Country Roads of Portugal (Small Groups, Summer, 11 Days)
Description
Summary
Description
Embark on an unforgettable 11-day journey through the heart of Portugal, a country rich in history, culture, and stunning landscapes. This multi-day tour offers an immersive experience, taking you from the vibrant city of Lisbon to the sun-drenched southern coast of Lagos, the medieval city of Évora, the white village of Monsaraz, and the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Tomar and Coimbra. You'll also explore the charming towns of Fátima, Guimarães, Porto, and Óbidos, each with its unique allure. Along the way, you'll enjoy local cuisine, wine tastings, boat cruises, and guided sightseeing tours. This tour is designed to provide a perfect blend of relaxation, exploration, and cultural immersion.
Included
10 night accommodation
3 Dinner with Wine (DW)
10 Breakfast (B)
1 Lunch with Wine (LW)
1 Lunch (L)
Lisbon: Join your Travel Director at 18:00 for a Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant and the opportunity to mingle with your fellow travellers.
Monsaraz: Enjoy a memorable Alentejo Highlight Lunch at local restaurant Sem Fim, once an olive mill. Indulge in dish-after-dish of the tastiest tapas in a vibrant setting.
Pinhao: Enjoy a wonderful farm-to-table dinner, freshly prepared from locally sourced ingredients.
Porto: Shared experiences and memories are often the foundation for special bonds and friendships. Toast your travels with wine and good cheer during your Celebration Dinner at a restaurant in Porto, devoted to the enjoyment of regional cooking.
Choose between two carefully selected activities
Porto: Enjoy a panoramic drive through historic avenues and past exquisite tiled facades.
Porto: Visit the São Bento Railway Station and walk on the Dom Luís I Bridge, spanning the Douro River and connecting the cities of Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia.
Personal radio headsets give you the freedom to wander during visits to famous highlights, without missing any of your Local Expert's fascinating commentary.
Hotel and restaurant tips are included - you'll never have to worry about how much to give, nor search for foreign currency. We also include all taxes and porterage charges at hotels.
We carry your bags for you and promptly deliver them to your hotel door.
Monsaraz: Join a local boat captain for a tranquil cruise on Lake Alqueva. Relax and enjoy calming waters, picturesque views and tales of river life.
Évora: During a wine tasting session, appreciate the delicate yet complex nuances of Alentejo wine, and learn how the Relvas family has been managing to keep low water consumption, reforestation of indigenous trees, and providing scholarships to children of the village. This experience advances United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and production. With a 30% reduction in water use and innovative water management systems in place, they have been integrating science technology to ensure genuine production processes in all their activities.
Lisbon: Explore with your Local Expert, from the Lower Town, beneath the hilltop Bairro Alto to the Terreiro do Paco. Visit the Belém Quarter to see the modern Monument to the Discoveries and the medieval Belém Tower.
Lisbon: Visit the cloisters of Jerónimos Monastery with its beautiful Manueline architecture, reflecting Portugal's trade over the centuries and UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Évora: Explore this UNESCO World Heritage Site guided by your Local Expert and see the famous Roman Temple. While sightseeing, witness the fascinating cathedral and be charmed by its mix of Romanesque and Gothic architecture.
Monsaraz: Surrounded by cork oaks and vineyards, wander through the castle ruins to admire the incredible view over the Spanish plains that contrast with the blue of one of Europe's largest artificial lakes.
Tomar: Dominating the town is the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Templar Castle and the Convent of Christ. During your visit with a Local Expert, see the Manueline Window and follow the story of the mysterious Knights Templar.
Tomar: Learn about the history of the town through its architectural influences as you take a tour guided by a Local Expert.
Tomar: Guided by your Local Expert, visit the Synagogue of Tomar, one of the best preserved medieval synagogues in Portugal.
Fátima: Join the faithful at one of the world's holiest sites and pay homage at the Chapel of the Apparitions and see the basilica.
Coimbra: Guided by your Local expert, head through Old Town and pass by the Old Cathedral and the Almedina neighbourhood.
Coimbra: With a Local Expert, visit the University and witness the triumphal arches, painted ceilings, golden flourishes and walls of ancient tomes.
Guimaraes: Enjoy views from the Visigothic castle ruins and explore a maze of medieval streets in the Old Quarter.
"I love taking guests to Monsaraz because It's one of the many villages lost in time. It's not easy for guests to find on their own and they feel like they're visiting a secret paradise."
Hand sanitizer is freely available on board for you to use throughout the day.
From time to time, your Travel Director will delight you with an Insight Flourish, which is a local specialty representing the destination.
Lagos: Explore this coastal town nestled on Meia Praia, with your Travel Director.
Évora: With your Travel Director explore the ancient city of Évora and visit the fascinating Capela dos Ossos, meaning the Chapel of Bones, a chapel decorated with human remains.
Obidos: Lead by your Travel Director, walk through the picturesque narrow streets up to the main square of this ancient walled town.
Stay connected with friends and family with our complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi (where available).
If your arrival and/or departure flights are as per the itinerary start and end dates, then transfers are available at scheduled times. If your flights are outside these times, or you have booked additional nights accommodation with Insight Vacations, you may purchase transfers or make your own way from/to the airport.
Enjoy the comfort of Insight's luxurious, air-conditioned, 40-seat coach with double the standard legroom and onboard washroom. Our customized luxury coaches are sanitized before the start of your tour and are maintained to very high standards. Physical distancing measures have been implemented on our customized luxury coaches.
