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$4,750
PORTUGAL

A Taste of Portugal

A Taste of Portugal

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12
Days
8 - 12
Travelers
10
Cities
View Itinerary
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From the legends of kings, and heroes, to music, art, food, and wine, this twelve-day journey will give you a taste of what it means to be Portuguese.

A twelve-day tour through the best of Portugal

Beginning in Porto, the ‘undefeated city’, this trip will be a journey of the senses as you learn to cook with locals in their homes, taste the wines of the Douro valley, enjoy the tranquility of walking in the mountains between the Xhist villages, explore Lisbon and celebrate with an evening of Fado music, explore fairy-tale towns surrounded by medieval ways, or bathe your feet in the sea while sipping a glass of wine or snacking on local sardines.

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ITINERARY

Day 1

Welcome to Portugal

Your trip will begin in Porto, the capital of the north with an orientation to Alithea’s style of travel and tips for learning to live like the Portuguese.

This evening you’ll stroll through Porto’s historic district for a brief walking tour with your guide as you begin to learn the history of river trading settlements dating back to the eighteenth century and the trade of Port wine. For dinner, you’ll have your first taste of Portugal as you get to know your fellow travelers.

Day 2

Historic Porto and Port Wine

After breakfast in your hotel, you’ll set out this morning for a walking tour of Porto’s great sites including visits to the Bolsa palace, the former stock exchange of the city, the São Bento railway station, boasting one of the most beautiful tile collections, and the gorgeously gilded São Francisco, built by the people of Porto who wished to thank the Franciscans for his help.

Concluding in the Ribeira district by the river, this afternoon you’ll be free to visit the national museum, explore the ‘Harry Potter’ library, or cross the bridge to Gaia for a visit to the Port wine cellars.

Day 3

Trains, Boats, Wineries, and the Beautiful Traditions of Portugal

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.

Day 4

The Birthplace of Portugal

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. 

Day 5

Bucolismo, the Art of Moving Back in Time

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.

Day 6

Coimbra, the First Capital of Portugal

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. 

Day 7

Battles, Saints, and the Region around 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. 

Day 8

A Free day to Explore Tomar

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

Day 9

Alcobaça, Nazaré, and Lisboa!

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.

Day 10

The Local Life of Libson

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…

Day 11

Setúbal and the Arrabida Natural Park

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!

Day 12

The Next Journey Begins

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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WHAT PEOPLE SAY

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WHAT'S INCLUDED

All breakfasts and seven dinners or lunches.
All tour related transportation.
10 nights accommodation in four star bespoke style hotels.
All entrances and local guides and your friendly Alithea tour manager for the duration of the trip.
Your friendly Alithea tour manager for the duration of the tour.
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TOUR TIPS

Pack Light

Alithea hotels are boutique, family-run and centrally located in the historic centers where the ancient roads are too small for buses. That often means needing to walk between our bus and hotels. Between destinations we will be required to carry our own luggage which may include significant stairs and no elevator. We encourage our travelers to take a simple carry-on size bag with a small backpack for outings.

Come Prepared

Alithea tours are outrageously fun. Come prepared to live in the moment. We will walk, talk, celebrate, dine, and make beautiful discoveries together. When we’re not exploring with our local guide we’ll be encouraged to venture out on our own, to celebrate our discoveries with a glass of wine, to go for a swim or a walk on the beach, or simply to relax and take in the beautiful view. Of course, we can’t visit ancient and beautiful sites without getting there first, and sometimes that means significant walking. Our first two days on this tour are the most physically strenuous. Please contact us if you have questions or concerns before booking.

Bus and Travel Time

Like every great story, there is no possibility of discovery and of arriving at beautiful places without a journey to get there. On our Greek journey we will take the bus and boat in order to arrive at the spectacular destinations we’ll be visiting. We’ll not only use this time to relax and enjoy the view but also to prepare with our Alithea guide for the sites we’ll visit next. Of course, we can’t appreciate the gorgeous vistas of the mountains without significant driving on winding roads.

FAQ

For further questions don't hesitate to reach out to us directly.

explore@alitheatravel.com
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FAQ

For further questions don't hesitate to reach out to us directly.

explore@alitheatravel.com
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