Thoughts on Group Leader
Ruben was fantastic! 5 stars all the way. Informative, enthusiastic and encouraging. Always a smile.
Advice for Potential Travellers
If in doubt, get an ebike.
Reviews
Your Words – We tell it like it is! Holiday Reviews by previous Exodus travellers
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Reviews
Fantastic Ride
Loved every minute of this trip. Glad I had an e-bike. Was able to bike manually most of the time but liked the ebike for the hills. Ruben was a fantastic guide, so positive, enthusiastic and informative. And Armando the van man fed us all very well and researched and accommodated for all the allergies some of the other riders had. Highly recommend throwing in extra for the lunches. Most of the ride was on paved cycle paths which made for an excellent ride. Best way travel this beautiful country❤️
A great experience
It’s incredible that you can cycle along the coast from Porto to Obidos on mostly cycle paths. The views are great for the most part. It’s a shame about the destruction of the once beautiful pine forest by fire. The 5 km hill on the 3rd day was quite a challenge and several experienced cyclists in our group felt that this trip should be rated higher than it is. (There were a few other challenging hills in subsequent days). Our group always had the opportunity to ride in the van and e-bikes were available for an extra charge. Breakfasts and lunches were very good. Our van driver put on wonderful picnic spreads for us. All in all this is a great trip with a reasonable length of 5 days cycling. I felt most of us were ‘done’ by day 5. If you can add some days on at the beginning/end to relax and enjoy Portugal.
Most Inspirational Moment
After the 5 km hill we had a beautiful view overlooking the countryside and fun hills to coast down afterwards.
Thoughts on Group Leader
I thought Rita did a good job for the most part. She slipped up a few times by not telling us the correct kilometres to ride when we would set out on our own as she had to stay back with slower cyclists and that led to some confusion. Joao was fantastic. He works so hard yet makes it look easy. He was always very cheerful and has a very kind aura about him. His english is perfect. I think he would be a huge asset to your company if you put him in charge of the tours.
Absolutely PERFECT
Wow! What a ride. The BEST way to check out a country and see the people and natural landscapes from ocean front to the hills. Everything was so organized (thanks, Exodus!) and our tour guides Ruben and Amando were excellent. Our bikes were new or in like-new condition. We had 15 very satisfied cyclists on this ride, who want to do another❤️
Thoughts on Group Leader
Ruben es perfect. Very knowledgeable and friendly. Armando was a big help, too!
Advice for Potential Travellers
If you want to experience the REAL countryside (not just the stuff for tourists) try Exodus Cycling expeditions.
Well organised trip, good hotels with excellent guides
Trip May/June. Cycling generally leisurely with only one notable hill. Route follows the coast on quite roads and/ or cycle lanes for much of the way. (Poor road surface on one day) Hotels generally good 4 star quality, cafes and lunch / picnic stops were an excellent mix with evening meal venues being fantastic quality.
Rubén’s and Rogerio were excellent guides who were very knowledgeable, helpful and good company, just a pity they had no control over the unusually inclement and windy weather. Recommend the trip.
Most Inspirational Moment
Obidos on last day of cycling
Thoughts on Group Leader
Excellent
Advice for Potential Travellers
Try to spend extra few days in Lisbon area to allow time to visit Sintra &/or Cascais.
Outstanding
Well crafted trip showing off Portugal’s rural and unspoilt Atlantic coast
Most Inspirational Moment
The pure vastness of the coastline
Thoughts on Group Leader
Outstanding - calm, totally customer focussed, with a strong sense of making the trip work for our group as well as individual needs - and a great sense of humour too!
Advice for Potential Travellers
A relatively easy cycle as the distances are spread over a day including stops for coffee/lunch - but therefore time to take in all the info and the scenery - a holiday with cycling in the sun and unspoilt coastline.
Porto to Lisbon - A fun cycle of the sunny coast
This was a great trip. Ruben our leader/guide was excellent – enthusiastic and knowledgeable. The scenery, weather (end May), hotels and food were all super – and the cycling was fun and not too strenuous for people who regularly cycle. The distance cycled was about 40 miles a day which meant not too early a start – and adequate time in the evening to visit most of the places where we were staying, and have a good meal. Ruben’s recommendations for evening meals were ideal. The group were also lucky to have Rogerio as the driver and support, who was always keen to help in any way. A really enjoyable holiday.
