Investment
- Twinshare โ $3980 AUD (2370 Euro)
- Single Room โ $4580 AUD (2730 Euro)
Picturesque Portugal
- 31 August - 7 September 2024
- 7 Nights / 8 Days
- Weather 23 - 28 C
- Fitness - Med - walk up to 5km a day
*Registrations are now closed*
Land of great royal dynasties and famous explorers, Portugal is a destination marked by its impressive history of several millennia: Celts, Romans, Visigoths, Moors and more recently Christians left their mark on this small Iberian nation.
Architecture, food, green valleys, famous vineyards and a generous sunshine during all the year, many are “the reasons-why” to visit this amazing country.
Portugal is waiting for you, do not make it wait any longer !
Oh the places we'll go ......
Lisbon
Sintra
Cascais
Belem
Coimbra
Porto
Lisbon
Lisbon is the vibrant capital city of Portugal, situated on the west coast of Europe. It is one of the oldest cities in the world, boasting a rich history and culture. Lisbon is known for its charming cobblestone streets, scenic viewpoints, and stunning architecture, including the famous Tower of Belem and Jeronimos Monastery. The city offers an abundance of cultural and recreational activities, from exploring the museums and galleries of the Chiado neighborhood, to indulging in the delicious food and wine scene, to enjoying the city’s lively nightlife. Lisbon is also a great starting point for exploring other parts of Portugal, such as the nearby beautiful beaches or the famous vineyards of the Douro Valley. Overall, Lisbon is a must-see destination for travellers who appreciate history, culture, and a vibrant atmosphere.
Sintra
Sintra is a picturesque town located in the hills outside of Lisbon, Portugal. Known for its stunning palaces, castles, and gardens, Sintra has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its historical and cultural significance. The town’s most iconic landmark is the Moorish Castle, a medieval fortress dating back to the 8th century. Another popular attraction is the Pena Palace, a colorful palace built in the Romantic style in the 19th century. The town is also home to numerous other palaces and mansions, such as the Quinta da Regaleira and the Monserrate Palace. Visitors can explore the town’s narrow streets and alleyways, charming cafes and restaurants, and lovely shops selling handicrafts and souvenirs. With its captivating beauty and unique charm, Sintra is a must-visit destination for travellers to Portugal.
Cascais
Cascais is a charming seaside town located just 30 minutes away from Lisbon, Portugal. It is known for its beautiful beaches, stunning coastline, and vibrant atmosphere. The town has a rich history, which dates back to the 12th century, when it was a fishing village. It became a popular destination among the Portuguese nobility in the 19th century, and since then, it has attracted visitors from all over the world. The old town of Cascais is a picturesque maze of narrow streets, white-washed houses, and colorful tiles, while the modern marina offers a variety of shops, restaurants, and bars. Some of the best things to do in Cascais include visiting the Condes de Castro Guimarรฃes Museum, the Boca do Inferno cliff, and the Guincho beach.
Belem
Belรฉm is a historic district located in the western part of the city of Lisbon, Portugal. This area is known for its iconic landmarks, including the famous Jerรณnimos Monastery, the stunning Belรฉm Tower, and the impressive Discoveries Monument. Other noteworthy attractions in Belรฉm include the Cultural Center of Belรฉm, the National Coach Museum, and the tranquil gardens of the Tropical Botanical Garden.
Belรฉm is also famous for its delicious pastries, particularly the creamy egg custard tarts, known as Pastรฉis de Belรฉm. Visitors can sample these sweet treats at the century-old bakery, Antiga Confeitaria de Belรฉm.
Finally, Belรฉm is located near the Tagus River, providing picturesque views and opportunities for relaxing walks along the waterfront. Overall, this Lisbon district offers a blend of rich history, diverse attractions, and delectable cuisine that make it a must-see destination for visitors to the city.
