Tour Inclusions

9 Nights
14 Meals 9 Breakfasts, 5 Dinners
Hotel
Driver
Tour Leader

Discover Portugal

10 days
Portugal
Max 18 Passengers

Overview

From charming medieval villages to the cobbled streets of Porto, the empires of the past have left their mark on this captivating Iberian nation. Uncover the real Portugal as we journey from Gothic cities to cinematic rural scenery – taking in world-famous pilgrimage sites, sumptuous local cuisine and ancient customs as we go.

Tour Starts/Ends
1 Overnight Stop
Day Stop

Tour Highlights

Enjoy a scenic ride along the Douro River in a traditional rabelo boat
Indulge in a tasting of delicious locally produced cheeses near Viseu
Explore the wonderfully atmospheric and history-laden streets of Coimbra

Gallery

Tour Itinerary

Expand Full Itinerary

Day 1 - Lisbon (Portugal)
Welcome to Lisbon – a mesmerising capital filled with Gothic glamour and enthralling culture. After meeting the group at the hotel, we’ll kick off our adventure with a group dinner accompanied by an atmospheric Fado performance. Here’s to the journey ahead! Accommodation: Turim Terreiro do Paço Hotel (or similar)
- Meals
  - Dinner
Day 2 - Lisbon – Sintra – Lisbon
After breakfast, we’ll pay a visit to a local tile painting atelier – where you’ll have the opportunity to try your hand at producing your own keepsake before we move on to medieval Sintra. Here, we’ll enjoy a guided tour of Sintra National Palace – a treasured regal residence and designated UNESCO World Heritage site. After enjoying an afternoon of free time to explore this captivating town, we’ll return to Lisbon. Accommodation: Turim Terreiro do Paço Hotel (or similar)
- Meals
  - Breakfast
Day 3 - Lisbon – Óbidos and Nazaré – Alvados
The gorgeous village of Óbidos will be our first point of call today – where we’ll marvel at the historic architecture and explore the labyrinth of cobblestone streets on an orientation tour. Our next stop is the charming fishing town of Nazaré. Here, we’ll enjoy some free time to wander at our leisure before continuing to Alvados – where a Portuguese cookery lesson and sumptuous dinner awaits. Ready to roll up those sleeves? Accommodation: Cooking and Nature Emotional Hotel (or similar)
- Meals
  - Breakfast
  - Dinner
Day 4 - Alvados – Tomar – Alvados
Today we’ll continue our journey to Tomar, where we’ll visit the World Heritage-listed Convent of Christ. Known as the Knights Templar City, Tomar is a historic jewel just waiting to be uncovered – and we’ll have some free time to do just that. Before returning to Alvados, there’s a treat in store for the food connoisseurs among us! We’ll pay a visit to an olive oil producer, where we’ll learn about their production processes and have the chance to taste some of the local oil. This evening is ours to enjoy the hotel facilities or explore the surrounding walking trails. Accommodation: Cooking and Nature Emotional Hotel (or similar)
- Meals
  - Breakfast
Day 5 - Alvados – Coimbra – Viseu
Along the road to Viseu, we’ll travel to Coimbra – where a visit to the famous University and legendary Joanina Library awaits. Enjoy wandering the historic grounds and admiring the magnificent views over the River Mondego before having some free time to explore the city’s medieval centre. Later, we’ll make tracks to Viseu. Here, a traditional cheesemaker will let us in on the secrets behind Viseu’s delicious buttery cheese and we’ll have the chance to taste some for ourselves. Then, the evening is ours to enjoy at leisure. Accommodation: Hotel Palacio dos Melos (or similar)
- Meals
  - Breakfast
Day 6 - Viseu – Lamego, Pinhão and Peso Da Régua – Douro Valley
First up today, Lamego: a historic town nestled deep within the Douro Valley and home to an astonishing Baroque staircase. After an included visit to the beautiful 18th-century Shrine of Our Lady of Remedies, we’ll have some time to explore at our own pace. Later, we’ll turn our attention to Pinhão –where a cruise in a traditional rabelo boat awaits. Bask in the cinematic scenery of the Douro Valley as we enjoy a leisurely ride to Peso da Régua. And tonight? There’s another sumptuous dinner in store at our hotel. Accommodation: Quinta da Pacheca (or similar)
- Meals
  - Breakfast
  - Dinner
Day 7 - Douro Valley
The scenic, vineyard-dotted landscapes of the Douro Valley make a serene backdrop for our free day today. Enjoy the day relaxing by the pool at our hotel or exploring the surrounding landscape on a leisurely hike – there’s plenty of time to indulge in a drop or two of the region’s famous wines before we reconvene for a delicious dinner at the hotel. Accommodation: Quinta da Pacheca (or similar)
- Meals
  - Breakfast
  - Dinner
Day 8 - Douro Valley – Amarante and Penafiel – Braga
After breakfast, we’ll head to Amarante – a sleepy riverside town dominated by its striking arched bridge and 16th-century São Gonçalo Church. We’ll take some time to marvel at the lofty interiors of the church before exploring the town at our leisure. After lunch, we’ll set a course for Penafiel where we’ll savour a glass of the region’s famous green wine and learn more about the winemaking process. An evening of leisure awaits once we arrive in lovely Braga. Accommodation: Hotel Vila Galé Collection Braga (or similar)
- Meals
  - Breakfast
Day 9 - Braga – Guimarães – Braga
This morning we’ll set our sights on Guimarães – where we’ll learn about the castle, the Palace of the Dukes of Braganza and the historic city centre on a guided walking tour. After our tour, we’ll have time to roam the medieval streets at our own pace before returning to Braga for an afternoon of free time. While you’re here, be sure to tick off the Bom Jesus Sanctuary – it’s one of Portugal’s most famous attractions for good reason! This evening, we’ll tuck into one last dinner together – with a traditional folk performance as the grand finale. Accommodation: Hotel Vila Galé Collection Braga (or similar)
- Meals
  - Breakfast
  - Dinner
Day 10 - Braga – Porto
Our final destination will be Porto, where we’ll tick off some important landmarks – including the Clérigos Tower, Aliados Avenue, the Ribeira district and the cathedral on an orientation tour. Later this afternoon we’ll say our goodbyes as our journey comes to an end.
- Meals
  - Breakfast

