9 Nights / 10 Days
10 days, 14 meals.
Explore sunny Portugal, with its miles of dramatic shoreline and legacy of global discovery. Discover Lisbon your way with a choice of included sightseeing. Enjoy a three-night stay in a beautiful resort town on the Portuguese Riviera. Savour time to meander its narrow cobblestone streets, oceanfront promenade and quaint bay area. In Evora, step inside a medieval walled city with Roman ruins. Travel to Portugal's scenic “Silver Coast,” dotted with charming villages and castles. Enjoy a sense of country life with an overnight stay in the heart of Alentejo’s farms and vineyards. Find a wealth of Portuguese hand-made crafts like the famed azulejo hand-painted tiles and unique items made of cork. Indulge in Portugal’s regional wines during two winery tours. Be swept away by melancholy Fado tunes. Explore the Algarve’s soft sandy beaches and classic fishing villages.
Itinerary
Day 1: Overnight Flight
Portugal is waiting to be explored. Discover ancient castles, Roman ruins, groves of lemon and almond trees, quiet whitewashed villages, and kind, gentle people.
Day 2: Cascais or Estoril, Portugal - Tour Begins
Your tour opens in a scenic coastal resort on the “Portuguese Riviera,” your home for three nights. The mansions scattered about Cascais and Monte Estoril hint at its history as a haven for exiled European royals and nobility. Tonight, join your fellow travellers for a welcome dinner.
Day 3: Choice of Lisbon Panoramic City Tour or Alfama District Walking Tour
This morning it’s your choice! Join a panoramic Lisbon city tour by coach featuring Jeronimo’s Monastery (a UNESCO World Heritage site), Belem Tower (UNESCO), the Monument to the Discoveries, and capped off with a visit to the National Museum of Coaches. Or, take a walking tour* of the historic Alfama District, Lisbon's most symbolic quartre: step back in time as you explore this residential neighbourhood which is considered a village within a city; stroll through its medieval alleys, narrow streets and small squares; pass by beautiful churches and whitewashed houses with tile panels and wrought-iron balconies adorned with pots of flowers; then, climb the hill to explore the castle that has the most breathtaking panorama of the city. Later, enjoy leisure time in the Portuguese Riviera. Stroll narrow cobblestone streets, sit in a seaside café, walk wide oceanside promenades or shop for ceramics, lace, filigree, hand woven works and tapestries. This evening, savour excellent Portuguese cuisine and wine while local artists perform the traditional Fado (UNESCO).
Day 4: Cascais or Estoril - Sintra - Obidos - Fatima - Cascais or Estoril
Begin your day exploring the picturesque town of Sintra (UNESCO), the favourite summer residence of Portuguese kings for six centuries. Travel to Portugal’s beautiful “Silver Coast,” a spectacular region filled with sleepy villages, rich vineyards and age-old castles. Proceed to picture-perfect Obidos where white washed houses are held snug by medieval city walls. Later, visit Fatima, the world-famous Marian pilgrimage site.
Day 5: Cascais or Estoril - Evora - Monsaraz - Alentejo
Travel through beautiful Portuguese countryside and stop in historic Evora (UNESCO), known as the “Museum City of Portugal.” Inside this medieval walled city lies a 2nd-century Roman temple to Diana. Next, journey to the hilltop, walled village of Monsaraz, a “jewel in the crown” of the Alentejo. This small medieval town has carefully preserved its original charm. From the 13th-century castle you’ll enjoy amazing panoramic views of the countryside. Then, indulge in a winery tour and a tasting of the full-bodied character of the region’s wines. Enjoy your stay in the heart of Alentejo’s countryside during an overnight at a country resort set among 3,000 acres of farm land, vineyards and cork trees.
Day 6: Alentejo - Sagres - Lagos - Algarve
Travel to the famous Algarve and discover the secrets of the 16th-century fortress at Sagres, home of Prince Henry’s School of Navigation and the “compass rose.” You will also garner magnificent views of beautiful Cape of St. Vincente where 200-foot cliffs plunge into the Atlantic at the most southwesterly point of Europe. Next, explore the historic resort town of Lagos, where Moorish and Renaissance influences abound. Here, the famous voyager, Prince Henry the Navigator, began his explorations and from the harbour, Vasco da Gama sailed in 1499 on his epic voyage of discovery. Stroll through the fortress and historic buildings while taking in the surrounding ocean views during some leisure time.
Day 7: Algarve
The entire day is yours to independently experience the beautiful Algarve. Geraniums, camellias and oleanders grow alongside fig, orange and almond trees while brightly coloured fishing boats bob on the seas. Protected by hills to the north and warmed by the sea, the Algarve’s mild climate and beautiful beaches attract holidayers from all over the world.
Day 8: Algarve - Faro - São Brás de Alportel - Algarve
Journey to Faro, gateway to the Ria Formosa protected lagoon landscape. Explore the city’s historic centre with 9th-century Roman walls, dramatic golden coastline, and its archaeological and architectural gems. In historic São Brás de Alportel, a presentation by a local liqueur maker is followed by a tasting of some of the many varieties produced in the region. Portugal is the world’s number one producer of cork. Visit a local cork factory to learn about its importance to the local economy and its many uses. Complete your day with dinner featuring local delicacies and wine.
Day 9: Algarve - Azeitao - Lisbon
En route to Lisbon, make a stop in Azeitao, a charming agricultural village known for red wine, olive trees and beautiful country estates. Spend time at the centuries-old Jose Maria da Fonseca Winery. Embark on a tour followed by a tasting of local wines, including moscatel. Next, meet local artisans at a family-run shop that demonstrates how azulejos, the famous hand-painted Portuguese tiles, are made. Later, bid adeus to Portugal during a dinner celebrating the end of a wonderful tour.
Day 10: Lisbon - Tour Ends
Your tour comes to a close today.