Coimbra
Coimbra University is an ancient and prestigious institution of higher learning located in the city of Coimbra, Portugal. Founded in 1290, it is one of the oldest universities in continuous operation in the world. It has a long and rich history, having played an important role in the development of Portugal’s culture and identity, as well as in the evolution of ideas and knowledge.
The university is organized into eight faculties, offering a wide range of undergraduate, graduate and post-doctoral degrees across a variety of disciplines, including law, medicine, engineering, humanities, natural sciences and social sciences. The university is known for the quality of its research and teaching, as well as its beautiful campus and historic buildings, which have been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Coimbra University is one of the most respected institutions of higher learning in Europe and the world, attracting students, scholars and researchers from all corners of the globe.
Porto
Porto is a charming city located in the northwestern coast of Portugal. It is known for its colorful buildings, delicious Port wine, and historical landmarks. The old city center, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is home to picturesque streets, stunning churches, and a bustling food scene. The Ribeira district is a lively waterfront area with numerous restaurants and bars that offer authentic Portuguese cuisine and beverages. Visitors to Porto can explore many cultural and historical attractions, such as the Clรฉrigos Tower, the Bolhรฃo Market, and the Livraria Lello bookstore. A visit to a Port wine cellar is a must-do experience, where visitors can learn about the history and production of the fortified wine and enjoy tastings. Overall, Porto is a vibrant and captivating destination that offers a perfect blend of history, culture, and gastronomy.
Trip Highlights
- Try a Traditional Portuguese Cooking Class
- Take on Lisbon via an E-Bike or Tuk Tuk Tour - your choice
- Visit the romantic Quinta da Regaleira in Sintra - think fairytale castle
- Have lunch at the spectacular cliffside Moinho Dom Quixote
- Visit the historic University of Coimbra built in 1290
- Walk to Ribeira quay in Porto for a relaxing boat trip on the Douro
- Visit the Vila Nova de Gaia wineries in Porto and enjoy of course a Port tasting!
- Hear the spectacular sounds of the Fado Folk Singing
- Visit of the Lello & Irmรฃo library which inspired the author JK Rowling for his Harry Potter books.
Book your Picturesque Portugal Tour
*FLIGHTS NOT INCLUDED
This tour has a $500 deposit and the remainder is due 75 prior to departure.
*Please note twinshare rooms can be compact for two people and sometimes beds may be Hollywood style.
Requirements:
This tour has a lot of walking and requires a moderate level of fitness. There are steep hills and cobblestone footpaths. You may need to walk several kilometers in a day. You need to be fairly fit to attend this tour.
Inclusions
- All transfers to/from airport & hotel by a private air-conditioned vehicle on arrival 31 August 2024 and departure day 7 September 2024
- 7 Nights Accommodation
- All breakfasts, one lunch & one dinner
- All sightseeing and entrance fees as per above mentioned itinerary
- Fully Escorted by a Vibrant Women Travel Host
- Local English-speaking tour guide
- City Tour Porto, Coimbra, Sintra and Lisbon
- Portuguese Cooking Class
- Fado Performance
- E-Bike Tour (Option of Tuk Tuk extra 50 Euros instead)
- Port Tasting
- Morning boat trip on the Druoro river
What is not included
- Airfares to and from Portugal
- Travel Insurance (which is compulsory)
- Personal spending, including lunches, drinks and dinners not included on the itinerary
- Airport transfers if arriving before the 31st or after the 7th of September 2024
- Tip for our tour guide, drivers etc. We suggest $25AUD per day per person, and collect this in currency at the beginning of the tour = $175 AUD. This does not include tipping for meals not included in the itinerary.
- Tuk Tuk Tour 50 Euro instead of e-Bike tour minimum 4 pax to operate
Meet Your Vibrant Women Host
Tammie Day
Tammie is the founder of Vibrant Women, a retreat and travel company. She spends her days creating inspirational journeys so you can travel in the security of a small group, whilst enjoying another culture. Tammieโs role is to ensure you feel well taken care of throughout your trip.ย She is constantly sourcing the most enchanting places to run her Inspirational Journeys, places that truly capture your heart and imagination.
