loading
reading
writing
saving
searching
10/4-10/14: Discover Portugal Tour (Hosted by Jack Witt) October 2025 (North Hollywood)
Old Town
QR Code Link to This Post
So come along and savor authentic slices of Portuguese life with history and culture at every step along our way.
Our daily itinerary:
Day One – October 4 – Lisbon
Welcome to Lisbon, Portugal’s capital and largest city. We will have our private driver collect us at the airport and take us to our hotel. Once we unpack, rest, and freshen up a little, we’ll meet for our group welcome dinner in town.
Ground transportation from airport to hotel 20 min. Overnight at HF Fenix Garden or similar. (D)
Day Two – October 5 - Lisbon / Belem
This morning after our included breakfast we visit the various districts of Lisbon such as La Alfama -with its Cathedral, the San Antonio Church, and we will walk through the narrow streets of El Chiado -with its bohemian character, and La Baixa with its grand plazas constructed after the devastating 1755 earthquake. Later in the day we head to the Tejo estuary in Belém where we will visit the Hieronymites Monastery and the Belém Tower: both sites are expressions of the Manuelino style of architecture (late Gothic) from the early 16th century. We’ll also get to see the traditional patisserie that has managed to hold on to the secret recipe of Portugal's finest pastry for almost 200 years and enjoy a taste of the famous Pastéis de Belém. Portuguese history will come alive in our minds and will be vivid at our last sight of the day - the Monument of the Discoveries.
This evening, we will be spirited away by Portuguese melodies at a Fado dinner show. Fado is the folk music of Lisbon’s rustic neighborhoods. The singer (fadista) is accompanied by a 12-string guitarra portuguesa (with a round body like a mandolin) or other stringed instruments unique to Portugal. The melodies deal with topics such as "saudade" or nostalgia, melancholy, love, falling out of love, and tales of the sea. This is an extraordinary experience that will leave you lost for words.
Lisbon walking appx. 2.5 hrs / Belem walking appx. 3 hrs. Overnight at HF Fenix Garden or similar. (B) (D)
Day Three – October 6 – Sintra / Cabo Da Roca / Estoril
Today we travel outside of Lisbon to Sintra, a beautiful town at the foot of the mountain range of the same name, its unique characteristics have led UNESCO to classify it as a World heritage site. It was even necessary to create a special category for the purpose - that of "cultural landscape" - taking into account its natural riches as well as the historic buildings in the town and mountains. Endowed with luxuriant vegetation, the mountains are part of the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park.
Much appreciated by kings and nobles as a country resort, and praised by writers and poets like Lord Byron who called it "glorious Eden", Sintra has a wealth of cottages and manor houses, some of which now provide accommodation in the form of country-house tourism. The palaces, too, are outstanding, such as the National Palace
Near Sintra we will also discover Cabo da Roca, referred to as “The edge of the world” because it is the westernmost point of mainland Europe. There’s an option to take a nice hike along the magnificent sea cliffs down to a hidden-gem beach called Praia da Ursa where we can soak up all the natural beauty.
Our last stop of the day will then be in the picturesque village of Estoril, with its palm-lined streets, aristocratic mansions, and glamourous James Bond inspired Casino.
Lisbon to Sintra ground transportation 30 min. each way. Sintra walking appx. 1.5 hrs. Cabo da Roca to Praia da Ursa hike (optional) 2.8 mi. 850 ft. elevation gain & loss. Overnight at HF Fenix Garden or similar. (B)
Day Four – October 7 – Lisbon / Óbidos / Fatima
The mediaeval town of Óbidos is one of the most picturesque and well preserved in Portugal.
Quite close to the capital (1 hour drive) and located on high ground near the Atlantic coast, Óbidos has had a strategic importance in the territory. It had already been settled prior to the Romans’ arrival in the Iberian Peninsula, and the town prospered after being chosen by the royal family. King Dinis offered it to his wife, Queen Isabel, in the 13th century, and it became part of Casa das Rainhas (Queens’ Estate), who improved and enriched it throughout the various dynasties. This is one of the main reasons for the high concentration of churches in this small place.
