Country Roads of Portugal (Women Only)
Travel Through the Best of Portugal's Cities and Countryside on this 11-Day Women-Only Tour
Tantalize your senses during this 11-day women-only tour through Portugal. On this small group tour, a Local Expert shows you the historic downtown of Lisbon and the finest square in the city, Terreiro do Paço. From the hilltop perch of Monsaraz, see across the Spanish plains beyond Alqueva Lake and meet a local boat captain during a cruise on the lake’s calm waters. In Tomar, see the Templar Castle and explore its awe-inspiring rotunda with a Local Expert. Indulge in a farm-to-table meal featuring locally sourced ingredients. Taste port wine at Antónia Adelaide Ferreira’s cellars. Stroll through Portugal’s second city, Porto, a UNESCO World Heritage town, and relax in your contemporary hotel in the city’s picturesque historic district.
- 10 Breakfasts, 1 Lunch with Wine, 4 Dinners with Wine
- Hand Picked Hotels
- Traditions of the Alentejo
- Cooking class making Pasteis de Belem
- Cruise Lake Alqueva with a Local Captain
Image courtesy of Insight Vacations
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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 travelers during a pleasant evening of good food and wine.
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.
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 specialized Portuguese seafood restaurants hug the coastline, overlooking the Atlantic.
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 center, or the serene city park, following the aqueduct inside the city walls.
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.
This morning, join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience as you visit Casa Relvas for a wine tasting. Despite the dry climate of the Alentejo region, they have been producing exceptional wine using innovative techniques to reduce the use of water. Continue to Tomar and visit one of Portugal’s historical jewels, the Templar Castle and Convent of Christ, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With your Local Expert, explore the octagonal Templars' Rotunda in the cloister and glimpse the day-to-day life of a warrior monk in the domestic areas. Outside on the battlements, the Manueline Window is a national masterpiece. You also visit the Synagogue of Tomar, one of the best-preserved medieval synagogues in Portugal, housing a small Jewish museum.
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.
Journey to Guimarães to admire the views from the ruined castle and explore the cobbled streets and cozy squares. Continue to Porto, a UNESCO World Heritage town and where Portugal originates to explore with Insight Choice. Choose to join your Local Expert and visit the São Bento Railway Station. Alternatively, enjoy a panoramic drive through the city led by a Local Expert.
As evening descends, you are at leisure to enjoy your boutique, five-star hotel in the heart of Porto’s historic district. Sample the flavors of the region during a Caves Ferreira Visit and Port Tasting, gaining insight into winegrower Antónia Adelaide Ferreira. Afterwards, consider joining an Optional Experience to see the narrow façades of Porto's Ribeira district before cruising on a traditional Rabelo boat and dining at a riverside restaurant.
With a full day free to enjoy at your own pace, take a stroll to admire the multi-colored houses and churches covered in beautiful, glazed tiles. Perhaps choose to visit Braga, the capital of baroque. In the evening, enjoy a mouth-watering dinner with exquisite wine at an authentic Porto restaurant.
Continue to Fátima, Portugal’s most renowned place of pilgrimage. Explore the basilica or consider visiting the Chapel of the Apparitions, which commemorates the appearance of the Virgin Mary to three young shepherds in 1917. Next, journey to the fortified town of Óbidos and walk within its walls, exploring the narrow, medieval streets where houses are covered with flowers. Your travels then lead you to the Portuguese capital, Lisbon.
After breakfast, your departure transfer arrives at Lisbon International Airport.
Country Roads of Portugal A Women-Only Tour, Insight Vacations