Travel Itinerary
Arrival to Lisbon
Arrival in the Portuguese capital, Lisbon.
Reception at Lisbon airport by your driver. Private transport to your accommodation. Afternoon free to discover and enjoy the city, have a rest after your flight.
Recommendation :
Take a wander and discover Lisbon’s old districts, Alfama and Graรงa, and the typical hillside lanes of these popular old parts of the city (approx. 2.5km walk or take the metro). Marked by the presence of the Moors and spared by the earthquake of 1755, the alleyways of Alfama and Castelo retain a village atmosphere of yesteryear.
Far from the hustle and bustle of the lower town, the inhabitants have managed to preserve the authenticity of their district. You can wander through the labyrinth of flower-lined alleyways of Alfama, resting on the shady belvederes of Graรงa and admiring the breathtaking views over the lower town and the Tagus.
Night at hotel in Lisbon – Olissippo Saldanha Hotel (or similar)
Olissippo Saldanha Hotel
Located less than 60 metres from Duque de Saldanha Square, the 4-star Olissippo Saldanha offers a 24-hour reception and bright, modern rooms. Saldanha Metro Station is a 4-minute walk. Rooms at Olissippo are air-conditioned and include a flat-screen cable TV. All rooms have elevator access and feature a private bathroom, and some have a seating area with a plush sofa. A breakfast buffet is served daily, including hot and cold items, and can also be served in the guestsโ rooms. A bar is available for guests wishing to relax with a drink and a chat. The restaurants next door serve international cuisine.
Meals: N/A
Lisbon local tour & cooking class
Catch the metro for our morningย ย traditional Portuguese cooking class. Learn how to cook a typical 3-course meal, which you will enjoy with a glass of local wine. Whether you’re an expert in the kitchen or a novice, everyone pitches in for a unique and fun experience.
Includes: full meal at the end of the course, snacks, drinks.
With our local guide and on foot we spend the afternoon discovering Lisbon’s secret places. Following a theme, the aim is to immerse yourself in a capital rich in culture: the Middle Ages, Freemasonry, ancient paintings and azulejos, museums, belvederes, gardens and botany, fountain squares and underground monuments, artisans and “small trades”, markets, music, contemporary art.
Night at hotel in Lisbon – Olissippo Saldanha Hotel (or similar)
Meals – Breakfast and Lunch
Olissippo Saldanha Hotel (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast
Lisbon – Sintra – Cascais
In the morning we make our way to Sintra, an historic town nestled in the green hills of a UNESCO-listed national park, Sintra is the jewel of the Lisbon region.
Visit the Quinta da Regaleira, the work of the Italian architect Luigi Manini, a curious early 20th century residence belonging to a very wealthy businessman of the time. Its construction is inspired by various artistic styles and currents of thought. The visit is mainly based on the extraordinary gardens where the lake, caves, secret passages, underground labyrinths create a mystical and mysterious atmosphere. Do not miss the descent into the Poรงo Iniciรกtico, a large well dug into the rock.
Lunch at one of my favourite cafes in the whole world on our way to Cascais –ย Moinho Dom Quixote! *self pay
The onto the small fishing village in Cascais.
After a few days of holidays spent in this small fishing village, King Don Carlos I gave Cascais a reputation that turned it into a fashionable seaside resort at the beginning of the 20th century and attracted aristocrats from many European countries. Cascais today is visited for its pleasant seaside, its sumptuous 1900s houses, its lively and colourful streets and its artistic soul.
Overnight Lisbon
Meals: Breakfast
Belรฉm – Lisbon
A private transport will wait for the group at the hotel reception to bring you to the beginning of our morning activity, you have 2 to choose from, an Electric Bike Tour or a Tuk Tuk Tour (conditions for second option apply please see below).
