Official Roadbook

PORTUGAL
MOTO TRIP

ACT Trail + Must‑Ride Roads Return · May 2026

10
Days
2,715
Total km
5
ACT Days
4
Road Days
Tarifa → ACT Trail → Douro Valley → Serra do Caldeirão → Tarifa
Route Overview
10 days · 2 countries · 1 legendary loop
Day 0
Tarifa → Tavira
375 km · Ferry + road transfer into Portugal
Transfer
Day 1
Tavira → Mértola
243.4 km · ACT off‑road, Pulo do Lobo
ACT Gravel
Day 2
Mértola → Alqueva
265.0 km · ACT off‑road, Dark Sky stargazing
ACT Gravel
Day 3
Alqueva → Marvão
232.6 km · ACT off‑road, castle viewpoint
ACT Gravel
Day 4 ⚠
Marvão → Miranda do Douro
227.9 km · Longest ACT day, Douro gorge
ACT Gravel
Day 5
Miranda do Douro → Bragança
181.7 km · Final ACT day, castle celebration
ACT Gravel
Day 6
Bragança → Douro (N222) → Lamego
180 km · World‑class N222 Pinhão→Régua
Road
Day 7
Lamego → Viseu → Montargil
310 km · N2 interior, geodesic center
Road
Day 8
Montargil → Évora → Faro
315 km · Serra do Caldeirão 365 curves
Road
Day 9 ⚠
Faro → Tarifa (Ferry)
385 km · 15:00 sailing, arrive port by 14:00
Ferry
Group Navigation Protocol
Lead rider: Holds the route; does not wait past regroup points alone.
Sweep rider: Last through every junction; confirms all riders through.
Regroup rule: Every 30–60 min or any complex junction / town centre.
ACT days: Navigate by GPX track in OsmAnd — no auto-recalculate.
Road days: Use Google Maps link for exact road routing, GPX for shaping.
Emergency: Agree on a single group WhatsApp channel before Day 0.
0
Day 0
Tarifa → Tavira
📏 375 km
🏁 KSU 12:45
🏕 Arrive 18:15
📍 Road transfer — easy paced day
📷 Must-do & photo stops
  • Ferry: customs + fuel, then easy roll into Portugal.
  • Cross into Portugal at Vila Real de Santo António — group photo at the border sign.
  • Tavira old town walk + Roman bridge (15 min stretch).
  • Optional: sunset beach walk at Ilha de Tavira or Cabanas.
🗺 Navigation
Road transfer — easy paced day
Use Google Maps / Waze link (Waypoints included)
⛺ Campsite
Camping Pedras d'El Rei (Tavira)
Book in advance during peak season
1
Day 1
Tavira → Mértola
📏 243.4 km
🏁 KSU 08:15
🏕 Arrive 17:00
📍 ACT gravel + off‑road tracks
📷 Must-do & photo stops
  • Cacela Velha cliff-top viewpoint (quick photo stop — village + Atlantic view).
  • Pulo do Lobo waterfall viewpoint (20 min walk from parking area).
  • Guadiana riverside ride into Mértola.
  • Mértola hilltop castle silhouette at golden hour.
🗺 Navigation
ACT gravel + off‑road tracks
GPX: ACT_UserDay1_Tavira_Mertola.gpx
⛺ Campsite
Mértola riverside camping
Arrive before sunset for best riverside pitches
2
Day 2
Mértola → Alqueva
📏 265.0 km
🏁 KSU 08:00
🏕 Arrive 17:00
📍 ACT gravel + off‑road tracks
📷 Must-do & photo stops
  • Classic Alentejo "big sky" photo stops — pull off for panoramic cork-oak shots.
  • Remote fire-track rhythms — maintain regroup discipline (30–45 min max gaps).
  • Golden hour at Alqueva lake shore.
  • Night: Dark Sky International Reserve — some of the least light-polluted skies in Europe.
🗺 Navigation
ACT gravel + off‑road tracks
GPX: ACT_UserDay2_Mertola_Alqueva.gpx
⛺ Campsite
Alqueva Eco (Dark Sky Reserve area)
Use red headlamp mode to preserve night vision for stargazing
3
Day 3
Alqueva → Marvão
📏 232.6 km
🏁 KSU 08:15
🏕 Arrive 16:30
📍 ACT gravel + off‑road tracks
📷 Must-do & photo stops
  • Expect livestock gates — keep pace measured, no rushing blind corners.
  • Marvão village + castle walk: 360° panoramic views over Spain and Portugal.
  • Serra de São Mamede natural park scenery.
  • Evening: small medieval village atmosphere.
🗺 Navigation
ACT gravel + off‑road tracks
GPX: ACT_UserDay3_Alqueva_Marvao.gpx
⛺ Campsite
Marvão area campsite
Smaller site — arrive early to secure pitches
4
Day 4 ⚠
Marvão → Miranda do Douro
📏 227.9 km
🏁 KSU 07:30
🏕 Arrive 17:30
📍 ACT gravel + off‑road tracks (long day)
⚠ Critical day — read notes below carefully.