Destinations
Map
Attractions
Daily Itinerary
Day 1 – Day 1: Arrival in Lisbon
- Lisbon
- Santa Iria de Azóia - Arrival day
- More
Upon your arrival at Lisbon International Airport, you'll be transferred to your hotel where you can unwind and freshen up. In the evening, join your Travel Director for a delightful dinner at a local restaurant, where you'll get to know your fellow travelers over delicious food and wine.
Day 2 – Day 2: Exploring Lisbon
- Lisbon
- More
- Monumento Natural dos Lagosteiros
- Jerónimos Monastery
- Belém Tower
- More
Today, a Local Expert will guide you through the expansive avenues of Lisbon's Lower Town and across its tree-shaded squares. You'll pass beneath the hilltop Bairro Alto to the Terreiro do Paço, marvel at the ancient Belém Tower, and the Monument to the Discoveries. You'll also visit the Jeronimos Monastery and enjoy a taste of the famous Pastéis de Belém. The evening offers an optional experience to delve deeper into Portuguese culture with a special dinner.
Day 3 – Day 3: From Lisbon to Lagos
- Lagos
- Lisbon
- More
Today, we cross the River Tagus and head south to the sun-kissed coast of Lagos, a charming fishing port nestled in the bay of Meia Praia. After some free time to explore, we continue to our resort hotel set within a magnificent 360-acre estate. Nearby, you'll find specialized Portuguese seafood restaurants overlooking the Atlantic, offering a taste of Algarve's simple yet flavorful cuisine.
Day 4 – Day 4: Journey to Évora
- Beja
- Luz
- Évora
- More
- Royal Palace of Évora
- Door Santa Catarina
- Chapel of Bones (Évora)
- More
Our journey today takes us to the medieval walled city of Évora, a living museum to Portugal's rich past. With a Local Expert, we'll explore this UNESCO World Heritage Site, visiting the Roman Temple, the Capela dos Ossos, and the cathedral. The rest of the afternoon is yours to continue exploring Évora's unique historical center or the serene city park.
Day 5 – Day 5: Monsaraz and Lake Alqueva
- Monsaraz
- Évora
- More
- Museu do Mármore Raquel de Castro
- Observatório do Lago Alqueva (OLA)
- More
Today, we travel to the striking white village of Monsaraz, surrounded by olive groves and vineyards. From the castle ruins, enjoy spectacular views across the Spanish plains and Europe's largest artificial lake. We'll join a local boat captain for a leisurely cruise on Lake Alqueva, followed by a delicious lunch at Sem Fim, a local restaurant once an olive mill. We return to Évora in the evening, where you're free to explore this beautifully preserved regional capital.
Day 6 – Day 6: Fátima and Tomar
- Tomar
- Évora
- Batalha
- More
- Convent of Christ
- More
This morning, we visit Casa Relvas for a wine tasting. Despite the dry climate of the Alentejo region, they produce exceptional wine using innovative techniques. We then journey to Fátima, Portugal's most renowned pilgrimage site. Here, you can see the basilica or visit the Chapel of the Apparitions. We continue to Tomar to visit the Templar Castle and Convent of Christ, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Synagogue of Tomar, one of the best-preserved medieval synagogues in Portugal.
Day 7 – Day 7: Coimbra and Douro River
- Coimbra
- Tomar
- More
- Turismo da Universidade de Coimbra
- More
In Coimbra, your Local Expert will show you the highlights of the Old Town, including the University of Coimbra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We then continue past verdant hills and lush vineyards, along the tranquil waters of the Douro River. Enjoy a wonderful Farm-to-Table lunch, freshly prepared from locally sourced ingredients, with a port wine tasting.
Day 8 – Day 8: Guimarães and Porto
- Porto
- Coimbra
- Guimarães
- More
- Luís I Bridge
- Convento dos Loios
- More
Today, we journey to Guimarães to admire the views from the ruined castle and explore the cobbled streets and cosy squares. We then continue to Porto, Portugal's second city and a World Heritage town. Here, you can choose to join a Local Expert for a visit to the São Bento Railway Station and a walk along the Dom Luís I Bridge, or enjoy a panoramic drive through the city. In the evening, you're free to relax at your boutique hotel or join an Optional Experience for a traditional Rabelo boat cruise and dinner.
Day 9 – Day 9: Free Day in Porto
- Porto
- Braga
- More
Today is yours to explore Porto at your own pace. You might want to stroll around to admire the multi-coloured houses and churches covered in beautiful glazed tiles, or perhaps choose to visit Braga, the capital of baroque. In the evening, enjoy a mouth-watering dinner with wine at an authentic Porto restaurant.
Day 10 – Day 10: Óbidos and Return to Lisbon
- Lisbon
- Porto
- More
- Chapel of the Apparitions
- More
We journey to the fortified town of Óbidos, where you can walk within its walls and explore the narrow, medieval streets where houses are covered with flowers. Our travels then continue to the Portuguese capital, Lisbon.
Day 11 – Day 11: Departure from Lisbon
- Lisbon
- Santa Iria de Azóia - Departure day
- More
After breakfast, we'll transfer you to Lisbon International Airport for your onward journey. As you depart, you'll carry with you the unforgettable memories of a truly enriching Portuguese adventure.
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