Frequently asked questions
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🧭Choosing your trip
Self-guided tours give independent travellers a flexible schedule with the route, accommodation, and (on Premium) luggage transfer arranged for you — the option most of our guests choose. A Private Guided Tour is a personalised option for small parties who want a guide and support handled throughout. Renting bikes only is for experienced cyclists confident planning their own route and handling basic repairs. Still unsure? Tell us your plans and we’ll point you the right way.
Both follow the same itineraries and daily mileage. Premium includes higher-standard hotels, daily luggage transfer, and additional visits — for those who value comfort and independence. Casual is for the budget-minded, independent traveller. See each tour page for details.
Our Private Guided Tours are flexible and designed to suit different fitness levels and interests within a group. A less-active partner can ride around town, go sightseeing, or relax on a terrace while the rest of the group covers more ground.
Yes — our way of supporting families of four or more. Children aged 4–16 sharing a room as two full-paying guests receive a 20% discount; children three and under receive 50%.
Tour prices are based on two people sharing a twin or double room. Travellers who prefer not to share a room pay a single supplement. We’ll do our best to accommodate this, though inn capacity is sometimes limited. Ask us for details on your chosen tour. Available for a minimum of 2 participants.
🗺️Self-Guided Tours
Tours include all of the planning, hotel reservations, route design, it may include bike and helmet, transfers (where noted),and entries to monuments and activities (where noted). Check the individual tour page for exactly what’s covered.
We handpick accommodations that are, comfortable, always with private bathrooms and bike friendly — all recognised and classified by the National Tourism Boards. Where available, you may stay in historic buildings, including former convents and castles. In rural areas we favour cosy agriturismo cottages and manor houses. On self-guided tours, the standard depends on your Casual or Premium choice.
On Premium self-guided tours, your luggage is moved ahead to your next accommodation and is waiting when you arrive. For the day, you only need small items (camera, sunscreen, glasses) with you can take on your handlebar bag. On Casual self-guided tours, you carry your own luggage in a set of Ortlieb panniers we provide.
You navigate the tour route using the RideWithGPS app on your phone. We will provide access to your personalised itinerary with turn-by-turn directions, waypoints, and hotel locations. Mobile data is not needed for navigation. You also get a day-by-day guidebook with points of interest. The route is researched and tested by our local team, so you simply follow the track.
You’re independent on the road, but never on your own. Self-guided tours includes a support line, so you can reach us by phone or WhatsApp if you have a question, a mechanical issue, or a change of plan. Your toolkit covers basic roadside fixes, and we’re a call away for anything else.
🚲The riding
There are options to suit everyone, from those who want a workout to those after a leisurely pace. If you ride a bike two or three times a week, you’ll be comfortably fit for our tours. On a Private Guided Tour you can take a lift in the support vehicle at any time. Don’t let difficulty stop you from riding in a region you want to explore — there’s almost always a gentler route option and E-Bikes are a popular option too.
A normal day is 4–6 hours of riding; faster riders take less. Distance is subjective — the same kilometres on a trail mountain biking take more energy than road touring. IThere’s plenty of time for sightseeing, a *bica* (espresso), or an *imperial* (beer) on a terrace.
We choose safer and quieter roads, where tarmac is smoother and with the least possible traffic.
We look for roads that link interesting locations worth visiting for its heritage, landscape, villages, their people and culture.
Along the way, you will often find the great spots for a break and to take some great photos!
Most of the roads are on very good condition, still expect some cobblestoned streets, especially in historic town centers, or on gravel roads especially when accessing optional local points of interest.
Our diverse climate is ideal for cycling it just depends when and/or where you want to go cycling!
We have coastal areas and low altitudes vs. inland areas with medium altitudes and mountain areas.
NW and Northern Iberia have an Atlantic climate, SW and Southern Iberia is mostly Mediterranean, Central Iberia has definitely a Continental climate.
Lower altitudes and Mediterranean climates are usually mild and great destinations for biking throughout the year, including Lisbon area, the Alentejo or the Algarve in Portugal and Andalucia or Valencia in Spain, being particularly nice in the Spring and Autumn, especially on the coastal areas.
Summer is warm, sunny and quite dry, with very low humidity, especially in Portugal.
