Highlights of Portugal

Name: Highlights of Portugal
Brand: Exodus
Rating: 4 (5 reviews)

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8 Days from

CAD 3,045

Incl. taxes Excl. flights

4.0/5 from

Culture

Ways to Travel :

Guided Group, Private Group Adventures

Activity :

Culture

Activity Levels :

1 out of 7 - Leisurely

Group Size :

4 - 16

Ages :

16+

Trip Code :

ADP

Journey from Porto to Lisbon via the Douro Valley and cultural highlights of Portugal

Once a powerful kingdom that dominated the world sea routes, Portugal today is one of the most welcoming and peaceful countries in Europe, though the legacy of its former wealth can still be found in its historic cities. Starting from colourful Porto, the second city and a Unesco site, our journey follows the verdant valleys and rolling hills of the Douro wine region, before heading to the lesser-known interior, where we visit Coimbra, the Unesco Batalha monastery, medieval Óbidos and magnificent Sintra before reaching Lisbon, one of the most enchanting capital cities in the world.

Did you know you can travel by train to this trip? Find out more here

Highlights

Visit Porto and the Unesco-listed Douro wine region
Explore magnificent heritage in Lisbon and Sintra
Discover medieval Óbidos and elegant Coimbra

Key Information

Seven nights in four- and five-star hotels
Guided visits and sightseeing on foot
Group normally 4 to 16, plus local leader. Minimum age: 16
Travel by private air-conditioned minibus or van
Option to travel by train to your adventure

Countries visited: Portugal

What's Included

All breakfasts, one lunch, one wine tasting
All accommodation
Tour leader throughout
All transport and listed activities
Entrance to Pena Palace, Sintra
Group arrival and departure transfers available

What's Not Included

Travel insurance
Visas and vaccinations
Single supplement
City taxes (approx. €10)

Responsible Travel

At Exodus we believe in the power of Responsible Travel.

Every time we travel, we are part of a global movement that creates jobs, builds more sustainable societies, encourages cultural understanding and safeguards common natural and cultural heritage. To learn more about what Responsible Travel means to Exodus click hereâ€¦

Itinerary

This trip starts in Porto at our hotel in the Ribeirinha district, close to the historic centre and on the banks of the scenic Douro River. Time permitting, we will familiarise ourselves with the hotel, and there will be a welcome briefing in the evening.

Today starts with a guided tour through the historic centre of Porto, a Unesco World Heritage site. As we amble along the ancient streets and medieval lanes, we visit important monuments, including São Bento Station, a neoclassic jewel. In the buzzing, colourful squares and traditional, unique cafes, we discover the authentic heart of the city. We conclude our guided visit in Ribeirinha, the picturesque riverside area, where we enjoy a tour of the historic port wine cellars, ending with a short wine tasting.

The afternoon is free for individual sightseeing. City highlights include Porto Cathedral; Saint Francis Church; Livraria Lello (one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world) and Clérigos Church and Tower. Later, we transfer by private bus to the Douro Valley (approximately 90 minutes).

Meals Included: Breakfast

Today we explore the heart of the Douro Valley, the first officially designated wine region in the world, renowned for excellent port wine and pretty landscapes of steeply terraced riverside vineyards. In the morning, you have the option to enjoy a leisurely boat cruise along the Douro River. Later, we enjoy a delicious lunch with local wine in an 18th-century estate surrounded by terraced vineyards that climb high above the dramatic confluence of the Douro and Tedo rivers. There is the option of a guided tour with wine tasting after lunch.

In the afternoon, we transfer by private bus to Coimbra (approximately two hours) in the central region of Portugal.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Known as the City of Students, Coimbra has a history closely linked to the Unesco-listed University of Coimbra, which was founded in 1290 and is the second oldest in Europe. The city is divided into two distinct areas, the baixa (downtown) by the river, where most of the commercial activity is concentrated, and the alta (upper town), home to the oldest and most important buildings, including Sé Velha (Old Cathedral), Sé Nova (New Cathedral) and the university.

We visit the most important areas and sites this morning during a guided tour. There will be free time in the afternoon for independent sightseeing before we transfer (approximately one hour) to the peaceful little town of Batalha, the setting of the most important battle in Portugal, the Batalha de Aljubarrota (1385). This battle secured Portuguese independence from Castile, and to honour it, King João I constructed the Mosteiro da Batalha, the finest monastery in Portugal. We visit this Portuguese gothic masterpiece that combines various influences from its lengthy construction, which lasted several reigns. We will have the opportunity to visit the outstanding interior, including the Founders’ Chapel with its fine stained-glass windows, cloisters, the Unfinished Chapels with their Manueline and Flemish gothic features and the Chapter House.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Our first stop today is the seaside town of Nazaré, home to some of the largest surfing waves in the world. There will be time for a stroll, lunch and free time to soak up the lovely atmosphere of this coastal village.

