10 Nights Country Roads of Portugal - a Women-Only Tour

Travel Through the Best of Portugal's Cities and Countryside on this 11-Day Women-Only Tour

Tantalize your senses during this 11-day women-only tour through Portugal. On this small group tour, a Local Expert shows you the historic downtown of Lisbon and the finest square in the city, Terreiro do Paço. From the hilltop perch of Monsaraz, see across the Spanish plains beyond Alqueva Lake and meet a local boat captain during a cruise on the lake’s calm waters. In Tomar, see the Templar Castle and explore its awe-inspiring rotunda with a Local Expert. Indulge in a farm-to-table meal featuring locally sourced ingredients. Taste port wine at Antónia Adelaide Ferreira’s cellars. Stroll through Portugal’s second city, Porto, a UNESCO World Heritage town, and relax in your contemporary hotel in the city’s picturesque historic district.

---

Day 1 - Arrival in Lisbon 

On arrival at Lisbon International Airport, there are complimentary transfers to your hotel. Settle in and relax before joining your Travel Director for a Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant. Enjoy the opportunity to mingle with your fellow travellers during a pleasant evening of good food and wine.

Dinner 

---

Day 2 - Lisbon

Your guided sightseeing tour with a Local Expert takes you along the spacious avenues of the Lower Town and across tree-shaded squares. Pass beneath the hilltop Bairro Alto to the Terreiro do Paço. This evening, perhaps gain further insight into Portuguese culture over an optional meet-and-greet with a Fado singer followed by dinner and a Fado show.

Breakfast

---

Day 3 - The Algarve

Cross the River Tagus and head for the sun-drenched southern coast to reach Lagos, a fishing port nestled in the bay of Meia Praia. After free time to explore, continue to your resort hotel set within a magnificent 360-acre estate. Simplicity is in the soul of Algarve cuisine, along with seafood so fresh it still tastes of the sea. A short walk away specialised Portuguese seafood restaurants hug the coastline, overlooking the Atlantic.

Breakfast

---

Day 4 - Évora

Journey to the medieval walled city of Évora where cathedrals, churches, aqueducts and ancient castle walls all serve to create the feeling that this beautiful city is a living, breathing museum to Portugal's rich past. Join your Local Expert to explore the highlights of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. See the Roman Temple and visit the Capela dos Ossos, an extraordinary 17th century chapel comprising the skulls and bones of 5,000 bones. Visit the cathedral with its attractive mix of Romanesque and Gothic architecture. With the rest of the afternoon at leisure, you may wish to continue to stroll through Évora’s unique historical centre, or the serene city park, following the aqueduct inside the city walls.

Breakfast

---

Day 5 - Monsaraz and Évora

Travel to the striking white village of Monsaraz, situated on an imposing hilltop, surrounded by olive groves and vineyards. From the castle ruins, admire the spectacular views across to the dry Spanish plains, contrasting with the blue of Europe's largest articial lake. Join a local boat captain for a leisurely cruise on the tranquil waters of Lake Alqueva. Relax and enjoy calming waters, picturesque views and tales of river life. Sit down to a delicious Highlight Lunch at local restaurant Sem Fim, once an olive mill. Enjoy a wide range of tasty tapas dishes showcasing the local cuisine and soak up the vibrant; cheerful atmosphere. Return to Évora where the evening is at your leisure to explore this beautifully preserved regional capital.

Breakfast & Lunch

---

Day 6 - Fatíma & Tomar

This morning, Experience as you visit Casa Relvas for a wine tasting. Despite the dry climate of the Alentejo region, they have been producing exceptional wine using innovative techniques to reduce the use of water. Continue to Tomar and visit one of Portugal’s historical jewels, the Templar Castle and Convent of Christ, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With your Local Expert, explore the octagonal Templars' Rotunda in the cloister and glimpse the day-to-day life of a warrior monk in the domestic areas. Outside on the battlements, the Manueline Window is a national masterpiece. You also visit the Synagogue of Tomar, one of the best-preserved medieval synagogues in Portugal, housing a small Jewish museum.

Breakfast & Dinner

---

Day 7 - Coimbra and the Douro Valley

In Coimbra, your Local Expert shows you the highlights and insights of the Old Town, including the University of Coimbra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Marvel at the impressive baroque university library, one of the nest in the world. Your journey continues past verdant hills and lush vineyards, along the tranquil waters of the Douro River. Visit Quinta da Pacheca where Maria Pimental, one of the first woman winemakers in the Douro, makes incredible wine. Gain insights into the UNESCO-listed Douro Valley, a premier wine region with a growing presence of female winemakers.

Breakfast & Dinner 

---

Day 8 - Guimarães and Porto

The mountain ranges of Northern Portugal accompany your morning journey to Guimarães, known as the birthplace of Portugal. Here, you can take in views from the Visigoth castle before wandering the cobbled streets and charming squares that exude medieval character. Continue to Porto, a city steeped in history whose central district is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Porto seamlessly blends tradition and modernity. 

Accompanied by your Local Expert, visit the São Bento Railway Station, renowned for the hand-painted azulejo tilework depicting scenes of Portugal’s past, and stroll across the Dom Luís I Bridge, a masterpiece of engineering that offers spectacular views of the Douro River. 

Breakfast

---

Day 9 - Porto, Grande Dame on the Douro

With a full day free to enjoy at your own pace, take a stroll to admire the Multi-coloured houses and churches covered in beautiful, glazed tiles. Perhaps choose to visit Braga, the capital of baroque. For a different perspective in the evening, consider joining an Optional Experience to view the pastel-hued houses of the Ribeira district, cruise aboard a traditional Rabelo boat and savour traditional flavours at a riverside restaurant. 

Breakfast 

---

Day 10 -  Ancient Óbidos and Lisbon

Discover the charm of the fortified town of Óbidos. Step inside the medieval town's ancient walls to wander through cobblestone streets, then continue to Lisbon. This evening, join your Travel Director and fellow travellers for a delightful dinner, raising a glass to the unforgettable moments shared on your tour.

Breakfast & Dinner

---

Day 11 - Depart Lisbon

After breakfast, your departure transfer arrives at Lisbon International Airport.

Breakfast