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Insight - Country Roads of Portugal - Small Group (04/2024 - 07/2024) (SE928ZN19)

11 Days From Lisbon to Lisbon 
Tour Style: Country Roads
Insight Brochure Price from $3,995.00
Brochures: Europe & Britain Premium 2023 v2, Europe & Britain Premium 2024 v1
Visits: Portugal

Tantalize your senses during this 11-day guided tour through Portugal. In Lisbon, a Local Expert will show you the historic downtown and the finest square in the city, Terreiro do Paço. From the hilltop perch of Monsaraz, see across the Spanish plains to Alqueva Lake — and meet a local boat captain, who will regale you with tales of water adventures during a cruise on its calm waters. In Tomar, see the Templar Castle, and explore its awe-inspiring rotunda with a Local Expert. Indulge in a farm-to-table dinner in Douro Valley’s renowned winery Quinta da Roêda that will feature locally sourced ingredients, and taste a port produced onsite. Stroll Portugal’s second city, Porto, a World Heritage town, and relax in your five-star hotel in the city’s picturesque historic district.
Choice Highlights
  • Choose between two carefully selected activities
  • Porto: See the Clerigos Tower, the Atlantic coast at the mouth of Douro and the main Avenida dos Aliados.
  • Porto: Visit the São Bento Railway Station and walk on the Dom Luis I Bridge, which spans across the River Duoro connecting the cities of Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia.

Well-being
  • : Enjoy the comfort of Insight's luxurious, air-conditioned, 40-seat coach with double the standard legroom and onboard washroom. Our customized luxury coaches are sanitized before the start of your tour and are maintained to very high standards. Physical distancing measures have been implemented on our customized luxury coaches.
  • : Experience enhanced hygiene protocols to align with the latest guidance following COVID-19.All Travel Directors, Well-Being Directors and Drivers have completed training in enhanced well-being and hygiene protocols.
  • : We only work with establishments we are confident will consistently adhere to our high well-being standards, which include hotels, restaurants and sight-seeing venues.
  • : Hand sanitizer is freely available on board for you to use throughout the day.

Travel Director
  • : "No visit to Portugal is complete without a thorough exploration of its gastronomy. Our guests are delighted by the high-quality food and generous service for which the Portuguese are known."
  • : "I love taking guests to Monsaraz because It's one of the many villages lost in time. It's not easy for guests to find on their own and they feel like they're visiting a secret paradise."

Authentic Dining
  • Lisbon: Join your Travel Director at 18:00 for a Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant and the opportunity to mingle with your fellow travellers.
  • Monsaraz: Enjoy a memorable Alentejo Highlight Lunch at local restaurant Sem Fim, once an olive mill. Indulge in dish-after-dish of the tastiest tapas in a vibrant setting.
  • Pinhao: Enjoy a wonderful farm-to-table dinner, freshly prepared from locally sourced ingredients at Quinta da Roêda, renowned as the “Jewel of the Douro”.
  • Porto: Shared experiences and memories are often the foundation for special bonds and friendships. Toast your travels with wine and good cheer during your Celebration Dinner at a restaurant in Porto, devoted to the enjoyment of regional cooking.
  • Dining Summary: 4 Dinner with Wine (DW), 10 Breakfast (B), and 1 Lunch with Wine (LW)