Then we move to Óbidos, our base for the night. This small, fortified village resembles a medieval film set. It has been carefully preserved by the inhabitants, who take pride in maintaining the architectural image of the village, characterised by narrow winding streets, whitewashed houses and impressive fort walls, perfect to enjoy after day-trippers have left. We stay overnight in Óbidos.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Today we take a day trip to the elegant hilltop town of Sintra, once the residence of kings, nobles, poets, painters and artists. The beautiful surroundings of forested hills are the perfect frame to the collection of elegant palaces, castles and museums. During the previous evening's briefing, our tour leader will provide suggestions for your free day in Sintra, including the most important monuments to visit.

A ticket is included to visit the National Palace of Pena, the most complete and notable example of Portuguese architecture in the Romantic period. The palace lies in a picturesque setting, perched on one of the rocky peaks of the Serra de Sintra, and blends in with a natural background of greenery and crags. There will also be time to explore other splendid buildings such as Sintra Palace or the Moorish Castle. Finally, enjoy a stroll and shopping opportunities in the historic centre before transferring to Lisbon (approximately one hour).

Meals Included: Breakfast

Today we explore the second-oldest capital in Europe (after Athens) on a guided tour. Lisbon was once home to the explorers Vasco da Gama, Magellan and Prince Henry the Navigator. Today, it is one of the most sought-after destinations, offering delicious food, ancient monuments, quirky cafes, charming neighbourhoods, and views over the Tejo river. Lisbon is known as the City of Seven Hills, so wear comfortable shoes and be prepared for a few steep climbs and steps during today’s walking tour.

We start with an optional ride on the famous Lisbon tram, which takes us to the elegant area of Graça. We then descend on foot through Alfama, one of the oldest neighbourhoods in Lisbon, with its maze of colourful alleyways, old buildings and breath-taking viewpoints. We conclude our busy guided tour in Rossio, the heart of the city.

The remainder of the afternoon is free for relaxation or further independent sightseeing. We recommend visiting the Belém neighbourhood, home to the Unesco-listed Monastery of Jeronimos and the bakery serving the original pasteis de Belém (custard tarts).

Meals Included: Breakfast

Our Highlights of Portugal trip ends after breakfast. However, with so much to see and do in Lisbon, we recommend adding some extra days after the tour to truly appreciate the many attractions this city offers. Speak to your sales representative to book.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Essential Info

Visa

Portugal

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Portugal. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/europe/portugal
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/portugal
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/portugal/entry-requirements
• USA:  www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Portugal.html

Vaccination

Portugal

There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for tetanus and rabies. Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.

Eating and Drinking

All breakfasts, one lunch and one wine tasting included.

Portugal is known for excellent wines and delicious regional cuisine that uses a lot of natural resources and produce. All meals have strong links to the land and sea, often prepared following old recipes.

We can try a variety of traditional specialities during the trip and the local leader can always recommend good restaurants. Portugal has some of the best fish in the world. Salt cod is a staple here, eaten all kinds of ways, from baked with cream and potatoes to grilled with salad.

The Douro and Alentejo regions are also well-known for an endless number of meat dishes, which include roasted goat with rice and potatoes, porco preto (black pork cooked confit-style), posta mirandesa (veal steak) and cozido à portuguesa (boiled meat, sausages and cabbage). Finally, we can’t leave Portugal without trying pastel de nata, the quintessential Portuguese custard tart originating in Lisbon.

Please note, vegetarian meals are available on request although options may be limited.

Weather

Portugal hasa fairly mild climate, with the south generally slightly warmer than the north. It can be rainy and windy during autumn and winter, but spring and summer see temperatures hit 38C (104F) in the interior and 35C (95F) in the north. Departures in March, April and October have a higher chance of rain and cool temperatures, especially at night, so it is important to pack warm clothing and rainproof gear. Between May and September, chances of rain are slimmer and days will be long and hot.

Is this trip for you?

This trip is rated Activity Level 1 (Leisurely).

This is a comprehensive, fast-paced itinerary that aims to showcase the highlights and lesser-visited sites of Portugal in eight days, taking in vibrant cities and ancient villages. All transfers are by private air-conditioned vehicle and none of the distances is particularly long. The itinerary is busy and there are some early starts to ensure we can fit in all visits on the itinerary. There is some free time to relax or sightsee at leisure.

Portugal can be hot, reaching the high 30Cs (around 100F) in summer. Although this itinerary is mostly based on sightseeing, please be prepared for a reasonable amount of walking between sites. Walks involve some steep climbs to reach the sites and the ground can be uneven underfoot, with cobblestones commonplace in Portugal. The trip is suitable for everyone in good health and fitness.

