PORTUGUESE PASSEIO
Small Group tour with transport and professional on board guide
2 departures in 2012: 20 May to 31 May & 02 September to 13 September
Day 01 LISBON
Arrival at the airport where you are met by a local representative to welcome you to Lisbon. Transfer by coach to your hotel for check-in. Dinner at the hotel and overnight. D
Day 02 LISBON
A morning tour today to the suburb of Belem, where you will visit the Torre de Belem, the
Jeronimos Monastery and the Monument to the Discoveries. A gourmet highlight today is a stop at the famous "Casa Pasteis de Belem" to sample a delicious 'pastel de nata' or
Portuguese custard tart. Afternoon/Evening free. Overnight Lisbon. B
Day 03 LISBON - SINTRA - LISBON
Today you have a fascinating day trip to the UNESCO World Heritage listed, Sintra. The
tall conical chimneys of the Palacio Nacional de Sintra and the fabulous Palacio da Pena are unmistakable landmarks and both palaces are visited on your tour. Sintra's tiny streets are a delight to stroll in and lunch is served today in the oldest hotel in the Iberian Peninsula, the Lawrence's hotel, where Lord Byron stayed in 1809. Back to Lisbon for free afternoon. Overnight Lisbon. B, L
Day 04 LISBON - OBIDOS - BUSSACO
Depart Lisbon and head north to Bussaco, stopping for some free time in the medieval
whitewashed town of Obidos. Back on the road to the Bussaco Forest. In 1810, 66,000
French troops attacked the Duke of Wellington and his army of British and Portuguese
soldiers during the unsuccessful Napoleonic invasion of Portugal. The forest survived, and so did the Carmelite monastery within-although it fell into government hands in 1834, when monasteries were abolished throughout Portugal. In a clearing in the centre of the park stands a former royal hunting lodge - now a fine hotel, where you spend the night. Its appearance is unusual, the design being a pastiche of the Manueline style. Dinner at the hotel.
Day 05 BUSSACO - AVEIRO - PORTO
Travel from Bussaco to Porto, stopping for a break in Aveiro on the way, known as the Venice of Portugal. The city is crossed by canals, piled by high-bow, flat-bottomed, punted boats similar to Gondolas but serve instead as seaweed collectors. Back on the road and travel on to Porto. Free time. Porto today presents the face of a 19th century commercial port - full of granite-trimmed buildings, few more than three stories high. A special dinner tonight at Dom Tonho. Overnight Porto. B, D
Day 06 PORTO
Morning tour of the city with a local guide. The heart of the city is the wide, grass-lined, Av dos Aliados, which runs five blocks inland from the river. All of the sights lie south of this landmark. The cathedral, with a fine altar, stands two blocks directly south; the church of San Francisco; southeast a block from the river beside the Palacio da Bolsa. Free afternoon at leisure. Overnight Porto. B
Day 07 PORTO - GUIMARAES - PORTO
An excursion this morning to visit Guimaraes, birthplace of the nation. On arrival, you will have a walking tour of the town, including the Rua de Santa Maria and Castelo Sao Miguel. Some free time after the walk to stroll the historic streets at your leisure before coming together for lunch at the Pousada Nossa Sra de Oliveira, in the heart of town. After lunch, return to Porto for a free afternoon. Overnight Porto. B, L
Day 08 PORTO - AMARANTE - DOURO VALLEY - VISEU
A most interesting journey today as you follow the river into the Douro Valley. Home to the first demarcated wine region in the world, the steep hills of the valley are lined with vines and famous port wine estates. You will first stop in historical Amarante, where you have some free time to wander the old streets lined with16th, 17th and 18th Century houses, completed with wooden balconies and wrought iron grilles. Continue on to Peso da Regua, the official centre of the port wine growing region, where you will enjoy lunch. After lunch, you will head to Lamego where you will visit a beautiful family run port wine estate, for a tour of the property and a wine and port tasting. After the tour, travel south to Viseu to check-in to the Pousada, a former hospital dating from 1842. Dinner and overnight. B, L, D
Day 09 VISEU - MARVAO - ESTREMOZ - EVORA
A leisurely departure as you travel south along the border with Spain, through Spa country. You will stop to visit pretty Marvao, to visit the impressive hilltop Marvao castle. Some free time to wander the tiny winding streets of the town before continuing on to Estremoz, Portugal's largest producer of marble. The medieval upper town, set within stout ramparts, is dominated by a 13th century marble keep, rising to 27 m. Free time for lunch at leisure before heading back on the road to Evora, to your hotel. Afternoon at leisure. Overnight. B
Day 10 EVORA
A morning tour of Evora with a local guide. In the centre of town is the Cathedral and on its
left side is the Museu de Evora. The Cathedral which began construction in 1186 and consecrated in 1204 was completed in 1250. The 16th century palace, once the residence of governors and bishops, is now the regional museum - Museu de Evora. Further left one
cannot help but notice the Roman Temple of Diana - in Corinthian style from the 2nd century. Popularly believed to have been dedicated to the goddess Diana, its columns are made from granite from nearby Estremoz. Free afternoon at leisure. Overnight. B
Day 11 EVORA - LISBON
A leisurely morning today as you return to Lisbon for a final night in the capital. On arrival, check-in to your hotel and a free afternoon for sightseeing or shopping. Tonight, you will gather for a special final dinner and Fado show at a traditional fado house. The fado is normally sung by men or women and accompanied by one Portuguese guitar and one classic guitar, which in Portugal is called viola. The essential element of fado music is "saudade," a Portuguese word that translates roughly as longing, or nostalgia for unrealized dreams. Overnight. B, D
Day 12 DEPART LISBON
After breakfast, collect your luggage and farewell the city as you are transferred to the airport for your flight out of Portugal. B
END OF ITINERARY!
NOTE: B = BREAKFAST, L = LUNCH, D = DINNER
- 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.