Portugal's past is packed with the passion of explorers, the lovers they left behind and the struggle of living on seaside cliffs. Even a quick dip in this enlightened culture will wake up the sleepiest inklings of your soul. Join us for this 8-day adventure to discover the often forgotten impact Portugal has had in the annuls of history.
Portugal Hilltops & Sea Sides
8 days, 7 Nights ( 3 Nights Porto, 4 Nights Lisbon with day trips to Braga, Sintra & Belem) Group Size: 8-12 people (Going fast!) $2395.00* + Air Early Bird Special Save $300!
Two dinners, Market Experience, Fado Experience & Iconic Food Samplers.
Full Time guide
Itinerary at a Glance
DAY ONE: (Friday) Welcome, Welcome to Porto! Sleep in Porto To kick things off, we'll gather for a group orientation at 2:00pm followed by a walk through town to the water's edge, a scenic boat tour tracing the flow of sailors for centuries, and a few nibbles of Porto's iconic cuisine. (Friday, September 13th, 2024) *Please note, participants are responsible for flight arrangements and corresponding airfare. To arrive in Porto by September 13th you will need to leave the USA by September 12th due to the time change.)
DAY TWO: (Saturday) Porto Walking Tour + Lelo Bookstore Sleep in Porto On foot we'll discover stomping grounds of J. K. Rowling, visit to Lelo Bookstore, get acquainted with the world of Azulejos (beautiful blue iconic tiles of Portugal) and enjoy the vibe of Porto--one of the best preserved world heritage cities in Europe!
DAY THREE: (Sunday) Day trip to Braga +Bom Jesus do MonteSleep in Porto In just an hour on a high speed train we'll arrive in Braga--known for its well preserved churches, beautiful plazas and the pilgrimage site of Bom Jesus do Monte. You'll have the choice to symbolically walk the 577 steps to heaven . . . or take the tram up and take the stairs down to enjoy the series of quaint chapels encasing sculptural biblical scenes. (You can take the tram down too if you would like!) In downtown Braga you'll have the opportunity to catch a few more delightful churches or relax and enjoy to well manicured downtown gardens. Upon our return to Porto the evening is yours to explore or get ready for our next adventure---Lisbon!
DAY FOUR: (Monday) Farewell Porto-Hello Lisbon! Tuk-Tuk Tour + Fado Experience Sleep in Lisbon After breakfast we'll take a 3 hour train ride from Porto to Lisbon. After checking into our new digs we'll hop on a TUK-TUK to enjoy tour of the city-especially the famous miraduoros or lookouts around town.
DAY FIVE: (Tuesday) Belem Tower, Jeronimos Monastery, Carriage Museum Sleep in Lisbon Launching from old town Lisbon will take off to the outskirts-- Belem. Here we'll enter Jeronimo's Church and Monastery, the Coach Museum featuring a cache of historic Cinderella-like carriages used to transport royalty through the ages. We'll also see Belem Tower, the same tower Sailors from a bygone day saw before the expeditions. The visit would not be complete with out a visit to Pasteis de Belem bakery Dinner is on your own.
DAY SIX: (Wednesday) Day Trip to Sintra Sleep in Lisbon Just an hour away from Lisbon sits a palace packed hill-top city of Sintra. You'll be delighted with the opportunity to visit the colorful Pena Palace Park & Gardens, the Moorish Castle with the city wall in tact and a plethora of other architectural beauties and royalty-worthy gardens. After a busy day we'll return to Lisbon and you'll have the evening free.
DAY SEVEN: (Thursday) Tile Museum, Free Time, Dinner Together Sleep in Lisbon Together we'll check out the fascinating tile museum and then you'll have the afternoon to explore, shop, taste, get lost, or check out anything you may have missed during your stay. To close out the day we'll have a nice dinner together and prepare for our farewells in the morning.
DAY EIGHT: (Friday) Farewell Friends! Today everyone will be going their separate ways. We'll be there to provide support and information to help you get to your next connections on time!
Q: How do I sign up?: A: Joining the tour is so easy! After you click the "Sign me Up" button you'll take these 3 easy steps! 1) Fill out the Accommodation preference form 2) Fill out the Participation form which includes our Terms and Conditions 3) Secure your spot with just a $500 deposit. This will guarantee your trip price. Q: Who are my guides? A. he owner of Lori Ann's World Tours, LLC , Lori Ann Mecham, will be your full-time guide and she will be assisted by Kathy Ellsworth. We are sisters and have traveled together since 2002--We'll take good care of you! Check out Lori Ann's public reviews on Trip Advisor! (www.azingtours.com) Q: How active is this tour? A: Because Portugal is built on seaside cliffs some of the walking is uphill. However, for many of the activities there are options to eliminate some of the more strenuous parts if that is your concern. The most strenuous activities will be our walking tour in Porto and parts of the day trip to Sintra. Q. What are the accommodations like? A. To maximize cultural immersion we stay in charming apartments in or near the city center. Both couples and individual travelers love this option. Examples of currently reserved apartments include a few apartments for couples as well as apartments with 3 bedrooms with 2 twin beds in two rooms and then an option for a private room. The larger apartments provide a great springboard for a fun communal travel experience! Q. When should I buy my plane ticket? A. You should wait until after you have secured your spot to purchase your ticket. Also, Please note that due to the time difference, Unless you are traveling other places in Europe, you should plan on leaving the USA on September 12th to arrive by noon (1 hour prior to the start time of 1pm) on September 13th and then return on Friday, September 20, 2024. The tour starts at 1 pm. If you would like to arrive a day earlier please let us know and we can help with your accommodations. In short, your ticket should depart 9/12/24. Arrive in Porto 9/13/24 prior to noon and then depart Lisbon 9/20/24. Q. What if I have more questions? Is there someone I can talk to? A. Yes! Please call me, Lori Ann at 480-343-3024 Monday-Saturday between 9am and 5pm and I will do my best to answer your questions. You can also email me at lori@loriannsworld.com
We look forward to providing you with a cultural adventure of a lifetime!
