• Return international economy flights, taxes, and current fuel surcharges (unless a landonly option is selected)
• All accommodation
• All meals
• All sightseeing and entrance fees
• All transportation and transfers
• English-speaking National Escort (if your group is 10 or more passengers) or Local Guides
• Specialist advice from our experienced travel consultants
• Comprehensive travel guides

The only things you may have to pay for are personal expenditures e.g. drinks, optional
excursions or shows, insurance of any kind, tipping, early check-in or late checkout and other items not specified on the itinerary.

Itinerary:

Day 1-2: Arrival in Porto (D)

Fly to the vibrant and colourful city of Porto, on the Douro River estuary in northern Portugal. You will be met on arrival and transferred to your city centre hotel ahead of this evening’s welcome dinner and briefing. Depending on your time of arrival, the rest of the day is at leisure to start soaking up the culture of Porto’s picturesque city centre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Day 3: Discover Porto (B, L, D)

Porto is a city best explored on foot and today we discover its most famous monuments and some of its hidden secrets on a comprehensive walking tour. You will take in the sights of the beautiful Carmo and Carmelitas churches as well as the bell tower of Clérigos Church, Porto Cathedral, and São Bento Railway Station, the most interesting monuments in the area. Along the way your guide will tell you about the politics, religion, traditions, gastronomy, wines, and local customs of Porto. You will also enjoy a tasting of Portugal’s famous traditional pastry. After lunch in a traditional taverna, continue to one of Porto’s oldest port cellars, where you will learn all about the wine after which the city is named, and sample three different vintages, before enjoying dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 4: Via Guimarães and Braga to Viana do Castelo (B, L, D)

Depart Porto this morning, heading north to the historic town of Guimarães and enjoy a walking tour through its UNESCO-listed medieval centre to the castle, known as the birthplace of the kingdom of Portugal, and to the colossal Palace of the Dukes. Pause for lunch in one of the city’s medieval squares before continuing to Braga, Portugal’s religious heart, to visit the Bom Jesus do Monte complex. This neoclassical church sits at the top of an elaborate 17-flight stairway. Continue to Viana do Castelo, a port city famous for its fresh seafood and often called the ‘Jewel of the Costa Verde’. Enjoy dinner this evening at a local restaurant.

Day 5: Viana do Castelo to Gerês National Park (B, L, D)

This morning, discover the fabulous Manueline, Renaissance, Baroque and Art Deco architecture of Viana do Castelo on a guided walking tour, then drive to the historic town of Ponte de Lima with its famous medieval bridge. Enjoy a traditional lunch in the town square and then continue to Quinta do Ameal, a wine estate dating back to 1710 in the heart of the Vinho Verde region. Here you can visit the cellar and learn about its fully organic wine production, with tastings of some of the estate wines, accompanied by appetisers in the tasting room with views across the vineyard, or in the garden if the weather permits. Continue to your hotel on the western edge of the Gerês National Park.

Day 6: Explore Gerês National Park and drive to Douro Valley (B, L, D)

Today you will experience the wild natural beauty and diversity of Gerês National Park. Transfer to the park entrance and enjoy a relaxed and gentle-paced walk to see crystal-clear streams, hidden waterfalls and peaceful lagoons. Take the opportunity to swim, if you like, in the refreshing waters after a picnic lunch at the water’s edge. Please note this walk covers a distance of 10 kilometres, taking approximately 3 hours. Next continue to the attractive town of Vila Real, pausing to visit the baroque masterpiece Mateus Palace, before driving south into the scenic Douro Valley region to your hotel overlooking the famous terraced hillsides.

Day 7: Douro Valley (B, L, D)

This morning, drive to the lovely town of Pinhão in the heart of the Douro Valley. Here, board a historic Rabelo boat, sampling local Porto wine as you take a relaxing cruise upstream on the Douro River, flanked by wineries on both riverbanks. Next, step aboard a local train and enjoy a scenic rail trip along the Douro River to the town of Peso da Régua. Continue by road to a local family-run winery in the Douro Valley. Here enjoy a leisurely tour of the vineyard and learn about the wine making process, while sampling some of the wines. Return to your hotel for some time at leisure.

Day 8: Via Aveiro to Coimbra ( B, L, D)

Today head south from the Douro Valley and drive to Central Portugal to explore the beautiful city of Aveiro, a former great seaport. Nowadays the city is crossed by canals navigated by colourful traditional boats. Explore the streets of the historic centre of Aveiro and why not try the famous traditional speciality – ovos moles (“soft eggs”)! After lunch in a local restaurant, continue to Coimbra for a guided walk through the university town’s historic centre, a multi-coloured collage of buildings spanning nearly a millennium. Stroll through the narrow streets, gardens, convents and monasteries before reaching the beautiful university campus which sits atop the town.

Day 9: Via Tomar, Nazare and Obidos to Caldas da Rainha (B, L, D)

Depart Coimbra this morning, first visiting the town of Tomar. Admire the UNESCO-listed Convent of Christ while learning about the history and legends of the Templar Order and the Christ Order. Next, visit the two nearby monasteries, also UNESCOprotected: first, the 14th-century Monastery of Batalha, with its flamboyant Gothic architecture, then the earlier 12th-century Alcobaça, with its remarkable early Gothic façade. After a seafood lunch in the traditional fishing village of Nazare, head to the medieval, walled town of Obidos. Try some of the sweet cherry liqueur known as ginja, served in an edible chocolate cup, and soak up the atmosphere of the cobbled paths and tiny medieval houses. Browse the handicraft.

Day 10: Caldas da Rainha to Évora (B, L, D)

Depart Caldas da Rainha this morning and drive south into the Alentejo region. Here you will explore a familyrun cork farm, set in a rural paradise of rolling hills, cork forests, olive groves and vineyards. Continue to Evora and wander through the UNESCOlisted city centre, dating back to Roman times, and admire the sweeping views from the roof of the cathedral.

Day 11: Via Sintra to Lisbon (B, L, D)

This morning drive to Sintra and visit the historic heart of this fabulously romantic 19th-century town, with its ornate and vividly painted villas and palaces, set in luxuriant parks and gardens. The whole area is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Continue to Lisbon and and enjoy a relaxing cruise along the Tagus River by sailing boat. This evening you will experience the emotion of Fado, the evocative, haunting and deeply traditional Portuguese music. Guided by your Fado singer, discover some of the traditional Fado haunts of Old Lisbon, and visit a Fado House, where you will enjoy an incredible live performance and be transported to another world. Enjoy dinner this evening in one of Lisbon’s Fado bars.

Day 12: Lisbon and Belém (B, L, D)

Set out on an action-packed final day, starting aboard our fleet of electric tuk-tuks for an enjoyable ride from Lisbon to Belem, passing by the river and watching the bustling city life. Explore a host of Belém’s famous monuments and legacies of Portugal’s golden age of exploration. Head back to Lisbon and continue your explorations with a guided walking tour of Lisbon’s beautiful historical centre and a visit to the Orient Museum, before boarding your private ‘No. 28 Tram’. These tiny, colourful trams date back to the 1930s and the No. 28 route takes you through the oldest and most picturesque districts of Lisbon. End the day with farewell dinner at a rooftop restaurant with views across the city and the river.

Day 13-14: Departure (B)

Transfer to Lisbon airport for your flight home returning to Australia the same or following day. Please note: Only breakfast is provided on the group’s day of departure.