World class wine and delicious seafood; hilltop villages and clifftop trails. Enjoy this and more on our relaxed journey between Portugal's greatest cities.
Duration
23 days
Duration
All our trips are tailormade and therefore can be extended or reduced to suit you. You'll find a few ideas to extend your trip below, but please do ask about how we can tailor it to you.
Guide Price
£3,750 pp
n/a
Guide Price
This is a realistic guide price per person, based on you travelling at an optimum time for this holiday. Please see 'What's Included' for full details and contact us for a personalised quotation.
When
Apr-Jun; Sep-Nov
When
This is a broad indicator of when you might realistically take this holiday. Please do ask us if you'd like to chat through your options in more detail - getting the timing right is important. We'd love to help.
From the wine houses of Porto to the terraced vines of the Douro; from cork oak forests and hilltop villages to a rugged coastline of wild beaches in the Alentejo and up to the fado bars and trundling trams of Libson, this highly varied self drive trip immerses you into the nature, flavours and history of this enchanting country.
Enjoy reading this taster itinerary. Please Request Full Details if you'd like to know more, or to discuss how we can tailor this holiday for you.
Arrive in Porto and make your way to your hotel in the heart of the city's Ribeira Quarter. Enjoy your first great views of the Douro river on an evening stroll with sunset views.
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Day 2 - Explore Porto with your guide
Meet your guide today to enjoy a privately guided day exploring Porto and the wineries of Vila de Gaia. They will also go over all your holiday details to make sure you have all you need.
3 of 23
Day 3 - Explore the capital of Vinho Verde wine
Collect your car this morning and set off north to the small historical town of Ponte de Lima. On arrival, strike out on foot to explore the beautiful town, as well as the local Vinho Verde wine.
4 of 23
Day 4 - Walk in the Peneda Geres National Park
Explore the mountains of Peneda Geres National park, with its beautiful granite mountains and ancient rural landscapes and traditions, best appreciated on foot from the village of Sistelo.
5 of 23
Day 5 - Walk or cycle along the Minho river
Choose to hike or cycle along the Minho river this morning. In the afternoon head to your lovely small hotel at the beautiful mouth of the river, where the Minho meets the Atlantic ocean.
6 of 23
Day 6 - Explore the Spanish side of the Minho
Cross the Minho river for a walk along the Spanish coast to the port of A Guarda, an ideal spot for
a fish lunch. Later enjoy the history and views from one of the largest Iron Age sites in Iberia.
7 of 23
Day 7 - Walk along the Atlantic, then travel to the Douro
Travel south today as you take a walk on the Atlantic coast with your guide, followed by a tour of the city port town Viana do Castelo. Travel to your wine hotel in the Douro and enjoy a first taste.
8 of 23
Day 8 - Visit a historic family winery
Board a private river tour on the Douro this morning with your guide Paulo, visiting his family's historic wine quinta for lunch. In the afternoon relax or take a short hike through the vineyards.
9 of 23
Day 9 - Walk through the vineyards
Full day at leisure, with suggested hikes or winery visits. There are two wonderful half day hikes through vineyards from the top of the hills down to the river shore, enjoying great views.
10 of 23
Day 10 - Wander the palaces and gardens of Bussaco
Drive south through the Dao wine region and the old town of Viseu to reach the exotic Bussaco gardens for a stroll in the grounds of your neo-Manueline palace hotel.
11 of 23
Day 11 - Explore ancient universities and Roman ruins
Visit the old town of Coimbra today, home to the oldest university in Europe as well as extensive Roman ruins at Conímbriga. Stroll along the Mouros river before settling amidst olive groves.
12 of 23
Day 12 - Enjoy the peaceful valley on foot, bike or from the pool
Full day to enjoy the beautiful Alvados valley walking among the olive trees, cycling or enjoying the magic of your hotel. There are also plenty of interesting historical sites within reach.
13 of 23
Day 13 - Arrive to the Spanish border hill-top fortresses
Drive east along the Tejo river to the fortress town of Marvão, a hilltop village with a superb views the open forests of the Alentejo region and across the border into Spain.
14 of 23
Day 14 - Walk through the Alentejo landscape
Experience the beautiful Alentejo landscape with one of the walks from the Spanish border at Galegos back to Marvão following old historical paths beneath giant cork oaks.
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Day 15 - Explore the trails and history of Castelo de Vide
Descend from Marvão along a centuries-old path through chestnut and oak forests to reach Castelo de Vide, a beautiful town full of history and with a nice Portuguese slow pace of life.
16 of 23
Day 16 - Explore towns and wines on the way to Évora
Drive to the beautiful town of Évora via a recommended visit to Monsaraz to enjoy the quiet streets, wide panoramic views and the surrounding wineries, some of Alentejo's best.
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Day 17 - Explore Évora with your guide
Start the day unlocking the secrets of town with our local guide. In the afternoon you can explore the surrounding area, from an Iron age cromlech to the tapestry town of Arraiolos.
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Day 18 - Arrive to the rugged Costa Vicentina
Explore more of Évora this morning before driving to the Costa Vicentina where you settle in your converted farm house withing walking distance of the wild cliffs of the Costa Vicentina.
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Day 19 - Walk along the cliffs and beaches
Today we recommend a walk along the coast from Odeceixe to Zambujeira do Mar, stopping for a swim in the sea and a superb seafood lunch in one of the modest restaurants along the way.
20 of 23
Day 20 - Walk or relax at the coast
Enjoy another day on the coast with plenty more walking to be done, beaches to discover and more great fish and seafood restaurants to explore.
21 of 23
Day 21 - Explore the Arrábida Peninsula en route to Lisbon
Drive to Lisbon today, maybe stopping en route to visit the lively fish market of Setubal and the coast of the Arrábida Natural Park. On arrival settle in to your hotel to start exploring on foot.
