Country Roads of Portugal - Small Group
Country Roads of Portugal - Small Group
Country Roads of Portugal - Small Group
11 Days Starting and ending in Lisbon
Visiting: Lisbon, Olhão, Algarve, Lagos, Évora, Beja, Almancil, Monsaraz, Tomar, Coimbra, Pinhao, Porto, Guimaraes, Douro Valley - Casa Vale do Douro, Fátima, Obidos
Tour operator:
Tour code:
SE928ZN19
Specialist Group:
Family/Kids
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
12 - 24
Age range:
5-99
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
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 Paco. 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.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome To Lisbon
Location: Lisbon
Accommodation: Corinthia Hotel, Lisbon.
Accommodation Name: Corinthia Hotel Lisbon
Meals Included: Dinner with Wine
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.
Day 2: Lisbon And The Age Of The Great Discoveries
Location: Lisbon
Accommodation: Corinthia Hotel, Lisbon.
Accommodation Name: Corinthia Hotel Lisbon
Meals Included: Breakfast
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.
Day 3: The Algarve
Location: Lisbon, Olhão, Algarve, Lagos
Accommodation: Ria Park Hotel & Spa, Algarve.
Accommodation Name: Ria Park Hotel & Spa
Meals Included: Breakfast
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.
Day 4: Everlasting Évora Relaxed Start
Location: Évora, Beja, Almancil, Algarve
Accommodation: M'Ar de Ar Aqueduto, Évora.
Accommodation Name: M'Ar de Ar Aqueduto
Meals Included: Breakfast
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?
Day 5: Monsaraz And Évora Relaxed Start
Location: Évora, Évora, Monsaraz
Accommodation: M'Ar de Ar Aqueduto, Évora.
Accommodation Name: M'Ar de Ar Aqueduto
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch with Wine
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.
Day 6: On To Tomar
Location: Évora, Tomar
Accommodation: Hotel dos Templários, Tomar.
Accommodation Name: Hotel dos Templários
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
This morning, join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience as you visit Casa Relvas for a wine tasting. Despite the dry climate of the Alentejo region, they have been producing exceptional wine using innovative techniques to reduce the use of water. Continue 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.
Day 7: Coimbra And The Douro Valley Relaxed Start
Location: Coimbra, Pinhao, Tomar
Accommodation: Douro Palace Hotel Resort & Spa, Douro Valley.
Accommodation Name: Douro Palace Hotel Resort & Spa Douro Valley
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
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.
Day 8: Guimarães And Porto Relaxed Start
Location: Porto, Guimaraes, Douro Valley - Casa Vale do Douro
Accommodation: Pousado do Porto Rua Das Flores.
Accommodation Name: Pousada do Porto Rua Das Flores
Meals Included: Breakfast
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, enjoy a panoramic drive through the city streets 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?
Day 9: Porto, Grande Dame On The Douro Relaxed Start
Location: Porto
Accommodation: Pousado do Porto Rua Das Flores.
Accommodation Name: Pousada do Porto Rua Das Flores
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
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.
Day 10: Holy Fátima, Ancient Óbidos And Lisbon
Location: Fátima, Lisbon, Obidos, Porto
Accommodation: Dom Pedro Lisboa, Lisbon.
Accommodation Name: Dom Pedro Lisboa
Meals Included: Breakfast
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 the fortified town of Óbidos and walk within its walls, exploring the narrow, medieval streets where houses are covered with flowers. Your travels continue to the Portuguese capital, Lisbon.
Day 11: Depart Lisbon
Location: Lisbon
Meals Included: Breakfast
After breakfast, your departure transfer arrives at Lisbon International Airport at 07:00 or 09:30.
What's Included
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Travel Director
Our highly-skilled Travel Director will ensure your journey is seamless, serving as your expert guide, consummate organiser, and friend overseas.
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Personal Radio Headsets
Personal radio headsets give you the freedom to wander during visits to famous highlights, without missing any of your Local Expert's fascinating commentary.
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Luggage Handling
We carry your bags for you and promptly deliver them to your hotel door.
