North of Portugal

Day 1: Lisboa - Óbidos - Alcobaça - Nazaré - Batalha - Fátima (217Km /134.8 miles)
Via a landscape rich in windmills and fruit trees we arrive at Óbidos, where we can admire the harmony of the architecture, the diversity of the handicrafts and the taste of the famous ginginha (bitter cherry liqueur). Visit Alcobaça with the first and largest gothic church in Portugal, which houses the tombs of D.Pedro and Inês de Castro. We stop in Nazaré, a traditional fishing village and seaside resort. Then continue to Batalha, visiting the Monastery of Santa Maria de Victoria. Finally we arrive at Fátima, the famous Marian Shrine. At this point there is a possibility to assist in the Candle procession.

Day 2: Fátima - Coimbra - Aveiro - Oporto (270Km/152.9 miles)
Breakfast at the hotel. Depart to Coimbra, visiting one of the oldest universities in the world. We stop at St Clara Church, where the tomb of Queen St. Isabel, the protagonist of the “miracle of the roses”, is located.  In the afternoon we continue to Aveiro, the city of the canals, known as the “Portuguese Venice”. Finally we drive to Oporto where we stay overnight.

Day 3: Oporto (25km/15.5 miles)
Oporto the 2nd city of Portugal and world heritage by UNESCO - a living amphitheatre inviting us to make a morning visit to discover the riverside area, old houses, palaces, churches that history has made eternal and Port wine, known worldwide. Visitors have the afternoon free to explore before staying in Oporto overnight.

Day 4: Oporto - Guimarães - Braga - Barcelos - Oporto (178Km/110.6 miles)
Breakfast at the hotel. Full day tour to the Minho provence, the northwest region of Portugal. Starting at Guimarães, the cradle of the nation, watch as you are plunged back into medieval times. Visit the Sacred Hill, crowned by the Castle; as well the Palace of the Dukes of Bragança. Drive to Braga known as the "Portuguese Rome" for its concentration of religious architecture, the location of the oldest Cathedral in the country, and the Bom Jesus do Monte Sanctuary with its famous baroque stairway and gardens. Afterwards we shall continue to Barcelos, an historical city rich in popular handicraft where the Galo de Barcelos (the rooster of Barcelos) legend was born which eventually became a Portuguese icon.At the end of the day we return to Oporto where we spend the night.

Day 5: Oporto - Amarante - Vila Real - Douro Valley - Lamego - Viseu - Urgeiriça (254Km/157.8 miles)
Breakfast at the hotel. Departure to Amarante, a pretty town associated with São Gonçalo known for his promotion of love and marriage. Afterwards we drive to Vila Real to visit the gardens of the manor of Mateus. Then we enter the Port wine region, stopping in Lamego and visiting the Santuário de Nossa Senhora dos Remédios, sometimes overlooked as one of Portugal's most important shrines. We continue to Viseu, in the center of the Dão Vineyards and a city connected with Portugal´s oldest hero, Viriato, the Lusitanian chief. Along the center we will find a busy commercial area. Arrival to Urgeiriça. Urgeiriça/Caldas da Felgueira –overnight.

Day 6: Urgeiriça - Bussaco - Tomar - Lisboa ( /- 365 km)
Breakfast at the hotel. Drive through the heart of Portugal until Bussaco. We continue to Tomar, where Dom Gualdim Pais, the first Grand Master of the Order in Portugal, founded the town's castle and the remarkable Convent of Christ inside the castle. Enlarged and altered over the centuries, this retains the influences of various architectural styles; it is the centrepiece of the city and classified as a World Heritage site by UNESCO. We follow the journey until we are back in Lisbon.

Inclusions

• Pick-up at any Lisbon Hotel.

• Accommodation on buffet breakfast bases on the following hotels, or similar: Hotel Santa Maria 4* in Fátima; Ipanema  Porto 4* in Oporto; Hotel da Urgeiriça 4* in Canas do Senhorim or similar.

• Air-Conditioned Bus or Minivan Transportation

• Tour Guide during all tour

• Entrance Fees for Batalha Monastery, Coimbra University, "Palácio da Bolsa" and S. Francisco Church (both in Oporto), Palácio Mateus Gardens, "Convento do Cristo" (Tomar)

Please Note

•Languages available: Portuguese, English, Spanish and French.

•Tickets for children up to the age of four are free but only includes transportation (with any other costs incurred by the accompanying adult). Children with more than five years old pay the adult fee.

• Reservations: Reservations are only accepted up to 72 hours prior to the tour date. Reservations are only guaranteed following due receipt of payment by bank transfer, which needs to be submitted at least 72 hours prior to the date of service.

•This tour has a minimum 4 passenger requirement and is subject to cancellation if this minimum is not met. In the unlikely event of such a cancellation, a refund will be provided.

Departure dates:

19th October, 9th November, 7th December, 4th January, 8th February, 8th March, 5th& 25th April, 10th & 31st May, 21st June, 12th and 26th July, 16th August, 6th & 27th September

Departure time: 9 am 

Departure point:

Marques de Pombal Square

Duration: 6 Days/5 Nights