22 of 23
Day 22 - Explore Lisbon with your guide
This morning's private guided tour should introduce you to the variety of Lisbon's neighbourhoods and give you plenty of ideas for ways to spend this afternoon.
23 of 23
Day 23 - Travel home or explore farther
Make your way to the airport at a time to suit, or extend a few more days to explore the many hidden corners of Lisbon and its surrounding area.
1 of 23
Day 1 - Arrive in Porto
Arrive in Porto and make your way to your hotel in the heart of the city's Ribeira Quarter. Enjoy your first great views of the Douro river on an evening stroll with sunset views.
2 of 23
Day 2 - Explore Porto with your guide
Meet your guide today to enjoy a privately guided day exploring Porto and the wineries of Vila de Gaia. They will also go over all your holiday details to make sure you have all you need.
3 of 23
Day 3 - Explore the capital of Vinho Verde wine
Collect your car this morning and set off north to the small historical town of Ponte de Lima. On arrival, strike out on foot to explore the beautiful town, as well as the local Vinho Verde wine.
4 of 23
Day 4 - Walk in the Peneda Geres National Park
Explore the mountains of Peneda Geres National park, with its beautiful granite mountains and ancient rural landscapes and traditions, best appreciated on foot from the village of Sistelo.
5 of 23
Day 5 - Walk or cycle along the Minho river
Choose to hike or cycle along the Minho river this morning. In the afternoon head to your lovely small hotel at the beautiful mouth of the river, where the Minho meets the Atlantic ocean.
6 of 23
Day 6 - Explore the Spanish side of the Minho
Cross the Minho river for a walk along the Spanish coast to the port of A Guarda, an ideal spot for
a fish lunch. Later enjoy the history and views from one of the largest Iron Age sites in Iberia.
7 of 23
Day 7 - Walk along the Atlantic, then travel to the Douro
Travel south today as you take a walk on the Atlantic coast with your guide, followed by a tour of the city port town Viana do Castelo. Travel to your wine hotel in the Douro and enjoy a first taste.
8 of 23
Day 8 - Visit a historic family winery
Board a private river tour on the Douro this morning with your guide Paulo, visiting his family's historic wine quinta for lunch. In the afternoon relax or take a short hike through the vineyards.
9 of 23
Day 9 - Walk through the vineyards
Full day at leisure, with suggested hikes or winery visits. There are two wonderful half day hikes through vineyards from the top of the hills down to the river shore, enjoying great views.
10 of 23
Day 10 - Wander the palaces and gardens of Bussaco
Drive south through the Dao wine region and the old town of Viseu to reach the exotic Bussaco gardens for a stroll in the grounds of your neo-Manueline palace hotel.
11 of 23
Day 11 - Explore ancient universities and Roman ruins
Visit the old town of Coimbra today, home to the oldest university in Europe as well as extensive Roman ruins at Conímbriga. Stroll along the Mouros river before settling amidst olive groves.
12 of 23
Day 12 - Enjoy the peaceful valley on foot, bike or from the pool
Full day to enjoy the beautiful Alvados valley walking among the olive trees, cycling or enjoying the magic of your hotel. There are also plenty of interesting historical sites within reach.
13 of 23
Day 13 - Arrive to the Spanish border hill-top fortresses
Drive east along the Tejo river to the fortress town of Marvão, a hilltop village with a superb views the open forests of the Alentejo region and across the border into Spain.
14 of 23
Day 14 - Walk through the Alentejo landscape
Experience the beautiful Alentejo landscape with one of the walks from the Spanish border at Galegos back to Marvão following old historical paths beneath giant cork oaks.
15 of 23
Day 15 - Explore the trails and history of Castelo de Vide
Descend from Marvão along a centuries-old path through chestnut and oak forests to reach Castelo de Vide, a beautiful town full of history and with a nice Portuguese slow pace of life.
16 of 23
Day 16 - Explore towns and wines on the way to Évora
Drive to the beautiful town of Évora via a recommended visit to Monsaraz to enjoy the quiet streets, wide panoramic views and the surrounding wineries, some of Alentejo's best.
17 of 23
Day 17 - Explore Évora with your guide
Start the day unlocking the secrets of town with our local guide. In the afternoon you can explore the surrounding area, from an Iron age cromlech to the tapestry town of Arraiolos.
18 of 23
Day 18 - Arrive to the rugged Costa Vicentina
Explore more of Évora this morning before driving to the Costa Vicentina where you settle in your converted farm house withing walking distance of the wild cliffs of the Costa Vicentina.
19 of 23
Day 19 - Walk along the cliffs and beaches
Today we recommend a walk along the coast from Odeceixe to Zambujeira do Mar, stopping for a swim in the sea and a superb seafood lunch in one of the modest restaurants along the way.
20 of 23
Day 20 - Walk or relax at the coast
Enjoy another day on the coast with plenty more walking to be done, beaches to discover and more great fish and seafood restaurants to explore.
21 of 23
Day 21 - Explore the Arrábida Peninsula en route to Lisbon
Drive to Lisbon today, maybe stopping en route to visit the lively fish market of Setubal and the coast of the Arrábida Natural Park. On arrival settle in to your hotel to start exploring on foot.
22 of 23
Day 22 - Explore Lisbon with your guide
This morning's private guided tour should introduce you to the variety of Lisbon's neighbourhoods and give you plenty of ideas for ways to spend this afternoon.
23 of 23
Day 23 - Travel home or explore farther
Make your way to the airport at a time to suit, or extend a few more days to explore the many hidden corners of Lisbon and its surrounding area.
