THE LONG TOUR 2025: SAGRES – BILBAO 26th Sept. to 4th Oct. ’25 (2,000 kms)
SAGRES (Portugal) to BILBAO (Spain)
The Long Off-Road Tour 2025
WHAT’S INCLUDED
- 8 days guided off-road riding
- Accommodation (9 nights) – B&B based on single occupancy
- Bike & gear transportation
- x2 Professional guides per group
- Support vehicle
- Mechanical support
- First Aid assistance per group
- Emergency satellite tracking
- Professional riding advice
- Goody bag
PRICE: £2,495.00
KEY DATES
- Arrive Portugal: Friday 26th September 2025
- Shakedown Ride: Saturday 27th September 2025
- Start Sagres, Portugal: Sunday 28th September 2025
- Finish Bilbao, Spain: Saturday 4th October 2025
- Depart Bilbao: Sunday 5th October 2025
WHAT TO EXPECT
Welcome to one of our leading off-road tours at Rotor Adventures Limited
The ‘Long Off-Road Tour’ through Portugal and Spain has been running since 2017 and is planned and designed around maximum off-road riding. The total route will be approximately 1,300 miles (2,000 kms) and The Tour is scheduled to be completed in 7 full days of riding. This is a true off-road adventure and not for the faint hearted. Long days, extensive off-road sections and a huge diversity in terrain.
Each day will commence immediately after breakfast and we endeavour to finish each day between 16.00-17.00, dependent on group progress.
The 2025 Tour is an all-new route, starting at the Lighthouse of Ponta de Sagres in Portugal and finishing at Castro Urdiales, near Bilbao in Spain. The route will initially follow the west coast of Portugal before heading inland through the central region, and paralleling the Portuguese and Spanish borders, before crossing into northwest Spain and finally riding through Castilla y Leon and the Cantabria Mountains to Bilbao.
Each group will have two experienced Rotor Adventures guides who will manage everything you need day-by-day, stage-by-stage as you make your way through Portugal and Spain. A Rotor Adventures support vehicle will carry your general essentials and will be on hand to assist where necessary during each stage. You will meet with the support vehicle every evening as a minimum, where you will have access to your overnight gear and spares.
You should be prepared for your day to be between 8 & 10hrs, which will include regular rest stops with food and fuel. The Route comprises of extensive sections off-road, a huge variety of terrain spanning from the Algarve in Southern Portugal to the mountain areas of Northern Portugal and Spain.
It is essential to maintain good riding progress throughout ‘The Tour’ and your guides will expect riders to be ready on time every morning. Any work on your motorcycle should be completed after you finish riding each day. Before breakfast, riders should clear their rooms, settle any outstanding room bills and place their overnight bag in the support vehicle.
Recommendations
This is a challenging but achievable Off-Road Tour. The more you prepare yourself and your motorcycle, the more enjoyable it will be.
Ensure your bike is serviced accordingly and recommended to start with new brake pads, chain, sprockets, wheel bearings, etc. You may require a fresh air filter per day. It is mandatory to install mousses to replace inner tubes or tubeless systems. From our experience, we recommend a high-quality tyres and mousses such as, Dunlop, Michelin, or Metzeler.
Make sure your riding equipment is comfortable and provides the correct protection and caters for a variety of weather.
Building your physical endurance and strength will assist in riding for 7 days in a row. For riders who are capable technically but may not ride that regular, it is strongly suggested to take part in multi-day trail events, build your long-term stamina and work on off-road conditioning.
THE ROUTE AND TERRAIN
The Route:
Your route will start at Lighthouse of Cabo de São Vicente, near Sagres and make its way directly north through some technical trails, expansive eucalyptus plantations and some interesting climbs and descents. The route will pass near to Grandola, where it will head northeast across Portugal before finishing the first day in the District of Portalegre and the town of Avis.
The next 2 days will take the riders initially northeast over to the border of Spain and Portugal and then follow the border northwards, for some great trail riding, as the route rises to a consistent altitude of over 1,000m. Temperatures and weather conditions can vary greatly and will be staying in the towns of Guarda and Miranda do Doura.
The route will continue to the top of Portugal and through the agricultural town of Braganca and overnighting in Chaves at the end of Day 4.
