Luxury Portugal Tour

Luxury Portugal

8 Nights

DAY 1 - …/Porto/Vidago

VIP meet & greet including luggage porters at Porto airport upon arrival

Private transfer to Hotel Vidago Palace 5*****

Check-in and rest of the day free at leisure

Overnight in Vidago

DAY 2 - VIDAGO

Breakfast at hotel

Private Day Tour to the Douro Valley including a guided visit to a local wine estate with wine tasting and regional lunch.

THE DOURO VALLEY

The River Douro rises in Spain and flows more or less East / West across Northern Portugal reaching the sea at Portugal's second city, Oporto. Once a fast-flowing river of rapids and narrow ravines it has been tamed over the past 25 years by the construction of 8 dams along its length giving it, in most places, a tranquil, lake-like appearance.

The valley is spectacularly beautiful with the hills falling steeply down to the water´s edge becoming more and more sparsely populated and wild the further inland one travels, with more of the land being given over to terraces of vines and, to a lesser extent, olive groves.

This is port country and was, in fact, the world´s first demarcated wine region being established in 1756. Evidence of the port industry can be seen along the valley with all the famous company names - Cockburns, Taylors, Sandeman, and others - appearing on large placards on the hillsides. The color of the land changes throughout the year as the vines mature.

OPTION A)

QUINTA DE MARROCOS WINE ESTATE

In the beautiful Douro region, you will find the old Franciscan monastery that today comprises the main house of the Quinta de Marrocos estate.

The estate enjoys a lovely location by the left bank of the Douro river, nestled between the snow on the Marão mountain range, the history and art of Lamego and Vila Real, the traditions and customs of the villages, and towns, the nature of the Douro valley.

The 17th-century house is decorated with (country-style) family antiques. It is one of the oldest estates in the Douro and has maintained its own winery activity for over 4 generations, producing famous Port and Douro wines.

OPTION B)

QUINTA DO CRASTO

Quinta do Crasto is located on the right bank of the River Douro, halfway between Régua and Pinhão. The Quinta covers 130 hectares, of which 70 are planted with grade “A” vineyards. Sitting on a privileged location in the Douro Demarcated Region, Quinta do Crasto has been in the family of Leonor and Jorge Roquette for over a century. Like other great Douro quintas, its origins lie in ancient times (the name CRASTO comes from the Latin word castrum, a Roman fort). References to Quinta do Crasto date as far back as the early seventeenth century, long before the Douro became the world’s first demarcated wine region in 1756.

Overnight in Vidago

DAY 3 – Vidago/Porto

Breakfast at hotel

Morning free at leisure to enjoy hotel facilities and/or the region

Private transfer from Vidago to Porto

Arrival in Porto and check-in at The Yeatman Hotel 5*****

Overnight in Porto

DAY 4 – Vidago/Porto

Breakfast at hotel

Private Day Tour of Porto including a private cruise on the river Douro

PORTO, WORLD HERITAGE & PORTWINE

Upon departure towards the historical center, considered World Heritage by UNESCO, we will pass by one of the trendiest and most cultural areas of the city called Boavista and Foz. This is where the Atlantic meets the Douro river providing the ideal location for upper-class residences.

After passing the aristocratic part of the city and the Avenida dos Aliados, famous for its banks and trendy shops, we will leave the car behind for a walk down the well-known Santa Catarina street to get a feel of the city and it's people. Some time at leisure can be given for a coffee or some shopping!

We will then visit the Stock Exchange Palace with incredible granite work and magnificent neo-Arab influences. A passage by the famous Clérigos Church and Lello Bookshop is also on the program.

No visit to Porto is complete without a visit to one of the Portwine cellars located on the south bank of the River Douro. After the visit, you will have the chance to taste some of the wines.

Before heading back to the hotel, enjoy a private river cruise on the “Douro” on board a fantastic vintage yacht!

Overnight in Porto

DAY 5 – Porto/Lisbon

Breakfast at hotel

Private transfer to Lisbon with a stop at “Casal Branco” for a visit and lunch

CASAL BRANCO

Near the Tagus River, Casal Branco Estate has been in the same family for over 200 years.

It has been creating Lusitano horses since the 19th century and producing top-quality wines for more than one hundred years.

Family, tradition, and a big passion for what they do keep it going and justify the recognition that is continuously receiving.

