Portugal long range tours
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This tour features the highlights of Northern, Central and Southern Portugal with overnight stays in Lisbon and Porto.
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Day 1
Lisbon & Oporto - A drive across the bridge 25 Abril. Belem historical quarter: stop in Belem fortress (jewel of
manueline art), stop in the Monument dedicated to the Portuguese Discoveries, visit to the church of Jeronimos
Monastery (greatest sample of Manueline art) and the Coach Musem (the best coach collection in the world).
Jeronimos church and coach museum are closed on Mondays, both replaced by Ajuda palace. Wine tasting and Belem
pastry included everyday. Alfama: walk through the most ancient and picturesque section of Lisbon. Praça do
Comercio: the biggest and most beautiful square in Lisbon. Baixa-Rossio: center of town. Liberdade avenue, Marques de
Pombal square. Free time for lunch.
Afterwards, catch the train to Oporto at 1:55 p.m.. Arrive to Oporto at 4:55 p.m. and transfer to a 3/4 star Hotel. Free
evening in the capital of the North of Portugal, site of Port wine. Lodgment in Oporto.
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Day 2
Minho full day tour - Minho is undoubtedly a source of water, where green fields and mountains are in evidence.
Besides boasting the great monuments associated with cities, Braga also has deep religious roots with its churches and
pilgrimage places like Bom Jesus. Take a walk around the Historic Centre. Another great city is Guimarães, World
Heritage and birthplace of the first King of Portugal. After the visit to this city, return to Porto. Lodgement in Oporto.
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Day 3
Douro river cruise with lunch (pick up at Hotel not included in this tour) - 9:30 a.m. departure from Oporto. Breakfast
on board. 11.15 Arrival at Crestuma floodgate (14 m). 11:30 free taste of Port Wine. 12:00 Lunch on board. 2:15 p.m.
Arrival at Carrapatelo floodgate (35 m). 4:45 Arrival at Regua quay. 6:08 Departure to Oporto by train or bus. 8:10
Arrival to Oporto. Lodgment in Oporto.
In alternative:
Douro full day tour - Douro valley, the most ancient demarcated area of wine in the world, considered worldwide
heritage. Amarante typical town where we stop to taste the delicious pastry and visit Saint Gonçalo convent.
Afterwards we go to Régua (capital of Port wine) where we'll visit a wine producer farm and afterwards we'll go to
Régua. On the way back we'll visit an aristocratic palace, Solar da Rede, housing a "Pousada" (inn). Lodgment in
Oporto.
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Day 4
Oporto tour - with a visit to a Port wine cellar with Port wine tasting. The City of Porto has carefully preserved its
architectonic treasures, including monuments (palaces and churches) in the Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque and
Neoclassic styles. Sightseeing tour of the famous bridges of Luís I and Arrábida, the Cathedral, S. Francisco, Carmo,
Clérigos, Foz, Boavista, Porto Stock Exchange Building, Aliados avenue, Batalha square, Santa Catarina shopping
street, Miragaia, Vila Nova de Gaia section to visit a Port wine lodge. At 2:15 p.m. we take the train back to Lisbon.
Arrive to Lisbon at 5:15 p.m. Lodgment in Lisbon.
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Day 5
Sintra, Pena, Roca, Cascais, Estoril full day tour - Visit the majestic and romantic Pena Palace (except on Mondays,
replaced by Queluz Palace). Pena palace is on one of the highest peaks of the mountain range. It has a mixture of styles
in Romantic art. We visit Sintra where we stop. Free time to walk around the streets of the medieval village to
appreciate the several antiques and handicraft shops, restaurants and tea-rooms, to taste the so well delicious tarts
known as queijadas. We leave to Colares, demarcated area of wine and famous for its table wines. Afterwards we go to
Cabo da Roca, the most western point in continental Europe (stop). Then, passing by Guincho beach, we drive along
the coastline to Boca do Inferno (mouth of hell, a sea grotto) and Cascais where we stop for a nice view of the fishing
port and Estoril coast. Wedrive through Estoril to have a panoramic view of the Casino and its gardens and we return to
Lisbon. Lodgment in Lisbon.
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Day 6
Obidos, Nazaré, Batalha, Fatima full day - Travel northwards and arrive at the beautiful and very ancient walled town
called Obidos with picturesque streets. Guided tour and free time to walk through the narrow streets and old castle in a
unforgettable trip to the past. Then drive to Nazare, a colourful fishing village, where one can mingle with fishermen,
breed a strong maritime breeze and enjoy the atmosphere of one of the most typical villages in Portugal, famous also for
its seaside resort. Proceed to Batalha Monastery for a guided visit of the church, a 14th century masterpiece in Gothic
style. Finally Fatima - the Centre of Christian faith and a local of world's pilgrimage. Religious services can be attended.
