Tour Portugal & The Azores

Accommodation

The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation. Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we’re arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn’t always possible which means we won’t be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available. OCCASIONAL ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION: The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline. On rare occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our usual accommodation. A similar standard of accommodation will be used in these instances. TWIN SHARE BASIS: Accommodation on this trip is on a twin/multishare basis. We pair up solo travellers with another traveller of the same gender as per the gender marker on each of their passports. Please note there may be times where facilities will be shared rather than ensuite and rare occasions when you share a room with passengers travelling on different Intrepid trips than your own. CHECK-IN TIME: Throughout the trip we request that our hotels prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we’re arriving prior to normal check-in time. However this isn’t always possible which means we won’t be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination. PRE/POST TRIP ACCOMMODATION: If you’ve purchased pre-trip or post-trip accommodation (if available), you may be required to change rooms from your trip accommodation for these extra nights. FACILITIES: Your accommodation may not always have private en suite facilities or air-conditioning. European hotels generally don’t provide kettles or fridges. Hotel (10 nights),Guesthouse (3 nights)

Flights

Internal flights included ***International flights are not included

Meals

13 breakfasts, 2 lunches

Others

Port Tasting - Porto Fado performance Schist villages walk Sunset picnic in Lisbon Sao Miguel Island Day tour Pico do Pedro trail hike Volcano Capelinhos Museum visit Whale Watching Tour - Pico Island

Guide

All Intrepid group trips in Europe are accompanied by one of our local European group leaders. ’Local’ in this context means a leader who is European or lives in Europe. The aim of the group leader is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. Intrepid endeavours to provide the services of an experienced leader however, due to the seasonality of travel, rare situations may arise where your leader is new to a particular region or training other group leaders. Your leader takes care of logistics, will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the places visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects. At Intrepid we also aim to support local guides in the individual cities or locations we travel to. If you are interested in delving deeper into the local culture at a specific site or location then your leader can recommend an optional local guide service in most of the main destinations of your trip.

Transport

Train,Private vehicle,Plane,Ferry,On foot,Taxi TRANSPORT IN EUROPE: Half the fun of travel is the travelling itself, that’s why we like to travel the local way – whether that means mingling with commuters on a local train, watching the scenery roll by from the window of a long distance bus, arriving on a high speed train in the city centre of your next destination, or navigating each city’s public transport system. In Europe, you are guaranteed to travel by genuine local public transport wherever possible, which puts you right in the centre of the action. TRAIN TRAVEL: In mainland Portugal you will predominantly travel by train. Portuguese trains are known to be comfortable and punctual. Between Coimbra and the Schist Villages you will travel on a private minibus. DOMESTIC FLIGHT: On this trip we will jump on an internal flights between Sao Miguel and Sao Jorge islands. Please note that we require your full passport details (including your middle name) before the start of your departure in order to secure your flights. There is a luggage weight limit of 20kg on this internal flights, so please pack accordingly. If the weight of your luggage will be exceeded you will incur extra charges at the airport. FERRY TRANSPORT: In addition, there will be a couple of ferry trips between the islands. It’s the most convenient and efficient way to move around the Azores, however with temperamental weather some of the rides may be little rocky. Please make sure you have your own motion sickness medication should you need to use it.

Not included:

Others

Other activities and services are not included

Insurance

Insurance is not included

Optional

Optional group dinner Serralves Foundation - Porto - EUR5 Experience Porto’s Bites and Sights - EUR52 Douro Valley Day Trip - EUR650 Lello Library - Porto - EUR6 Clerigos Tower - Porto - EUR5 Bolhao Market - Porto - Free Boat tour - EUR7 Cathedrals entrance - EUR3 University of Coimbra visit - EUR12 Traditional cooking class in Schist villages (minimum 4 people) - Free Oceanarium - EUR17 Naval Museum - EUR5 Lisbon Walk - EUR45 Puppet Museum - EUR5 Folk Art Museum - EUR3 Lisbon Citadel - EUR9 National Art Museum - EUR6 Gulbenkian Museum - EUR10 Lisbon Sunset Fado & Tapas Urban Adventure - EUR70 Belem Tower and Monastery - Lisbon - EUR13 Ginginha Tasting - EUR2 Sintra Day Trip - EUR10

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Day 1: Porto
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: Porto

Welcome to Portugal! Stretching along the banks of the River Douro, Porto is one of Portugal’s most romantic cities. Known for majestic bridges, medieval riverside district with its cobbled streets, merchants’ houses and cafes, Porto is also well known for one more thing; surprise surprise – Porto is the birthplace of the fortified wine, port. Today, there’s an important welcome meeting at 6 pm where you’ll meet your group leader and fellow travellers. After your meeting, why not get the crew together and head out to an optional dinner – your group leader will know of some great spots to go.
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 2 Day 2: Porto
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Porto