Top Rated Highlights
  • Lisbon: Discover more of Belem Quarter as you delight in a taste of the famous Portuguese delicacy, Pastéis de Belém before visiting Jerónimos Monastery with its beautiful Manueline architecture, reflecting Portugal's trade over the centuries and UNESCO World Heritage Site.
  • Lisbon: Explore with your Local Expert, from the Lower Town, beneath the hilltop Bairro Alto to the Terreiro do Paco. Visit the Belém Quarter to see the modern Monument to the Discoveries and the medieval Belém Tower.
  • Lagos: Explore this coastal town nestled on Meia Praia, with your Travel Director.
  • Évora: Explore this UNESCO World Heritage Site guided by your Local Expert and see the famous Roman Temple. While sightseeing, witness the fascinating cathedral and be charmed by its mix of Romanesque and Gothic architecture.
  • Évora: With your Travel Director explore the ancient city of Évora and visit the fascinating Capela dos Ossos, meaning the Chapel of Bones, a chapel decorated with human remains.
  • Monsaraz: Surrounded by cork oaks and vineyards, wander through the castle ruins to admire the incredible view over the Spanish plains that contrast with the blue of one of Europe's largest artificial lakes.
  • Fátima: Join the faithful at one of the world's holiest sites and pay homage at the Chapel of the Apparitions or see the basilica.
  • Tomar: Dominating the town is the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Templar Castle and the Convent of Christ. During your visit with a Local Expert, see the Manueline Window and follow the story of the mysterious Knights Templar.
  • Tomar: Learn about the history of the town through its architectural influences as you take a tour guided by a Local Expert.
  • Tomar: Guided by your Local Expert, visit the Synagogue of Tomar, one of the best preserved medieval synagogues in Portugal.
  • Coimbra: Guided by your Local expert, head through Old Town and pass by the Old Cathedral and the Almedina neighbourhood.
  • Coimbra: With a Local Expert, visit the University and witness the triumphal arches, painted ceilings, golden flourishes and walls of ancient tomes.
  • Porto: See the Clerigos Tower, the Atlantic coast at the mouth of Douro and the main Avenida dos Aliados.
  • Porto: Visit the São Bento Railway Station and walk on the Dom Luis I Bridge, which spans across the River Duoro connecting the cities of Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia.
  • Guimaraes: Enjoy views from the ruined castle and explore the maze of streets in the historic Old Quarter.
  • Obidos: Lead by your Travel Director, walk through the picturesque narrow streets up to the main square of this ancient walled town.

Insight Experiences
  • Monsaraz: Join a local boat captain for a tranquil cruise of Lake Alqueva. Relax and enjoy calming waters, picturesque views and tales of river life.

