Portugal in the Grand Manner
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Highlights:
Combine a comprehensive itinerary with superb accommodations and you have an excellent immersion in Portugal.
Enhance the experience with private guides and drivers throughout.
Add a variety of dining experiences and you have a superlative adventure for either a couple or two or three like-minded couples.
SKU:
Explore: Portugal
Customizable Itinerary - 14 Days (from $9,866 / person)
Day 1: Depart USA
You board your aircraft for an overnight flight to Lisbon to begin your comprehensive and elegant exploration of the highlights of Portugal.
Day 2: Arrival in Lisbon
You will arrive in Lisbon where you are met by one of our drivers who will take you to your hotel which was formerly a palace. You have the rest of the day to relax. Lisbon sits at the mouth of the Tagus River and it was from here that explorers like Vasco Da Gama sailed out to find new lands for Portugal including Brazil, Angola and Mozambique in Africa along with Mogador on the coast of Morocco. Macau opened up the riches of the orient as did Goa in India.
Day 3: Lisbon, Sintra and Estoril
Start your day with a visit to some of the historic neighborhoods of the city like Chiado, Bairro Alto and Alfama. You will then drive along the coast passing the casino in Estoril and driving through the village of Cascais known for its superb restaurants. You then arrive in Sintra which is renowned for the great beauty of its nature and architecture with fairy take palaces and lush vegetation.
Lunch
Day 4: Obidos, Fatima and Coimbra
Today you will accompany your guide to Coimbra which is home to the first University in Portugal and was used as the headquarters for the Duke of Wellington in his campaign to drive Napoleon from both Portugal and Spain. Your first stop will be Obidos, a charming walled city dominated by an ancient castle. Starting with King Dinis in 1282, it has been traditional for the King to give his wife this city upon their marriage. You will visit the cloisters of the Monastery of Batalha and then stop for the chance to have lunch. You then proceed to Fatima, famous for the sighting of the Virgin Mary early in the 20th Century and still a magnet for devout pilgrims. You then arrive in Coimbra.
Breakfast and Dinner
Day 5: Porto, Portugal’s Second City
Start your day with a walking tour of Coimbra including the university dating back to the 13th Century. From 1139 to 1256, Coimbra was also the capital of Portugal. You then head to Porto which is famous for the fortified wine of the same name. Have a light lunch and then visit some of the wine lodges where the port is aged in barrels for up to 40 years. You then check in to your elegant hotel offering spectacular views of the city.
Breakfast and Lunch
Day 6: Highlights of the Minho Region
Today, along with your guide, you will explore the Minho region in the extreme north of the country on the border with Spain. The Minho Wine Region is famous for their “Vinos Verdes”. The name means Green wine and refers not to the color but to the youthful freshness of the wines. Made from Albarino Grapes, there is very little ageing giving it a slight natural sparkle. It is usually paired with seafood. You will visit the ancient town of Braga and the oldest village in Portugal, Ponte de Lima which is named for the ancient bridge that crosses the Lima River. Your last visit will be Viana do Castelo and old fishing port. You then return to Porto.
Breakfast and Lunch
Day 7: The “Cradle of the Nation”
You have some free time in the morning before meeting your guide and heading back into the Minho region where you visit a Manor House where you are welcomed by the owners and enjoy lunch. After lunch you proceed to Guimaraes which is referred to as ‘The cradle of the Nation’ since it was the birthplace of the first king of Portugal, Alfonse Henriques and was the first capital. You then continue to Vidago where you will have dinner and overnight.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 8: The Beauty of the Douro Valley
While Port may be fortified and aged in Porto, the grapes that make the wine are grown in the Douro Valley and shipped down in barrels using special boats down the Douro River to Porto. Today you will get a chance to see some of these vineyards and enjoy lunch with wine on a scenic lunch cruise through the Valley.
