Portugal Holidays

As you'd expect from an Anglo-Spanish company, our first-hand experience and detailed knowledge of the Iberian peninsula is beyond doubt. In fact, we operate a number of trips through Portugal on behalf of international tour operators. The network of friends, partners, small hotels and experiences we have created over the years is what we share with you on this trip.

Visit iconic cities like a local, stay with wonderful hosts who we take pride in introducing you to and take walks that few non-locals know about. Any support or guidance you need, we're here at every step. This itinerary is just a frame where we can share with you all we love about Portugal, adapting the activities and the pace to you. As our guests, we want to make sure you get absolutely the most out of your time in Portugal.

Our Portugal holidays are private, ideal for couples, or small groups of friends or family. The prices you see here are based on two people travelling together and sharing a room. The prices will be lower for small private groups of say 4-8 people, but higher for solo travellers.

The trips are built around mainly private tours, unless a shared tour offers a better experience or value for money.

It is possible to travel in Portugal pretty much any time of year. But for the best balance of temperatures, rainfall and visitor numbers, we advise you plan to travel from late March through to June and then late September through October. During these times of year, you should be able to swim in the sea in the south and enjoy pleasant walking temperatures inland and in the cities.

Peak season is from mid-July to the end of August but we do not generally offer this trip during that period as the area is busier with summer holidaymakers from Portugal, and it is too hot for most. September in the Douro can be busy as it is harvest time, but it's an exciting and photogenic time to be amid the vines.

Although it varies from trip to trip, the hotels you will stay at tend more towards the premium end of the scale. That's not to say they're fancy for the sake of being fancy, but rather we know you'll be very comfortable and very well looked after.

In the countryside, you should expect small rural guesthouses, with a warm welcome, characterful and comfortable rooms and often a delicious homecooked meal made with local ingredients. Whether it's the food, the hosts or the location, there is something memorable at each, all offering a great sense of place. We even throw in the odd swimming pool from time-to-time.

In the cities, the boutique hotels we use are all central, close to good restaurants. We look for quiet and comfy rooms, good service and a bit of personality. We like some luxury touches, but not necessarily luxury for the sake of luxury.

Our walking holidays are, by their nature, considered active. But they're not expedition-active. We pride ourselves on making our trips enjoyable for all and take great care to vary the walking difficulty over the week, build in rest days based around cultural discovery or food/wine and giving you options to shorten or even skip out walks where necessary.

Our Signature Drive trips are based on active discovery. In reality, they can be as active, relaxed or cultural as you like. Usually a mix of all three is what most people aim at. We include some guided experiences and then provide notes for self-guided walks, sightseeing ideas and dining tips for you to make the trips your own. So really it's down to you how much, or little, you want to do.

Wherever we include a day of guided hiking, you simply discuss your options with your guide before setting off. There are usually ways to dial things up or down, depending on how you are feeling.

Not at all, no. Your hosts and guide all speak good English and you'll have little problem in somewhere so geared towards tourism as Lisbon and Porto are. In the countryside and on the coast, you'll find some restaurants and bars have limited English, but part of the fun is getting by and finding ways to communicate.

Generally, if you're somewhere where English is not widely spoken, then that's a sign you're somewhere interesting...

As part of our holiday service to you, we provide a travel app which is packed with our favourite self-guided walks, sightseeing options and places to eat. This helps take the stress out of planning your time, knowing that we've been there, done that and eaten the pasteis de nata. Think of it as your bible as you travel around, a friend always there to send you off in the right direction and smooth the way for you.

If you get into any bother, which you'd be hard pushed to do in Portugal, then our team is always on hand to help. In the first instance that is your hosts and guides, our extended Pura Aventura family in Portugal. But you have a 24/7 emergency contact for our team here should you ever need it.

The roads are all paved and in a good to excellent state of repair. Given how quiet the roads are, how close everything is and how beautiful the landscapes are, driving is a pleasurable pursuit in these parts. It's not a price to pay to win your freedom, it's very much part of the experience.

For two people travelling to Portugal you can expect a medium-sized vehicle such as a VW Golf. We can’t guarantee specific make or model. Where it is a realistic option, we will always try to provide a hybrid vehicle. Automatics are usually available on request, whilst navigation is easy using Waze or Google Maps on your phone.

You can either use our enquiry form, or e-mail us at [email protected].

If you'd rather chat through the best options for your trip, simply call on +44 1273 676712.

One of our Portugal specialists will help to create your perfect holiday.

Yes, all of our itineraries can be tweaked and tailored to suit your dates, durations, and specific needs.

Contact us and one of our experts will be happy to help plan your holiday.

We're only an email away on [email protected] if you have any queries.

Or call us on +44 1273 676712 if you'd prefer to chat through.