Hop on your electric bike and set off from the Place du Commerce along the Tagus towards the Belem district. On this tour, you’ll pass the iconic MAAT Museum of Art and Architecture and the Padrรฃo dos Descobrimentos Discovery Monument, built in 1960 to mark the 500th anniversary of the death of Henry the Navigator, with the 25 April Bridge as a backdrop, and the Church of Santa Maria, where the famous explorer Vasco da Gama is laid to rest.
Through this e-bike activity, enjoy the lovely neighborhood of Lisbon, its history and Discoveries. You’ll see the departure point of the biggest expeditions that helped Lisbon to become a global empire.
*Option to take a tuk tuk ride instead around the same area if you are not confident to ride an e-bike. This requires a minimum of 4 pax and is an additional 50 Euros.
Afternoon free to discover the city.
Suggested places to go shopping:
The capital offers plenty of places to go shopping. You’ll find major international names as well as small independent boutiques selling handicrafts.
– Avenida de Principe Real
– Avenida da Liberdade
– LX Factory
– Rua Garett (Chiado)
Olissippo Saldanha Hotel (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast
Coimbra – Porto
Private transport from Lisbon to Coimbra
In the morning we visit one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in Europe. Built in 1308, the University of Coimbra consists of several buildings including the Royal Palace of Schools which is the historical and literary heart of the university and is composed of various rooms, then the Sรฃo Miguel Chapel. The discovery ends with the Joanina Library (subject to availability), this early 18th century Baroque treasure, built on the ruins of an old medieval prison, contains thousands of books dedicated to Knowledge on three floors, with works of inestimable value due to their antiquity and exclusivity.
We then drive on to Pretty Porto!
From our hotel, the group will walk to the restaurant (12 min). Dinner with Fado performance in the centre of Porto.
Tasting menu (starter, main course, dessert and coffee/tea) with choice of drink (red wine, white wine, mineral water).
Night at hotel in Porto – Hotel Carris Porto Ribeira (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast
Porto – Vila nova de gaia
In the morning, from your hotel, walk to Ribeira quay for the cruise boat: (5 min by walk)
Emblematic of the Douro River, depart aboard with Rabelo (a simple flat-bottomed boat that was once used to transport barrels of wine from vineyards) and take a cruise along the 6 giant iron bridges that are an inseparable part of Porto’s urban landscape, such as the D.Luis I Bridge, a true technical feat of its time, or Maria Pia, the work of Gustave Eiffel.
Approximately 50 minutes boat trip.
Vila Nova de Gaia there is a lot to do on the Port side, its neighbour is not to be outdone and offers many activities. It also has the most beautiful views of Porto.ย
Lunch at a local restaurant – *Self Pay
After lunch we will visit WOW yes its the world of wine! Located in the historic heart of Gaia, a short distance from the centre of Porto, WOW was born from renovated old Port wine warehouses that have given rise to a district containing seven museums, twelve restaurants and bars, shops, and a wine school.
Here you will be given a ticket for entry to one of the permanent museums to visit of your choice and then at 4 pm please meet at The Chocolate Story Museum as we will enjoy a – Chocolate and Port Pairing Workshop – Embark on a unique journey of aromas and flavours. By the end of the workshop, you’ll have learnt how to taste chocolate, how to assess its quality, and the production methods for both chocolate and Port wine. As well as all this, you’ll also learn how to taste Port wine and how to harmonise chocolate and Port for a perfect pairing.
Head back to the hotel for a free night.
Night at hotel in Porto โ Hotel Carris Porto Ribeira (or similar)
Meals: Breakfastย
Porto – Lisbon
In the morning, we will take a half-day guided tour in Porto.
Visit of the Lello & Irmรฃo library inaugurated in 1906 considered as the most beautiful of all Portugal. It even inspired the author JK Rowling for his Harry Potter books.
We will ahve lunch in Porto before taking our private transport back to Lisbon.
Night at hotel in Lisbon – Olissippo Saldanha Hotel (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast
Lisbon Departure
After breakfast, free time until taken to the airport for your departure flight.