Breakfast and Lunch
Day 9: Scenic Journey to Belmonte
You are in the eastern portion of Portugal bordering Spain and today you head south stopping at some attractive villages and towns along the way. You arrive at your hotel, a former convent which is situated overlooking a fertile valley and the Estrela Mountain range. Enjoy the refreshing air on the terrace. The area is known for cheese and fresh mushrooms so dinner will offer some interesting possibilities along with compelling views.
Breakfast and Dinner
Day 10: The “Italy” of Portugal
In the morning you will continue south passing Sortelha and Marvao as you approach the heart of the Alentejo region. Relatively undiscovered by international visitors, the region stretches from the Tagus River in Lisbon to the coast of the Algarve. It is a beautiful land with its terracotta earth covered in wheat fields and bordered by rows of olive trees marching up and down the hills like Roman Centurions. Here and there, white-washed villages appear crowned by castles. The Romans left their aqueducts, the Portuguese a wealth of architecture from Gothic to the Baroque. It is a land known for its wine, cheeses and aromatic herbs. You arrive at your hotel, a former convent. You have time for a refreshing swim in the pool or a stimulating treatment at the spa.
Breakfast and Dinner
Day 11: Evora Culture and Alentejo Wines
Start your day with a walking tour through the quaint narrow streets of Evora, many leading to the square with a well-preserved Roman Temple dating to the 1st Century AD. It will also give you the chance to make note of some likely restaurants to return to in the evening. You then visit the winery of Adega da Cartuxa where you get to sample a variety of their white and red wines.
Breakfast
Day 12: A Scenic Drive to the Algarve
In the morning you will drive to the Costa Vicentina, a national seashore that offers unspoilt views of beaches, cliffs and quaint fishing villages. You will stop at one of the villages for lunch before arriving back in the 21st Century at the resort area of the Algarve.
Breakfast and Lunch
Day 13: Algarve at Leisure
Today you can do as much or as little as you want. Play a round of golf, go deep sea fishing or spend time at the spa, when you get hungry there are a wide variety of restaurants to choose from, right at your resort.
Breakfast
Day 14: Return to USA
In the morning you will be transferred to the airport for a flight connecting back to the USA where you arrive back the same afternoon.
You board your aircraft for an overnight flight to Lisbon to begin your comprehensive and elegant exploration of the highlights of Portugal.
Day 2: Arrival in Lisbon
You will arrive in Lisbon where you are met by one of our drivers who will take you to your hotel which was formerly a palace. You have the rest of the day to relax. Lisbon sits at the mouth of the Tagus River and it was from here that explorers like Vasco Da Gama sailed out to find new lands for Portugal including Brazil, Angola and Mozambique in Africa along with Mogador on the coast of Morocco. Macau opened up the riches of the orient as did Goa in India.
Day 3: Lisbon, Sintra and Estoril
Start your day with a visit to some of the historic neighborhoods of the city like Chiado, Bairro Alto and Alfama. You will then drive along the coast passing the casino in Estoril and driving through the village of Cascais known for its superb restaurants. You then arrive in Sintra which is renowned for the great beauty of its nature and architecture with fairy take palaces and lush vegetation.
Lunch
Day 4: Obidos, Fatima and Coimbra
Today you will accompany your guide to Coimbra which is home to the first University in Portugal and was used as the headquarters for the Duke of Wellington in his campaign to drive Napoleon from both Portugal and Spain. Your first stop will be Obidos, a charming walled city dominated by an ancient castle. Starting with King Dinis in 1282, it has been traditional for the King to give his wife this city upon their marriage. You will visit the cloisters of the Monastery of Batalha and then stop for the chance to have lunch. You then proceed to Fatima, famous for the sighting of the Virgin Mary early in the 20th Century and still a magnet for devout pilgrims. You then arrive in Coimbra.
