All of our arrangements have been specially designed to incorporate a reason to travel and, for ease of choice, these have been categorised under the titles shown below.
10 nights from
£1945
A leisurely way to travel the length of the country, with time to explore and enjoy five fascinating cities, punctuated with moving panoramas of Portugal’s scenic countryside, from the window of your train and the comfort of your seat. With two nights in each place, begin in Faro, its Moorish-walled, medieval town perfectly proportioned for effortless sightseeing. In intriguing Evora, Roman ruins, regal façades, a Gothic cathedral, and whitewashed houses all sit side-byside. At the centre point of the journey, Lisbon, on the Tagus estuary, is the first of three sentinel riverside cities on the tour, followed by Coimbra on the banks of the Mondego, and Porto straddling the Douro. Complementing each other in character, Lisbon is home to fountains, Fado singers in Old Town cafés, and vintage trams, in sunshine yellow.
Travel in between cities will be on Portuguese public trains which operate to pre-scheduled departure times and are generally reliable, clean and efficient. Rail journeys will vary from approximately one hour to just over four hours. Transfers from hotel to station and vice versa will be escorted and during each train journey you will be escorted to your train by a local guide and be required to carry your luggage through the station and onto the train. Whilst on the train you will have WiFi access (free) and an allocated seat number. Food and drinks are usually sold on board.
An accommodation tax is payable locally, currently €2 per person per night in Lisbon and Porto and €1.5 per person per night in Faro.
Air travel and UK departure taxes, transfers, 10 nights’ accommodation, breakfast daily, itinerary as described, services of a guide and local representatives. If our specially negotiated airfares are unavailable at the time of booking, a supplement may apply.
Travel insurance, tipping, any government taxes or compulsory charges introduced after publication.
An accommodation tax is payable locally, currently €2 per person per night in Lisbon and Porto and €1.5 per person per night in Faro.
Pousadas of Portugal
Staying in hand-picked Pousadas (inns), formerly a monastery, manor house and convent, this tour reveals the sights and psyche of Portugal, from regal splendour to religious heritage, from port-wine cellar to Fado show, from Porto to Coimbra and the capital, Lisbon
Royal Barge on the Douro
From baroque castles to beautiful bucolic villages, from hilltop medieval ruins to valleys cloaked in the vineyards of age-old wine estates, from mountain scenery to ocean shore, enjoy the ever-changing landscapes of this unique Royal Barge cruise on the Douro
Highlights of the Douro
Cruising the Douro from its mouth on the Atlantic to its crossing into Spain, with daily excursions to medieval towns, majestic palaces, port wine cellars, and vineyard valley landscapes, this beguiling journey includes visits to Guimarães, Lamego, and Salamanca