Medium altitudes and Continental climates have very high temperature amplitudes,
Winter (late November to early February) is colder and sometimes rainy,
Summers are short (July and August) warmer but dry (with low humidity).
From early March through November all Portugal and most areas in Spain are, no doubt, pleasant cycling destinations!
We recommend that you do bring some rain gear; however, equally we recommend you bring sunscreen and a sun hat!
Weather is not easy to predict especially when adding the fact Portugal and Spain make a vast and diverse territory.
⚙️Bikes & equipment
We strongly recommend using one of our Giant® bikes rather than bringing your own — all are maintained to international standards. Choose the type that matches your experience and plans. For road touring, our Road Touring Bike (Shimano 105, hydraulic disc brakes); for sportier riders on Private Guided Tours, Carbon Road Racing Bikes. For mountain biking and the Camino, the Camino MTB 27.5″ & 29″ (front suspension, hydraulic brakes) or Electric Full Suspension MTB. We also offer E-Touring Bikes. Touring bikes are for paved roads only and aren’t suitable off-road. All bikes are fully adjustable to suit you.
Yes — sizes range from extra-small to extra-large, with Gents, Ladies, Step-Through, and children’s frames (varies by type; check each bike’s page). We allocate bikes by height so you can ride comfortably for hours and days. Being so we ask for the exact height of everyone in your party. If you don’t have everyone’s height when you first contact us, send it as soon as you can.
Yes, we do provide complimentary use of helmets with all tours and rentals.
All helmets are up to international standards, cleaned and checked before every use.
Nonetheless, for safety and comfort reasons, we advise Guests to bring their own helmet.
E-bikes ride like a regular bike, with the motor giving you an extra boost. Depending on the model, our Giant® e-bikes are equipped with 70Nm and 80Nm engines and carry 500Wh, 625Wh or 800Wh batteries. We offer Hard-tail e-MTBs, the Electric Camino MTB 29″; we also offer Electric Full Suspension MTBs and E-Touring bikes.
Typically 40–80 km, depending on rider weight, terrain, elevation, wind, gears, cadence, and how much assistance you use. Most riders cover a full day on one single charge and then recharge overnight — topping up at lunch or a coffee break if needed. Plan your itinerary accordingly.
No. Batteries are heavy, sensitive, and awkward to carry in safety, and the extra weight actually drains the battery in use faster. If you avoid maximum assistance and overly high gears when you don’t need them, you’ll cover plenty of ground on a single charge.
Yes. Our full-time mechanics maintain and check every bike before each multi-day rental, and senior staff test-ride them afterwards. Upon receiving your bike, please test-ride it and tell us of any faults or transport damage.
Yes — as with any bike at home. You should be able to handle small basics: fixing a flat, keeping the bike clean and the chain lubed. This matters more on longer rentals and in wet or muddy conditions. We’ll provide basic maintenance tips when you book.
Every rental includes complimentary use of a helmet, handlebar bag, and a water bottle (yours to keep on rentals of 3 or more days). For each bike — or every two bikes — we also include a toolkit (spare tube, Allen keys, patches, glue, tire levers), a twin-head pump and a secure lock. No hidden fees.
➡️Camino de Santiago
It depends whether you ride the trail or the roads alongside. For the traditional off-road Pilgrims’ paths, a mountain bike is essential — our Camino MTB 27.5″ & 29″ has the geometry, suspension, and tyres for it. The off-road Camino is recommended for experienced mountain bikers only. If you’d prefer paved roads that follow the route, a road touring bike works well. Want assistance on the climbs? Our Electric Camino MTB 29″ handles the same terrain.
Both are possible — they’re different experiences. Our Self-guided tour routes offer an on-road option following paved roads alongside the historic pilgrim paths, and an off-road option on the trail. The off-road trails are for experienced mountain bikers only; the on-road version suits a wider range of riders. Tell us your route and experience and we’ll point you to the right one.
It varies by route and your pace. On the León to Santiago route, for example, daily stages run roughly 40–80 km with meaningful climbing — including mythical ascents like Cruz de Ferro and O’Cebreiro. Off-road sections take more time and energy than the same distance on tarmac, so we plan stages with that in mind. Each route page shows the full day-by-day breakdown with distances and elevation.
