Treasures of Portugal

Welcome to Portugal! This vivacious south-western European country is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean on one side and Spain on the other, and offers an exquisite coastline, unique cities, a wealth of history, and incredible architecture. We begin our small group tour in Porto, a fascinating city that lies along the banks of the Douro River.

Located on the northern coast of Portugal, Porto is its second largest city and well known for its port wine production.

We don't want you to miss out on any aspect of your small group tour. To ensure that you don't, we recommend you arrive at your starting destination by 3.00pm.

Join your fellow travellers and tour leader for a brief orientation tour of the city before a welcome drink followed by dinner at the hotel.

Our half day guided city tour of Porto begins after breakfast this morning. We'll admire the façade of the Carmo Church and Clérigos Tower, learning about their distinct architecture and the part they have played in the intriguing history of the city. We'll also visit the Stock Exchange Palace and marvel at the beautiful neoclassical style building from both inside and out.

Next, we'll take a cruise along the Douro River and pass under each of Porto's six bridges.

We then a visit to a local wine cellar to learn how authentic port is made and enjoy a tasting before continuing our walking tour, crossing the iconic iron Dom Luís I Bridge.

The remainder of the day is at leisure to get acquainted with the city further on our own.

This morning we travel through the Douro Valley, making our way past historical towns surrounded by rolling hills, vineyards and charming rural villages.

Special Experience: Explore a stunning local winery in the Douro Valley during a guided tour before we have a chance to sip the delicious wines during a tasting. We then make our way to the charming city of Amarante, where we'll see the stunning St Goncalo's Monastery. Begun in 1543 and finished in the 1600's, the monastery stands proudly, overlooking the river Tâmega. Here, we'll have some free time for lunch before returning to Porto to enjoy the rest of our day at leisure.

Braga, one of Portugal's eldest cities, is our destination today. Home to some of the country's oldest architecture and rich in history, the ancient city and its lively atmosphere is a fascinating place to explore.

Special Experience: Visit a factory that produces the classic Portuguese dessert, Pao de Lo (sponge cake), for a tour of the factory and, luckily, a tasting of the scrumptious desserts made here. We'll then travel to Guimarães where we enjoy

a walking tour of the city and its highlights, including a visit to the Palace of the Dukes of Braganza. There will be some free time here to grab lunch before departing for Braga.

On arrival in Braga

we will get acquainted with its absorbing history, during a

short walking tour of Braga's city centre before spending the remainder of the day at leisure to enjoy your new surrounds.

Descending a steep hill to meet the River Mondego is the charming city of Coimbra. Best known for its university, one of the oldest in Europe, the dynamic city is rich in history and oozes charm.

On our way to Coimbra today, we'll visit the charming town of Ovar, known for its vibrant tiled houses. We'll take a guided tour and then have some time to explore on our own before heading to Aveiro.

Referred to as the Portuguese Venice, Aveiro is set on the shores of the Ria de Aveiro and is known for its charming canals that meander throughout the city. Here we'll

enjoy and

a relaxing cruise along the canals, before some free time for lunch (not included), followed by a walking tour.

This evening we'll arrive in Coimbra and enjoy a group dinner while experiencing the unique sounds of fado music.

This morning we will explore the city of Coimbra during a guided sightseeing tour. We'll stop in at the city's university grounds before admiring the intricate architecture of the city's cathedral.

Special Experience: Discover the Shale Villages, visiting local shops and connecting with the locals before enjoying a traditional lunch.

Challenging Day: Today is a particularly challenging day, where there will be extended periods of walking time, often across uneven ground and in areas of high altitude or heat and humidity.

Vibrant and bustling Lisbon, Portugal's capital, is a cultural delight with its history and modern progressiveness combining seamlessly to create this iconic city. From its incredible architecture to its picturesque cobblestone streets, its friendly people and so much more, a visit to this city is a must!

On our way to Lisbon today, we’ll stop at the small fishing village of Nazaré, home to the Big Wave Surfing Competition. Here we’ll have a short tour of the town before enjoying lunch at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon we’ll continue to the town of Óbidos, where we have the opportunity taste the local cherry liquor, Ginjinha , an iconic Portuguese liquor made by infusing sour cherries in the traditional local brandy called “Aguardente”.

We'll arrive in Lisbon and check in to our hotel before enjoying an evening at leisure to explore this lively city on our own.

After breakfast this morning we make our way to Sintra, a town just outside of Lisbon and home to the incredible National Palace of Sintra. Exploring the Palace, we'll see the distinct mix of medieval, Gothic, Manueline and Renaissance architecture which has remained relatively untouched since the mid-16th century. The National Palace of Sintra was used by the Portuguese Royal family until the end of the monarchy in 1910 and offers visitors a glimpse back through time.

On our way back to Lisbon we'll stop in at the towns of Cascais and Estoril before enjoying the remainder of our day at our own leisure in Lisbon.

We'll enjoy a half-day guided tour of Lisbon today. We see the green gardens of Eduardo VII Park, the Monument to the Discoveries that stands tall on the banks of the River Tagus, the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Jerónimos Monastery and more. We'll stop for a coffee break where we treat our taste buds to the famous, and delicious, Lisbon custard tart. Our tour ends in Lisbon's Rossio Square, a meeting place for the people of the city since the Middle Ages. From here we'll enjoy the remainder of our afternoon at leisure.

This evening we'll join our fellow travellers for a farewell dinner at a local restaurant where we reminisce on our favourite memories and experiences of Portugal together.

Our tour concludes after breakfast this morning. We bid farewell to our new friends and to the treasures of Portugal.