Duration
8 Days/7 Nights
Travel Type
Escorted Tour
This is a country that has the oldest borders in Europe, with an exceptional range of different landscapes just a short distance away, lots of leisure activities and a unique cultural heritage, where tradition and modernity blend together in perfect harmony. Its superb cuisine, fine wines and hospitable people make this a tourist paradise of the highest quality.
Inclusions
Accommodation in 4-star hotels throughout the tour
Daily buffet breakfasts at the hotels
Private transfer from Lisbon airport to the hotel upon arrival, and from the hotel in Lisbon to the airport for departure
A Welcome Gift in the room upon arrival in the hotel in Lisbon (provided only in the first stay – hotel wine reserve, mineral water, and fruit)
Transportation by air-conditioned bus or minivan, as per the detailed itinerary
Guide during the entire tour (languages: English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish – 2 max)
Entrance fees to the following monuments: Batalha Monastery, Coimbra University, Palácio da Bolsa (Porto), St. Francisco Church (Porto), Gardens of Palácio Mateus, Convent of Christ (Tomar)
Exclusions
Flights – Gratuities and porter fees at the hotels – Lunches or dinners – Drinks at meals unless specified – Personal expenses – Entrances other than those mentioned in the above inclusions – Lisbon city tax on the 1st and last night (1 – 2 Euros per person, per day, to be paid locally at the hotel) – Optional excursions – All other items not mentioned in the Inclusions.
Additional Information
Note
This tour is made up of individual international passengers grouped together.
A minimum of 2 passengers is required to guarantee departure.
Tours are bilingual, including English
Unilingual or bilingual tour (max 2 languages per departure including English)
Guides – English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish
Excursion Information
For operational reasons, the order of the visits and excursions may be changed. Optional excursions not specified in our itinerary, will be suggested by our tour leader.
IMPORTANT!
Arrivals need to be on FRIDAYS, as the tour departure date is DAY 2 (Saturday), and includes free pick up from the hotel in Lisbon.
1
DAY 1 WELCOME TO LISBON! (Friday)
Arrival at Lisbon airport with meet and greet by English speaking driver. Private transfer to the hotel in Lisbon. Welcome gift in the room upon arrival (hotel wine reserve, mineral water, and fruit).
Accommodation : Lisbon for 1 night
2
DAY 2 ÓBIDOS - ALCOBAÇA - NAZARÉ - BATALHA - FÁTIMA (Saturday)
IMPORTANT: TOUR STARTS TODAY!
Departing from Lisbon through a landscape rich in windmills and fruit trees, we arrive in Óbidos surrounded by medieval walls where we can admire the harmony of the architecture, the diversity of the handicrafts and taste the famous ginginha (bitter cherry liqueur). Visit Alcobaça with the first and largest gothic church in Portugal with the tombs of the doomed lovers Pedro and Inês de Castro. Stopping in Nazaré, a typical fishing village and seaside resort immersed in tradition and legend. We continue to Batalha - visit the Monastery of Santa Maria de Victoria, a masterpiece of the Gothic architecture in Portugal where we also encounter the tomb of Henry the Navigator, the mastermind behind Portugal’s era of maritime discoveries. After we arrive in Fátima, the famous Marian Shrine, there is the opportunity to assist the candle procession. Overnight in Fatima
Meals : Breakfast
Accommodation : Fatima for 1 night
3
DAY 3 COIMBRA - AVEIRO - PORTO (Sunday)
Breakfast at the hotel. Departure towards Coimbra - visit of the University, one of the oldest in the world, with its magnificent baroque library and its unique atmosphere characterised by ancient traditions and customs such as the black student capes and the melancholic fado music. Stop at St Clara Church, where lies the tomb of Queen St. Isabel, the protagonist of the “miracle of the roses”. In the city centre, you can admire the exclusive ceramic of Coimbra. In the afternoon, we continue to Aveiro, a city of canals and known as the “Venice of Portugal”, where you shall have time to see the graceful boats “moliceiros” and taste the local sweets “ovos moles”. Overnight in Porto.