We’ll end our day at a winery in a gorgeous setting and do a tasting (included) of some of the local wines from the subregion of Óbidos, which is renowned all over the world for excellence and distinction. The winemakers in the area, who pay great attention to detail in their processes, are largely responsible for Óbidos' grace and finesse.
Overnight at Essence Inn Marianos (B)
Day Five – October 8 – Fatima
Fatima will be extra special to visit on this Jubilee Year 2025, designated by the Catholic Church. With its origins deep in history, it was during the Arabian occupation that this settlement developed and was named. According to legend, during the Christian Reconquest, a Templar knight known as Bringer-of-Moors, fell in love with Fátima, a Moor who was captured in an ambush. Reciprocating the love, the young woman converted to Christianity. In the sixteenth century, the settlement became a parish. But its subsequent development dates from the events known as the Apparitions of Fátima that began with a vision witnessed by three shepherd children in the early part of the twentieth century. It has become one of the key centers for devotion of the Virgin Mary in Portugal. We’ll wind our way through the olive and cork trees of the Fatima countryside once frequented by the three Shepherd Children and their flock and walk the Stations of the Cross (14 of them) near the shrine along the Via Sacra, and in Aljustrel we’ll visit the homes of the Shepherd children. There’s an option to also extend our walking today by doing a 4.5 mile nature walk on the long-distance pilgrim trail - The Carmelite Route. For believers, it is a route inspired by the work and life of Sister Lucia. It fosters spiritual development with historical and heritage sites.
Stations of the Cross (optional) - 2-mile stone walkway / Carmelite Route (optional) – 4.5 miles nature trail. Overnight at Essence Inn Marianos (B)
Day 6 – October 9 – Fatima / Conimbriga / Coimbra
The former Roman city of Conímbriga is one of the richest archaeological sites in Portugal.
Originally a Celtic castro (fortified settlement) of the Conii tribe in the late Iron Age. After 139 BC it was occupied by the Romans, and the inhabitants were totally Romanized. The town achieved its splendor under Emperor Augustus in the 2nd century AD, when the public baths and a forum were built, a reconstitution of which can be seen in the museum. The major excavations during the 20th century revealed a rich and complex group of buildings, including baths, an aqueduct, and the remains of a Christian basilica that dates back to the 6th century. The noble houses still retain their magnificent multicolored mosaic floors.
Conimbriga walking tour 2.5 hrs. Overnight at Vila Gale Coimbra (B)
Day 7 – October 10 – Coimbra
The most important city to the south of the River Douro, it was for some time the residence of parents of the first king of Portugal, Dom Afonso Henriques, who was born here. It was the latter king who integrated the city into the Portuguese territory in 1131. Dating from this time are some of the city’s most important monuments: the Sé Velha (Old Cathedral) and the churches of São Tiago, São Salvador and Santa Cruz, representing the religious authority and the various orders that became established here. Coimbra was the capital of Portugal during the Middle Ages and is now Portugal's quintessential university town.
Today there’s an option to explore the Mondego River Walk through the unique ecosystems of Serra da Estrela National Park via gorgeous wooden walkways.
Coimbra walking tour 2.5 hrs. Mondego River Walk (optional) 2-3 mi. Overnight at Vila Gale Coimbra (B)
Day 8 – October 11 – Coimbra / Aveiro & Costa Nova / Porto
A vast lagoon where the freshwater of the River Vouga joins with the sea, Aveiro is intersected by canals, genuine streets of water along which we’ll see brightly colored boats known as barcos moliceiros. There are also a number of buildings in Art Nouveau style to be awed by. One of the delights of Aveiro is a sweet made with eggs and sugar – the “ovos moles” (soft eggs) that are sold in little wooden barrels or wrapped in a crusty wafer in different shapes. Originally founded in the time of the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius, Aveiro is now one of the most interesting cities on the Portuguese coast.