Arrival in Lisbon in the afternoon and check-in at Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon 5*****

Rest of the day free at leisure

Overnight in Lisbon

DAY 6 – Lisbon

Breakfast at hotel

Private Day Tour to Lisbon

LISBON, THE CITY OF THE DISCOVERIES

Of all Lisbon, Belém most clearly evokes the era of the Discoveries and Portugal´s maritime expansion. It was from Belém that caravels would depart and arrive throughout the 15th and 16th centuries. King Manuel, I ordered the construction of the Monastery of Jerónimos (Hieronymos) and the Tower of Belém as symbols of the wealth and splendor of the times. Classified as World Heritage, they are among the very best examples of the "Manueline" architectural style; a Portuguese interpretation of the gothic.

No visit to Lisbon is complete without trying Belém Pastries. These are the famous cream cakes made from puff pastry filled with milk, cream, vanilla, and... nobody quite knows. That is just how it is. The recipe for Belém Pastries is one of the best-kept secrets in Portuguese gastronomy.

After visiting Belém, head off to the old quarters of Alfama and visit the Castle of St George from where one can admire one of the best views over Lisbon – to get there, you will experience a ride in one of Lisbon's typical trams! Walking back through the old quarters until downtown and then through the shopping district of Chiado.

Overnight in Lisbon

DAY 7 – Lisbon

Breakfast at hotel

Private Day Tour to Sintra, cascais & Cabo da Roca

THE ENCHANTED VILLAGE OF SINTRA

Located right in the central-western Portuguese coast, just a short drive from Lisbon. Sintra, UNESCO World Heritage since 1995, is steeped in history and offers some of the most exquisite natural and architectural sites in the country. Here, at the northern-most extent of the protected Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, history, archaeology, architecture, and natural beauty combine to create a compelling and enduring centerpiece that has enjoyed centuries of popularity.

After visiting the Pena Palace, a fairytale castle built for Prince Dom Pedro in the 1750's still well preserved and with beautiful gardens (on the photo) some time at leisure will be given for exploring the beautiful village with it's narrow streets and beautiful parks, and to do some shopping! Do not forget to taste the typical regional pastries, the “Travesseiros de Sintra” or the famous “Queijadas”.

On the way back to the hotel, there is still time for a visit to Cabo da Roca which is, as described by the famous Portuguese poet Luís de Camões, the place "where the land ends and the sea begins". It is the westernmost point of mainland Portugal and continental Europe.

Overnight in Lisbon

DAY 8 – Lisbon

Breakfast at hotel

Day free at leisure to enjoy hotel facilities and/or the city

Optional day tour to Evora – not included

ÉVORA

Topped by an imposing cathedral, Évora is laid out over a gently sloping hill rising out of the huge Alentejo plain. It guards its historic center with a vast outer wall and represents a valuable cultural legacy that UNESCO has classified World Heritage.

The city, with its narrow streets of Moorish origin contrasting with squares where the light floods in, holds two millennia of history. Conquered in 59 B.C. by the Romans, they named it "Liberalitas Julia". In this period, Évora gained great importance as can be witnessed from the remains of that time: the ruins of a fine temple dated towards the end of the second century, various parts of the wall, and the gateway more recently called Dona Isabel in addition to the remains of thermal baths below what is now the Municipal Council building.

Little remains of the Visigoth period (5th - 8th centuries). There then followed the Moorish period began with the city's conquest by Tárique. This lasted through to Christian reconquest in the 12th century. Yeborah, as it became known, had already received an indelible Moorish influence, most clearly seen in the Mouraria neighborhood.

After the Reconquest, in addition to between the inner and outer walls, urban development moved beyond the city's walls. The city was home to the court of various Portuguese kings of the first and second dynasties. During this period it was endowed with various palaces and monuments, particularly during the reigns of kings João II and Manuel (15th and 16th centuries).

Overnight in Lisbon

DAY 9 – Lisbon/...

Breakfast at hotel

Private transfer to Lisbon airport

10h25 Flight to EWR with United 917

Inclusions:

Hotels

2 nights at Vidago Palace Hotel 5***** (Suite Double BB)

2 nights at The Yeatman Hotel 5***** (Suite Double BB)

4 nights at Hotel Four Seasons Ritz Lisbon 5***** (Imperial Suite Double BB)

Private Tours/Special Experiences:

Private Day Tour to Douro Valley incl. visit, wine tasting, and lunch at a local wine estate

Private Day Tour of Porto incl private river cruise w/ vintage yacht

Private visit, wine tasting, and lunch at Casal Brance estate

Private Day Tour to Lisbon

Private Day Tour to Sintra, Cascais & Cabo da Roca

Necessary entrance fees during tours

Transportation:

VIP Meet & Greet upon arrival incl luggage porters (at Porto airport)

All private transfers as in the program

Meals:

All breakfasts