Meals : Breakfast
Accommodation : Porto for 3 nights
4
DAY 4 GUIMARÃES - BRAGA - PORTO (Monday)
Breakfast at the hotel. Porto, the 2nd city of Portugal and world heritage by UNESCO - a living amphitheatre inviting us to make a morning visit to discover the riverside area, old houses, palaces and churches that history has made eternal and port wine, known worldwide. We continue to the Minho, the northwest region of Portugal that offers natural green sceneries and sparkling “green wine”. Starting by Guimarães - the cradle of the nation and birthplace of the first king of Portugal where, walking through the historic centre, for moments one is plunged back into medieval times. Visit the Sacred Hill, crowned by the Castle, as well the Palace of the Dukes of Bragança, which original building dates back to the 15th century. Drive to Braga known as the “Portuguese Rome” for its concentration of religious architecture, as the oldest cathedral in the country and the Bom Jesus do Monte Sanctuary with its famous baroque stairway and gardens. Return to Porto.
Meals : Breakfast
5
DAY 5 PORTO (Tuesday)
Free day in Porto to discover the city at your leisure.
Meals : Breakfast
6
DAY 6 AMARANTE - VILA REAL - DOURO VALLEY - LAMEGO - URGEIRIÇA (Wednesday)
Breakfast at the hotel. Departure to Amarante, a pretty town proud of São Gonçalo, the patron Saint of Amarante, known for the promotion of love and marriage and where the river facing monastery houses his tomb and with a lively, bustling market where you can find fruit, vegetables, chickens, cloths and an immense variety of other popular items. After, drive to Vila Real - visiting the gardens of the manor of Mateus, which façade is still depicted on the well-known Portuguese rosé wine bottles. Then, we enter in the port wine region, travelling through the vineyards and the breathtaking landscapes of the Douro Valley. Stop in Lamego, overlooked by one of Portugal’s most important shrines N. S. Remédios with its magnificent baroque style staircase. Maybe you will try some of the local delicacies such as the local ham or the famous “Bola de Lamego” (a loaf baked in the oven with smoked ham). Continue to the mountainous hinterland to Viseu, center of the Dão Vineyards and a city connected with Portugal’s oldest hero, Viriato, the Lusitanian chief. In the shadow of the cathedral, narrow streets and doorways with coats of arms carved in granite make up the ancient town of Viseu. Along the centre we find a busy commercial area. Arrival to Urgeiriça. to spend the night.
Meals : Breakfast
Accommodation : Urgeiriça for 1 night
7
DAY 7 BUSSACO - TOMAR - LISBON (Thursday)
Breakfast at the hotel. Drive through the heart of Portugal until Bussaco, well known for its luxuriant forest, made up of a selection of rare trees and plants of exotic beauty, where was built a charming and romantic hotel, formerly a royal hunting lodge. We continue to Tomar, a city whose development is closely linked with the Order of the Templars, which received these lands in 1159 as a reward for the assistance they gave to Dom Afonso Henriques (the first King of Portugal) in the Christian reconquest of the territory. It was Dom Gualdim Pais, the first Grand Master of the Order in Portugal, who founded the castle and the remarkable Convent of Christ inside. Enlarged and altered over the centuries, this retains the influences of various architectural styles; it is the centrepiece of the city and classified as a World Heritage site by UNESCO. We continue our journey until Lisbon to spend the night.
Meals : Breakfast
Accommodation : Lisbon for 1 night
8
DAY 8 DEPARTURE FROM LISBON (Friday)
Breakfast at the hotel and check out. Private departure transfer to Lisbon airport according to your flight.
Meals : Breakfast
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Rates in $CA, per person, starting from, in double occupancy |
Land Package | ||
| Friday Arrival Date (tour departs on Day 2, Saturday*) – 2023 | Double Occupancy | Single Occupancy | |
|
August 4, 18 September 1, 15 October 6, 20 |
2460 | 3179 | |
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November 10 December 8 |
2365 | 3025 | |
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Friday Arrival Date (tour departs on Day 2, Saturday*) – 2024 |
Double Occupancy | Single Occupancy | |
|
January 12 February 9 March 15 |
2365 | 3025 | |
|
April – October |
rates coming soon! | rates coming soon! | |
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*Tour departs on Saturday; therefore, it is imperative that the passengers arrive on FRIDAY |
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**Prices in this document are for information only; they were issued at press time, for the current year. Please note that due to exchange rates and temporary promotions, they can increase or decrease at any time. Contact your travel agent for the price and promotion of the moment. Prices include the contribution of customers to the Compensation Fund for clients of Quebec travel agents.
The North of Portugal – detailed itinerary
The North of Portugal – detailed itinerary