Following a review of all our trips we have categorised this trip as not suitable for full wheelchair users, but it may be suitable for other persons of reduced mobility. Please contact customer services to discuss the trip and your personal condition.

Valerie Merges

Reviewed May 2023

Sample of the cities of Northern Portugal

This trip covered the cities with the most attractions and sights in Northern Portugal. Our guides Catarina and Marianna were wonderful and caring. Both spoke perfect English and shared a lot of historical information. Both were always available on WhatsApp during our free time. The tour allowed us to see many cities in just one week. We were kept on the move from city to city, but there was plenty of free time. The old towns were so interesting and unique. Strolling on the stone sidewalks and glancing at the tiled buildings is a memory I will never forget. Sintra’s palace and gardens were also a highlight. The wine tastings were very enjoyable. Portugal’s food is incredible and I tried many new dishes. I combined this trip with Walking Portugal’s Coasts and Beaches, which made a perfect holiday of historic sights and coastal beach scenery.

Most Inspirational Moment

Having lunch in the Duoro Valley in a winery staring at the vineyards and sampling wines

Thoughts on Group Leader

Marianna and Catarina are the two nicest guides I've ever had! They were extremely caring. Both were very knowledgeable about the sights & history. I do wish they were with us more often. I would have liked them to accompany us to dinner on more nights.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Wear comfortable walking shoes with good traction. There is the potential for a lot of walking in the cities during your free time. The polished stone sidewalks get slippery if it rains. Add on at least one day in Porto at the beginning and at the end in Lisbon. There is so much to see in both cities.

Suggestions

Needed less time in Obidos and more time in Sintra. Make Obidos just an hour's visit, then push on to Sintra. I was upset because there are four major sites in Sintra and we only had time for two. The hotel in Obidos was damp and dark; I couldn't wait to leave.

David Reynolds

Reviewed May 2023

Comments from Dave and Mary

Good introduction to central Portugal. Moving on after one night at each location quite tiring. Extra time at each end of Porto and Lisbon necessary to give the cities justice. Could do with more time in Douro valley to enjoy the benefits of the hotel and location.

Most Inspirational Moment

Douro valley hotel and location was exceptional.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellent, although sometimes more information would be of benefit.

Advice for Potential Travellers

See summary.

Stacey Kalamaras

Reviewed May 2023

Not Recommended

I had heard a lot of great things about Exodus. However, the local company in Portugal did not live up to expectations. This was a fast-moving tour. We were in a different city (sometimes 2) each day and the guides did not give us the best of each city. Instead, we spent an hour (of the precious 3 hours we had each day) in a a cafe! One can assume this is because THEY needed a break. There was so much to see and we wandered aimlessly. It became a joke that when they would tell us how beautiful something was in a particular city, that meant we were not going to see it. I mean, who is going to be back to visit anytime soon. Also, their knowledge was not up to par. When we were visiting the Monastery in Batalha, there were these portraits on the wall and I asked who they were and the response I received were “they are not significant.” REALLY? I’ve been in enough churches in Europe to know that EVERYTHING has significance! The knowledge of these guides was so awful, it was almost comical. I realize new people have to be trained, but they should not be trained at our expense, as this was an expensive trip. They should pay their dues as local guides, giving local tours so they can learn how to be guides. These women were absolutely terrible. I felt like a friend had offered to show me Portugal and given their limited knowledge, that would have been exactly what I got – limited knowledge. But, I paid for this trip. And so did others. And we paid handsomely. Also, the nightly meetings were stupid. Just post an itinerary. No one wants to be in a meeting after a long day. The trip to Sintra was a disaster. They left us without coming up there with us. They should have been with us. We had no idea where to go or what we were looking at – we needed a guide! Plus, the whole issue with having to pay 12..50 more for the bus was really stupid. We all felt very nickled and dimed. That should have been handled much differently. Do not use Exodus for this particular tour in Portugal. You will regret it. It is far too expensive for what you get. You would be better off going on your own. You would see more and learn much more. They also weren’t very good about keeping tabs on the group. They didn’t wear logo’d clothing or have a flag or anything. We mostly kept track of each other to be sure no one was left behind – isn’t that their job?? And most of the restaurant recommendations were horrible. Very unimpressed.

Most Inspirational Moment

NONE

Thoughts on Group Leader

Terrible, uninformed, ditzy

Advice for Potential Travellers

Do not book this particular tour with Exodus. Perhaps other local companies are better, but this one is not worth your hard earned money

Suggestions

No.

Reply from Exodus

We would like to thank Stacey for taking the time to leave a review, although we are very sorry to read of her disappointment with several aspects of her trip to Portugal. At Exodus we take the roles of our tour leaders very seriously and provide each one with comprehensive training before they are assigned to lead our tours; for this departure, Stacey’s group was led by our experienced leader Carlos, who receives very positive feedback from our clients, as well as Catarina, who has led alongside him on past trips with success. While they were accompanied by a trainee leader who was shadowing this trip to gain experience, we have not found on previous departures that similar arrangements have detracted from our clients’ experience, as our regular leaders guide these trips as normal.

