Portugal : In Depth Itinerary

Welcome to Portugal! Upon arriving in Porto, you’ll be met and taken to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to relax or explore at your leisure.

Suggested Overnight Hotel: Torel Avantgarde

After breakfast at your hotel, you will be met by your local Porto guide. During this half-day tour, your guide will introduce you the highlights and the hidden secrets of this historical city. You will start by visiting two of the most beautiful churches in the city, the Carmo and Carmelitas churches. You will also have a small introduction to the process of tile manufacturing. See the bell tower of Clérigos Church, Porto Cathedral, and São Bento Railway Station, the most interesting monuments in the area. As well as the main sights, this tour will take you to some breathtaking monuments away from the large tour groups, in places that buses can’t access. Your guide will tell you about the politics, religion, local customs, traditions, gastronomy, wines, and everything else you need to know about Porto’s local customs. You will also enjoy a tasting of Portugal’s famous traditional pastry.

This afternoon your local guide will take you to Porto’s oldest port wine cellar where you will sample 3 different port wines at this historic venue. Then, go to two typical wine houses of the city. Get the chance to try some wines from the Douro Valley wine region at one, served alongside some Portuguese snacks. Try a green wine, along with a selection of cheeses and smoked meats as a complement to your tastings, at the second. Benefit from a complete and wide experience of one of Portugal’s most famous products and learn more about the grapes, varieties and winemaking process. Get tips on how to taste wine and much more.

Breakfast included

Suggested Overnight Hotel: Torel Avantgarde

This morning you will leave Porto and head north towards Geres National Park. En route, you will stop to visit the historic town of Guimaraes in Northern Portugal. In Guimarães enjoy a calm walk through the medieval city and enter the Castle, which is known as the birth of the kingdom of Portugal.

Then, visit the Palace of the Dukes and be dazzled by the luxuries of royalty throughout the centuries. Your local guide will tell you the whole history of Portugal. A delicious traditional Portuguese lunch will be served in a restaurant where you can taste the famous Vinho Verde, which is produced in the region. 

 After lunch, you will continue onto your hotel in Geres National Park where you have the afternoon to relax. 

Breakfast and lunch included

Suggested Overnight Hotel: Pousada Geres-Caniçada

Following breakfast, you will experience all the diversity that Geres National Park has to offer. You will be collected from your hotel by a local expert guide and transferred to the centre of the park by 4×4 Jeep. Enjoy a relaxing guided walk through the national park to see hidden waterfalls and lagoons. You will then stop by a lagoon for a private picnic lunch.

After returning to your hotel you will transfer from Geres to your hotel in the Douro Valley where you will have the rest of the day to relax. 

Breakfast and lunch included

Suggested Overnight Hotel: Quinta da Côrte

Today you will spend your day exploring the famous and scenic Douro Valley wine region. Your first stop will be at a local Quinta for a wine tasting to introduce you to the Porto wine produces in the area.

Next, you will board a historic Rabelo boat for a relaxing cruise on the Douro River. You will then head to a family-owned and run Quinta to sample port wine cocktails followed by a relaxing 3-course lunch.

Finally, enjoy a guided tour of the winery to learn about the history and production of the local wines. 

This afternoon, enjoy some time at leisure at your hotel.

Breakfast and lunch included

Suggested Overnight Hotel: Quinta da Côrte

Following breakfast, you will meet your driver and transfer to your hotel in the Serra da Estrela National Park.

Translating as ‘Mountains of the Stars’, the park is home to towering granite peaks, glacial valleys and deep ravines. You will have the opportunity to gaze at the majestic scenery from your stunning hotel or take any of the self-guided walks available.

Breakfast included

Suggested Overnight Hotel: Casa de São Lourenço

This morning you will drive south to the stunning town of Sintra. En route, you will stop to explore the town of Batalha where you will visit the UNESCO-listed monastery, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Capelas Imperfeitas.

Arriving at your hotel in Sintra you have the afternoon at leisure. 

Breakfast included

Suggested Overnight Hotel: Tivoli Palacio de Seteais

After breakfast, it is time to explore Sintra & Cascais and discover everything that this UNESCO World Heritage area has to offer. All the main attractions of this romantic place are included as well as some of the very best secret spots and routes only true locals know about. By car and by foot you will explore the nature and monuments this area is so famous for. Starting with a guided visit to the mythical Quinta da Regaleira you will visit the gardens, palace and Initiation Well.

