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PORTUGAL
HERITAGE, HEART, & HISTORY
Small Group Adventure:
May 11-24, 2023
Tour includes:
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3 nights in Cascais at the Vila Gale (4 star) with breakfast, transfer from airport
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Tour of Sintra & Cascais with lunch
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Tour of Pena Palace
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2 nights in Lisbon at the Turim Marques Hotel (4 star) with breakfast
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Tour of Lisbon
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Evening Fado Show
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Tour of Belem & a Jewish heritage walking tour
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1 night in Evora at the Vila Gale Evora (4 star) with breakfast
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Tour of Evora, a UNESCO World Heritage Site & wine tasting
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Tour of Mafra Palace and Ericeira village.
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1 night in Obidos at the Literary Man Hotel (3 star) with breakfast
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Tour of Obidos, Nazare, and Fatima
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1 night in Tomar at the Hotel Templarios Tomar (4 star) with breakfast.
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Tour of the Tomar, including the Convent of Christ, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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Evening Fado show in Coimbra
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1 night in Coimbra at the Hotel Tivoli with breakfast (4 star)
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Tour of Coimbra with lunch
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Tour of Aveiro with boat cruise
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4 nights in Porto at the Hotel Carris Porto Ribeira (4 star) with breakfast
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Walking tour of Porto with a port wine tasting
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Tour of the Douro Valley with lunch & boat cruise
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Boat cruise on the river in Porto
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Farewell Dinner in Porto
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English speaking guide throughout
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Pricing
Maximum Group Size: 20
Price may vary depending on the size of the group.
$2899 per person, double occupancy
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Single Occupancy: $3740
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International Airfare available upon request.
Itinerary
DAY 2
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Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning drive to Sintra to see the Quinta da Regaleira, an enigmatic neo-Manueline mansion with expansive grounds that seem more like a fairy tale land than an estate.
Enjoy lunch at Toca de Julio before visiting Cabo da Roca lighthouse, the westernmost point in Europe. Afterward, explore Cascais on your own.
DAY 3
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Breakfast at the hotel. Head to the colorful Pena Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which features an eclectic mix of architectural styles. Enjoy lunch and free time in Sintra before returning to Cascais.
DAY 4
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Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Lisbon for a walking tour of the city center before enjoying lunch on your own. Regroup in the afternoon for a walking tour of the Alfama neighborhood, one of Lisbon's oldest, with it's Arab influence. Then visit the Castelo de Sao Jorge to learn about the city's history as a Moorish port and for some of the best views in the city.
DAY 5
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Breakfast at the hotel. Spend the morning exploring the district of Belem, where explorers like Vasco da Gama departed for the new world. Visit the Jeronimos Monastery, a beautiful example of the elaborate Manueline architecture. Get a taste of Portugal's signature pasteis de nata at a nearby bakery before heading off into a tour of Lisbon's Jewish heritage. Visit the Chiado neighborhood, home to the world's oldest bookstore with lots of Belle Epoque charm.
DAY 6
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Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Evora, a walled city first built by the Romans, the Moors, and then reconquered by the Portuguese in the 12th Century. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Take a tour of its many monuments before enjoying lunch on your own. In the afternoon, enjoy a tour of a local winery and a wine tasting.
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Overnight at the Hotel Vila Gale Evora.
DAY 7
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Breakfast at the hotel. Head to the Portuguese countryside, stopping to visit Mafra Palace and Ericeira along the way. After lunch in Ericeira, drive to Obidos.
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Overnight in the Literary Man Hotel.
DAY 8
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Breakfast at the hotel. Take a walking tour of the town of Obidos, known for its medieval hilltop fortress, charming white washed houses, and literary history. Taste some of the local ginjinha liqueur in a medieval bar. Head to the surfing hotspot of Nazare for lunch. Despite being home to such a modern sport, the town has long been a distinctive fishing village with many unique traditions. From there drive to the Sanctuary of Fatima, where it is said that the Virgin Mary appeared to 3 young children. Drive to Tomar.
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Overnight at the Hotel Templarios Tomar.
DAY 9
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Breakfast at the hotel. Take a tour of Tomar, including the Convent of Christ, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the former seat of the Order of the Knights Templar, and the medieval synagogue of Tomar. Have lunch on your own before driving to Coimbra, a university town with a vibrant tradition of Fado separate from that of Lisbon's style. Enjoy a short Fado concert from local students.
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Overnight at the Hotel Tivoli Coimbra.
DAY 10
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Breakfast at the hotel. Take a walking tour of Coimbra's historic center and the University. Enjoy lunch at Solar do Bacalhau, then drive north to Aveiro, Portugal's "little Venice." Take a cruise through the city on a traditional Moliceiros boat then explore some of the Art Nouveau style buildings. Afterward drive to Porto.
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Overnight at the Hotel Carris Porto Ribeira.
DAY 11
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Breakfast at the hotel. Take a walking tour of Porto, including Sao Bento Station, Sao Francisco Church, and the stunning Lello Bookstore. Lunch on your own down by the riverside before taking a tour of the Port Wine cellars across the river, ending with port tasting.
DAY 12
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Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to the Douro Valley to explore the wine country. Stop in Amarante, a charming town with a long history of resistance, and interesting sweets and cakes. From there, head into the mountains to visit some of the small Portuguese villages that still use traditional farming methods. Stop for lunch at Varanda da Regua before visiting Pinhao, the center of the Douro Valley and home to many wine estates. Take a cruise on the Douro River to see more of the beautiful scenery before returning to Porto.
DAY 13
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Breakfast at the hotel. Morning cruise under the city's six bridges where you can learn more about the history of Porto. Enjoy some free time in the afternoon to explore on your own before a farewell dinner with the group.
DAY 14
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Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport for your flight home.
Exclusions
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International Airfare (available upon request)
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Entry tickets to Lello Bookstore in Porto
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Gratuities
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Small Group Vaccination Requirements
Due to the increased potential for the spread of COVID-19 within a small group,
we require all travelers who sign up for our small group trips to be
fully vaccinated and boosted with the most recent booster.
We recommend getting your booster about one month before departure.