Most Inspirational Moment
The views from some of the cycle routes over the last few days especially, and visiting Obidos.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Always smiling. Nothing was too much trouble. Organised and committed.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Check the Exodus information about required fitness levels for the trip you're interested in. Be prepared to get along with others and enjoy yourself with the group.
Fabulous trip with outstanding guides, Reuben the lead guide was fabulous.
A fabulous trip with brilliant Portuguese guides. Reuben, the lead guide was outstanding and his team had a genuine passion for their country which was truly infectious. Nothing was ever too much trouble. The cycle paths meandered their way through beautiful pine forests, villages, coastal areas and farms. The pace of the trip is relaxed but their were also many opportunities to cycle faster and the guides were very flexible. The restaurant recommendations were all excellent and the Portuguese people were most welcoming. The perfect trip if you want to cycle 35-40 miles per day on fairly flat terrain using cycle paths – you won’t find better guides! Thank you Reuben, Christofe and Rogerio.
Most Inspirational Moment
Looking at the incredible view of the coastline following the steep ascent and visiting Navarro.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Reuben was simply outstanding, he has a wonderful, cheerful disposition which is truly infectious, his love for his country shone through everyday. He shared lots of information and stories about Portugal. Nothing was too much trouble. The bikes were in excellent condition and the lunches were delicious.
Pleasant, but not an Atlantic Ride. Needs another guide with 16 people.
This was described as an Atlantic ride. We did not even glimpse the Atlantic until the end of day 3 out of 5. After that, we saw it in parts and it was lovely. It was hopelessly misdescribed. The ride was reasonable, but incredibly slow, particularly on the first 2 days, and on main roads. I am not a fast cyclist, but to travel at an average of 10 to 12kph on a flat main road is ludicrous, and dangerous. It was very hard to control the bike at these speeds and to keep stopping and starting on busy main roads is far from ideal.
The problem was that there was only one guide and no support vehicle following us, so the guide had to keep stopping and then riding very slowly. This was incredibly frustrating and annoying, especially as the scenery was boring for the first 2 days. This was not good enough.
The accommodation was a bit hit and miss. It was okay, with a couple of very poor and cramped rooms. In one hotel, not only did we get the booby prize of an unsafe room, it was also the venue for the group dinner. The food was inedible, and my husband and I ate very little. The hotel was quirky and very interesting, in Obidos, but we drew the short straw.
Overall, I would not particularly recommend this trip.
Most Inspirational Moment
I enjoyed most of the company, and the food and the wine, when not organised for us. The picnics were mainly good.
Thoughts on Group Leader
He was good, on the whole, and the support driver was excellent.
Advice for Potential Travellers
I would not advise people to do this trip. I just do not think the cycling works.
Porto to Lisbon bike tour October 2019
It was a great tour along Atlantic coast with good weather, many good views, excellent guide and driver and great&fun group.
Most Inspirational Moment
The day we arrived in Nazarè with beautiful views of the ocean and of the beaches.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Ruben (our guide) was great. Always smiling and having a good word for every person of the group. He supported the all group very efficiently and in a friendly/professional manner.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Some bike training is recommended before to start the tour due to some hilly parts and eventually rent an e-bike to have full fun.
Perfection in Portugal
Fantastic week of cycling, sightseeing, good company and excellent guiding in coastal Portugal.
Most Inspirational Moment
Fantastic sunsets over the breaking waves of the Atlantic Ocean. Great seafood and wine. Boutique accommodation, especially the Literary Man in Obidos.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Ruben is an exemplary ambassador for his country. He is a remarkable and engaging young man. I doubt we have had a better leader in any previous Exodus trips. After a leisurely first day's ride he was able to accurately gauge everybody's level of competency and ensured that each individual had the best experience possible. He was well supported by Rafael who was in charge of transportation and excellent picnics. Between them their calm and friendly nature made our whole experience delightful.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Book an extra night in Porto at the start of your holiday. It is a smaller city than Lisbon and easier to explore on foot. We ate in Volta e Meia in Figueira da Foz on Ruben's recommendation and it was fantastic. If you want to go as a group be sure to book as it is very small and intimate. The first 2 days of cycling are predominantly flat and easily managed by infrequent cyclists. The following 3 days are more challenging so either get some practice in, hire an e-bike or take up the offer of a ride in the support van for the longer hills.