Country Roads of Portugal
Experience Overview
Tantalise your senses during this 11-day guided tour through Portugal. In Lisbon, a Local Expert will show you the historic downtown and Belém Quarter. From the hilltop perch of Monsaraz, gaze 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 the Douro Valley that will feature locally sourced ingredients, and taste a port produced on-site. Stroll through Portugal’s second city, Porto, a World Heritage town, and relax in your five-star hotel in the city’s historic district.
Highlights
Dining Summary
- 3 Dinner (D)
- 10 Breakfast (B)
- 2 Lunch (L)
Choice Highlights
- Choose between two carefully selected activities
- Tomar: Commanding the city’s skyline, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Tomar Castle and the Convent of Christ is a testament to Portugal's storied past. Accompanied by a Local Expert, you’ll delve into the history of the Knights Templar, exploring the octagonal Templars' Rotunda and the cloisters that echo with the memories of warrior monks. See the intricate Manueline Window, a masterpiece of Gothic artistry and a symbol of Portugal’s Age of Discovery, as you uncover this extraordinary stronghold.
- Tomar: Immerse yourself in the history of Tomar as your Local Expert guides you through its architectural treasures. Discover the small town’s unique blend of cultural influences, reflected in its streets and landmarks. Visit the Synagogue of Tomar, one of Portugal’s best-preserved medieval synagogues. Step inside this remarkable space to uncover the legacy and learn about its significance as a symbol of the Jewish communities in Portugal.
Additional Included Highlights
- Personal radio headsets give you the freedom to wander during visits to famous highlights, without missing any of your Local Expert's fascinating commentary.
- 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.
- We carry your bags for you and promptly deliver them to your hotel door.
- From time to time, your Travel Director will delight you with an Insight Flourish, which is a local specialty representing the destination.
- Stay connected with friends and family with our complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi (where available).
- 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.
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 travelers.
- 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.
- Lisbon: Shared experiences and memories are often the foundation for special bonds and friendships. Toast your travels with wine and good cheer during your dinner at a restaurant in Lisbon, devoted to the enjoyment of regional cooking.
Insight Choice
- Tomar: Commanding the city’s skyline, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Tomar Castle and the Convent of Christ is a testament to Portugal's storied past. Accompanied by a Local Expert, you’ll delve into the history of the Knights Templar, exploring the octagonal Templars' Rotunda and the cloisters that echo with the memories of warrior monks. See the intricate Manueline Window, a masterpiece of Gothic artistry and a symbol of Portugal’s Age of Discovery, as you uncover this extraordinary stronghold.
- Tomar: Immerse yourself in the history of Tomar as your Local Expert guides you through its architectural treasures. Discover the small town’s unique blend of cultural influences, reflected in its streets and landmarks. Visit the Synagogue of Tomar, one of Portugal’s best-preserved medieval synagogues. Step inside this remarkable space to uncover the legacy and learn about its significance as a symbol of the Jewish communities in Portugal.
Insight Experiences
- Monsaraz: Join a local boat captain for a tranquil cruise on Lake Alqueva. Relax and enjoy calming waters, picturesque views and tales of river life.
Make Travel Matter
- Évora: During a wine tasting session, appreciate the delicate yet complex nuances of Alentejo wine, and learn how the Relvas family has been managing to keep low water consumption, reforestation of indigenous trees, and providing scholarships to children of the village. This experience advances United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and production. With a 30% reduction in water use and innovative water management systems in place, they have been integrating science technology to ensure genuine production processes in all their activities.
Top Rated Highlights
- Lisbon: Journey through Lisbon with your Local Expert, from the Lower Town to the Belém Quarter. See the Belém Tower and Monument to the Discoveries, built to honor explorers who set sail during Portugal’s Golden Age of Discovery.
- Lisbon: Visit the cloisters of Jerónimos Monastery with its beautiful Manueline architecture, reflecting Portugal's trade over the centuries and UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- 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 and see the basilica.
- Coimbra: Guided by your Local expert, head through Old Town and pass by the Old Cathedral and the Almedina neighborhood.
- Coimbra: With a Local Expert, visit the University and witness the triumphal arches, painted ceilings, golden flourishes and walls of ancient tomes.
- Guimaraes: Enjoy views from the Visigothic castle ruins and explore a maze of medieval streets in the Old Quarter.
- Porto: Enjoy a panoramic drive through historic avenues and past exquisite tiled facades.
- Obidos: Lead by your Travel Director, walk through the picturesque narrow streets up to the main square of this ancient walled town.
Travel Director
- "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."
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.
- Hand sanitizer is freely available on board for you to use throughout the day.
Trip Details
Product Code: 28145
Tour Type: Group Tour
Accommodation: Deluxe
Transport: Private
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles:
Family, 55+, Luxury
Tour Operator:
Insight Vacations (CA)
Supplier Code: 37.99B
Starts: Lisbon, Portugal
Finishes: Lisbon, Portugal
Duration: 11 days
Departures: Not Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Easy
Includes
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $4,425 ($402 /day)
Itinerary
On arrival at Lisbon International Airport, there are complimentary transfers to your hotel. Settle in and relax before joining your Travel Director for dinner at a local restaurant. Enjoy the opportunity to mingle with your fellow travelers during a pleasant evening of good food and wine.
Accommodation: Corinthia, Lisbon
Meals: Dinner
Your guided sightseeing with a Local Expert takes you along the avenues of the Lower Town and past tree-shaded squares. See the ancient Belém Tower and marvel at the Monument to the Discoveries. Explore more of the Belém Quarter as you visit the Cloister of Jeronimos Monastery and enjoy a taste of Pastéis de Belém from the patisserie that has been using the same secret recipe for almost 200 years. This evening, gain further insight into Portuguese culture with an Optional Experience dinner.