The Camino rewards reasonable fitness and some riding experience. Our routes suit intermediate to advanced riders comfortable with undulating terrain and longer, occasionally steep climbs. You don’t need to be an athlete, but if you’re newer to multi-day cycling, consider an e-bike, the on-road option rather than the trails, or a shorter route like León (7 days). Tell us your experience honestly and we’ll recommend the best fit.
A Pilgrim Credential (the pilgrim passport) is included on all self-guided Camino tours and on bike rentals with the Pack Basic. You collect stamps along the way — at hotels, churches, restaurants, cafés and other stops — and to earn your Compostela certificate in Santiago you need to have cycled at least the final 200 km on a non E-Bike. All our self-guided routes comfortably exceed that distance.
On Premium tours, your luggage is shuttled between hotels (one bag per participant) so you ride with only what you need for the day. Luggage transfer usually runs from Easter Week to the end of October; for other dates, please inquire. On Casual tours, you carry your own luggage in the included Ortlieb panniers (40L).
Yes. Although it’s just over the border in France, Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port is the iconic starting point of the French Way, so we deliver there alongside mainland Portugal and Spain. Your bike will be waiting at your accommodation, ready to ride.
Yes. Our routes have set start and end points, but every tour is private and flexible and we’re happy to arrange custom itineraries tailored to your time, fitness, and interests. Contact us with what you have in mind.
📍Rentals & delivery
We deliver bikes to your first hotel and collect them from your last — we pioneered this convenient service in Portugal and Spain back in 2001. Delivery covers mainland Portugal and Spain, plus Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port in France, an iconic Camino start just across the border. All rental packages include delivery and collection.
Ask yourself first: do you cycle regularly? Can you plan a route, fix a flat, lube a chain, and pump tires? On a rental you’re on your own — you need to pedal, navigate, and handle common issues to complete your journey successfully. If that’s not you, a self-guided or Private Guided Tour may suit better.
Your choice — total flexibility. You’ll need to inform your chosen hotels about receiving and storing the bikes indoors on your behalf, both on arrival and departure. The accommodation must have a staffed front desk open during normal business hours (weekdays 8am–8pm).
No. Delivery requires an accommodation with a staffed front desk open during normal business hours (weekdays 8am–8pm) — no private houses or villas.
If you start or finish in Lisbon, collect bikes directly from our Lisbon Hub Office during working hours. Elsewhere, you may be able to collect or drop bikes at our carrier’s depots, where available — though we can’t be liable for their opening times or unexpected closures.
Yes, no problem. Just let us know your new location — or if you’re finishing earlier than planned — as soon as you can, in writing by email or WhatsApp, with full details of your hotel.
April through October are busy, so consider booking several weeks or months ahead to secure your bike. We’ll do our best with late bookings — please allow at least 7 business days before your rental start. For shorter notice, or Lisbon Hub Office pickups, contact us as soon as possible.
📅Booking & payment
Once we’ve received your registration form and confirmed availability, we charge your credit card and send a final confirmation. Payment receipt acts as final confirmation of our services.
On confirming availability, we charge a deposit per person or bike (deductible from the total). The remaining amount is charged up to 2 months (60 days) before your tour or rental starts. If you book within 60 days of starting, the full amount is charged immediately.
Cancellations in writing 61+ days before the start: deposit retained. Within 60–30 days: 40% of the total paid refunded. Less than 30 days before, or for unused rental days if you finish early no refund will take place.
Popular dates, tours, and locations sell out months in advance. Booking early locks in your price (no currency or price-hike surprises), saves planning time on the ground, and lets you spread the cost. Most guests reserve 3–6 months ahead; we’ll do our best to accommodate later bookings.
Every guest on a guided or self-guided tour or renting a bike, signs our waiver form before the trip starts. We issue your final reservation confirmation once we receive it.
Yes. Displayed prices are in euros and include all taxes and fees — no extra charges.
Invoices are issued after payment is received, we email your invoice.
The three-digit code on the back of your VISA/MasterCard verifies you’re the rightful cardholder and is required to process payment.
We don’t share your personal information (email, name, address, phone) with other companies, except those essential to process your order and payment (e.g. Visa, MasterCard). Check full details on our Privacy Policy page.