Day 3
Included Porto tour and optional boat trip on the Douro River - Our first included excursion, taken in the company of your tour manager, is a full day visit to Portugal’s second city, Porto. The city that gave its name to the country is ancient, time-weathered, and clings haphazardly to the hillside above the beautiful River Douro. During the day, you'll also visit one of the city’s many famous port wine lodges, and have the chance to enjoy lunch in a riverside restaurant. An optional boat trip on the Douro will also be available (payable locally).
You’ll return to your hotel for dinner.
Day 4
Optional Douro Valley excursion - Today, you’ll travel travel into the heart of the Douro Valley. The tour will first make its way to Favious, an authentic wine village, backed by rugged mountains and one of two places in the country where the sweet dessert wine, muscatel is produced. You’ll be able to taste a few glasses and experience a tour of a local adega while taking in the surrounding vista. You’ll then enter a local bakery that creates a distinctive four-cornered loaf from locally grown wheat, which is baked in a wood-fired oven. While sampling this bread, a baker will tell you about how the recipe was passed down through generations and you’ll get to see the original wooden ovens. The Bread and Wine Museum will follow, and it’s housed in an 18th-century building lined with exhibits detailing the area’s culinary history.
A delicious lunch, made with fresh ingredients, will then be served at the winery, Quinta Avessada, as you listen to the owner talk about the production process before tasting a few labels. Afterwards, the tour will travel along the river Douro on the EN222 – considered one of the most beautiful roads in the world.
Day 5
Optional Barcelos and Braga excursion - Today’s full-day optional tour takes in Barcelos, home to Europe’s largest open-air market – a colourful, bustling hive of activity offering a huge range of locally produced goods.
From here you’ll continue to Braga, the former Catholic capital of Portugal. Set in the heart of the verdant Minho region, this ancient university seat is one of the country’s oldest settlements. See its great cathedral, and explore the verdant acres of Bom Jesus park and the Escadaria (Baroque staircases) which climbs through it, past chapels, fountains and statues, to the hill-top church.
Day 6
Day at leisure - You can embrace a free day, taking advantage of your hotel’s facilities or exploring the surrounding area.
Day 7
Included tour of the Minho region - Your final included tour takes in the beautiful coastal region of the Minho. Your first stop will be the typical seaside town of Viana do Castelo, on the northern bank of the estuary of the River Lima. One of the town's highlights is the Basilica de Santa Lucia, which has wonderful views over the surrounding area.
You'll also head further inland, through the Vinho Verde vineyards, to the historic market town of Ponte de Lima, famous for its 18th-century fountain and Roman bridge.
Day 8
Fly home to the UK - Bid “Adeus” to this delightful region of Portugal, and head back to the airport to check in for your flight home, at the end of a hugely enjoyable holiday.
Day 9
Fly to Portugal - Arrive in Oporto, meet your tour manager and board the coach for the short transfer to your chosen hotel.
Day 10
Full day at leisure - Spend your first full day in Portugal relaxing in your chosen hotel and its surroundings. You'll also have the chance to join your tour manager for a leisurely guided stroll or the area in which your hotel is based.
Day 11
Included Porto tour and optional boat trip on the Douro River - Our first included excursion, taken in the company of your tour manager, is a full day visit to Portugal’s second city, Porto. The city that gave its name to the country is ancient, time-weathered, and clings haphazardly to the hillside above the beautiful River Douro. During the day, you'll also visit one of the city’s many famous port wine lodges, and have the chance to enjoy lunch in a riverside restaurant. An optional boat trip on the Douro will also be available (payable locally).
You’ll return to your hotel for dinner.
Day 12
Optional tour of the Minho region - Enjoy breakfast this morning ahead of a full day at leisure. If you'd prefer, you can also take in the beautiful coastal region of the Minho on an enthralling optional excursion. Your first stop will be the typical seaside town of Viana do Castelo, on the northern bank of the estuary of the River Lima. One of the town's highlights is the Basilica de Santa Lucia, which has wonderful views over the surrounding area.
You'll also head further inland, through the Vinho Verde vineyards, to the historic market town of Ponte de Lima, famous for its 18th-century fountain and Roman bridge.
Day 13
Included Barcelos and Braga excursion - Today’s full-day tour takes in Barcelos, home to Europe’s largest open-air market – a colourful, bustling hive of activity offering a huge range of locally produced goods.
From here you’ll continue to Braga, the former Catholic capital of Portugal. Set in the heart of the verdant Minho region, this ancient university seat is one of the country’s oldest settlements. See its great cathedral, and explore the verdant acres of Bom Jesus park and the Escadaria (Baroque staircases) which climbs through it, past chapels, fountains and statues, to the hill-top church.
Day 14
Day at leisure - Embrace a free day, taking advantage of your hotel’s facilities or exploring the surrounding area.
Day 15
Included tour of Guimarães - Start the final full day of your tour with breakfast at the hotel and head east for a fascinating trip to Guimarães, the ‘Birthplace of Portugal’. Upon arrival in this historic city, you’ll have the chance to take in its beautifully preserved medieval centre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
From here, you’ll be free to explore under your own steam, perhaps with a stop at Guimarães Castle, the fortress where Portugal’s first king, Afonso Henriques, was born. Another major sight, the Palace of the Dukes of Braganza, shouldn’t be missed with its grand 15th-century architecture and elegant interiors. If you have an interest in history and art, consider visiting the Alberto Sampaio Museum or the Centro Internacional das Artes José de Guimarães.
Alternatively, browse local boutiques for Portuguese crafts and souvenirs or sip a coffee in one of the squares before returning to the hotel for dinner.
Day 16
Fly home to the UK - Bid “Adeus” to this delightful region of Portugal, and head back to the airport to check in for your flight home, at the end of a hugely enjoyable holiday.