Take a leader-led orientation walk with your group this morning to get your bearings. Otherwise, the day is free to do as you please. The city’s World Heritage-listed Ribeira district is packed with twisting alleys, staircases, and baroque churches, and is great to explore on foot. Sao Francisco church is known for its lavish interior with ornate gilded carvings. The palatial 19th-century Palacio de Bolsa, formerly a stock market, was built to impress potential European investors. Make sure you also visit Mercado do Bolhao, Porto’s market, one of the city’s institutions since 1914. For a sensational view of the whole town head to the Torre dos Clerigos (Clerigos Tower), or head down Allies Avenue to see the French-inspired buildings. Late afternoon, meet your leader and the rest of the group again to test out Portugal’s famed wine on an included port tasting. Oh, and in the evening, why not book yourself on a Rio Duoro cruise on one of the historic ’rabelo’ boats to see the city from the water.
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 3 Day 3: Porto / Coimbra
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Porto / Coimbra

The morning is free for you to explore Porto at your own pace. As you’ll be traveling over to Coimbra in the late afternoon or early evening, there will be a place to store your luggage for the day. With a late arrival at your hotel, have a relaxing night in Coimbra.
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 4 Day 4: Coimbra
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Coimbra

Enjoy an easy day in Coimbra at your leisure. Sitting dignified on the banks of the River Mondego, Coimbra was once the capital of the country, and its royal heritage can be felt in its historic streets and buildings. Join your group leader on a wander through the lanes and squares of the Old Quarter and be sure to pass by the University of Coimbra – the oldest in Portugal. The afternoon is free for you to enjoy as you please before meeting with your group again for an evening Fado show. Coimbra’s version of the fado is linked to the academic traditions of its university and musicians wear the traditional academic outfit: dark robes and capes. The music is characterized by sombre tunes and lyrics, often about the life of the poor, and inspired by mourning and melancholia.
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 5 Day 5: Schist Villages
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Schist Villages

Travel to the so-called Schist Villages, an amazing part of Portugal, yet a well kept secret, with friendly locals eager to welcome you to their villages. The area consist of 26 villages nestled between the hills and riverbanks, seamlessly merging into the surroundings due to the stone used to build them, schist, a metamorphic rock. The villages experienced abandonment during the 20th century, as people left to look for better life opportunities in the cities. Thanks to a government project aimed at boosting the local economy through sustainable tourism they are experiencing a renaissance. Once arrived, enjoy a beautiful walk in the hills surrounding the village you will be staying at. In the afternoon, consider joining a traditional cooking class and dinner. It will take place in one of the villages and is a perfect way to discover the local cuisine. Prepare a full meal using products grown locally, and you’ll get shown the ropes by local people. After the class, take a seat, have a glass of wine and enjoy the fruits of your own labour.
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Day 6 Day 6: Lisbon
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: Lisbon

Travel back to Coimbra in a private vehicle and from there transfer to Lisbon by train. After a brief orientation walk, you are free for the afternoon. Much of Lisbon’s character and charm lies in its beautiful renovated buildings, grand boulevards, impressive castles and churches. Maybe visit one of the most symbolic buildings in the city, Lisbon Cathedral, which was built on the site of an old mosque in 1150 by Lisbon’s first bishop, Gilbert of Hastings. Inside are nine chapels, each with their own story to tell, and the wonderful Gothic cloister. Another option is to visit the medieval citadel of Sao Jorge Castle. The citadel dates back to Moorish times and sits on the highest point of the Old Town. Although much of the original castle has been destroyed throughout history, some sections of walls and 18 different towers remain today. Look down on a city swarming with endless angular white houses and buildings with distinct red terracotta rooftops.
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 7 Day 7: Lisbon
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: Lisbon

Make some further discoveries of Lisbon in the morning at your own pace. Roam through the charming narrow streets of local neighbourhoods do a spot of people watching, visit Belem Tower (a wonderful building originally designed as a lighthouse) and the vast, spectacular Monastery of the Jeronimos. Otherwise, head out for a day trip to Sintra – a royal sanctuary full of pastel coloured Romanticist buildings. In the evening, regroup and experience more of Portugal’s way of life by enjoying a sunset walk with your group and a wine and cheese picnic.
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 8 Day 8: Sao Miguel Island / Ponta Delgada
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 8: Sao Miguel Island / Ponta Delgada

At some stage today you’ll board a flight from Lisbon Portela Airport to the Azores, arriving in Ponta Delgada on San Miguel Island (flight time approximately 2.5 hours). Sao Miguel Island is treasured as the vibrant garden of the Atlantic thanks to its lush surrounds – hopefully you get a glimpse of this through the plane windows on the way in! Please note that today will be without a leader, and you will be on this flight by yourself or with other travellers who have booked the combination trip. Once arrived, you will be transferred to your accommodation and meet your group for the next stage of your Portuguese adventure at a group meeting tonight at 6pm.
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 9 Day 9: Sao Miguel Island / Ponta Delgada
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 9: Sao Miguel Island / Ponta Delgada

