HERITAGE OF PORTUGAL
10 DAYS / 09 NIGHTS
SELF DRIVE FROM LISBON - PORTO
Day 1 LISBOA – SINTRA 
Collect your hire car and travel along the scenic coast to Cascais and Estoril as you wind your way north toward beautiful Sintra, stopping briefly at the town of Guincho on the way. Sintra is a regional town of great beauty set in an oasis of pine woods and exotic gardens in a barren and rocky landscape with an altitude of some 500m above sea level. Lord Byron referred to Sintra as a 'glorious Eden' and not surprisingly, it was one of the favoured summer retreats of the Portuguese monarchs. Sintra has a splendid palace (formerly a Royal residence), a castle of moorish origin from the 8th century and the Pena Palace with its surprising variety of architectural styles. Overnight Sintra.
Day 2 SINTRA - OBIDOS
Breakfast. Continue on to Obidos, an enchanting medieval fortified town dating right back to Celtic times, with successive occupations of Romans, Visigoths, Moors until the 12C. In 1282 King Dinis and Queen Isabel spent their honeymoon in the village, which had been given to them as a wedding gift; a tradition thereafter maintained by all Portuguese queens until 1834. Entrance is gained via one of four gates in the wall, bringing the visitor into a world of centuries past - tiny winding streets, whitewashed houses with their typical ochre trimmings and flower boxes brimming with colour. Overnight Obidos.
Day 3 OBIDOS
Breakfast. A full day to explore within this enchanting city. There are delightful chapels & churches, a number of other secular buildings of interest, and its historic castle, now a Pousada. Overnight Obidos.
Day 4 OBIDOS - COIMBRA 
A leisurely breakfast and a walk will see you on the road around midday as you drive north toward Coimbra. You travel via some marvellous, historic towns, such as, Alcobaça, Leiria, Batalha and Pombal.The city of Coimbra was Portugal's first true capital, the birthplace of six kings and is where the nation's first University was founded in AD1290. Located on the banks of the Mondego river, the historic heart to be found high above the river, where there are cathedrals, the university and a fine museum. A city of high tradition and culture. The roots of nationhood lie buried beneath the streets of this fine old world city. Overnight Coimbra.
Day 5 COIMBRA
Breakfast. Another day to enjoy in the area of Coimbra where you have not only many pleasant walks to take in the city limits, including a visit to its historic university, but you have the magnificent Bussaco Forest 30kms to the north and the Roman ruins of Conimbriga near Condeixa to the south. Overnight Coimbra.
Day 6 COIMBRA – GUIMARAES
Breakfast. Your journey takes you north again to Oporto and the beautiful Green Coast region of Portugal. You are heading north-east of Oporto, about 35-40kms to historic Guimaraes. Spend a full day discovering this delightful regional town. Overnight Guimaraes.
Day 7 GUIMARAES
Breakfast. Framed by gently rising hills, the town of Guimaraes is celebrated as the birthplace of the nation. In the well-preserved city centre, the narrow streets of the medieval quarter are ideal for exploration on foot. The cobbled Rua de Santa Maria, lined with old town houses embellished with ornate statuary, leads up from the main square, the Largo da Oliveira, past the Paço dos Duques to the castle. Today Guimaraes thrives on weaving, cutlery manufacturing and tanning. Handwork still is practiced in the form of ox yokes, embroidery and linen damask. Overnight Guimaraes.
Day 8 GUIMARAES – PONTE DE LIMA
Breakfast. Continue a little further north to the attractive riverside town of Ponte de Lima. During the Middle Ages, the town played a pivotal role in the defence of the Minho against the Moors. The remaining medieval fortifications of Ponte de Lima include the former prison tower and the 15th Century Palacio dos Marqueses de Ponte de Lima, a fortress-palace which now functions as the town hall. Overnight Ponte de Lima.
Day 9 PONTE DE LIMA – VIANA DO CASTELO – PONTE DE LIMA
Breakfast. Spend the day in Viana do Castelo, an elegant resort town on the north bank of the River Lima estuary at the foot of green hills. The central Praça da Republica, with surrounding mansions and centre fountain, is one of the loveliest squares in Portugal. You may like to continue a short drive north of the town where there are pristine beaches. Overnight Ponte de Lima.
Day 10 PONTE DE LIMA – OPORTO
Breakfast. An easy drive takes you back to Oporto, the capital and heart of the north of the country. Situated on the bank of the river Douro, Oporto is one of the oldest cities in the entire Peninsula. Known as the "unconquered city", owing to its renowned courage in fighting back all invaders, it is also the centre of an internationally important wine industry. The port wine grown in the upper Douro Valley is synonymous with this charming city. END OF TOUR
- Portugal
- Tours
- Pousadas
- Solares
- Accommodation
- Cruises
Portugal - Land of Tradition
A land of great tradition and famous for its warm hospitality, Portugal shared a common history with Spain for many Centuries. However its regional individuality in culture and language, combined with a dogged determination to self rule brought its nationhood to the fore as early as the 12th Century when Afonso Henriques proclaimed himself King of Portugal.