Insight Tour Itinerary

Day 1Welcome to Lisbon
On arrival at Lisbon International Airport, there are complimentary transfers to your hotel at 09:30, 12:30 and 15:30. Settle in and relax before joining your Travel Director at 18:00 for a Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant. Enjoy the opportunity to mingle with your fellow travellers during a pleasant evening of good food and wine.
Visits: Lisbon
Meals: Dinner with Wine
Accommodation: Corinthia Hotel, Lisbon.
Day 2Lisbon and the Age of the Great Discoveries
Your guided sightseeing with a Local Expert takes you along the spacious avenues of the Lower Town and across the tree-shaded squares. Pass beneath the hilltop Bairro Alto to the Terreiro do Paço. See the ancient Belém Tower and marvel at the Monument to the Discoveries. Explore more of the Belém Quarter as you enjoy a taste of Pastéis de Belém from the patisserie that has been using the same secret recipe for almost 200 years, and visit Jerónimos Monastery. This evening, gain further insight into Portuguese culture with an Optional Experience dinner.
Visits: Lisbon
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Altis Grand Hotel, Lisbon.
Day 3The Algarve
Cross the River Tagus and head for the sun-drenched southern coast to reach Lagos, a fishing port nestled in the bay of Meia Praia. After free time to explore, continue to your resort hotel set within a magnificent 360-acre estate. Simplicity is in the soul of Algarve cuisine, along with seafood so fresh it still tastes of the sea. A short walk away specialised Portuguese seafood restaurants hug the coastline, overlooking the Atlantic.
Visits: Lisbon, Lagos, Almancil, Algarve
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Ria Park Hotel & Spa, Algarve.
Day 4Everlasting Évora Relaxed Start
Journey to the medieval walled city of Évora where cathedrals, churches, aqueducts and ancient castle walls all serve to create the feeling that this beautiful city is a living, breathing museum to Portugal's rich past. Join your Local Expert to explore the highlights of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. See the Roman Temple and visit the Capela dos Ossos, an extraordinary 17th century chapel comprising the skulls and bones of 5,000 bones. Visit the cathedral with its attractive mix of Romanesque and Gothic architecture. With the rest of the afternoon at leisure, you may wish to continue to stroll through Évora’s unique historical centre, or the serene city park, following the aqueduct inside the city walls?
Visits: Algarve, Almancil, Beja, Évora
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: M'Ar de Ar Aqueduto, Évora.
Day 5Monsaraz and Évora Relaxed Start
Travel to the striking white village of Monsaraz, situated on an imposing hilltop, surrounded by olive groves and vineyards. From the castle ruins, admire the spectacular views across to the dry Spanish plains, contrasting with the blue of Europe's largest artificial lake. Join a local boat captain for a leisurely cruise on the tranquil waters of Lake Alqueva. Relax and enjoy calming waters, picturesque views and tales of river life. Sit down to a delicious Highlight Lunch at local restaurant Sem Fim, once an olive mill. Enjoy a wide range of tasty tapas dishes showcasing the local cuisine, and soak up the vibrant; cheerful atmosphere. Return to Évora where the evening is at your leisure to explore this beautifully preserved regional capital.
Visits: Évora, Monsaraz
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch with Wine
Accommodation: M'Ar de Ar Aqueduto, Évora.
Day 6Fátima and on to Tomar
Continue to Fátima, Portugal’s most renowned place of pilgrimage. See the basilica or perhaps visit the Chapel of the Apparitions, which commemorates the appearance of the Virgin Mary to three young shepherds in 1917. Journey to Tomar and visit one of Portugal’s historical jewels, the Templar Castle and Convent of Christ, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With your Local Expert, explore the octagonal Templars' Rotunda in the cloister and glimpse the day-to-day life of a warrior monk in the domestic areas. Outside on the battlements, the Manueline Window is a national masterpiece. You also visit the Synagogue of Tomar, one of the best preserved medieval synagogues in Portugal, housing a small Jewish museum.
Visits: Évora, Fátima, Tomar
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
Accommodation: Hotel dos Templários, Tomar.
Day 7Coimbra and the Douro Valley Relaxed Start
In Coimbra, your Local Expert will show you the highlights of the Old Town, including the University of Coimbra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit its impressive baroque university library, one of the finest in the world. Your journey continues past verdant hills and lush vineyards, along the tranquil waters of the Douro river. Enjoy a wonderful Farm-to-Table Dinner, freshly prepared from locally sourced ingredients, with a port wine tasting.
Visits: Tomar, Coimbra
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
Accommodation: Douro Palace Hotel Resort & Spa, Douro Valley.
Day 8Guimarães and Porto Relaxed Start
Journey to Guimarães to admire the views from the ruined castle and explore the cobbled streets and cosy squares. Next, continue on to Porto, Portugal’s second city, a World Heritage town and where Portugal originates. Explore Porto with Insight Choice. Choose to join your Local Expert and visit the São Bento Railway Station, with a walk along the architecturally impressive Dom Luís I Bridge. Alternatively, explore the Clérigos Tower, Liberdade Square and the nearby Atlantic beaches, also led by a Local Expert. In the evening you are at leisure to enjoy your boutique, five-star hotel, a member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World, in the heart of Porto’s historic district. The decor is a mix of classic and contemporary and each room is individually decorated with original artwork. Alternatively, why not join an Optional Experience to see the pastel-painted houses in Porto's Ribeira district before cruising on a traditional Rabelo boat and finishing off the evening with a Portuguese dinner in the comfort of your riverside restaurant?
Visits: Guimaraes, Porto
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Pousado do Porto Rua Das Flores.
Day 9Porto, Grande Dame on the Douro Relaxed Start
With a full day free to enjoy at your own pace, why not take a stroll to admire the multi-coloured houses and churches covered in beautiful glazed tiles. Perhaps choose to visit Braga, the capital of baroque. In the evening, bid adeus to your Travel Director and fellow travellers with a mouth-watering Celebration Dinner with wine at an authentic Porto restaurant.
Visits: Porto
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
Accommodation: Pousado do Porto Rua Das Flores.
Day 10Óbidos and onto Lisbon
Pass cork oak forests and orchards as you journey to the fortified town of Óbidos. Walk inside its walls to explore the craft shops, art galleries and flower-laden houses that line the narrow, medieval streets. This afternoon your travels continue to the Portuguese capital, Lisbon.
Visits: Porto, Obidos, Lisbon
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Dom Pedro Lisboa, Lisbon.
Day 11Depart Lisbon
After breakfast, your departure transfer arrives at Lisbon International Airport at 07:00 or 09:30.
Visits: Lisbon
Meals: Breakfast


Available Room Types: Single, Triple, Twin, Twinshare
Child: ages 5 to 17

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Insight Tour Dates


Guaranteed Departure  indicates Guaranteed Departure
*Tour StartRetailRequest
Fri 04/19/24 $3,995.00
Fri 05/17/24 $4,095.00
Fri 07/19/24 $4,250.00
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