Lisbon | Charms of Portugal & North West Spain Small Group

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On this wonderful 6 day tour, you'll not only marvel at Moorish architecture and discover the quintessential port wines of the Dour Valley but also breathe in the atmosphere & history of Santiago de Compostela & marvel at the lifestyle of kings in the Palace of El Escorial. 

Day 1: Lisbon | Óbidos | Coimbra | Porto

Monday - This morning, say ‘Bom dia’ to your guide and fellow travellers when you leave Portugal's coastal capital city of Lisbon and travel the short distance to Óbidos. This quaint walled town has a wealth of wonders for you to discover. You can study the sturdy walls of their Moorish Castle; amble through the little cobbled shopping lane, or combine two of your favourite guilty pleasures in a drink of Ginjinha d’Óbidos, a sweet liqueur served in a chocolate cup. Back on the road, you'll venture further north to Coimbra. This former Portuguese capital is famous for being the home of one of the oldest universities in the world. You will explore the magnificent library of this institution whose roots go back to the 13th century, before finding some local food for lunch. After you’ve soaked up the history, it’s time to head to Aveiro where you'll feel like you’ve been teleported into Venice in this town that’s lined with canals and art-nouveau architecture. Your final stop of the day is in Porto, your home for the next two nights. It’s been a busy day, but hopefully, you’re not too tired to walk to a sunset spot in this many-tiered town. 

Included Activity:  Entrance to Coimbra University Library

Day 2: Douro Valley

Tuesday - Today, you have an important decision to make! Do you lounge around and take in the cathedrals, cellars, and cuisine of beautiful Porto? Or do you hop on the mini-coach with us and venture through the Douro Valley? Lucky for you, there’s no wrong option. If you join our optional half-day excursion, you'll travel to Pinhão by coach to enjoy a river cruise on a traditional "rabelo" boat. Once arriving at this small Port wine-producing town, it’s time to savour its delicious tipple and admire the stunning vistas. Next, you drive to Peso de Regua for an optional wine tasting at a local winery. Alternatively, you can spend a little time exploring the town. Before returning to Porto mid-afternoon, you'll stop off at Mesão Frio viewpoint for stunning views of the river Douro and its banks. The rest of the day is yours to discover more of Porto and indulge in its wines and flavours in your own style. And if you’re a fan of live music, don’t miss out on a performance of Fado, Portugal’s emotionally stirring traditional music. (B)

Optional Activities: River Douro boat cruise and wine tasting;  Wine tasting at a winery in Peso de Regua.

Day 3: Porto | Braga | Guimarães | Santiago de Compostela

Wednesday - Your last few days have been packed with bustling towns and boozy flavours. Today you leave Porto behind and venture north to Braga where you'll visit the famous Bom Jesus Sanctuary. This place of religious, cultural and architectural heritage was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2019. At the foot of Mount Espinho, you'll admire the Baroque staircase as it zig-zags upwards with ornate granite fountains and statues on display. Perched at the top is a neoclassical church with stunning views over the city. To reach the top you can purchase a ticket for the special elevator or, if you're feeling fit enough, you can tackle the almost 600 steps on foot. Our next stop will be in Guimarães, known as the 'birthplace of Portugal' and whose historic centre is part of UNESCO World Heritage. Here, as well as learning more about the city, you'll have some free time to enjoy lunch. For a must-see glimpse into the 15-16th century life of the Braganza Dukes, you can opt to visit the Palace of Braganza. And now, it is over the border and into Spain. We'll arrive in Santiago de Compostela, one of the most famous pilgrimage sites in the world, where you stay for two nights. (B)

Included Activity:  Ticket for Bom Jesus do Monte Funicular (elevator)
Optional Activity:  Entrance to Palace of Braganza

Day 4: Costa da Morte

Thursday - Today, you can relax and enjoy the sights of Santiago de Compostela, exploring the architecture, atmosphere, and history at your own pace. Or come with us on a journey to Cape Finisterre, the furthermost edge of ancient Europe. If you join our trip, the day will start with a drive along the "Costa da Morte", the Coast of Death. And no, this isn’t a shoreline infested with pirates and cannibals, it’s a place that was once notorious for shipwrecks. You'll arrive first at the town of Noia, then continue on to Muros for a coffee stop. Next up is a photo stop of Galicia's largest beach - Playa de Carnota. Our tour continues with a visit to the Ézaro waterfall where we'll go for a small walk to take in the views of a rare wonder - the Ézaro River tumbling straight into the sea. After you’ve enjoyed the waterfall, we travel to the ‘End of the World’ at Cape Finisterre. Ancient civilisations believed this was the end of the earth. You have time here to admire the lighthouse and look out over the wild Atlantic Ocean before we continue toward our next stop, Muxía. This lovely, historic harbour town is the perfect spot to sample the fresh seafood that this region is famous for and watch the ships set off to sea. Arriving back in Santiago de Compostela, the evening is yours to try Galician specialities or admire the famous cathedral built over the remains of St James, one of the apostles of Jesus Christ. (B) 

Day 5: Santiago de Compostela | Lugo | Salamanca

Friday - Our first stop of the day will be Lugo, a town that has a lot to be proud of. Apart from a stunning cathedral and oodles of charm, it has the only fully intact Roman city walls in the world. Here you'll have free time to visit at leisure and perhaps feel like a Roman Legionnaire with a stroll along the defenses. We continue to follow in the footsteps of the ancient Romans and travel to Las Médulas to discover strange red pinnacles and holes in the mountains that make this landscape look and feel otherworldly. The Romans created what you see before you by boring into the earth in their quest for gold. There will be time for you to explore this area and have your lunch on your own, before continuing the journey to Salamanca for your overnight stay. This mesmerising city is adorned with the riches of the Spanish Golden Age and also boasts a great culinary scene. (B)

Day 6: Salamanca | Madrid

Saturday - This morning you will have time to explore the golden-hued landmarks of Salamanca - its cathedral, university, and pretty plazas. Or you can enjoy a lie-in if you decided to enjoy the famous nightlife a little too much the night before. Cast one last glance at the stunning architecture of the city before we head off, and continue our journey through the vast plains of Castile and León to Ávila. You'll have some free time here for lunch and a walk around town, before travelling further east to visit El Escorial Palace, the remarkable residence of the Spanish Royals and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After having been immersed in the riches of Spain, we take you to Madrid in the evening where your tour ends around 7 pm. (B)

Included Activity: Entrance to El Escorial Palace

Guaranteed departures!

Tour departs on Monday - May 15 & 29; June 12 & 26; July 10 & 24; August 07 & 21; September 04 & 18; October 02 & 16, 2023.