Country Roads Of Portugal

On arrival at Lisbon International Airport, there are complimentary transfers to your hotel. Settle in and relax before joining your travel director for a welcome dinner at a local restaurant. Enjoy the the opportunity to mingle with your fellow travelers during a pleasant evening of good food and wine.

Your guided sightseeing with a local expert takes you along the spacious avenues of the Lower Town and across the tree-shaded squares. Pass beneath the hilltop Bairro Alto to the Terreiro do Paço. See the ancient Belém Tower and marvel at the Monument to the Discoveries. Explore more of the Belém Quarter as you enjoy a taste of Pastéis de Belém from the patisserie that has been using the same secret recipe for almost 200 years, and visit Jerónimos Monastery. This evening, gain further insight into Portuguese culture with an optional experience dinner.

Cross the River Tagus and head for the sun-drenched southern coast to reach Lagos, a fishing port nestled in the bay of Meia Praia. After free time to explore, continue to your resort hotel set within a magnificent 360-acre estate. Simplicity is in the soul of Algarve cuisine, along with seafood so fresh it still tastes of the sea. A short walk away specialized Portuguese seafood restaurants hug the coastline, overlooking the Atlantic.

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 17th century chapel comprising the skulls and bones of 5,000 bodies. Visit the cathedral with its attractive mix of Romanesque and Gothic architecture. With 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.

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 Europe's largest artificial lake. 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 highlight 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.

This morning, join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience as you visit Casa Relvas for a wine tasting. Despite the dry climate of the Alentejo region, they have been producing exceptional wine using innovative techniques to reduce the use of water. Continue to Tomar and visit one of Portugal's historical jewels, the Templar Castle and Convent of Christ, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With your local expert, explore the octagonal Templars' Rotunda in the cloister and glimpse the day-to-day life of a warrior monk in the domestic areas. Outside on the battlements, the Manueline Window is a national masterpiece. You also visit the Synagogue of Tomar, one of the best preserved medieval synagogues in Portugal, housing a small Jewish museum.

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 dinner, freshly prepared from locally sourced ingredients, with a port wine tasting.

Journey to Guimarães to admire the views from the ruined castle and explore the cobbled streets and cozy squares. Next, continue on to Porto, Portugal's second city, a World Heritage town and where Portugal originates. Enjoy exploring Porto. Choose between joining your local expert for a walk to visit the São Bento Railway Station and walk on the Dom Luis I Bridge or alternatively, join your local expert shows you the Clerigos Tower, the beaches along the Atlantic coast, the mouth of Douro and the main Liberdade Square. In the evening you are at leisure to enjoy your boutique hotel, a member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World, in the heart of Porto's historic district. The decor is a mix of classic and contemporary and each room is individually decorated with original artwork. Join an optional experience to see the pastel-painted houses in Porto's Ribeira district before cruising on a traditional Rabelo boat and finishing off the evening with a Portuguese dinner in the comfort of your riverside restaurant.

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. For a different perspective and excellent views of the city, perhaps embark on a relaxing Douro cruise. In the evening, bid adeus to your travel director and fellow travelers with a mouth-watering celebration dinner with wine, at an authentic Porto restaurant.

Continue to Fátima, Portugal's most renowned place of pilgrimage. See the basilica or perhaps visit the Chapel of the Apparitions, which commemorates the appearance of the Virgin Mary to three young shepherds in 1917. Journey to the fortified town of Óbidos and walk within its walls, exploring the narrow, medieval streets where houses are covered with flowers. Your travels continue to the Portuguese capital, Lisbon.

After breakfast, you will depart from Lisbon Portela Airport.