Portugal Off the Beaten Path – 10 Days – 9 Nights

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival to Porto

Arrival to Porto Airport. Meet your driver for a private airport transfer (15-30 min.). For your added comfort, we will have an English- speaking driver waiting for you at the Arrivals Hall with a sign with your name on it. The private driver will drive and accompany you to your centrally located Vincci Ponte de Ferro.

Overnight Stay at Hotel.

Day 2: Half day Quinta da Aveleda wine experience

Quinta da Aveleda is Portugal’s largest Vinho Verde exporter. The history of this wine estate is lost in time, but there are countless records of it after the 16th century. The first bottled wine sale records date back to 1870. A trip to Quinta da Aveleda is much more than a visit to the beautiful vineyards stretching as far as the eye can see at a technologically advanced winery which produces one of the best sold Vinhos Verdes worldwide. To enter Aveleda is to make a journey back in time of the traditional Minho families who lived in the region’s typical manor houses. In the gardens one can enjoy rich and exotic flora and, in the area, devoted to agriculture, the old kitchen, the coach house and the threshing floor are the most important constructions. There are also romantic style buildings among which stand out the House of Reboleira (whose window is a National Monument), the Tea House and the Four Sisters Fountain. A visit into the cellar allows one to witness the Aveleda bottling process. The tour ends with a wine tasting and tasting of cheese produced in the artisanal cheese dairy of the farm, and a lunch in the property.

Overnight Stay at Hotel.

Day 3: Porto to Coimbra & Coimbra walking tour with the University

Enjoy a private transfer from Porto to Coimbra. Approximate travel time is 1.5 hours. On the banks of the Mondego River, Coimbra is famous for its University, the oldest in Portugal and one of the oldest in Europe, which over time has shaped its image to become “the city of students”. We begin this visit, precisely at the university founded in the XIII Century and which UNESCO has placed on its list of World Heritage sites. There is much to see there: the Pátio das Escolas courtyard, the Sala dos Capelos hall where the most important ceremonies are held, the Chapel of São Miguel with an imposing Baroque organ and the Joanine Library, which has more than 300.000 works dating from the 16th to the 18th centuries arranged in beautiful gilt-covered bookcases. The buildings occupy the place of the Palace where the first Kings of Portugal lived, when they made the city the capital of the kingdom. There are several monuments from those times thatdisplay the splendor of Romanesque art. In the shopping area and area of historic cafés in the City Centre, visitors really must see the Monastery of Santa Cruz, which houses the tomb of the first King of Portugal, Afonso Henriques, and on the other bank, the Monastery of Santa Clara-a-Velha, recovered and rescued from the waters of the river that invaded it over the centuries. The Old Cathedral, too, on whose steps the monumental serenade takes place in which students dressed in black capes sing the Coimbra Fado with heartfelt emotion.

Overnight Stay at Hotel.

Day 4: Full day Mountain Landscapes of the Interior tour

Departure for a full day tour to discover the interior of the region. First stop in the city of Viseu, land of Viriato, the famous warrior who fought against the Roman invasions. Tour the very well-preserved historic center with its granite houses and monuments. On the way to the Serra da Estrela Mountain range, we will visit a traditional cheese dairy to better know its history and flavor. We continue our journey through Guarda, the highest city in the country, to reach Belmonte, a medieval town where an important Jewish community settled mainly from the 15th century onwards. It is also the land where Pedro Álvares Cabral was born in 1467. Up next to the Church is the house Brasil, where he lived until his death. We continue our journey, climbing to the top of Serra da Estrela, which with its 1995 m is the highest mountain in Portugal. We continue to the Bread Museum in Seia and finally return to Coimbra.

Overnight Stay at the Hotel.

Day 5: Coimbra to Lisboa

Set out on a full day discovery of the scenic Douro Valley. Head to Amarante, an important pilgrimage Enjoy a private transfer from Coimbra to Lisboa.

Approximate travel time is 2 hours.

Overnight Stay at Hotel.

Day 6: Full fay Wine Experience of the Lisbon Wine Region

Today, set out for the Oeste (West) region, located between the Atlantic Ocean and the Montejunto Mountain range. Featuring a landscape dominated by towering mountains, expansive seas and verdant fields planted with vines and fruit trees, the Oeste is commonly known as one of the primary fruit producing regions in Portugal. Hidden in this region, however, is a wealth of architecture, gastronomy, history and traditions waiting to be discovered. Begin your day’s adventure with private visits at two of the most emblematic wine estates in western Portugal, Quinta do Gradil and Casa Santos Lima, where you’ll sample a number of fine wines that reflect the unique terroir of the region.

Overnight Stay at Hotel.

Day 7: Full fay Alentejo Wine Estates

Alentejo had a large Roman influence, which contributed to the plantation and creation of vineyards in different areas. The distinct characteristics of the soils according to area (granite, limestone, Mediterranean or schist), the long hours of exposure to the sun and a group of selected grape varieties enable high quality production, combined with the ability to preserve the tradition of flavor, while innovating in the art of winemaking. The Alentejo wines offer tremendous pleasure, be they white, rosé or red wine. They are full of strong aromatic exuberance, round and smooth, with a unique ability to be drunk while young, but knowing how to age with distinction. In this tour, you will visit two of the most remarkable Alentejo’s wine estates. The experiences at Fita Preta are most of all cheerful thanks to an enthusiastic team. Just as the wines are standing between the old wisdom and the new winemaking, the winery is promoting a dialogue between a medieval palace and contemporary architecture. Fita Preta’s style is relaxed and cosmopolitan, with Évora World Heritage Site in its background. Quinta Dona Maria is palace-like house from the beginning of the 18^th century is held as a reference, not only for its beauty but also for its history and quality of its wines. Its interior is rich in tiles from the 18th century, and the typical marble of the region can also be found all around the house. According to history, this estate was once acquired by king João V as a present to a lady of the court, D. Maria, with whom he was madly in love.

Overnight Stay at Hotel.

Day 8: Transfer to Albufeira

Enjoy a private transfer from Évora to Albufeira.

Approximate travel time is 2,5 hours.

Overnight stay at Hotel.

Day 9: Half day The Cork Trees Route

Short tour through the historic town of São Bras de Alportel. A visit to the Museum with a small film presentation explaining the cork industry, followed by a visit to the factory where the transformation of the cork takes place. Followed by a tasting of Aguardente, which translates as “fire water”, and a demonstration of its production method.

Overnight stay at Hotel.

Day 10: Transfer to Faro (or Lisboa) Airport

Meet your private driver and vehicle for an airport transfer (30-45 min).