Following a delicious lunch at a typical Portuguese restaurant, we will take some of the coolest off-road paths on the way to the mountains. Next, we’ll walk through one of the most mystical forests in the world and visit 12th-century Peninha Sanctuary, built 500m above sea level with a 360 view over the Atlantic Coast and the Natural Park. Finish with a guided tour to colourful Pena Palace and its botanic gardens.

You will then transfer to your hotel in Lisbon where you ill have the evening to relax. 

Breakfast and lunch included

Suggested Overnight Hotel: Memmo Alfama

This morning you will experience Lisbon like a local, with a local. During this fully customisable half-day tour you will enjoy the beauty of the city, see some of its hidden gems as well as the most popular highlights. Starting at the famous Miradouro de Sao Pedro de Alcantara viewpoint, enjoy the breath-taking sights while listening to unique local stories from your local guide. Find out how the city has changed over time and learn about the great mysteries and insights of the notorious 1755 earthquake. Go past the beautiful Carmo church and be amazed by the San Roque golden chapel.

Along the way, you will stop at a small family-run business for local bites. Enjoy an authentic snack of cheese and chorizo paired with a glass of wine. You will also visit the oldest Ginjinha Bar in Lisbon to try out the famous sour cherry liquor. Our local guides will share their knowledge and stories about everything, from the Bairo Alto and Alfama neighbourhoods, important churches and so much more!

In the late afternoon, you will experience the emotion of Fado, the evocative, haunting traditional Portuguese music. Meet your Fado singer who will guide you around the streets of Old Lisbon, taking you to the traditional Fado haunts. Be taken to a Fado House where you will enjoy an incredible live performance of Fado and be transported to another world. The evening experience also includes a tempting traditional dinner.

Breakfast and dinner included

Suggested Overnight Hotel: Memmo Alfama

Leaving Lisbon you will head in land to the Alentejo region of Portugal. The first stop will be Évora, historic capital of the Alentejo. Explore the UNESCO classified city centre, seeing sights from Roman times to the Renaissance. Go to the Temple of Diana, thought to date back to the 1st century AD. Continue to the Renaissance Church of St. Francis to see the Chapel of Bones (Capela dos Ossos). Marvel at walls covered in human skulls and bones. Wander around Évora Cathedral, and climb its roof to admire the golden plains surrounding the city.

In the afternoon you will visit Estremoz and our beautiful winery in the heart of the Alentejo. Enjoy a personalised tour of the estate, grounds and cellars before a wine masterclass! Here you will learn every detail of the winemaking process and also how the wines can be blended to further improve their supremity. Finally sample a selection of our fine wines accompanied by local produce, bread and delicious cheeses and charcuterie. 

Next, continue onto your hotel in Monsaraz.

Breakfast included

Suggested Overnight Hotel: São Lourenço do Barrocal

Today you will have the day at leisure to enjoy the area and facilities at your hotel. Choose from cycling, horse riding, wine tasting, walking tours or simply relax by the pool.

In the afternoon transfer to your hotel in Comporta.

Breakfast included

Suggested Overnight Hotel: Quinta da Comporta Wellness Boutique Resort

Following breakfast, you will be collected by your guide in an old 1974 safari-style Land-rover you will explore the traditional cork forests of the Alentejo. The farm you will visit is a paradise for walkers and wine lovers with rolling hills, cork forests, olive groves and vineyards in a landscape occasionally broken by a medieval fortress or an abandoned chapel.

For six generations, the family owners have made a living on the 1,400-acre estate in the Alentejo by sustainably managing cork forests, rearing sheep and making fine wines. During your tour, your guide will explain to you everything about the cork trees, cork cycle (cork stripping, cork storage, cork manufacturing). You will also learn about local fauna and flora, honey production, vineyards, Iberian pig fattening, olive groves and all the farm activities. When you return to the farmhouse you will enjoy a tasting of wine produced in the area.

The rest of the day is yours to enjoy at your leisure.

Breakfast included

Suggested Overnight Hotel: Quinta da Comporta Wellness Boutique Resort

Today you will have the day to yourself. You may choose to relax on the beach, Comporta beach is arguably the most stunning in Portugal.

Alternatively, you can explore the local villages and towns. The area is also one of the most biodiverse in the country, those interested in fauna can enjoy bird watching in the Sado Estuary.

Breakfast included

Suggested Overnight Hotel: Quinta da Comporta Wellness Boutique Resort

Leaving your hotel in Comporta you will be transferred to Lisbon airport for your return flight home.

Breakfast included