AUTHORISED HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLE TOURS AROUND EUROPE – DUORO VALLEY – 26 SEPTEMBER - 5 OCTOBER 2012

This is a tour to the Portuguese region famous for the production of Port & quality wines. With truly spectacular scenery and riding roads you are unlikely to find. You'll visit lovely old towns and villages and be staying in a selection of some of the finest accommodation to be found in each area with evening meals to match. A luxurious touring holiday you won’t forget.

Day 1. Wednesday September 26. Overnight ferry from Portsmouth to Santander.

Day 2. Thursday September 27. Santander to Cangas de Onis (approx. 85 miles)
We leave the hustle of Santander behind us as we head west along the coast and then into the Picos de Europa Mountains. We follow the river Deva through the Gargantes Gorge until we reach Cangas de Onis famed for its cider and the place where Christianity began in Spain. Tonight we stay in the 4 star Parador de Cangas de Onis. Beautifully set on the banks of the River Sella at the foot of the spectacular Picos de Europa, this superb Parador was once the Monastery of San Pedro de Villanueva. The buildings, which date from the 12th to the 18th century, were declared a National Monument in 1907. Dinner with wine is included tonight.

Day 3. Friday September 28. Cangas de Onis to Benavente (approx. 140 miles)
From Cangas we take the twists and turns through the heights of the Picos de Europa to Riano at 4000ft above sea level. From here we head cross country to Benavente.
Tonight we stay at the four star Parador de Benavente, a renaissance style castle-palace. Benavente's Parador is named after Ferdinand II, the 12th-century king of León who built the original castle. Much of the old castle was destroyed by Napoleon in 1808, but the 16th-century Caracol Tower, an imposing castle-palace that dominates the town, survived, and forms part of the Parador. The building is noted for its coffered ceilings and Castilian brickwork, and the historic atmosphere has been enhanced by old paintings, rugs, wooden floors and iron lamp fittings. The outside swimming pool is flanked by a grassy sun terrace. Dinner with wine is included tonight.

Day 4. Saturday September 29. Benavente to Alijo (approx. 160 miles)
Today we cross into Portugal by way of a virtually un-used crossing point at the tiny old village of Portelo. Once in Portugal we head to Alijo and a two night stay in the heart of the Douro wine region. Tonight we stay in the Pousada in the old village of Alijo. The Pousada was once an inn, the Barao de Forrester, named after a Scotsman, Joseph James Forrester, who arrived in Oporto in 1809 to encourage the production and export of port wine. Today, Alijo is still surrounded by the famous quintas, small estates that produce port wine from their terraced vineyards. The Pousada itself is an elegant stone mansion, with balconies, terraces, a pool and a tennis court. Dinner with wine is included tonight.

Day 5. Sunday September 30. Day off to relax poolside at the hotel, explore Alijo or take a ride out (approx. 150 miles). We'll visit the old town of Pinhao and then follow the Duoro to Peso Da Regua for lunch. We return to Alijo in time to relax before exploring the town where you are free to eat out tonight. There is a good selection of restaurants to choose from.

Day 6. Monday October 1. Alijo to Puebla de Sanabria (approx. 100 miles)
From Alijo we make our way back into Spain, towards Braganca passing through the Portuguese countryside and olive groves and onto Puebla de Sanabria. The Parador tonight is situated in the old border town of Puebla de Sanabria and is only a few miles away from the largest lake of glacial origin in Spain. Dinner with wine is included.

Day 7. Tuesday October 2. Puebla de Sanabria to Cosgaya (approx. 175 miles)
We return once again to the mountains and passes of the Picos de Europa as we head to our hotel for the night. The charming Hotel Oso, a lovely traditional hotel on the outskirts of Potes and ideally placed amongst rugged mountains. Dinner with wine is included.

Day 8. Wednesday October 3. Cosgaya to Sardinero (approx. 80 miles)
Our final mountain gorge today as we leave the mountains and make our return to the coast. Our hotel tonight sits on the beach in the upmarket resort of Sardinero and tonight you will be free to eat out.

Day 9. Thursday October 4. Sardinero to Santander & overnight ferry to Portsmouth.
A short two mile ride to the ferry terminal at Santander to catch the afternoon ferry back to the UK.

Day 10. Friday October 5. Arrive Portsmouth.

Total tour mileage approx. 900

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