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Tips Included
Hotel and restaurant tips are included - you'll never have to worry about how much to give, nor search for foreign currency. We also include all taxes and porterage charges at hotels.
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Complimentary Wi-Fi
Stay connected with friends and family with our complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi (where available).
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Transfers
If your arrival and/or departure flights are as per the itinerary start and end dates, then transfers are available at scheduled times. If your flights are outside these times, or you have booked additional nights accommodation with Insight Vacations, you may purchase transfers or make your own way from/to the airport.
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Insight Flourish
From time to time, your Travel Director will delight you with an Insight Flourish, which is a local specialty representing the destination.
What's Not Included
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International Airfare
International airfare to and from the start and end point of your tour is not included in the tour price.
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Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is not included and is recommended for all travelers to ensure protection.
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Optional Experiences
Costs of optional experiences, unless noted in the itinerary, are not included in the tour price.
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Personal Expenses
Personal expenses such as laundry, telephone calls, mini-bar, room service, and other incidental expenses are not included.
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Meals Not Specified
Any meals not specified in the itinerary are not included and will be at your own expense.
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Visa Fees
Any applicable visa fees are not included and are the responsibility of the traveler.
Check out our Q&As
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What are the highlights of the Country Roads of Portugal - Small Group tour?
The highlights of the tour include choosing between two carefully selected activities, visiting Porto to see the Clérigos Tower, the Atlantic coast at the mouth of Douro, and the main Liberdade Square. In Porto, you'll also visit the São Bento Railway Station and walk on the Dom Luis I Bridge. The tour offers the comfort of Insight's luxurious, air-conditioned, 40-seat coach with double the standard legroom and onboard washroom. Enhanced hygiene protocols are in place following COVID-19, and hand sanitizer is freely available on board. The tour emphasizes the exploration of Portuguese gastronomy, with high-quality food and diverse flavors. Visits to Lisbon, Monsaraz, Pinhao, and Porto for various dining experiences are included, along with a Welcome Dinner in Lisbon and a Celebration Dinner in Porto. Sightseeing includes Lisbon's Belem Quarter, Jerónimos Monastery, Lagos, Évora, Fátima, Tomar, Coimbra, Guimaraes, Obidos, and a cruise on Lake Alqueva.
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How many days does the Country Roads of Portugal - Small Group tour last?
The tour itinerary does not specify the total number of days.
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What are the dietary options available on the Country Roads of Portugal - Small Group tour?
The tour JSON does not specify the dietary options available.
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What are the inclusions in the Country Roads of Portugal - Small Group tour?
The tour includes services of a highly-skilled Travel Director, personal radio headsets for guided visits, luggage handling, hotel and restaurant tips, complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi, and transfers at scheduled times. Insight Flourishes, which are local specialties representing the destination, are also included.
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Are meals included in the Country Roads of Portugal - Small Group tour?
Yes, meals are included in the tour. The dining summary includes 4 Dinners with Wine (DW), 10 Breakfasts (B), and 1 Lunch with Wine (LW).
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Is there a private option available for the Country Roads of Portugal - Small Group tour?
The tour JSON does not specify if a private option is available.
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What type of accommodations can I expect on the Country Roads of Portugal - Small Group tour?
Accommodations on the tour include the Corinthia Hotel in Lisbon, Ria Park Hotel & Spa in Algarve, M'Ar de Ar Aqueduto in Évora, Hotel dos Templários in Tomar, Douro Palace Hotel Resort & Spa in Douro Valley, and Pousado do Porto Rua Das Flores in Porto. These range from luxury hotels to boutique and spa resorts.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
We regret that no refunds can be made for absences from a tour, including experiences such as missed meals or sightseeing.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 1978.
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Insight Vacations is a founding member of the TreadRight Foundation, a joint initiative created by the brands within The Travel Corporation (TTC) almost 15 years ago to ensure our impact through tourism is positive. Our ethos to #MakeTravelMatter guides our decision-making at every level of our business.
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
You have two options as a solo traveller. Either choose to be matched with a same sex partner for a room share - at no extra cost. Or choose a room of your own with a reduced or even free private room upgrade on select tours.
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies
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Up to 91 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
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