14 Days | Eat, dance and travel your way through Portugal’s highlights.
Take in the different sides of Portugal and its sun-kissed splendour on a 14-day exploration of the highlights and some lesser-known outposts. Taste port in its birthplace, explore riverfront Coimbra and its historic university, and weave through the verdant countryside all the way to the capital, Lisbon. Venture far into the Atlantic to see the rolling blue hydrangeas of Faial, the steep cliffs of Sao Jorge and the black volcanic soil under the vineyards of Pico in the Azores, offering a delightful insight into both island and Portuguese living. Discover some new sides to ancient Portugal on this diverse adventure.
Trip overview
- Start
- Porto, Portugal
- Finish
- Faial Island, Portugal
- Theme
- Explorer
- Destinations
- Portugal
- Physical rating
- Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
- Style
- Original
- Ages
- Min 15
- Group size
- Min 1 - Max 12
- Trip code
- ZMSPC
- Take a walk through the idyllic coastal city of Porto and understand why the birthplace of fortified wine is renowned for its narrow lanes, charming buildings and delicious cuisine.
- Explore the country’s oldest university when discovering the historic riverfront city of Coimbra – once the capital of Portugal.
- Walk through the secluded Schist Villages, a set of 27 settlements hidden between the mountain slopes and away from daily life.
- Uncover the wonders of Sao Miguel on a day tour of the island, from plantations of tea and pineapples to an active volcano and some truly memorable viewpoints.
- Check out the lava tunnels on Pico Island, visit a family-owned distillery and learn about life on the island over a tasting of their products and be amazed by the stunning UNESCO-listed landscape of Pico's vineyards.
- Don’t let the heat keep you from exploring the world! Summer temperatures can be extreme in Portugal (over 40°C), which can be uncomfortable. It’s important to use sun protection, wear layers to combat the heat and drink plenty of water. Please carefully consider the time of the year you wish to travel and your suitability to that season. Please note that only some of our hotels and public trains in this region have air-conditioning.
- In mainland Portugal the primary means of transportation on this trip is by train. Trains are a fast way to cross long distances, allowing you to avoid traffic jams and arrive right into the city centre. They are comfortable and all have toilets, however, can sometimes be quite busy. Please note that you'll have to carry your own luggage on and off the train, so make sure it doesn’t exceed our weight and size recommendations. You can find specifics under ‘Packing’ in the ‘Essential Trip Information’ section. On the Azores Islands this trip includes some ferry rides between the islands. With temperamental weather, some of these ferry trips may be a little rocky.
- There are two internal flights included on this trip. In order for our local operator to be able to buy tickets we need your passport details preferably at the time of booking, but at least 6 weeks prior to the trip's departure. Please note that the internal flights have a luggage limit of 20kg. Please pack accordingly as exceeding this limit may incur additional charges at the airport.
- This trip does not require any physical preparation, however, a good level of fitness will be an advantage. The Azores are a natural wonderland and the best way to discover them is on foot. There are few included walks and lots of opportunities to discover the islands further in your free time.
- Hotels in Europe often don't have double beds, but rather two single beds that can be pushe together/apart.
- On this trip you must pack as lightly as possible because you will be expected to carry your own bag and although you won't be required to walk long distances with your luggage (max 30 minutes), we strongly recommend keeping the weight under 15kg / 33lb. Most travellers carry their luggage in a backpack, although an overnight bag with a shoulder strap would suffice if you travel lightly. Smaller bags or backpacks with wheels are convenient although we recommend your bag has carry straps to accommodate the cobbled streets, uneven surfaces, stairs and steps you are likely to encounter while carrying your luggage. You'll also need a day pack/bag to carry water and a camera etc for day trips.
Itinerary
Inclusions
13 breakfasts, 2 lunches
Train, Private vehicle, Plane, Ferry, On foot, Taxi
Hotel (10 nights), Guesthouse (3 nights)
- Porto - Port Wine Tasting
- Coimbra - Evening Fado Performance
- Schist Villages - Village Walk
- Lisbon - Drink and Local Bites
- 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
- Faial Island - Hike in Capelinhos Volcano area
- Sao Jorge - Visit to Bakery or Local Market
- Faial Island - Capelinhos Volcano Interpretation Centre visit
- Pico Island - Day Trip
- Pico Island - Liqueur Tasting
- Pico Island - Criacao Velha Vineyards UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Pico Island - Arcos do Cachorro (Lava tunnels)
- Porto - Clerigos Tower - EUR8
- Porto - Bolhao Market - Free
- Porto - Livraria Lello - EUR8
- Porto - Serralves Foundation - EUR20
- Porto – Tile-Painting Workshop - EUR45
- Coimbra - Mondego River Boat Trip - EUR10
- Coimbra - Cathedrals - EUR5
- Coimbra - Joanine University Library - EUR14
- Lisbon - Oceanarium - EUR25
- Lisbon - Naval Museum - EUR7
- Lisbon - Experience Lisbon Walk Urban Adventure - EUR45
- Lisbon - Puppet Museum - EUR5
- Lisbon - Folk Art Museum - EUR5
- Lisbon - National Art Museum - EUR6
- Lisbon - Gulbenkian Museum - EUR10
- Lisbon - Belem Tower and Monastery - EUR20
- Lisbon - Ginginha Tasting - EUR2
- Sintra - Day Trip - EUR10
- Sao Miguel – Caldeiras da Lagoa das Furnas Geothermal Pool - EUR3
- Sao Miguel - Lagoa das Sete Cidades including transport and guide services - EUR45
- Sao Miguel - Museu Carlos Machado - EUR2
- Pico Island - Whale Watching Excursion - EUR62
Dates and availability
Important notes
1. A single supplement is bookable on this trip. Availability is limited due to small properties we use. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
2. Please provide your full name exactly as per passport at the time of booking (including any middle names listed on your passport) for internal flight tickets. Fees may apply for amendments to details within 6 weeks of departure, and in some cases you will be required to cover the cost of issuing new tickets.
3. The luggage limit for airlines we use for the domestic flights on this trip is 20kg. Exceeding this limit will incur an excess baggage charge, payable by the traveller. However, we must stress that due to the adventurous nature of this trip and the amount of public transport we use on it, this limit far exceeds Intrepid's recommended luggage weight for this tour (15kg).
Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.
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