Private transfer from your hotel to Lisbon airport, according to your flight schedule.
Departure from Lisbon
Meals: Breakfast
“There is no time to be bored in a world as beautiful as this”
Vibrant Women with a heart โฅ
Please know that $25 of your booking goes towards supporting our charity Samadhan Dwarka and the amazing work they do in supporting children with an intellectual disability in India, so THANK YOU!
FAQ's
Trip Notes
The Trip Notes on this link are always the most up to date version. When booking a tour in advance things can change, please always refer to these notes on the website as the most recent version of trip notes for your tour.
If you wish to combine Portugal and Spain trip, you can add both trips on the booking page if you do this you receive a $100 discount. For combining 3 trips you receive a $200 discount. Discount is already applied at the checkout.ย
You will need to purchase a flight on the 7th of September 2024 from Lisbon to Madrid our preferred flight is with Iberiaย ย IB8871| Operated by Air Nostrumย 1h 25 Departing at 12:30 arriving at 14:55 to Madrid.
Under the Schengen Convention, Australian citizens intending to travel to any Schengen country*, for a holiday or business, are authorized to stay in the Schengen zone for a maximum total of 90 days, without a visa, during any six month period.
Lisbon Airport (LIS) is the main international airport of Portugal and handles the majority of routes from outside of Europe. Lisbon airport lies within the city limits and conveniently connected to the red metro line.
Up until 75 days before the start of the tour a $500 non-refundable non-trasnferrable deposit will be retained.ย For between 75 days and 45 days, ย 50% of the final payment, this is in addition to the non refundable deposit will be forfeited.ย For less than 45 days or for no shows the entire amount will be retained as we would have already had to pay for accommodation, transport, flights and activities, and this money will not be returned to us.ย Once the tour has commenced no monies will be returned to you.ย This is whyย travel insurance is compulsory.
Our rates do not include any kind of travel insurance and each guest must make sure to arrange their own necessary insurance prior arrival to Thailand. We will do everything possible to ensure a safe and enjoyable trip. However, all travel involves some degree of risk we strongly recommend that you take out appropriate travel insurance for your adventure.ย
Your insurance protection should include cover for cancellation, medical, in particular Coronavirus and repatriation expenses, personal injury and accident, death and loss of personal baggage and money and personal liability. Insurance cover offered by credit card companies or reciprocal medical cover agreements are often not comprehensive please check this before travelling. Or contact our preferred Travel Insurance provider CoverMore
Throughout Portugal, youโll see seven bank notes and eight coins in different amounts. Portugal currency comes in 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, and 500 euro bills. Youโll also see 1-cent, 2-cent, 5, 10, 20, and 50-cent coins, as well as coins for โฌ1 and โฌ2. From experience, those โฌ1 and โฌ2 coins come in most handy when out and about for the day.
One thing youโll notice in Portugal is a difference in written amounts. Large amounts of money show a decimal point where Australians are used to seeing a comma. Conversely, thereโs a comma between euros and cents, instead of a decimal point. So, if youโd usually write $10,500 or $1.25 in the US, youโd write โฌ10.500 or โฌ1,25 in Portugal. Itโs also common to see the โฌ sign after the amount, like so: 1,25โฌ.
A moderate level of fitness is required to enjoy all the sites we visit. Some of the days we are out and about all day you do need to be able to walk up to 7km a day and sometimes at pace if we are heading somewhere we need to be on time. Other times its more of a stroll however please consider if you think you would hold the group up. Lisbon is known for being hilly so you must be able to navigate some uphill walking and cobblestones. We cannot unfortunately have women travel with us who require assistance to walk.ย Footpaths are uneven and there are lots of stairs.ย
Unfortunately we are unable to accommodate complex dietary issues on our tours. If it is something you can manage yourself that is fine. But we cannot be responsible for peoples health and wellbeing in regards to food in foreign countries as sometimes things get lost in translation. We hope you understand. We donโt ever want our guests to become unwell whilst travelling with us.