📷 Must-do & photo stops
  • Longest ACT day — early KSU is essential.
  • Lunch max 35 minutes; hydrate consistently every hour.
  • Douro gorge viewpoints approaching Miranda — dramatic river canyon.
  • Miranda do Douro old town (15 min stretch + local food).
⚠ Hardest day of the trip. Rotate lead and sweep. Do not split the group after dark.
🗺 Navigation
ACT gravel + off‑road tracks (long day)
GPX: ACT_UserDay4_Marvao_Miranda.gpx
⛺ Campsite
Miranda do Douro camping
Pre-arrange any resupply — limited facilities on track
5
Day 5
Miranda do Douro → Bragança
📏 181.7 km
🏁 KSU 08:30
🏕 Arrive 16:30
📍 ACT gravel + off‑road tracks
📷 Must-do & photo stops
  • Keep it smooth — no hero moves on the final ACT day.
  • Bragança: medieval keep + castle walls stroll.
  • ACT finish celebration: group photo + dinner in town.
  • Rest day mindset: bikes checked, tyres inspected for return leg.
🗺 Navigation
ACT gravel + off‑road tracks
GPX: ACT_UserDay5_Miranda_Braganca.gpx
⛺ Campsite
Parque de Campismo Cepo Verde (Bragança area)
Larger site with full facilities — good for post-ACT recovery
6
Day 6
Bragança → Douro (N222) → Lamego
📏 180 km
🏁 KSU 09:00
🏕 Arrive 16:30
📍 Paved must‑ride — N222 Douro Valley
📷 Must-do & photo stops
  • Drop south via Mirandela — steady pace, fuel stop.
  • Pinhão: riverside café stop + iconic railway station azulejos.
  • N222 Pinhão → Peso da Régua: 27 km rated "World's Best Driving Road" — sweeping river curves.
  • Lamego evening: Igreja dos Remédios staircase + local vinho verde.
🗺 Navigation
Paved must‑ride — N222 Douro Valley
Use Google Maps / Waze link (Waypoints included)
⛺ Campsite
Camping Lamego / Régua area
Positioned perfectly to start N2 south the next morning
7
Day 7
Lamego → Viseu → Montargil
📏 310 km
🏁 KSU 08:30
🏕 Arrive 17:30
📍 Paved interior — N2 "Portugal Route 66"
📷 Must-do & photo stops
  • Viseu: coffee in the historic centre (20 min stop).
  • N2 forested interior — varied terrain, pine and eucalyptus.
  • Vila de Rei: geodesic centre of Portugal monument — group bike photo.
  • Montargil reservoir sunset with cold drink.
🗺 Navigation
Paved interior — N2 "Portugal Route 66"
Use Google Maps / Waze link (Waypoints included)
⛺ Campsite
Orbitur Montargil (reservoir)
Sunset views over the water — perfect recovery spot
8
Day 8
Montargil → Évora → Faro
📏 315 km
🏁 KSU 08:30
🏕 Arrive 17:30
📍 Paved twisties — Serra do Caldeirão
📷 Must-do & photo stops
  • Évora: Roman Temple and medieval aqueduct — 25 min walk + coffee.
  • Alentejo plains run south: fast and flowing.
  • Serra do Caldeirão summit viewpoint stop — let tyres cool.
  • Almodôvar → São Brás de Alportel: 365 curves on pristine asphalt.
  • São Brás biker café at the bottom of the pass.
  • Faro evening: old town marina walk + final group dinner.
🗺 Navigation
Paved twisties — Serra do Caldeirão
Use Google Maps / Waze link (Waypoints included)
⛺ Campsite
Orbitur Valverde (Faro area)
Pine forest camp — perfect base for ferry day prep
9
Day 9 ⚠
Faro → Tarifa (Ferry Day)
📏 385 km
🏁 KSU 08:30
🏕 Arrive 14:00
📍 Road transfer — timing critical
⚠ Critical day — read notes below carefully.
📷 Must-do & photo stops
  • Leave Faro in good time — no long stops.
  • Ayamonte: quick fuel if needed.
  • Vejer de la Frontera visible from the N-340 (do not detour unless >45 min ahead).
  • Mirador del Estrecho (~6 km before Tarifa): Morocco visible across the Strait — perfect final photo.
  • TARGET: Tarifa port check-in by 14:00 for 15:00 sailing.
⚠ Ferry is 15:00 Tarifa → Tanger Ville. No flexibility — arrive port by 14:00. Have passports, ferry tickets and bike docs accessible.
🗺 Navigation
Road transfer — timing critical
Use Google Maps / Waze link (Waypoints included)

🚢 Ferry Day — No Campsite

15:00 sailing Tarifa → Tanger Ville.
Arrive port by 14:00. Have all documents ready.