the end of the ride is its spectacular Roman aqueduct, an extraordinary piece of ancient engineering that dominates the heart of the city. Dating back almost 2,000 years, the huge granite structure is remarkably well preserved and provides an unforgettable backdrop to the end of our day. After another rewarding day on the bikes, we can park up, explore Segovia and take in the atmosphere of this fascinating city. Zamora → Castilla y León → Central Spain → Segovia → Roman Aqueduct
Day 15-16
Potes and Picos de Europa
– 150 miles?
We head straight up to Potes for two nights and into the Picos de Europa! We have a full two days to explore the Picos. The roads are smooth and sweeping, down to twisty and tight. It's motorbike nirvana! We will ride the Potes Triangle, a spectacular route and maybe add some deviations as we all see fit. Our second full day in the Picos may include a quick run into north Portugal or we lap up the magnificent local roads. We are at the same hotel on nights 15 and 16 , allowing us to strip the luggage and ride light for these two days.
Day 17
Potes to Bilbao/Santander to Portsmouth
– 100 miles.
We're not finished yet! A good morning's worth of riding through the Saja-Besaya Natural Park before heading to our departure port for an early afternoon ferry. The roads in this mountainous region are fantastic and it’s a great way to finish this epic motorbike tour.
Day 18
Portsmouth
– 0 miles.
We’re on the ferry for a single night crossing, with plenty of time to reminisce about your amazing motorcycle trip to the Picos and Pyrenees, arriving back in blighty in the evening.
Other Costs To Consider (for 2026/27 tours)
All accommodation, all breakfasts (excluding onboard the ferry) are included.
Additional costs you may want to allow for:
£450 - £550 for fuel (depends on how heavy wristed you are).
£600 - £700 for food and drinks that are not already included.
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