The route will turn east, crossing into Spain for the first time and just touching the Spanish Plains before reaching the town of Benavente. The start of Day 6 will have riders spend the first few hours crossing the Spanish Plains and the pilgrim route of the Camino de Santiago Trail, before heading north towards Santander and the village of Cilleruelo de Bezana. Over the Cantabria Mountains on the final day to Castro Urdales and the finish near to Bilbao.
The Terrain:
You will need to be prepared to ride a huge variety of terrain and off-road trails daily. Portugal & Spain boast a diverse landscape from the high mountain ranges and spectacular gorges along the Rio Do Douro, to expansive agriculture plains, forestry plantations and singletrack trails.
The dry and forestry landscape of southern Portugal will change frequently between singletrack, eucalyptus plantations, sandy trails and testing climbs and descents. From the central area of Portugal, the route maintains an altitude of approximately 1,000m with excellent trails and extensive off-road sections.
Northern Portugal will be technical singletrack, continuous elevation changes, coupled with exceptional views and scenery. When the route crosses the Spanish border, the terrain will start to become more agricultural plains, fertile and green, rising again to an altitude of over 1,000m, which is maintained for the rest of the route.
The first day in Spain remains at a good altitude but will eventually flatten as riders approach the Spanish Plains. After few hours in Spain, the route starts to turn north and climb in altitude before dropping down to the village of Cilleruelo de Bezana set at 900m above sea level.
The final day is the shortest in length but will be a full day. Leaving Cilleruelo de Bezana at 900m altitude and ascending over the Cantabria National Park, this is possibly the most technical day’s riding and gaining the most altitude to 2,600m before dropping down to the coastal town of Castro Urdales.
BIKE & GEAR TRANSPORTATION
Your bike, your riding gear and basic spares will be transported to and from mainland Europe by Rotor Adventures Limited. You will need to drop off your bike, gear bag and spares box prior to departure by 15th September 2025. at an agreed location or on an agreed time/date at Rogershill Raceway, Dorset. DT2 7HN.
Export/import requirements will be completed by Rotor Adventures for transit in and out of Spain
*Rotor Adventures Limited can arrange drop-off/collection of your bike, gear and spares at a cost of £0.60 per mile.
ACCOMMODATION
Accommodation is planned in advance and regularly used by Rotor Adventures on their tours. Accommodation is of a good standard, comfortable and based on single occupancy.
Accommodation is based on bed and breakfast from 27th September through to 3rd October 2025 inclusive.
In exceptional circumstances, accommodation may be changed without notice.
SAFETY
The riding group will constantly be in contact with the support vehicle and other guides via mobile communication and group satellite communication and satellite tracking.
The support vehicle will parallel the route daily and monitor group locations through the satellite tracking devices. Where convenient, the support vehicle will meet with the groups or can be requested to assist as needed.
All guides are first aid trained and each group will carry first aid equipment, appropriate for general injuries.
Be aware the group will be riding off-road motorcycles in remote locations on the majority of the route. Access can be very limited, and all riders should always ride appropriately with this in mind.
IN THE EVENT OF AN INCIDENT
In the event of an incident be it a breakdown, medical or otherwise, the guides will make decisions, as a priority, around the safety of individuals and the group. Where possible and safe to do so, the support vehicle will recover riders/bikes in order the remaining individuals may continue.
FLIGHTS & AIRPORT TRANSITS
The nearest entry airport is Faro International Airport, Algarve, Portugal and the nearest exit airport on completion is Bilbao International Airport, Spain. It is a short taxi journey to the start and finish points to the primary airports.
INSURANCE
Make sure you have appropriate personal and medical insurance in place to include repatriation. Rotor Adventures recommend Navigator Insurance as your insurance provider.
Speak to them directly and explain you are taking part in a ‘guided off-road tour’
Payment Schedule (Your place is not confirmed until deposit is received)
- On booking – £500.00 deposit
*You can choose to pay your remaining balance off monthly, follow the proposed payment schedule below or propose you own payment schedule to suit
- 1st April 2025 – £500.00
- 1st June 2025 – £500.00
- 1st August 2025 – £500.00
- 12th September – £495.00
Payment DetailsRotor Adventures Limited. Account Number: 25956052. Sort Code: 09-01-29