Come to enchanting Portugal, a land of beauty, history, and art. We will lead you to our favorite destinations, some well-known and others less discovered during 12 days on the Iberian Peninsula.

View ornate architecture, dine on delicious Portuguese cuisine and sample delicious wines along the way. Discover the natural beauty of the Douro Valley, the world’s oldest wine-producing region. We visit the historical birthplace of the nation in the lovely UNESCO World Heritage City of Guimaraes. We travel in our private vehicle through the stunning landscapes of the Serra da Estrela mountains which parallel the border of Spain. We meander in historic quaint villages whose forts once protected Portugal from invading Spanish armies.

Evora, one of our favorite destinations, boasts Roman architecture and the fascinating  Chapel of Bones. In the countryside outside of the city, we will discover how local herbs are used for culinary and medicinal purposes. We will visit the Dark Sky Alqueva Reserve to view the spectacular star-studded sky in a region that has no light pollution.

We end our journey in Lisbon, the beautiful and romantic capital where trolleys still clang up and down the hills and Fado music wafts from cafes and restaurants. The UNESCO heritage site of Sintra enjoys a cool mountainside location just outside of Lisbon, which made it a favored summer destination for Portugal’s royals. On our final evening, we bid farewell to this enchanting country during a private sunset cruise along the Tagus River, which overlooks Lisbon’s colorful waterfront.

Our small group tours in Portugal are limited to 12 travelers. Join us for an experience which will touch your heart and enrich your soul.

 

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1:     Tour Begins. Porto

Arrive in Porto

Porto is Portugal’s second largest city and a beautiful UNESCO World Heritage location. We will stay in a five star property in the historic Ribeira District which overlooks the Douro River.

In the late afternoon, we enjoy a Port Tour & Paired Meal Tasting offering a 3 course menu with different wines. Port wines are at the center of the Portuguese wine world, and Portugal also has a surprising variety of delicious wines, both reds and whites. We will be introduced to Porto’s wine and cuisine in this dinner, a 3 course menu paired with wines. The evening is free.

Lodging: Bonjardim Hotel ***** or equivalent

Meals included: Dinner

Day 2:     Porto

Porto Food Walking Tour

Today, we will walk and discover some of Porto’s delicious culinary offerings—such as the Francesina or Bifana sandwiches or the delicious pastry, the Pastel de Nata. Be prepared for a delicious experience mingled with scenic walks through this lovely city. In the afternoon, we will have free time to rest or explore independently.

Lodging: Bonjardim Hotel ***** or equivalent

Meals included: Breakfast & Food Walking Tour

Day 3:     Porto ~ Guimaraes ~ Braga ~  Porto

Today we strike out to the scenic northern parts of the country, visiting the historical cities of Guimaraes and Braga. It is a brief 45-minute drive in our private vehicle to Guimaraes, which was the first capital of Portugal in the 12^th century. They are very proud of the recognition that “Portugal was born here”.  The city’s highlight is its perfectly preserved medieval centre, but a young university population keeps things lively.

Then we drive 25 minutes to Braga, which is regarded as the religious capital of Portugal, equivalent in Portuguese eyes, to Rome. Though there are 35 churches in Braga, there’s also a fast-growing commercial center, a renowned university, and an underlying cultural vibrancy that led Braga to being named 2012 “European Youth Capital”

Lodging: Bonjardim Hotel ***** or equivalent

Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch

Day 4:     Porto ~ Douro Valley

Our destination for the day is the magnificent Douro Valley (1.5 hrs.), which is the oldest and first officially designated wine-growing region in the world, dating to the 18^th century.  We will enjoy views of old country villas (quintas) and estates along the route. Portugal’s premier wine-growing region is centered along the mighty Douro River, with beautiful terraced hills gently sloping to the river. We will stay at a quinta, a lovely country estate (usually family-owned) which, in this case, produces its own wines. We will be there just in time for the grape harvest!

After arriving,  we will visit a quaint family owned vineyard.  After touring the estate and vineyard we will enjoy a wine tasting and traditional lunch. We will end the afternoon on a two hour boat ride in a traditional Rabelo boat on the Douro River.

Lodging: Quinta da Pacheca**** or equivalent

Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch

Day 5:     Douro Valley ~ Foz do Coa ~ Douro Valley

We will have a half-day trip to see the most amazing array of outdoor Paleolithic Art found in Europe. The engravings are of a similar style to those found in caves elsewhere, but these are unique because they are carved outside on exposed rock faces in a river valley. The oldest is dated around 23,000 years old! We will enjoy lunch in the Museum Restaurant.

Lodging: Quinta da Pacheca**** or equivalent

Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch

Day 6:     Douro Valley ~ Serra da Estrela ~ Belmonte ~ Monsanto

Today we drive south and east through the Serra da Estrela which features some of the most spectacular landscapes in all of Portugal. Our first stop (2 hrs) will be the delightful small town of Belmonte—a charming place that once maintained one of Portugal’s largest Jewish communities. There was a synagogue here as early as 1297.

