This morning you’ll take a traditional trip up the Douro river, embarking by traditional train from São Bento, you’ll follow the river valley up to Peso da Regua. From there, we’ll drive the scenic route to Pina where we’ll  Pinhao, Romania, and back to Pina by a traditional Rabelo boat.

Our morning will continue with a trip to one of the nearby farms where we’ll taste local cheese, wine produced by the surrounding fields, and a typical lunch of the Douro region cooked in iron pots as it was by Portuguese grandparents. 

Gliding through Portugal’s terraced wine valley and sloping mountains, you’ll pass through a series of locks on route to a day dedicated to spectacular views and vineyards where the grapes are grown that produce the famous Port wine. 

Sheltered by the Montemuro mountains, your afternoon will be spent discovering the Douro valley with lunch and a wine tasting and an introduction to this region of stunning beauty, charming villages, and a rich tradition of history and wine.

This morning after breakfast you’ll depart Porto for a visit to the nearby city of Braga, the so-called Rome of Portugal–due to its many churches, this religious capital of Portugal boasts a harmony of beauty and faith, both ancient and contemporary. Before continuing on your journey, you’ll visit the oldest cathedral in the country.

For lunch this afternoon, you’ll continue to nearby Guimaraes, a city synonymous with the Portuguese identity and the birthplace of Portugal. 

Our journey will continue to the mountain village of Penedono where the echoes of the past still resonate in the medieval streets and quiet routine of daily life that dates back more than a thousand years. This evening your day will conclude with a repasto or a hearty medieval-inspired feast. 

Today will be dedicated to bucolismo, or the art of going back in time. Moving through the landscape of the historic villages and mountain life, you’ll experience the Portugal of the past as you visit the medieval town of Trancoso, the former center of the Jewish community in Portugal and a synagogue that dates back to the 16th century. 

This morning you will hike the rota dos fosseis, or the fossil route between three mountain towns–a magical route featuring waterfalls and medieval castles.

For lunch this afternoon, you’ll stop at Folgosinho village where the legends of ancient heroes and kings still ring in the pure air and crystal waters of this little town. After a morning of hiking, you’ll feast in a restaurant where the menu is decided by what the season dictates. 

In the later afternoon, you’ll return to Penedono for an evening of rest and leisure.

Today you’ll depart the mountains and head towards the town of Tomar, the land of the Knights Templar and your guide’s hometown. 

On route you will stop at Coimbra – the first capital of Portugal, to visit one of the oldest universities in Europe, established in 1290. Here you’ll see one of the most beautiful libraries in the world, the Joanina Library of Coimbra, as well as the university. After a walking tour through the historic center of Coimbra, we’ll have a leisurely lunch before departing for Tomar. 

After checking into your beautiful hotel, you’ll spend the evening living like the locals in Tomar. 

Today you’ll explore the region around Tomar with a morning dedicated to battles and saints. Your first stop will be a visit to the emblematic monument of Batalha and the Monastery of Saint Mary of the Victory, built in thanks for the Portuguese victory over their neighbors in the fourteenth century. As a result of this battle the Portuguese and the English hold the oldest alliance in the world. 

At mid-morning you’ll continue to the Shrine of Fatima where the Virgin Mary appeared to the 3 shepherd children, in May 1917.

You’ll be free this afternoon to hike up to the castle, visit the convent of Christ, or explore the markets for traditional dried fruits, roasted chestnuts, and grilled sardines. 

This day you'll be free to explore Tomar as one of the locals.

Heading south, today our destination is the capital city of Portugal- LISBOA! We start off with a visit to Alcobaça and visit the Cistercian Monastery of Santa Maria. We then head on to the coastal fishing village of Nazaré, place of the world´s largest waves where you’ll be free for lunch with time to dip your toes into the Atlantic Ocean. In the late afternoon we'll head to Lisbon.

In the early evening you’ll check into your hotel before heading out for a dinner of traditional Fado music.

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This morning we take a walking tour through Lisbon´s downtown neighborhoods of Alfama, Bairro Alto and Baixa Pombalina. We´ll learn about local life, the Carnation Revolution, past and future of the Lisboners. We´ll wander through the narrow Moorish-looking neighborhoods and gaze at the view from some of the many viewpoints the city has to offer. The afternoon is yours to enjoy and explore some of the museums such as: The Tile museum, the Gulbenkian, the Maritime Museum, etc…

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Today we cross the 25th of April bridge and take a tour to one of the best kept secrets of Portugal, Setúbal and the Arrabida Natural Park Afternoon. @ Leisure We meet this evening for our Farewell dinner. Time to say ….OBRIGADA and ATÉ BREVE!

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There are no activities planned for today. Your guide will be available throughout breakfast to help with the next leg of your journey, whether further south to Lagos, west to the islands of Madeira, or home. 

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