Lodgment in Lisbon.
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Day 7
Evora full day tour - Drive across the largest cork region in the world for an exciting journey into the past. Along the
rolling landscape of Alentejo, we pass by fields of Olive trees, cork trees and vineyards, to find the charming town of
Évora, World Heritage of Unesco. By the richness of his history, architecture, gastronomy and handicraft, we are taken
to a variety of times, styles, flavours, smells, colors and shapes. The forest-clad, elongated hummock of the Serra da
Arrábida is a veritable oasis of natural vegetation amid the suburban sprawl with an incredibly diverse wildlife to
match. Free time for a taste of Muscatel wine. Return to Lisbon. Lodgment in Lisbon.
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Day 8
We take the motorway towards south, to cross the biggest cork tree region in the world, where 50% of world
production of cork comes from. Our first stop will be Silves, the most historical castle in Algarve. Standing proudly on
a hill, the origin of the town traces back to existing some 1.000 BC. Already a notable place in Roman times but it really
became an important place during its occupation in the early 11th Century by the Moors. Giving it the name of Xelb,
they constructed lavish palaces and it became the cultural centre. The impressive remains of the castle dates back to
Moors. Under the control of the Portuguese Kings it continued in its importance. The city’s earlier 13th Century
Cathedral was built on the site of a Mosque. Free time to taste the delicious local pastry. We pass by Portimão for a
quick sightseeing, to admire its impressive and typical fishing harbor, with the local and typical fishing boats. Next is
Lagos, with a very nice seaside resort, the most historically interesting coastal town in the Algarve. Its fame
derives from its association with Portugal's 14th-and 15th-century Age of Discovery. It’s here that we’ll have free time
for lunch, near the ocean, opportunity for you to try the fresh and delicious fish of the coast coming straight from the
ocean. We’ll proceed to Sagres, to visit the old fortress of the Portuguese school of navigators "who brought new
worlds to the World". It can be a powerful sensation to sit quietly anywhere along the cliff tops here and look out to
sea and ponder the extraordinary adventurers who have passed this way. Finally we arrive to Saint Vincent cape, the
south westernmost point of Europe, “the end of the world”, as it was called before America was discovered. The cliffs
rise nearly vertically from the Atlantic to a height of 75 meters. The cape is a site of exuberant marine life and a high
concentration of birds nesting on the cliffs, such as the rare Bonelli's eagle,peregrine falcons, kites, rock thrushes, rock
pigeons, storks and herons. Return to Lisbon. End of services.
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You can add more days to this program or reduce the days. In addition, you can take the following tours in a extended program:
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Aveiro and Coimbra
Aveiro - stop in the Portuguese Venice with its canals. Aveiro is situated on the estuary of the Rio Vouga and is
surrounded by a system of marshlands that run 50km parallel to the sea. The town's canals, bridges and pastel-coloured
houses are somewhat reminiscent of Amsterdam and at the centre of it all is a bustling fish market.
Coimbra - a charming town with an ancient and traditional University, where we mingle in the atmosphere of students.
Inhabited by Romans and Arabs, it was once the capital of Portugal, before Lisbon took its place. Sightseeing of
Coimbra, including the University, the first to exist in Portugal, since the XIII century and one of the most important
Universities in Europe: see the Library, a masterpiece of gilt wood-work and its courtyard from where we have another
nice view over Mondego river. Free time to walk around through the narrow streets of the ancient section and see the
antique Cathedral, dating from the XII century.
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Serra da Estrela mountain
8:00 Pick Up at the Hotel - 10:30 Arrival to Seia and visit to a Regional Cheese Factory
11:30 Arrival and visite to the Serra da Estrela Natural Park - Lagoa Comprida + Ski Resort + Tower
(1993m). Free time at a snow site. 13:30 Arrival to Sabugueiro. Lunch (not included). Visite to Regional
Handcraft Shops. 15:30 Visit the Bread Museum (closed on Mondays). Departure to Porto
18:30 Arrival to Porto.
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Santiago de Compostela
Situated in the heart of Galicia, Santiago de Compostela is the spiritual and political capital of this beautiful province.
Many pilgrims follow the Road to Santiago, just as they do to Rome or Jerusalem. On this tour we visit Santiago de
Compostela. It's Cathedral, Obradoiro square, Catholic Kings Hotel and Raxoi Palace, etc.
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