Breakfast and Dinner
Day 5: Porto, Portugal’s Second City
Start your day with a walking tour of Coimbra including the university dating back to the 13th Century. From 1139 to 1256, Coimbra was also the capital of Portugal. You then head to Porto which is famous for the fortified wine of the same name. Have a light lunch and then visit some of the wine lodges where the port is aged in barrels for up to 40 years. You then check in to your elegant hotel offering spectacular views of the city.
Breakfast and Lunch
Day 6: Highlights of the Minho Region
Today, along with your guide, you will explore the Minho region in the extreme north of the country on the border with Spain. The Minho Wine Region is famous for their “Vinos Verdes”. The name means Green wine and refers not to the color but to the youthful freshness of the wines. Made from Albarino Grapes, there is very little ageing giving it a slight natural sparkle. It is usually paired with seafood. You will visit the ancient town of Braga and the oldest village in Portugal, Ponte de Lima which is named for the ancient bridge that crosses the Lima River. Your last visit will be Viana do Castelo and old fishing port. You then return to Porto.
Breakfast and Lunch
Day 7: The “Cradle of the Nation”
You have some free time in the morning before meeting your guide and heading back into the Minho region where you visit a Manor House where you are welcomed by the owners and enjoy lunch. After lunch you proceed to Guimaraes which is referred to as ‘The cradle of the Nation’ since it was the birthplace of the first king of Portugal, Alfonse Henriques and was the first capital. You then continue to Vidago where you will have dinner and overnight.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 8: The Beauty of the Douro Valley
While Port may be fortified and aged in Porto, the grapes that make the wine are grown in the Douro Valley and shipped down in barrels using special boats down the Douro River to Porto. Today you will get a chance to see some of these vineyards and enjoy lunch with wine on a scenic lunch cruise through the Valley.
Breakfast and Lunch
Day 9: Scenic Journey to Belmonte
You are in the eastern portion of Portugal bordering Spain and today you head south stopping at some attractive villages and towns along the way. You arrive at your hotel, a former convent which is situated overlooking a fertile valley and the Estrela Mountain range. Enjoy the refreshing air on the terrace. The area is known for cheese and fresh mushrooms so dinner will offer some interesting possibilities along with compelling views.
Breakfast and Dinner
Day 10: The “Italy” of Portugal
In the morning you will continue south passing Sortelha and Marvao as you approach the heart of the Alentejo region. Relatively undiscovered by international visitors, the region stretches from the Tagus River in Lisbon to the coast of the Algarve. It is a beautiful land with its terracotta earth covered in wheat fields and bordered by rows of olive trees marching up and down the hills like Roman Centurions. Here and there, white-washed villages appear crowned by castles. The Romans left their aqueducts, the Portuguese a wealth of architecture from Gothic to the Baroque. It is a land known for its wine, cheeses and aromatic herbs. You arrive at your hotel, a former convent. You have time for a refreshing swim in the pool or a stimulating treatment at the spa.
Breakfast and Dinner
Day 11: Evora Culture and Alentejo Wines
Start your day with a walking tour through the quaint narrow streets of Evora, many leading to the square with a well-preserved Roman Temple dating to the 1st Century AD. It will also give you the chance to make note of some likely restaurants to return to in the evening. You then visit the winery of Adega da Cartuxa where you get to sample a variety of their white and red wines.
Breakfast
Day 12: A Scenic Drive to the Algarve
In the morning you will drive to the Costa Vicentina, a national seashore that offers unspoilt views of beaches, cliffs and quaint fishing villages. You will stop at one of the villages for lunch before arriving back in the 21st Century at the resort area of the Algarve.
Breakfast and Lunch
Day 13: Algarve at Leisure
Today you can do as much or as little as you want. Play a round of golf, go deep sea fishing or spend time at the spa, when you get hungry there are a wide variety of restaurants to choose from, right at your resort.
Breakfast
Day 14: Return to USA
In the morning you will be transferred to the airport for a flight connecting back to the USA where you arrive back the same afternoon.
