Duration: 11 Days
Thrilling natural wonders. Timeless traditions. Portugal is calling with a wealth of wonders to amaze and enchant. From Porto to Lisbon, your senses are filled with visions of natural wonder, wonderful wines, tempting tastes, and amazing artistry on this escorted tour of Portugal. Continue your tour with a trip to Santa Cruz on the magical Island of Madeira, complete with crystalline waters and centuries of tradition and culinary treats. Explore “Little Lisbon” in Funchal, with is creative atmosphere that inspires the imagination. From the quaint charms of fishing villages to the quiet reflections from luminous pools and lofty plateaus, your holiday in Portugal is a feast for the senses and an unforgettable adventure for the soul.
Traveller Notes
- We’ve packed everything you need for the perfect holiday—from hand-selected hotels and dining to the friendly expertise of Globus Tour Directors and Local Guides (with headsets to hear every word), to seamless transportation between destinations and VIP access to the world’s most iconic sites! Touring by private, first-class, air-conditioned motorcoach with free Wi-Fi. Return flight from Lisbon to Madeira.
- Services of the Tour Director end on day 7. Island portion includes services of a local expert.
Welcome to Porto!
At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and travel companions for a welcome dinner at your hotel. (D)
Panoramas & Port Wine
PORTO Follow your Local Guide for a walking tour in the city centre. Enjoy a glass of Porto. Later, relax on a river cruise and take in stunning views of the surroundings. (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
LOCAL TASTES You're invited to the home of the most internationally recognized Porto wines at the magnificent Sandeman Wine Cellars. Here, taste centuries of tradition in a glass of Port wine in the city that bears its name. Saude!
Street Art & Academic Honours
AGUEDA Take a stroll and admire the street art
COIMBRA Orientation walk of the University town. (B) 99mi/ 160km
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
CULTURAL GEMS Agueda has embraced colour, fun, and street art in a fantastical and fancy-free way. Brightly coloured balloons, huge street murals, painted benches, pots filled with flowers of hot pink, red, and yellow lined all the different main streets of the town.
Culture & Bairrada Wine
COIMBRA Enjoy a wine tasting in the Bairrada region. (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
CULTURE & TRADITION Since 1937, this unique place has produced its own sparkling wine, spirits, and Bairrada wines. You'll be dazzled by the beauty of the galleries excavated in the rock, in which the millions of aging bottles rest. The magnificent Baga room is devoted to tastings and banquets, while the museum offers 80 years of history exposed in the Bairrada room, along witha beautiful wine shop that complement your visit to one of the most emblematic spaces of Bairrada.
Panoramas & Port Wine
LISBON Guided sightseeing includes a photo stop at Belem Tower and the Monument to the Discoveries. (B) 146mi/ 235km
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
HISTORIC SPOT The stunning capital city of Portugal is a treasure trove of historic and architectural masterpieces. Along the banks of the River Tagus see the 16th-century Belem Tower, which served as a fortress and an embarkation point for sailors, it was their last sight of land before the start of their journey. Lisbon's impressive sculpture, the Monument to the Discoveries pays homage to great Portuguese explorers with a spectacular carved prow of an ancient ship.
Portuguese Royalties
MAFRA [LF] guided visit of Mafra includes the Royal Palace, the convent and John V Library.
SINTRA Free time for lunch
CASCAIS Free time to browse
LISBON Farewell dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D)
LOCAL FAVOURITE
HISTORY & HERITAGE Learn about the colony of bats which have made their home behind the bookshelves of the library and that ensure its ancient books remain in pristine conditions. The bats leave their hiding spot at night to hunt insects that would otherwise damage the leather-bound spines and yellowed pages of the library's antique collection.
Seasons in the Sun
LISBON Fly to Funchal.
SANTA CRUZ Orientation walk. Free time (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
NATURAL WONDERS The island of Madeira is boasting some of Europe's most impressive landscapes. Soak in the breathtaking natural scenery that merges with crystal-clear waters, centuries-old traditions and authentic flavors. Experience a unique island where the clock does not set the time and the calendar does not dictate the season.
Little Lisbon
FUNCHAL Visit Mercado dos Lavoratores and the "open-air-museum" of the Santa Maria. Take the cable car to Monte and take in views of the city. Dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
ART & NATURE Funchal used to be called "Little Lisbon", and that is no coincidence. There are plenty of historical buildings to discover in the narrow streets, while the traditional white houses are nestled on the steep slopes.Yon won't believe your eyes at the heart of the Zona Velha (Old Town), a swirl of public creativity, which has seen the entrances to buildings along the Rua de Santa Maria adorned with bright paintings and imaginative scenes. Images include everything from a fisherman sitting by his boat in the moonlight to a dislocated eye peering from behind a cracked "window" of yellow glass.
Fishing Lore & Luminescent Pools
SANTA CRUZ Day at leisure. (B)
ENHANCED FREE TIME
NATURAL WONDERS Head West and stop in Camara de Lobos, a small fishing village that in 1949 Winston Churchill chose to paint. Continue towards Cabo Girai the worlds second highest sea cliff (and Europe's highest) and the Paul de Serra, Madeira's biggest and highest plateau. Visit Porto Moniz, the most north-western valley. Here visit its beautiful natural pools which are the village's main attractions and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.
Sights of Santa Cruz
SANTA CRUZ Stop for a walk in the village of Porto da Cruz. Free time in Santana, known for its traditional thatched-roof houses. Fly to Lisbon
LISBON Free time (B)
ENHANCED FREE TIME
TOUR HIGHLIGHT Time to pack your bags and say goodbye to the magical Island of Madeira with a flight to Lisbon to relax and reminisce over your stunning adventure.
Safe travels until we meet again!
Your holiday ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