Today there’s an option to walk The Esmoriz Footpaths, part of a beautiful nature reserve which is protected and has great ecological value, through lagoons on a flat wooden walkway to the beach.
Aveiro walking tour 2.5 hrs. Esmoriz Footpath (optional) 3.5 mi. Overnight at Porto City Hotel (B)
Day 9 – October 12 – Porto / Douro Valley
The Douro Valley could easily be called the enchanted valley, with all the beauty and magic that its landscapes offer. Departing from Porto, where the river flows into the sea and where the Douro wines (table wines and Port wine), produced on its hillsides, also end up, there are various ways to get to know this cultural landscape, listed as a World Heritage Site. Along the way we will admire breathtaking views over the river and visit vineyards for tastings (The Douro Wine Region Valley is the oldest demarcated wine region in the world). Charming towns and villages welcome us today.
We’ll wonder at Casa Mateus, built in the first half of the 18th century and set in beautiful gardens on a vast farm, it is considered to be one of the finest examples of baroque civil architecture in Portugal. Its interior decorations include some intricately carved wood ceilings, furniture from several periods, 17th and 18th century paintings, silverware, ceramics and a library with a remarkable edition of the epic poem Os Lusíadas.
Then, let’s enjoy a relaxing boat cruise along the calm waters of the Douro River where we’ll take in the natural beauty of this oldest wine region and UNESCO World Heritage Site. The boat trip includes passage through the Baragaúste dam, with a height of 90 ft.
There’s an option today to do a hike in the Douro Valley, renowned for its breathtaking landscapes. It’s a haven for outdoor enthusiasts seeking spectacular views and invigorating trails.
Douro River Boat Cruise 2 hrs. Douro Valley Hike (optional) 2 mi. Overnight at Porto City Hotel (B)
Day 10 – October 13 – Porto
The capital and gateway to the north of Portugal, Porto is both the city that provided a nation with a name and a fortified wine known world-wide: port. With its splendid geographical location on the mouth of the river Douro and an architectural heritage of exceptional quality, the historic centre of Porto was declared UNESCO World Heritage in 1996. We’ll do a walking tour and visit highlights such as The Cathedral, Sao Bento station, Cristal Palace, Torre dos Clerigos, and La Bolsa Palace.
There’s also an option today to take a walk along the river on the Trilho do Rio Febros path and get a sense of the local life outside the tourist spots.
Tonight, we celebrate our adventures in Portugal with a farewell dinner in town (included) and raise a toast to fellowship.
Porto Walking Tour 2.5 hrs. Trilho do Rio Febros trail (optional) 5 mi. Overnight at Porto City Hotel (B) (D)
Day 11 – October 14 – Porto / Departure
After breakfast we can explore more of Porto at our leisure (depending on flight time) and then be privately transferred to the airport for our return flights back home or onwards in our journeys.
Ground transportation from hotel to airport 20 min. (B)
PRICE: $4,400 per person based on double occupancy (Single supplement $900)
PAYMENTS TIMELINE: $1,000 deposit due April 15, 2025. Final Payments due August 1, 2025.
CANCELLATION POLICY: Deposits are non-refundable. Subsequently, once your final payment is made for the balance due, there is an 80% cancellation fee up until 30 days prior to the start of the tour, meaning you’ll get a 20% refund. From 29 days prior to the start of the tour until the tour ends, there are no refunds, meaning there is a 100% cancellation fee.
INCLUDED:
✓ 10x accommodation in above mentioned hotels
✓ 10x breakfasts
✓ 3x dinners
✓ 2x Wine tastings
✓ Douro River boat cruise
✓ Professional local English-speaking guide
✓ Private ground transportation
NOT INCLUDED:
X Airfare
X Travel Insurance
X Alcohol drinks other than wine tastings and one glass of wine included with each dinner
X Tips for Guide and Drivers
OTHER:
✓ Itinerary Subject to Change
✓ Group size limited to maximum 20 people – minimum 8 people
✓ Travel Insurance is always recommended. You can compare policies at www.insuremytrip.com