Day 01: Porto, Portugal
Arrival at Porto International
Airport, you will be met for private transfer to your hotel in Porto.
Check-in and free time to unpack and relax. Enjoy an afternoon city
tour of Porto featuring; the Cathedral, the Clérigos Tower and
church, the Church of São Francisco, a convent constructed in
gothic style during the 14th and 15th centuries. On the way back to
your hotel, stop at an old port lodge at Vila Nova de Gaia, in the
south bank of Douro River, for a tasting of famous Port wines.
Pestana Carlton Hotel or Fenix Porto Hotel (B)
Day 02: Braga & Guimaraes
Morning departure to visit Braga and
Guimarães. Guimarães - a museum town and cradle of
Portugal’s Nationhood, overlooked by its legendary castle, houses
a magnificently well-preserved historic center. Enjoy free time for
lunch on own in Braga and return to Porto mid-afternoon.
Pestana Carlton Hotel or Fenix Porto Hotel (B)
Day 03: Porto
Full day at leisure in Porto, stroll
among typical quarters, especially the riverside area -
“Ribeira” (means riverside) stretch along the Douro river,
with its quays, markets, shops, restaurants and the cool, somber
cellars where Port Wine is aged or to visit some of the museums in town
such as: Soares dos Reis National Museum, Serralves Foundation, the
Stock Exchange / Bolsa Palace. Also free time to shop: the city best
jewelers and goldsmith hide behind the traditional shop fronts of Rua
das Flores, not far from S. Bento train station. A good market lies
north of the Sé Cathedral. There is also a delightful central
shopping center in Via de Santa Catarina. Douro River short cruise (55
minutes) – cruise below the famous bridges. A different way to
admire the old city of Porto with its typical houses, the hustle and
bustle of “Ribeira,” the old Cathedral and the Port wine
lodges.
Pestana Carlton Hotel or Fenix Porto Hotel (B)
Day 04: Aveiro & Bussaco National Park
Departure from Porto head south,
visiting en route: Aveiro – famous for its lagoon, this town is
crisscrossed by canals where colorfully painted “moliceiro”
boats sail. Arrival at Bussaco by mid-afternoon. Check-in at the hotel
and free time to relax and get acquainted with the beautiful
surroundings, before dinner.
Palace Bussaco Hotel OR Astoria Hotel in Coimbra (B)
Day 05: Conimbriga & Coimbra
Enjoy a full day tour of the region.
Conimbriga - see various houses, the public baths, the Forum and the
walls with fascinating mosaics. Also visit Coimbra – one of
Europe’s oldest university towns, it kept its secular academic
traditions as seen in the black-caped students, in the soulful tones of
the “Fado de Coimbra” (traditional song sung to the sound
of guitars by the students.)
Palace Bussaco Hotel or Astoria Hotel in Coimbra (B)
Day 06: Central Portugal - Lisbon
Leave the central region and drive to
Lisbon, visiting Batalha, Nazaré, Alcobaça and Obidos en
route. Batalha - Portuguese Gothic masterpiece and classified in
UNESCO’s International Heritage list, the Santa Maria da
Vitória Monastery (14th-16th centuries) is a national landmark.
Nazaré – fishing village, full of tradition and legends.
Alcobaça - Monumental Cistercian Abbey of Santa Maria, founded
in 1152 (classified in UNESCO’s International Heritage list),
housing the tombs of King Pedro and Queen Inês, a love and
dramatic legend of the Portuguese History. Óbidos - a charming
old Moorish stronghold surrounded by the walls of the Castle, conquered
by the first King of Portugal in 1145, still keeps the atmosphere of
medieval times. Arrive Lisbon late afternoon.
Fenix Lisboa Hotel or Metropole Hotel (B)
Day 07: Lisbon
Half-day city tour of Lisbon. Leave
the hotel to the historical area of Belém. In this section of
the city we can admire some of the most representative monuments of
Lisbon. Proceed by the riverside to “Praça do
Comércio”, the main riverside square with the Triumphal
Augusta Arch and the equestrian of King José, in downtown. A
little walk will lead us to St. Jorge’s Castle, that was the
royal residence until the 16th century, and from where we may enjoy a
fabulous view over the city and the Tagus estuary. Balance of the day
at leisure.
Fenix Lisboa Hotel or Metropole Hotel (B)
Day 08: Sintra
Depart for a full-day tour of Sintra
featuring misty “Mountain of the Moon,” with craggy hills
and luxuriant forests, houses a fabulous collection of monuments from a
wide range of eras. Free time for lunch in Sintra. Drive from Sintra to
Colares along an exceptionally beautiful valley and taste the local
“Colares” wine. Proceed to Azenhas do Mar, set into the
cliffs right over the sea. Continue along the scenic rocky coastal road
to the majestic Roca Cape, the most westerly point of continental
Europe, a magnificent cliff overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Continue to
Cascais, famous holiday resort, known for the elegant fashion shops,
dozens of gourmet restaurants, Discos and Pubs, the Marina Yacht Club
and its nautical facilities – and Estoril - with the largest
Casino in Europe, luxury hotels, home of the jet set, aristocrats and a
golfers paradise. Return to Lisbon late afternoon.
Fenix Lisboa Hotel or Metropole Hotel (B)
Day 09: Lisbon - Depart
Departure transfer to Lisbon International Airport.
Tour Prices
NOTE: Prices shown
are effective as of date web page published, and are subject to change
due to currency fluctuations, availability issues, seasonal increases
or changes in local costings at time of booking.
2007
$5245 per person, double occupancy based on 2 persons traveling
Inclusions:
-
8 nights accommodation: 3 nights in Porto, 2 nights at Bussaco or Coimbra and 3 nights in Lisboa at the hotels suggested.
-
Buffet breakfast daily.
-
Transportation service as per
itinerary, provided by sedan or mini-bus, according to the number of
participants, with English speaking tourism driver
-
English speaking official guide on the following days/services:
-
Porterage in/out at each of the hotels (3)
-
Entrance fees at the following
monuments/museums: Porto – St. Francis Church / Bom Jesus
Sanctuary in Braga and Ducal Palace in Guimarães / Vista Alegre
Museum in Aveiro / Conimbriga Monographic Museum & Roman ruins /
Coimbra University / Monasteries of Batalha and Alcobaça /
Lisboa – Royal Coach Museum / Sintra – Royal Palace or Pena
Palace
-
All taxes as presently effective
Exclusions:
-
International airfare and airport taxes
-
Entrance fees at museums and National Monuments are not included
-
Meals, unless otherwise indicated
-
Items of a personal nature
-
Gratuities and porterage
-
Travel insurance
-
Visas (if required)
These trips are priced assuming two
travelers. Surcharges for solo travelers and discounts for groups, if
any, will be applied. Prices assume itinerary is purchased "as is".
Minor changes to hotels or hotel add-ons to the beginning or the end of
the existing itinerary can be made at no extra charge. Any
customization requiring us to start with a new base itinerary will
require a non-refundable upfront planning fee of $250 that is
creditable towards the final trip price.
All prices are in US dollars and do not include international airfare, unless otherwise noted.
Prices displayed are based on the lowest season base price and assume
double occupancy. Prices are shown in U.S. dollars and may or may not
include administrative fees, taxes, meals, airfare (where applicable)
and Single Supplements. Cancellation penalties, blackout dates and
other restrictions may apply.
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