We would note, having reviewed the feedback forms from clients on Stacey’s departure, that the majority of respondents rated both the itinerary of the tour and their overall trip experience as being either ‘Good’ or ‘Excellent’. Further, the general feedback we received from the group about Carlos praised him as helpful and knowledgeable, and mentioned that Catarina was a personable and enthusiastic leader. We do, of course, continually monitor all our leaders’ performances to ensure they meet our high standards, but from the feedback we have received on this occasion we are confident that Carlos and Catarina led this trip effectively. However, we understand that this does not reflect Stacey’s experience, which we very much regret.

We are further apologetic that Stacey did not appreciate the free day in Sintra; we find from experience that our clients often like to explore this location at their own pace, and from previous feedback we have obtained about this tour we find that this excursion is generally very well received. However, we understand that some other group members from Stacey’s departure mention in feedback they have submitted that they would have preferred some guidance on-site in Sintra in addition to information provided by our leaders beforehand, and we are considering making a change in this regard to improve customer experience.

While we feel confident that this trip provides an enjoyable and insightful tour of Portugal for our customers based on the feedback we continue to receive from our groups, we would once again like to express our regret that Stacey was left disappointed, and will of course closely bear her comments in mind going forward.

– Emma Cambers, Exodus Product Manager

Julia Larsson

Reviewed June 2022

Portugal at a glance

A very busy trip with not very much free time.

Most Inspirational Moment

I loved Porto even though it was very busy with tourists. The included lunch at the port winery overlooking the Douro and Teda rivers was excellent with plenty of vegetarian options and nice wines. The tour beforehand was entertaining.

Thoughts on Group Leader

We had Carlos Santos and Flavio as our leaders/drivers. They were both efficient, friendly, helpful and safe drivers. Carlos took me to a late night chemist when I needed some medication for a bad cough. He did this when we were actually settling into the restaurant for dinner - we still got back in time to eat! Flavio would always find out answers if he didn't know the answer immediately. We had a very enjoyable group dinner on Thursday with both of them as this was the last evening they would have been with us. The food was good - lots of veggie choices - Carlos played guitar and we all sang along. One small criticism is that some of the evening briefings were rather long.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I have raised this issue with Exodus already. The group flight home is very late. We were collected from our hotel in Lisbon at 5 p.m. on Saturday afternoon and I walked into my house at 1 a.m. on Sunday morning. Exhausting. I would have liked a bit more time to look round Obidos. We were there for two nights but went to Sintra to visit the Pena Palace and the Moorish Castle. Pena Palace was extremely busy, it took about an hour to get in and then you just had to shuffle round due to the amount of people inside.

Suggestions

Although the hotel Douro Scala (Mesao Frio) is in a lovely position overlooking the vineyards, the bedrooms were rather 'tired' and there is not really a proper bar area so that you bought your drinks in the restaurant and took them out onto the terrace overlooking the pool. Finding vegetarian meal options was sometimes challenging. Carlos always made sure that the restaurants he recommended (or where we had group dinners) served veggie options but sometimes this was limited to one dish and not always very good. It was more of a challenge when we were on our own. Some restaurants had no veggies options at all.

Dennis Jenkins

Reviewed October 2019

Highlights of Portugal

Although described as a fast paced tour(which it was), it was a good introduction to visiting Portugal with many highlights as well as vising some lesser known parts. As someone who had not been to Portugal before and as it is so easy to get to from the UK, it was a taster for maybe visiting the country again and exploring other regions.

Most Inspirational Moment

With all these tours, it is difficult to highlight just one moment that was inspirational, especially on a short tour like this. Lisbon was very inspiring especially as we stayed on for an extra 3 days as was our short stay in the village of Ferraria de Sao Joao.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Goncalo was an excellent guide who always made sure we were away early to avoid the worst of the crowds. This was particularly important in the case of the Pena Palace in Sintra. He explained the history of the various sites very concisely which kept our interest and he would always try to accommodate any of our requests.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The Fado evening was very good indeed being in a small establishment in the Alfama district of Lisbon so was not only authentic but was a very pleasant farewell evening, Strongly recommended. Also, I would certainly recommend staying on in Lisbon for some extra days as there is so much to do and see and the atmosphere is very appealing.

Suggestions

We didn't have many local guides on this trip but mention should be made of the excellent young lady who guided us round the Douro Museum in Peso da Regua. Her command of English and the clarity of her voice as well as her interest in what she was conveying to us was a model of how a guide should be.

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Covid-19 refund commitment

You will get a refund if you have to cancel your trip due to COVID-19.

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Availability

This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.

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