An hour’s drive south, we will find impressive Monsanto, which proudly calls itself “the most Portuguese” village of the country. Situated high on a hill above the plain, its houses are built among large granite outcrops.  At the crest of the mountain are the ruins of an ancient fort which defended Portugal against invasions from nearby Spain. We will spend the night here in one of the most unique settings in Portugal.

Lodging: Monsanto Geo-Hotel Escola*** or equivalent

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

                                         

Day 7:     Monsanto ~  Elvas ~ Évora

Today we continue our drive (1 hr.) south into the Alentejo of Portugal. It is a unique less visited region of Portugal known for the beauty of its gently rolling hills and historic fortified hilltop towns. Most of the Portugal’s cork trees grow here and the wines produced here are superb. We will visit and enjoy a walking tour of Elvas, once one of Portugal’s mightiest frontier posts, strategically located just 10 miles from Spain’s town of Badajoz. Its forts are among the best preserved military fortifications in Europe, a factor which helped the town gain UNESCO World Heritage status. We will lunch in Elvas and then continue (2 hr.) to our destination, Évora, the lovely city which is considered the capital of the Alentejo region.

Lodging: M’ar de Ar Hotel Aqueducto***** or equivalent

Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch

Day 8:   Évora ~ Lisbon

Évora is one of Portugal’s most historic and unspoiled cities; indeed, its Roman temple, the Moorish alleys, circuit of medieval walls, 16th-century mansions, and whitewashed houses have resulted in it being awarded UNESCO World Heritage status. In the morning we will explore the historic center with a local guide. One of the more unusual visits will be to the Chapel of the Bones. (Admission included.) At the Be Aromatic Restaurant, we will learn about herbology—how regional plants are mixed and used for Alentejo cuisine and medicinal purposes. The staff will then prepare lunch for us using the ingredients grown at their farm outside of Évora.

In the afternoon, we will depart to Lisbon (2 hrs.), and stop just outside of Évora at Almendres Cromlech, a megalith site older than Stonehenge! They were strategically placed here from 4000-5000 BC making them about 2,000 years older than Stonehenge.

Our final destination and mainland Europe’s westernmost capital is Lisbon, a fascinating and inspiring place to spend time thanks to its wonderful waterfront location, balmy climate, and wide range of attractions that combine a place-that-time-forgot feel with a modern vibrancy that few European cities can match. In the evening we will have the opportunity to listen to Fado music, the haunting music which wafts from the small bars and cafes in Lisbon.

Lodging: Hotel Alegria***** or equivalent

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch @ Be Aromatic Restaurant, Dinner

Day 9:     Lisbon

What better way to acquaint ourselves with Lisbon cuisine than a personal cooking class! We will cook and feast on a three course menu along with wine. The menu will consist of: Clams Bulhão Style; Creamy Rice of Prawns and Codfish with Lemon & Herbs; Pudding of Algarve Oranges with Toasted Almonds.

In the afternoon we will have a walking tour with our guide of the old neighborhood of Belem. Or you may want to visit the Museum Oriente or the Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology (MAAT) (they are about 10 minutes by taxi each other.) The evening is free.

Lodging: Hotel Alegria ***** or equivalent

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch @ Cooking Class

 

Day 10:   Lisbon

Today, you have the option of a free day in Lisbon or an optional visit (not included) to Sintra & Cascais, which are conveniently located just outside of Lisbon. The cooler air of these hilltop towns made them the preferred summer retreat for Portugal’s royalty. Sintra was awarded UNESCO World Heritage status in 1995 because “the cultural landscape of the town represents a pioneering approach to Romantic landscaping that had an outstanding influence on developments elsewhere in Europe”.

We will gather in Lisbon in time for our private Sunset Boat Cruise, enjoying tapas & drinks as we ply the waters of the bay. Our Farewell Dinner will follow at a seafood restaurant on the docks overlooking the Tagus River and the Atlantic Ocean.

Lodging: Hotel Alegria*****  or equivalent

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

 

Day 11:     Lisbon. Tour Ends.

Following breakfast, you will be transferred to the Lisbon Airport.

Meals included: Breakfast.

 

What’s Included

• The escort of an English-speaking guide for the entire trip.
• Private transport as mentioned in the program. All airport transfers.
• Accommodation in Five & Four Star mentioned hotels for 2 adults sharing.
• Meals included as described in the program.
• Wine tastings as described in the program
• Rabelo boat ride on Douro River.
• Herbal infusion workshop
• Entrance fees for the national parks, historic sites, museums, & churches described in the program.

Not Included

• Beverages and personal expenses
• Gratuities
• The comprehensive travel, Covid, rescue, and repatriation insurance
• The individual gear necessary to get along well throughout your stay
• The accommodation supplement for single room occupancy
• The international flight from US/Europe to Portugal and back.
• 4×4 ride to Sintra & Cascais

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