Portugal vibe
A 14 day Highlights of Portugal adventure, starting in Lisbon and finishing in Porto.
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Portugal is one of my favorite European countries, the people are friendly and welcoming, the sights breathtaking, and the history is astonishing. It is a country that once you have been to, you cannot wait to return and explore further.
On this our 14-day highlights adventure, we get to discover the absolute best, with time to explore and "smell the roses,]" enjoy a coffee, and leisurely outdoor dining, just like the locals do. No one is in a hurry in this country, and that’s part of the charm. Great food, fantastic wines, ports, and local beer, all to the sweet sound of Fado (traditional music). We travel around on a variety of local transportation on this trip, trams, trains, a minivan, and ferry, traveling like the locals do. There is a lot of exploring the historic cities on foot and you need to be comfortable on your feet for a few hours a day to really enjoy this trip. I named this the Portugal "Vibe" trip to invoke the flavor of our trip, think of the style as being a group of friends discovering a country together. This is not a history tour, or a traditional coach tour, you will have plenty of time to explore on your own if desired, I will always have a plan for the day as you can see below, but those that wish it can take time out if there is something they prefer to do. We dine all together in the evenings most of us are foodies and love sampling traditional cuisine,. with a glass of local wine over great conversation. Day 1 Arrival day in Lisbon You can arrive any time and make your way to our central hotel, where we will meet you, time to rest up or head out for a walk and explore the local area around our centrally located hotel. We will all get together for a welcome meal this evening, somewhere special and get to know each other. Day 2 Lisbon Leisurely start to the day as some will be jetlagged and then its off on foot to explore with Richard, riding the trams so some amazing sights. Built on 7 hills Lisbon is one of the most photogenic cities in the world, and your camera will get a full workout today. This evening we will dine in the Alfama area, the oldest area of the old city, listening to the sounds of Fado. Day 3 Belem and Cacilhas After breakfast we take the train to the “Torre de Belem” for a walk around the amazing historical sights, before heading over the river on the ferry for a walk around the historic town of Cacilhas, and the old warehouses of the Lisbon shipbuilding era. We stay on for a late seafood lunch with spectacular views looking back towards the city. Day 4 Cascais Today we take a day trip to famous beach town of Cascais, taking the coastal train to this delightful seaside suburb. Lunch, beach, ice cream, and cocktails, so bring your bathers, or explore this lovely towns museums and gardens. Day 5 Sintra Day trip to Sintra, there is so much to do here, visit Sintra palace, Sintra fort, or explore the lush gardens and historic village, sampling chocolates, wine, and dinning in the plazas. Day 6 Follow your passions Visit your own areas of interest and passions. Lisbon has more world class Museums, churches, gardens, and galleries than you can possibly see in one trip, so it’s time to pick what interests you most, Richard will make recommendations to help you narrow it down, and give you help to get there. Or take the day off for some shopping or a day people watching over coffee and wine in outside cafes the city is famous for. We meet up again for the evening in Barrio Alto, to experience this area which comes alive at night, including visiting a local Gay bar. Day 7 Obidos and on to Nazare This morning you will need to pack your bags, as we are leaving Lisbon and heading north, for a day in Obidos, arguably Portugal’s most beautiful medieval city. We wander the cobbled streets, sample the wears, and enjoy walking in a town where most of the roads are too narrow for cars. Late in the afternoon we head on for about 1hr to the town of Nazare where we will spend our next 2 nights. Day 8 Nazare Nazare is a mecca for the world’s greatest surfers, boasting some of the highest waves in the world. It’s a spectacular place to explore on foot, hang out on the beach or watch the surfers. Richard will take you to his favorite spots and a walk to watch the surfers from the cliffs above. Or opt to go exploring on your own, you can't get lost here. Day 9 Tomar Today we head to Tomar and the city of the “Knights templar” via the Monastery of Batalha, it’s a day of historic sights and legends from the middle ages. Overnight in this lovely town. Day 10 Coimbra We spend the morning in Tomar with time to explore the castle before the day trippers arrive, then after lunch we continue north to the University town of Coimbra, home to the oldest university in Europe and its magnificent setting on the banks of the river. Day 11 Coimbra As a university town, Coimbra has a great vibe and today I will take you on a familiarization walk before setting you free to explore. We dine together somewhere special tonight. Day 12 Porto We take the fast train from Coimbra to Porto and settle into our city central hotel, with time this afternoon for a walk and familiarization of this our last great destination. Day 13 Porto We have a full morning exploring the city with Richard, ending up in the river area where the port wine merchants and cellars are, we will have lunch and port tasting here, This afternoon is free time, go on a port cellar tour, chance to do some shopping , or head to the Museums. Day 14 Porto Its departure day, you can book your flights for any time today, the modern airport is easily accessible on the subway or stay on in this wonderful city for a few days. Suggestions for those with extra time. Porto is a hub city with direct flights to many onward destinations. My pick for those that have the time:-
Contact us to register interest and find out further information, and we can arrange to have a chat on Skype to answer any questions. |
Planning to run summer 2023
Portugal Vibes is a 14 day 13 night adventure. Starts in Lisbon (LIS) and finishes in Porto (OPO) This trip will be hosted by Richard Includes :-
Plus of course, daily help and suggestions from Richard. Guideline around $2750-2950 Euro twin share Single room supplement on request. Travelling Solo and would like to to twin share, we will try and match you up with a fellow traveler. Compare our prices and I guarantee you will not find better value for what's on offer and the standard of hotels we use. This trip is costed in Euro and can be paid in USD, AUD GBP or NZD at the exchange rate applicable on the day of full payment. Due to the nature of adventure travel and the prices of the resources on which it depends, the published price of any trip is subject to change at any time, before or after booking confirmation, up to 60 days before the departure. 
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