Tour Inclusions

Accommodation

- 9 nights in hand-picked accommodation

The Crew

- Experienced Tour Leader and Driver

Transport

- Premium mini-coach transportation

Reviews

138 reviews

Reviews Rating

25th November 2024
Review rating

I will leave you what we said in notes to our tour guide and driver on this tour: Dear Sonia, Both of us wish to extend our heartfelt thanks for the unforgettable tour experience you provided. Your depth of knowledge, passion, and enthusiasm truly enhanced our travel experience, making it not only informative but also incredibly enjoyable. From the moment we met, it was clear that you are not just a guide but a storyteller with a profound connection to the places we visited. Your insights into the history, culture, and hidden gems of each location brought everything to life in a way that no guidebook ever could. Your ability to weave facts with engaging anecdotes kept us captivated and eager to learn more. Your patience and attention to detail ensured that every aspect of our trip was seamless and stress free. Whether it was answering our myriad of questions, offering personalised recommendations, or ensuring we were comfortable, your dedication did not go unnoticed. Thanks to you, we not only saw the sights but truly experienced the heart and soul of each place we visited. This journey has left us with cherished memories and a deeper appreciation for the world around us and especially Portugal. Thank you once again for your exceptional guidance and for making our trip an enriching and memorable adventure. Warm regards, Bruce and Jacqui Hayward Dear Mellow, Thank you for your exceptional service during our journey. Your professionalism, skill, and friendly demeanour made our trip not only safe but also incredibly enjoyable. Your punctuality, knowledge of the route, and attention to passenger comfort were greatly appreciated. You went above and beyond to ensure we had a smooth and pleasant experience, and your efforts did not go unnoticed. It's not often we find a driver who truly enhances the travel experience, and for that, we're extremely grateful. Thank you for making our journey memorable and stress-free. Warm regards, Bruce and Jacqui Hayward Caro Mellow, Obrigado pelo seu serviço excecional durante a nossa viagem. Seu profissionalismo, habilidade e comportamento amigável tornaram a nossa viagem não só segura, mas também incrivelmente agradável. Sua pontualidade, conhecimento da rota e atenção ao conforto dos passageiros foram muito apreciados. Você foi acima e além para garantir que tivéssemos uma experiência suave e agradável, e seus esforços não passaram despercebidos. Não é sempre que encontramos um motorista que realmente melhore a experiência de viagem e, por isso, somos extremamente gratos. Obrigado por tornar a nossa viagem memorável e sem stress. Atenciosamente, Bruce e Jacqui Hayward
21st November 2024
Review rating

Informative trip. Good size of group and length of time. Going to places not seen before especially having local guides with great knowledge.
21st November 2024
Review rating

Good trip with an excellent tour leader Sonia Felt probably didn’t need to spend a full free day in Douro Could have left at lunchtime and then more time in Porto