Country Roads of Portugal, a Women-Only Tour

Visit Lisbon

Day 1

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 opportunity to mingle with your fellow travellers during a pleasant evening of good food and wine.

Day 2

Your guided sightseeing tour with a Local Expert takes you along the spacious avenues of the Lower Town and across 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 learn how to make the iconic patisserie Pastéis de Belém. This evening, perhaps gain further insight into Portuguese culture over an optional meet-and-greet with a Fado singer followed by dinner and a Fado show.

Day 3

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 specialised Portuguese seafood restaurants hug the coastline, overlooking the Atlantic.

Day 4

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 bones. Visit the cathedral with its attractive mix of Romanesque and Gothic architecture. With the rest of the afternoon at leisure, you may wish to continue to stroll through Évora’s unique historical centre, or the serene city park, following the aqueduct inside the city walls.

Day 5

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.

Day 6

This morning, enjoy a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience with a visit to Casa Relvas for a wine tasting, featuring uniquely Portuguese grape varietals like Touriga Nacional.

Despite the dry climate of the Alentejo region, this family-run estate produces exceptional wine through innovative water-saving techniques. Continue your journey to Fátima, Portugal's most renowned pilgrimage site. Here, you may visit the basilica or the Chapel of the Apparitions, commemorating the Virgin Mary's appearance to three young shepherds in 1917.  Journey across central Portugal’s rolling hills to explore Tomar with Insight Choice. Choose to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site Convento do Cristo with a Local Expert, where you’ll admire the octagonal Templars' Rotunda and the Manueline Window, and learn about the daily life of a warrior monk. Alternatively, join a guided city tour and visit the Synagogue of Tomar, one of the best-preserved medieval synagogues in Portugal, as your Local Expert reveals the town’s rich architectural and cultural history.

Day 7

In Coimbra, your Local Expert shows you the highlights and insights of the Old Town, including the University of Coimbra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Marvel at the 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. Visit Quinta da Pacheca where Maria Pimental, one of the first woman winemakers in the Douro, makes incredible wine. Gain insights into the UNESCO-listed Douro Valley, a premier wine region with a growing presence of female winemakers.

Day 8

The mountain ranges of Northern Portugal accompany your morning journey to Guimarães, known as the birthplace of Portugal.

Here, you can take in views from the Visigoth castle before wandering the cobbled streets and charming squares that exude medieval character. Continue to Porto, a city steeped in history whose central district is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Porto seamlessly blends tradition and modernity.  Accompanied by your Local Expert, visit the São Bento Railway Station, renowned for the hand-painted azulejo tilework depicting scenes of Portugal’s past, and stroll across the Dom Luís I Bridge, a masterpiece of engineering that offers spectacular views of the Douro River.

Day 9

With a full day free to enjoy at your own pace, take a stroll to admire the multi-coloured houses and churches covered in beautiful, glazed tiles.

Perhaps choose to visit Braga, the capital of baroque. For a different perspective in the evening, consider joining an Optional Experience to view the pastel-hued houses of the Ribeira district, cruise aboard a traditional Rabelo boat and savour traditional flavours at a riverside restaurant.

Day 10

Discover the charm of the fortified town of Óbidos.

Step inside the medieval town's ancient walls to wander through cobblestone streets, then continue to Lisbon. This evening, join your Travel Director and fellow travellers for a delightful dinner, raising a glass to the unforgettable moments shared on your tour.

Day 11

After breakfast, your departure transfer arrives at Lisbon International Airport.

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