Recapturing regions from the Moors was the first priority, and the fledgling nation would endure another four centuries of wars and dynastic succession with the Kingdom of Castile.
Portugal, like Spain,would develop and consolidate its vast empire. Under the Treaty of Tordesillas, signed in 1494 they divided the known world between them into two spheres of dominance and influence.
Always a great seafaring nation, Portugal provided a long and distinguished line of explorers and navigators, with its ships the first to discover Brazil and the lucrative trade routes of Asia, Africa and India. Names such as Vasco De Gama, Henry the Navigator, Ferdinand Magellan and Pedro Alvares Cabral are now legendary for having made great discoveries in the New World in the name of Portugal.
The Republic of Portugal today is a small vibrant nation with a population of around 11 million people with a deep sense of their history and traditions. As a consequence of a concerted policy of economic development over the past 15 years Portugal is emerging as an important new member of the EEC.
With its islands of Madeira and the Azores, the country offers an enormous variety of scenery, historical sites and monuments. With heritage accommodation as well as fine food and wine for the visitor to enjoy the pleasant and courteous nature of the Portuguese people is a welcome bonus.
MADEIRA & THE AZORES - Please ask us for a fact sheet for more information!
Download our 2012 brochure!
Tours
Ranging from short Fully Escorted coach tours to Private itineraries with your own driver, we have a tour to suit your time frame and budget. Here are a few examples of some of our most popular touring options...
| Self Drive Tours: | CENTRAL PORTUGAL -- HERITAGE OF PORTUGAL -- LISBON AND THE ALENTEJO -- PORTO, MINHO AND THE DOURO VALLEY |
| Fully Escorted Tours: | 03 DAY WONDERS OF PORTUGAL -- 04 DAY SOUTH OF PORTUGAL -- 06 DAYS NORTH OF PORTUGAL -- 11 DAYS BEST OF PORTUGAL TOUR -- SALAMANCA AND PORTUGAL |
| Small Group Tours: | PORTUGUESE PASSEIO |
| Tours with Private driver: | FIRST CLASS PORTUGAL |
| Unique Portugal: | A TASTE OF EVORA -- AN INTRODUCTION TO PORTUGUESE WINE -- DISCOVER THE WESTERN ALGARVE -- JEWISH HERITAGE IN LISBON -- LISBON AND MEDIEVAL OBIDOS -- LISBON AND UNESCO MONASTERIES -- SAVOUR THE ALENTEJO -- VINHO VINTAGE |
Pousadas
IBERTOURS is the Official Representative of Pousadas in Australia and New Zealand.
If you are looking for attractive and historic accommodation for your next holiday, away from the bustle of the city, consider the Pousadas of Portugal.
The Pousadas are located in pleasant rural settings, inside the walls of medieval towns, near the seaside or in the mountainous regions of this 'old world' country. There are around 45 Pousadas forming an impressive network of heritage hotels run by the Portuguese State, many of them Historic Buildings, Castles, Palaces and Monasteries all lovingly restored and managed.
Special care has been taken to reflect the cultural traditions of the region in which they are located with attention to folk crafts, period furniture and local cuisine and wines.
Comfort, friendly atmosphere and traditional Portuguese hospitality are the cornerstones of these uniquely beautiful buildings.
Solares Properties
A new kind of tourism has recently developed in Portugal basing its theme on the cultural and traditional heritage of the country and involving privately owned country Manors and Historic Rural Estates, which have been adapted in order to receive "Special" guests. These are known as Solares de Portugal. The guest is treated to the friendliest of receptions that is an essential hallmark of the Portuguese tradition, blended with the comfort and charm of the rural setting. Most of the Manors and Houses are historic buildings located in or near medieval villages offering attractive country walks, natural parks and ancient monuments to enjoy. Others are situated near urban centres where one can ride, play tennis and golf or just relax on a nearby beach. Many homes have their own swimming pool and ample private gardens. All rooms have private facilities and the basic tariff includes continental breakfast. This is the way to truly discover the essence of Portugal, its customs and regional culture and cuisine. The houses fall into 3 categories:
Category A - the finest manors and palaces, luxuriously furnished with antiques and family heirlooms, often surrounded by beautiful gardens. Many of their names are preceded by the word 'Paço', a term used to indicate that a king stayed there.
Category B - incorporates country homes and smaller manors, many of which date from the 18th century and carry on the farming traditions of their ancestors.
Category C - establishments which are largely rustic cottages and farmhouses, which have been converted into comfortable apartments.
Portuguese Hotels
Stopovers can include 2 and 3 night packages in all major cities including Lisbon, and
Oporto, plus many other smaller regional cities and towns such as Coimbra, Evora, Obidos, Guimaraes and so on... In fact, with our extensive experience and contacts we can develop stopover packages for almost any city or town in the Iberian Triangle, for any length of time, to suit your requirements. Here are some examples...
View a selection of hotels by region:
Costa Verde / Costa de Prata / Lisboa and Costa de Estoril / Ribatejo and Alentejo / The Algarve
Sorry, no cruise itineraries available for 2012.