Sao Miguel is home to some stunning scenery and by the end of the day, this should be more than obvious. Take a visit to Arruda’s Pineapple Plantation located at Faja de Baixo. These glass greenhouses often take two years to grow the delicious fruit within, and there might be an opportunity to snack on some during the visit. You’ll then skim along the south coast of the island towards Furnas. Marvel at the volcanic activity of the Furnas volcano and visit the great lagoon, then sit down to a truly unforgettable experience. Your lunch today is ‘Cozido das Furnas’ – a delicious stew cooked underground by the steam from the volcano – you’ll lava it! After lunch you’ll have the option to take a relaxing dip in a geothermal hot pool, then it’s time to hit the road again and travel to the fabulous Pico do Ferro viewpoint. Stop in at a local tea plantation for a tour and to sample some of the only tea grown in Europe – the only tea plantations on the continent are found in Sao Miguel! Finally, pay a visit to Miradouro de Santa Iria where you’ll soak in sweeping views of the north coast of the island.
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 10 Day 10: Sao Jorge Island / Velas
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 10: Sao Jorge Island / Velas

The morning is yours to discover more of the magic of Sao Miguel. You may like to pay a visit to Lagoa das Sete Cidades, an emerald green lake in a volcanic caldera that would look right at home on another planet. If you’d like to learn about Azorean natural history then the Museu Carlos Machado is the place for you, and the building it sits in, a 16th-century convent, is as much of an attraction as the museum itself. This afternoon, board a flight bound for Sao Jorge Island (approximately 1 hour), one of the most scenic islands in the Azores thanks to its steep cliffs and narrow landmass. In the evening you may like to get to know Velas, the island’s capital, by visiting one of the many local bars or sampling some of the region’s famous (and strong) cheddar.
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 11 Day 11: Sao Jorge Island / Velas
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 11: Sao Jorge Island / Velas

Start the day with a visit to a local bakery to pick up a tasty snack, or if the days line up, you may instead go to the local market. Then it’s time to discover the island’s beauty on foot during a hike to the spectacular Caldeira do Santo Cristo. Begin your walk at Serra do Topo and climb a wide trail upwards. You’ll have the option to detour to a beautiful waterfall, then continue along a cobbled path towards Fajã da Caldeira do Santo Cristo. The views you’ll come upon on this walk are simply unforgettable – each one more breathtaking than the last. Follow the trail to the natural debris field of Fajã dos Cubres and explore the lagoon while your leader fills you in on the flora and fauna of the region. Stop off at a scenic spot along the trail to appreciate the views and enjoy a picnic lunch. Return to Velas after your hike for an evening at leisure.
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 12 Day 12: Faial Island / Horta
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 12: Faial Island / Horta

Today you’ll travel to Faial Island by ferry (approximately 2.5 hours), sometimes referred to as Ilha Azul (Blue Island). Raul Brandao, the Portugese poet, famously made note of the iconic blue hydrangeas that bloom on Faial during the summer months, quipping ’the man that had the idea to border the road with these plants should have a statute on the island.’ Visit the island’s resident volcano, Capelinhos, or rather the volcano centre as the climb up is not considered safe. Capelinhos last erupted in 1957 and changed the island permanently, adding an extra kilometre of land mass and blanketing the surrounding area in five metres of volcanic ash. The rest of the day is free to explore the local port town, Horta, and discover its long maritime history.
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 13 Day 13: Pico Island / Faial Island / Horta
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 13: Pico Island / Faial Island / Horta

Leave Faial for the day to visit Ilha do Pico (Pico Island). Known as Ilha Preta (Black Island) for its black volcanic earth, Pico is the proud home of UNESCO-designated vineyards that have played a major part in the community’s development. Today you will set out on a marvellous tour on the island. Firstly learn about the island’s volcanic past by visiting Arcos do Cachorro (lava tunnels) - the fascinating rock formations reveal this special force of nature. Then the hidden gem of a family-owned distillery awaits. Enjoy a tour through the distillery and learn about their special techniques and chat about the life on Pico Island over a tasting of their wonderful products. Next up is a stop at Criacao Velha for the stunning view of the UNESCO-listed landscape of Pico’s vineyards. Free time afterwards and you may like to take part in an optional whale watching tour. Up until 1980, the island supported a substantial whaling industry due to the deep waters of the surrounding Atlantic. Fortunately, the end of the industry means whale watching has become a popular activity for sea-faring visitors. You’ll be back on Faial Island for the evening and that means there’s time for a cheeky G&T at Cafe Sport (aka Peter’s Bar), perhaps the most famous sailor’s bar in the world. This watering hole was once a crucial post office and gossip stop for travelling sailors in a pre-internet era. For some, it still is.
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 14 Day 14: Faial Island / Horta
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 14: Faial Island / Horta

Say goodbye Azores! Your trip comes to an end today after check-out.
Accommodation: Hotel

+11

14 days tour

Portugal & The Azores

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Portugal & The Azores

Day 1: Porto

Day 2: Porto

Day 3: Porto / Coimbra

Day 4: Coimbra

Day 5: Schist Villages

Day 6: Lisbon

Day 7: Lisbon

Day 8: Sao Miguel Island / Ponta Delgada

Day 9: Sao Miguel Island / Ponta Delgada

Day 10: Sao Jorge Island / Velas

Day 11: Sao Jorge Island / Velas

Day 12: Faial Island / Horta

Day 13: Pico Island / Faial Island / Horta

Day 14: Faial Island / Horta

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