Family Journey Portugal: Lisbon to the Algarve

Welcome to Lisbon–your arrival transfer to the hotel is included. Check in and get excited to meet your fellow travelers during a welcome meeting this evening where all families can bond before the journey ahead.

Included Experiences

• Arrival Day and Welcome Meeting: The adventure begins tonight. Feel free to explore before your welcome meeting, but make sure you’re back in time to meet the group. Check for the meeting time on the welcome note at the hotel. After introductions, your CEO will review the details of your tour. Please note that normal check-in times apply at our start hotels, but you can usually store your luggage for the day if you arrive early.

After breakfast, set off to discover the city on a fun and interactive scavenger hunt through the Baixa district of Lisbon. Beginning at the Praça do Comércio, families are tasked with solving puzzles and noting some of the most unique aspects of this vibrant city. Watch for street performers, interesting patterns, colourful street art, and viewpoints, while your guide shares stories along the way. After lunch, the rest of the day is yours to enjoy on your own. Explore more of the city, grab some tasty local treats and have fun with your family–vamos!

Included Experiences

• Lisbon Scavenger Hunt: Embark on a fun scavenger hunt through Lisbon! Follow clues to find famous locations like Praça do Comércio and the Rua Augusta Arch. Your journey will take you to a square that feels like a fairy tale. You'll hunt for a quirky shop dedicated to sardines, a historic church, and a beautiful, mysterious ruined church.
• Free Time: Enjoy the remainder of the afternoon and evening free to do as you please with your family. Explore more of Lisbon together or choose to partake in some of the locally offered optional activities.

Take in the magnificent sights and sounds on a coastal cycling tour from Cascais this morning. Known as the Portuguese Riviera, the Cascais coast is famous for beautiful beaches, historic towns, and fishing villages turned resort towns. Then, from Praia do Guincho hop onboard a private bus and set off toward Cabo da Roca–the westernmost point of continental Europe before continuing on to Sintra. Take some time for lunch on your own, then bus up the mountain to the jewel of Sintra–Pena Palace. Enjoy the colourful reds and yellows of the palace transformed by King Fernand II in the 19th century and explore the courtyards and gardens and imagine what life was like so many years ago. After, return to Lisbon for one final night in this exciting city.

Included Experiences

• Coastal Bike Tour: Enjoy a family-friendly bike tour from Cascais to Praia do Guincho on a dedicated coastal path. The easy, flat route offers stunning views of the Atlantic, leading you to a beautiful, wind-swept Guincho beach, famous for its powerful waves and stunning sand dunes.
• Pena Palace and Park Guided Visit: Situated in the hills of Sintra, Pena Palace and its surrounding park are one of the greatest expressions of 19th-century romanticism in Portugal. With clear Manueline influence and Moorish architectural styles, the palace is built in a such a way as to be visible from any point in the park. Tour the Palace and park and learn about the Palace's origins and influences throughout Portuguese history.

Explore Experiences

Wave goodbye to Lisbon and set off for a fun and interactive visit to a local cork farm and winery. Climb into a 4x4 and explore the stunning Alentejo countryside to learn about one of Portugal’s most interesting natural resources–cork, an integral part of the wine production Portugal is so famous for. Learn about the industry’s evolution and sustainable harvesting which only takes place every 9-12 years during the tree’s 200-year lifespan. After, sit down and sample some of the local flavours, wine for the grown-ups and juice for the kids–paired with local cheeses, then fill up on a traditional cork farm worker’s lunch at a nearby restaurant. Later, Travel to Évora–a UNESCO World Heritage site and join an orientation walk, stopping at the fascinatingly eerie Chapel of Bones along the way. Check in to your hotel then join your tour leader on an orientation walk, stopping at the fascinatingly eerie Chapel of Bones along the way.

Included Experiences

• Cork farm, Winery Visit, and Local Lunch: Join us for a family-friendly 4x4 Jeep tour through a beautiful cork forest at the Maroteira Estate. Journey into a beautiful cork forest where you’ll learn about how this amazing material is harvested. Next, the adults sit down for a wine tasting while the kids sample grape juices before enjoying a delicious three-course lunch. It’s a perfect day for the whole family to explore, learn, and taste the best of the region.
• Chapel of Bones Visit: Visit the most famous sight in Évora, the Capela dos Ossos, or Chapel of Bones. Take care if squeamish – built in the 1500s by a Franciscan monk, the walls are covered with human skeletons as a reminder to fellow monks that life is fleeting.

Explore Experiences

After breakfast, travel to the Cromeleque dos Almendres Monoliths, known as the “Portuguese Stonehenge,” for a walk through the ancient site. This 7,000-year-old monument is even older than the famous English henge–approximately 2,000 years older. These ancient stones are said to have been used for religious rituals and as a location to study the stars. Continue on to the Monte da Rocha region for a traditional lunch before transferring to the Algarve, where you’ll call home for the coming days. This popular family beach region is known for its whitewashed fishing villages overlooking sandy coves–perfect for outdoor pursuits or beach fun and relaxation.

Included Experiences

• Cromeleque dos Almendres Monoliths Visit: Explore the remarkable collection of standing stones, offering a unique window into the distant path. Walk among these ancient monoliths and feel the profound history of a place that has quietly stood for millennia.
• Orientation Walk Lagos: Enjoy a brief walk with your CEO. He/she will give you some tips on finding things like supermarkets, main squares, and ATMs. For more specific or in-depth information, an official guided tour is recommended.

Wake up in the picturesque Algarve and set off on your choice of included activity. Either spend the morning on the water “catching a wave” with a surf lesson or head out for an excursion to the seaside village of Ferragudo, visiting the famous Pink Fort. The afternoon is free for families to continue exploring Portimão, home of popular beaches, a busy marina, museums, and boardwalks. This evening, return to the hotel to freshen up before an included dinner.

Included Experiences

• Surf Lesson: Don your swim suit and dive into an exhilarating surf lesson. Join a certified instructor who will teach you the basics from paddling and standing up on the board, to understanding the waves. It's the perfect activity for making unforgettable memories together on Portugal's beautiful coast.
• Free Time: Get out and explore this picturesque, seaside city with a free afternoon.

Set off on a morning boat tour along the Algarve coast stopping at the Benagil Caves, an iconic natural wonder with sea-sculpted arches that give it the appearance of a cathedral. Cruise through the turquoise waters passing stunning grottoes, rocky cliffs, and secluded beaches. Along the way, keep an eye out for dolphins as these beautiful mammals love to call this area home. Head back to the hotel for a free afternoon to explore however you’d like, then join the other families for a cooking class, learning how to make regional specialties. Afterward, get a taste of Portugal as you savour your culinary creation for your farewell dinner–bom apetite!

Included Experiences

• Algarve Boat Tour: Enjoy an exciting boat tour along the Algarve coast. Explore the stunning sea caves, including the famous Benagil Cave - keep an eye out on the water and watch for playful dolphins in their natural habitat.
• Cooking Class Lagos: Uncover the secrets of Portuguese cuisine in a hands-on cooking class. Led by a local expert, learn to prepare some local specialties using fresh ingredients. The experience ends with a shared dinner where you can enjoy your work.

Depart at any time.

Included Experiences

• Departure Day: Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with any onward travel arrangements you require.