Northern Portugal Explorer

Self-Drive Tour

16 Days/ 14 Nights   

Includes: 

• Return airfare Vanvouver/Lisbon
• 14 nights hotel, daily breakfast
• 10 days all inclusive "category A" car rental
• Arrival and Departure transfers, Airport to Hotel
• All hotel taxes and service charges

Details:

Price based on double occupancy

* Prices are in Canadian dollars

  (Friday departures)   

Day 01 Vancouver/ Frankfurt

Flight to Frankfurt   

Day 02 Frankfurt/ Lisbon 

Flight connection from Frankfurt to Lisbon. Arrival transfer from airport to the Hotel where you will enjoy the next three nights. 

Day 03/04 Lisbon 

Entire day and evening free to enjoy the city on your own. You may want to take a tour and visit Cascais and Estoril or wander through the cobblestone streets of the old Moorish Alfama.   

Day 05 Lisbon/ Fatima/ Leiria 

Collect car at the hotel and drive up along the coast and stop at Alcobaca, a quiet town with narrow streets and a magnificent 12th century monastery. Continue on to the picturesque village of Nazare, and proceed to Batalha to visit it's monastery, then on to the world famous center of pilgrimages in Fatima. Stop in Tomar, one of the oldest and charming towns in the country. You will be staying in Leiria for two nights, relax and enjoy.   

Day 06 Leiria 

Enjoy a relaxing day and explore   

Day 07 Leiria/ Coimbra/ Bussaco/ 

Porto Travel north through the university town of Coimbra, which is known for it's twisting streets and terraced houses. Visit the 12th century Cathedral, art museum and the 13th century University with it's manueline doors, magnificent library and chapel. Continue through the Bussaco forrest and Aveiro, the city of canals. Enjoy the next two nights in Porto.   

Day 08 Porto 

Explore Porto, a region well-known for it's excellent Port wine. Visit places such as the Stock Exchange Palace known for it's Arab Hall which was built on the site of the Convent of Sao Francisco, which was destroyed in 1832 by fire, cross the Ponte D. Luis bridge to sample some of Portugal's best wines or visit Viana do Castelo, a resort situated at the mouth of the river Lima.   

Day 09 Porto/ Vila Real 

Picturesque drive through a landscape with granite houses with wooden or wrought-iron balconies before entering the Port Wine region, the Douro Valley, by way of Amarante and Vila Real. In the mountiainous hinterland lies Viseu, a city of painters near the famous Dao wine region. Stop at Vila Real where you will stay for the next two nights.   

Day 10 Vila Real 

Continue exploring the wine region   

Day 11 Vila Real/ Castelo Branco 

Travel south to Castelo Branco, driving through the heart of Portugal, crossing through Covilha (noted for cheese) and Fundao while reaching Castelo Branco where you will stay for the next two nights.   Day 12 Castelo Branco Enjoy a free day to explore Castelo Branco, with it's lovely gardens and embroidery quilts.   

Day 13 Castelo Branco/ Evora/ Portel 

Continue to Evora, an amazing historical gem with 16th century houses painted bright white, Moorish inspired arches and cobblestone streets. Enjoy your next two nights in Portel.   

Day 14 Portel 

Relax and savour the local cuisine and Alentejo wines. Awaken your senses by exploring the countryside by foot, horseback or bicycle, or visit museums, wineriesa and medeival castles or take cooking lessons at the Refugio followed by lunch and afternoon tours.   

Day 15 Portel/ Lisbon 

Drive to Lisbon via Setubal and cross the Tagus River. Enjoy your last evening in Portugal and overnight in Lisbon. Your car will be collected at the hotel.   

Day 16 Lisbon/ Frankfurt/ Vancouver 

Departure transfer to airport or extension to the Algarve. Return flight to Vancouver.