Meals

6 breakfasts, 2 lunches

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.

Others

Sao Miguel - Island Day Tour Sao Miguel - Arruda’s Pineapple Plantation at Faja de Baixo Sao Miguel - Cozido das Furnas Lunch Sao Miguel - Tea Plantation Visit & Tasting Sao Miguel - Miradouro do Pico do Ferro & Miradouro de Santa Iria Sao Miguel - Lagoa das Sete Cidades including transport and guide services Horta - Leader led orientation walk Pico Island - Criacao Velha Vineyards UNESCO World Heritage Site Pico Island - Arcos do Cachorro (Lava tunnels) Pico Island - Liqueur Tasting Pico Island - Day Trip Faial Island - Hike in Capelinhos Volcano area Faial Island - Capelinhos Volcano Interpretation Centre visit

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 (6 nights)

Transport

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. 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. Plane , Ferry , Private vehicle , On foot , Taxi

Not included:

Others

Other activities and services not included

Insurance

Insurance is not included. Travel insurance is required for this tour. Please make sure you are adequately covered. If you require travel insurance, TourRadar has partnered up with World Nomads to provide a hassle-free experience. More information can be found here (https://www.tourradar.com/travel-insurance).

Flights

International flights are not included

Optional

Other activities and services not included

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Day 1: Sao Miguel Island / Ponta Delgada
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: Sao Miguel Island / Ponta Delgada

Ola! Welcome to Sao Miguel Island, the largest in the Azores. Affectionately nicknamed the ‘Green Island’, you can expect to be greeted by mountainous terrains and lush flora. Your island adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm, where you’ll meet your group leader and fellow travellers. If you arrive early, perhaps wander along the seaside promenade of Ponta Delgada town, pick up a plate of bacalhau (dried and salted cod) at the farmer’s market in Mercado da Graca, or even sample some fresh seafood at the local restaurants.
Day 2 Day 2: Sao Miguel Island / Ponta Delgada
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Sao Miguel Island / Ponta Delgada

Begin your day with a visit to Arruda’s Pineapple Plantation, located at Faja de Baixo. The delicious fruit can take up to two years to grow inside the glass greenhouses – but there might be an opportunity for you to snack on some during your visit. After, head along the south coast of the island towards Furnas volcano and witness the effects of volcanic activity. With your group, enjoy a delicious stew cooked underground with the steam from the volcano and then you’ll have the option to take a relaxing dip in a hot spring. Follow your leader to the Pico do Ferro viewpoint so you can experience the island from a new height. Take a break at the local tea plantation, where you can sample some of the only tea grown in Europe. Finish your tour of the island today at Miradouro de Santa Iria – a northern viewpoint that allows you to soak up its natural beauty.
Day 3 Day 3: Sao Miguel Island / Ponta Delgada
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Sao Miguel Island / Ponta Delgada

This morning, you’ll visit Lagoa das Sete Cidades – a green freshwater lake nestled in a volcanic caldera. After, you’re free to explore the island on your own terms. If you’d like to learn about Azorean natural history then the Museu Carlos Machado is the place for you. The building sits in a 16th-century convent, which is as much of an attraction as the museum itself. If you want to stay outdoors, consider taking in your surroundings from a rented bike or paddleboard. You can also change things up with a visit to Ponta Delgada, the capital of the Azores. Wander the cobbled streets and admire the various architectural styles, and maybe try some local seafood when you get hungry.
Day 4 Day 4: Faial Island / Horta
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Faial Island / Horta

Enjoy a free morning before your early afternoon flight to Horta, Faial Island. This island is sometimes referred to as ‘Blue Island’ because of the iconic blue hydrangeas dotted all around that bloom during summer. When you arrive, your leader will explain all this and more on an orientation walk. The rest of the day is free to explore the port town of Horta. You can chill out on the seafront or perhaps call into Cafe Sport (aka Peter’s Bar) for a famous G&T. 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.
Day 5 Day 5: Pico Island / Faial Island / Horta
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Pico Island / Faial Island / Horta

Hop on a ferry to Pico Island – the second- largest island in the Azores. Known as ’Black Island’ for its black volcanic earth, Pico is the proud home of UNESCO-designated vineyards that have played a major role in the community’s development. On your tour of the island, visit Arcos do Cachorro (lava tunnels), where you’ll learn more about its volcanic past. Then, call into a family-owned distillery for a tasting and discover their special techniques. Finish your tour at Criacao Velha for a stunning view of Pico’s unique vineyards. After, you might like to head out for some optional whale watching. 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 visitors. In the evening, return to Faial Island.
Day 6 Day 6: Faial Island / Horta
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: Faial Island / Horta

Get your hiking boots on as you start the day on a walking trail in Horta. After, visit the island’s resident volcano, Capelinhos. You’ll head to the volcano interpretation centre, as climbing 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 with five metres of volcanic ash. You’ll learn more about this eruption and the most famous volcanoes in the world at the centre. For the rest of the day, you’re free to explore as you wish.
Day 7 Day 7: Faial Island / Horta
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: Faial Island / Horta

Your trip will come to an end after breakfast. For those who wish to stay in the Azores, reach out to your booking agent ahead of time to organise additional accommodation.

7 days tour

Highlights Of The Azores

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Highlights Of The Azores

Day 1: Sao Miguel Island / Ponta Delgada

Day 2: Sao Miguel Island / Ponta Delgada

Day 3: Sao Miguel Island / Ponta Delgada

Day 4: Faial Island / Horta

Day 5: Pico Island / Faial Island / Horta

Day 6: Faial Island / Horta

Day 7: Faial Island / Horta

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