Accommodation: Corinthia, Lisbon
Meals: Breakfast
Cross the River Tagus and head towards the sun-drenched southern coast to reach Lagos, a fishing port nestled in the bay of Meia Praia. After some free time to explore, continue to your resort hotel, set within a magnificent 360-acre estate. Simplicity is at the heart of Algarve cuisine, with seafood so fresh it still tastes of the sea. Just a short walk away, specialized Portuguese seafood restaurants line the coastline, overlooking the Atlantic.
Accommodation: Ria Park Hotel & Spa, Algarve
Meals: 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 16th-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 center, or the serene city park, following the aqueduct inside the city walls.
Accommodation: M'Ar de Ar Aqueduto, Évora
Meals: Breakfast
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 one of the largest artificial lakes. 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 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.
Accommodation: M'Ar de Ar Aqueduto, Évora
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
This morning, enjoy a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience with a visit to Casa Relvas for a wine tasting, featuring uniquely Portuguese grape varietals like Touriga Nacional. Despite the dry climate of the Alentejo region, this family-run estate produces exceptional wine through innovative water-saving techniques. Continue your journey to Fátima, Portugal's most renowned pilgrimage site. Here, you may visit the basilica or the Chapel of the Apparitions, commemorating the Virgin Mary's appearance to three young shepherds in 1917. Journey across central Portugal’s rolling hills to explore Tomar with Insight Choice. Choose to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site Convento do Cristo with a Local Expert, where you’ll admire the octagonal Templars' Rotunda and the Manueline Window, and learn about the daily life of a warrior monk. Alternatively, join a guided city tour and visit the Synagogue of Tomar, one of the best-preserved medieval synagogues in Portugal, as your Local Expert reveals the town’s rich architectural and cultural history.
Accommodation: Hotel dos Templários, Tomar
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
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 lunch, freshly prepared from locally sourced ingredients, with a port wine tasting.
Accommodation: Douro Palace Hotel Resort & Spa, Douro Valley
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
The mountain ranges of Northern Portugal accompany your morning journey to Guimarães, known as the birthplace of Portugal. Here, you can take in views from the Visigoth castle before wandering the cobbled streets and charming squares that exude medieval character. Continue to Porto, a city steeped in history whose central district is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Porto seamlessly blends tradition and modernity. Accompanied by your Local Expert, visit the São Bento Railway Station, renowned for the hand-painted azulejo tilework depicting scenes of Portugal’s past, and stroll across the Dom Luís I Bridge, a masterpiece of engineering that offers spectacular views of the Douro River. For a different perspective, consider joining an Optional Experience to explore the pastel-hued houses of the Ribeira district, cruise aboard a traditional Rabelo boat, and savor traditional flavors at a riverside restaurant.
Accommodation: Pousada do Porto Rua Das Flores
Meals: Breakfast
With a full day free to enjoy at your own pace, why not take a stroll to admire the multi-colored houses and churches covered in beautiful glazed tiles. Perhaps choose to visit Braga, the capital of baroque.
Accommodation: Pousada do Porto Rua Das Flores
Meals: Breakfast
Discover the charm of the fortified town of Óbidos. Step inside the medieval town's ancient walls to wander through cobblestone streets, then continue to Lisbon. Perhaps choose to join an Optional Experience seafood dinner across the Tagus River.
Accommodation: TURIM Marquês, Lisbon
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
After breakfast, transfer to Lisbon International Airport.
Meals: Breakfast
Similar Tours
Tour Operator
Insight Vacations (CA)
Part of The Travel Company (TTC) family of brands, Insight Vacations began operations in 1978 and is based in Cypress, CA. Journeys are featured to destinations, such as the U.S. and Canada, Europe, Latin America, North Africa, Asia, the UK and Ireland. The company offers are a variety of tours under the classifications of Regional Journeys, Country Roads, Discovery Journeys, Easy Pace trips, and Special Interest tours. Insight is the ideal name for the tour operator, as the journeys provided by Insight Vacations allow travelers to gain further insight into whatever destination they wish to explore. For example, Discovery Journeys are the ideal choice for first-time visitors to Europe. Itineraries include Dine-at-Home or Farm-to-Table experiences so travelers can learn more about how locals live and dine. Regional Journeys allow trip-goers to see a specific location in Europe that they have always wanted to see – Poland, Switzerland, Italy, etc. The carefully planned trips enable customers to immerse themselves in one specific region or country and to become acquainted with its culture, traditions, and people. For anyone seeking travel off the beaten track, Insight Vacations offers Country Roads – trips that lead travelers off the well-tread tourist trail to explore hidden gems where visitors can savor the local produce with Farm-to-Table dining. Some trips are offered under the Easy Pace travel style – the ideal trip choice for trip-goers who wish to slow their pace during their vacation. During these tours, vacationers stay at least 3 nights at each destination, giving them some additional time to explore a place and enjoy it. Regardless of the travel style, many of the vacations offered by Insight Vacations begin with Relaxed Starts – giving travelers time to sleep in a little, spend more time at breakfast, or explore an area on their own. The tour company prides itself on providing business class tours that features luxury coaches with 40 seats. While most coach touring operators provide vehicles with 53 seats, Insight Vacations has re-configured its motor coaches to hold up to 40 guests. This gives passengers extra leg room while traveling and offers them more space and privacy.
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