The Best of Portugal (Round Tour of Portugal)

Duration

13 Days/12 Nights

Travel Type

Escorted Tour

With its mild climate, 3000 hours of sunshine per year and 850 kms of splendid beaches bathed by the Atlantic Ocean, Portugal is the perfect holiday destination all year round.

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 during tour: English, Portuguese, Spanish, and French – 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), Palace of Pena (Sintra), Chapel of Bones (Évora), São Francisco Church (Évora), Évora Cathedral, São Vicente Fortress (Sagres).

Exclusions

Flights – Gratuities – Porter fees at the hotels – Lunches, 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 (between 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
– For operational reasons, the order of the visits and excursions may be changed.

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.

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

DAY 2 ÓBIDOS - ALCOBAÇA - NAZARÉ - BATALHA - FÁTIMA (Saturday)

IMPORTANT: TOUR STARTS TODAY!

Breakfast at the hotel. 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

DAY 3 COIMBRA - AVEIRO - PORTO (Sunday)

Departure towards Coimbra to 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. Continue to Porto to overnight.

Meals : Breakfast

Accommodation : Porto for 3 nights

DAY 4 GUIMARÃES - BRAGA - BARCELOS - PORTO (Monday)

Porto, the 2nd city of Portugal and World Heritage Site by UNESCO is 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 with 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.

Meals : Breakfast

DAY 5 PORTO (Tuesday)

Free day in Porto.

Meals : Breakfast

DAY 6 AMARANTE - VILA REAL - DOURO VALLEY - LAMEGO - URGEIRIÇA (Wednesday)

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 in Urgeiriça to spend the night.

Meals : Breakfast

Accommodation : Urgeiriça for 1 night

DAY 7 BUSSACO - TOMAR - LISBON (Thursday)

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 2 nights

DAY 8 SINTRA - CABO DA ROCA - CASCAIS - ESTORIL (Friday)

Departure towards Sintra for a luxury day. Visit the Palace of Sintra and walk through this charming village. Enjoy an amazing view from the westernmost point of mainland Europe (Cabo da Roca). Along the coast, we pass by one of the most famous surfing beaches, the incredible Hell’s Mouth, the cosmopolitan Cascais and the gardens of Estoril Casino. Return to the hotel in Lisbon.

Meals : Breakfast

DAY 9 ÉVORA (Saturday)

One day discovering the town of Évora, a mosaic of culture, history, and traditions. Leaving Lisbon, we cross the bridge over the river Tagus and head through a beautiful and bucolic landscape of olive trees, cork oak trees and vineyards before arriving at Évora – UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the narrow streets of this whitewashed town, we walk back through time visiting some of Évora’s most important monuments: the Roman Temple, the Romanesque- Gothic Cathedral, Saint Francis Church with its Chapel of Bones and the University. At the market, we see and feel the richness of the products used to prepare one of the most elaborated and appreciated gastronomies of Portugal. Throughout the visit, we also admire the diversity and authenticity of local handicrafts with cork, ceramic, and copper objects. Time for lunch. In the afternoon, free time for a better discovery of the city. Our suggestion: a gourmet tasting of wine, cheese, and olive oil. Spend the night in Évora.

Meals : Breakfast

Accommodation : Évora for 1 night

DAY 10 BEJA - SILBES - LAGOS (Sunday)

Part of the morning at leisure in Évora and then driving southward passing Beja, where the highest tower of Portuguese medieval castles dominates the town and the region. Crossing small mountains, we enter in the Algarve. By fields of orange trees, we arrive to Silves, the renowned town dominated by its red sandstone castle dating back mainly to Moorish times and by the memory of is former cork industry. Continue to the golden sands of the Algarve passing by Praia da Rocha to Lagos. Overnight in Lagos.

Meals : Breakfast

Accommodation : Lagos for 2 nights

DAY 11 PONTA DA PIEDADE - SAGRES - CABO DE SÃO VICENTE (Monday)

The Algarve has the call of the sea that led to the discovery of the New World. Stop in Ponta da Piedade and admire the magnificent views over the Atlantic Ocean, and cliffs whose shapes have been sculpted by the erosive action of both the sea and time. Continuing to Sagres, a fishing port, for a visit to the fortress that was the mythical navigation school forever linked with the presence of Prince Henry the Navigator during the first days of Atlantic navigation and the discovery of the African coast. Proceeding along the cliffs to Cabo São Vincente, the most southwestern point in mainland Europe. The city of Lagos, a cosmopolitan town with a marina and fishing port where you can taste the delicious Algarve dishes, such as the fish and shellfish cooked in a copper pan (cataplana). Don’t forget to try the fine sweets such as the famous marzipan, almond and fig cakes. Return to the hotel, where the afternoon at leisure invites you to take a dip in the warm sea.

Meals : Breakfast

DAY 12 SETÚBAL - SERRA DA ARRÁBIDA - LISBON (Tuesday)

A last look at the water while travelling along the coast to say farewell to the Algarve. The return trip to Lisbon will take you by the city of Setúbal, a major port and industrial centre on the north bank of the Sado estuary. Then comes a scenic route over the Arrábida mountain range, an area preserved as a Natural Park, with amazing scenery and unique vegetation at the gates of Lisbon and enjoy the views of the Troia Peninsula. Crossing the bridge over the Tagus River, we arrive in Lisbon for the night.

Meals : Breakfast

Accommodation : Lisbon for 1 night

DAY 13 DEPARTURE FROM LISBON (wednesday)

Private departure transfer to Lisbon airport according to your flight

Rates in $CA, per person, starting from, in double occupancy	Land Package – 2023
*Friday Arrival Dates (tour departs on Day 2, SATURDAY) – 2023**	Double Occupancy	Single Occupancy

August 4, 18 September 1, 15 October 6, 20	4385	5625
November 17 December 15	3919	4989

*Friday Arrival Dates (tour departs on Day 2, SATURDAY) – 2024**	Double Occupancy	Single Occupancy
January 19 February 16 March 22	3919	4989
April – October	rates coming soon	rates coming soon
*Tour departs on Saturdays; therefore, it is imperative that the passengers arrive on FRIDAY

**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 Best of Portugal – detailed itinerary