PORTUGAL ON A RIDE — 16 Days Solo Bikepacking Adventure

A 16-day, 2,000 km solo bikepacking journey across Portugal — from the wild northern mountains to the cliffs at the edge of Europe.
No talking. Just the real sounds of the road, the ocean, the wind, and a country that feels much bigger than its size.
Sit back, slow down, and explore Portugal in the most immersive way possible: on two wheels.

► ABOUT THIS ADVENTURE
In October 2025, I set out on a challenge of my own: to design and ride a bikepacking route across Portugal that showed how much this small country holds. A single journey revealing an entire world of landscapes, flavours, and people — all from the saddle.
Starting in Porto and even heading north at first, the journey crossed river valleys, mountain passes, national parks, coastal bike paths, vineyards, historic towns, fishing villages, and finally the dramatic cliffs of the Algarve. From silent mountain mornings to sunsets over the Atlantic, every day felt different — a new chapter in a country that never stops changing.
This film is my tribute to Portugal, and I hope it inspires you to finally chase that adventure you’ve been postponing — even if you start solo.

📍 You can find the route we followed here: https://www.strava.com/routes/3433780639274921180

► TIMESTAMPS
00:00 – Intro
00:51 – Day 0: Evening stroll in Porto
02:37 – Day 1: Porto → Viana do Castelo
04:34 – Day 2: Viana do Castelo → Ponte de Lima
07:08 – Day 3: Ponte de Lima → Gerês
09:22 – Day 4: Gerês → Pedras Salgadas
11:32 – Day 5: Pedras Salgadas → Peso da Régua
13:15 – Day 6: Peso da Régua → Oliveira de Azeméis
14:28 – Day 7: Oliveira de Azeméis → Lousã
15:32 – Day 8: Lousã → Piódão
17:24 – Day 9: Piódão → Fundão
19:46 – Day 10: Fundão → Tomar
20:41 – Day 11: Tomar → Óbidos
22:17 – Day 12: Óbidos → Sintra
24:17 – Day 13: Sintra → Sesimbra
25:08 – Day 14: Sesimbra → Grândola
27:08 – Day 15: Grândola → Odeceixe
28:12 – Day 16: Odeceixe → Sagres
30:33 – Day 17: Reset in Sagres

► MY GEAR
Bike: Canyon Grail CF SLX 8 (Gravel)
Saddle Bag: Topeak Backloader X 15L
Backpack: Deuter Race 12
Camera: Panasonic Lumix S5 II
Lens: S 20–60mm f/3.5–5.6
Drone: DJI Mini 2

► PARTNERS
A huge thank you to all the hotels that welcomed me along the way:
Day 0 – https://porto.thezerohotels.com/
Day 1 –https://www.feelviana.com/
Day 2 – https://vinteaparto.com/
Day 3 –https://www.pousadela.pt/
Day 4 – https://www.hotelpedrassalgadas.com/
Day 5 – https://primeiroquartel.pt/
Day 6 – https://www.valedorio.pt/
Day 7 – https://palaciodalousa.com/
Day 8 – https://storystudio.pt/piodao/
Day 9 – https://www.conventodoseixo.com/
Day 10 – https://www.casadosoficioshotel.pt/
Day 11 – https://www.booking.com/hotel/pt/casa-de-campo-da-quinta-da-pegada.pt-pt.html
Day 12 – https://dreamguincho.pt/
Day 13 – https://www.senhoradocabo.com/
Day 14 – https://www.barradasdaserra.pt/
Day 15 – https://www.airbnb.pt/rooms/1205837412988256348?check_in=2025-12-12&check_out=2025-12-17&guests=1&adults=1&s=67&unique_share_id=1f699d6e-0a4e-48aa-9fbf-27a4a94eeeda
Day 16 – https://www.memmohotels.com/baleeira//home

And to my everyday partners:
Siroko – my favourite cycling wear brand
(use code DUARTEXPLORES for –10%)
Discount Link: http://srko.co/duartexplores
4Endurance – my go-to sports nutrition
(use code DUARTEXPLORES for –10%)
Discount Link: http://mdsh.io/4endurance-duarte

► FOLLOW MY ADVENTURES
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/duartexplores/
Strava: http://strava.com/athletes/duartexplores
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@duartexplores

► Music from Epidemic Sound