Gluten Free Portugal SMALL Group Tour | November 4-12 2023 - ON SALE! $5,750 CAD ALL INCLUDED

Day 1 l Porto | Saturday, November 04th 

Welcome to Porto!!  Upon arrival, you will be met by our local representative followed by a private transfer to your hotel for accommodation.

Picturesque Porto is much more than just a place of pilgrimage for port wine lovers – although this unique industry is among the many attractions of Portugal's second city. Straddling the River Douro just a few kilometres inland from the Atlantic, Porto, in the country's northwest, is closer to Spanish Galicia than it is to Lisbon. Porto possesses an appealing pan-Iberian atmosphere to complement its many historic charms; the old city centre is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The city centre is architecturally fascinating, many of the buildings faced with distinctive blue-patterned Portuguese tiling. Outside this area, though, Porto's undoubted traditional appeal is balanced by the trappings of a lively modern European city – making it an ideal destination if you're looking for a rich mix of culture and fun. 

PANORAMIC CITY TOUR OF PORTO  

PHOTO: Porto, Portugal | Gluten Free Portugal | Vacation Pros

Major sights on this tour include the city centre – a UNESCO World Heritage – the Cathedral, São Bento Train Station, Lello library. Porto is the Capital of the North of Portugal and UNESCO World Heritage. It has one of the most remarkable historic centres across Europe. From the Cathedral to the Port Wine cellar everything makes this journey memorable in an environment rich in history, tradition, and culture. After the tour, return to the hotel.  Welcome dinner at local restaurant included – with specialized gluten free menu (to be announced). 

Accommodation: Hotel NH Collection Porto Batalha – Standard room

Day 2 l Porto | Sunday, November 05th

Find more about the tradition of Port wine and Portuguese gastronomy in this 3HR guided visit into the heart of the Porto city! 

WALKING FOOD & WINE TOUR IN PORTO: 

Meet your guide and join us to experience the city's flavours: the wine, the gastronomy, and the canned sardines. First, you will have the opportunity to meet one of the most emblematic markets of Oporto: The Bolhão Market (closed on Sunday) A little further up, we present the renowned Café Majestic, revivalist style of French inspiration, an icon in the city. More than a cafe, Majestic tells the story of Porto in the twentieth century, and it was home for political gatherings and debate of ideas. This was the "Belle Epoque" Porto of writers and artists. 

Arriving downtown, it's time to sample, the famous Portuguese canned sardines. Prepare yourself to taste the best Portuguese sardines available in a quaint location in Porto. 

Further down, taste some unique Portuguese jams, also in a commented tasting. Try a unique flavour experience of fruit jams in tubes. 

Heading towards the other shore, Vila Nova de Gaia, the world-famous port wine is produced exclusively from grapes from the region adjacent to the Douro and, even though it is produced with Douro grapes and stored in the cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia, it ended up being known as "Port Wine", so you are in just the right place to drink this nectar. 

Here you will have the opportunity to taste a few Ports on a commented proof in a place and brand of excellency! 

Rest of the day at leisure | Dinner at a local restaurant included – with specialized gluten free menu (to be announced).

Accommodation: Hotel NH Collection Porto Batalha – Standard room  

PHOTO: Walking the street in old town Porto city, Portugal | Gluten Free Portugal | Vacation Pros

Day 3 l Porto | Monday, November 06th 

FULL DAY TOUR OF DUORO VALLEY WITH LUNCH. 

Spend a day in Douro Valley, visiting two beautiful wineries to sample sparkling wine, Port, local wine and ‘vinho verde’ – a young or green wine. Called ‘adegas,’ the Portuguese wine estates are as much of an attraction as the robust wine they produce – steeped in history and surrounded by heart-stopping countryside. Soak up the scenery as well as the wine, and enjoy a traditional 3-course lunch, too 

Leave your central Porto hotel by luxury coach and travel inland to Douro Valley, roughly 1.5 hours away. The area is famous for its scenic landscapes, so sit back and admire the scenery, typified by remote mountains, emerald hills, and UNESCO-listed hilltop villages. 

Idyllic as it is, the region’s main draw is its wine, not the countryside, and, luckily for you, your first stop is one of the valley’s prized adegas. Head inside Quinta do Seixo* located in Cima-corgo, the heart of the Douro Valley and take a tour of its cellars.  

After seeing where the wines are produced, bottled, and stored, sample some of the estate’s wares noting the different tones and aromas with your guide. 

Move to Regua and visit a nearby local restaurant for lunch and enjoy traditional dishes that originated in Douro Valley. 

PHOTO: River Douro Region | Gluten Free Portugal | Vacation Pros

Continue travelling deeper into Douro Valley to Quinta do Tedo* – an 18th-century adega surrounded by terraced vineyards stacked into the hillside. A small producer, the estate specializes in Port, the fortified wine for which Portugal is famous. Explore the cellars, sample a glass of their gutsy Port, and then shop for a bottle to take home, if you wish. 

Relax on the journey back to central Porto, finishing your tour at your hotel in the early evening. Dinner at a local restaurant included – with specialized gluten free menu (to be announced).

*cellar visits can be the ones mentioned or similar.  

Accommodation: Hotel NH Collection Porto Batalha – Standard room

Day 4 l Porto - Lisbon | Tuesday, November 07th 

Departure to the train station for your train ride to Lisbon (about 3 hours ride) 

Upon arrival in Lisbon, meet with your guide and transfer to the hotel for accommodation. 

Lisbon is situated on seven hills and divided into two parts Baixa district and Alfama district. Baixa is a commercial centre; there is a great variety of shops, cafés, restaurants, and performers. Alfama district reflects Portuguese history and being. The top attractions here are the Monasteiro dos Jerónimos and the Torre de Belém. We suggest that you also visit St. George's Castle because it's not only a historical place but also one of the best places where the unforgettable panorama of the city can be viewed. There are also many museums in Lisbon, which reflect Portuguese history and art traditions among them the Museu Nacional do Azulejo and the Calouste Gulbenkian. Dinner at a local restaurant included – with specialized gluten free menu (to be announced).

Accommodation: Hotel NH Collection Lisboa Liberdade -Standard room

PHOTO: Yellow vintage tram on the street in Lisbon, Portugal | Gluten Free Portugal | Vacation Pros

Day 5 l Lisbon | Wednesday, November 08th 

FULL DAY TOUR OF LISBON WITH LUNCH 

Departure from Hotel in Lisboa for a panoramic tour of the Edward VII park, Liberty Avenue, Rossio Square, a short walk through the medieval quarter of Alfama with its narrow streets that remember the Moorish occupancy and feel the atmosphere of this “old” historical town, crowned by the magnificent St. George`s Castle. 

We also pass by the Cathedral that dates back to the 12th Century, Blackhorse square - an immense square that brings downtown to the Tagus River.  

Following this, we go to the most historical quarters of Lisbon - The Discoveries Quarter of Belem, from which the Portuguese Caravels sailed off to the epic maritime discoveries.  

Once at Belem, two of Lisbon's jewels and symbols - The Jerónimos Monastery and the Tower of Belem - whose origins date back to the 16th Century, both considered as World Heritage, and represent the most luxurious and prestigious times of the Portuguese Monarchy 

Return to the hotel. Dinner at a local restaurant included – with specialized gluten free menu (to be announced).

Accommodation: Hotel NH Collection Lisboa Liberdade -Standard room  

PHOTO: Tower of Belem in Lisbon, Portugal | Gluten Free Portugal | Vacation Pros

Day 6 l Lisbon | Thursday, November 09th 

SINTRA & CASCAIS INCLUDING LUNCH  

A luxury day… Enter in the fantasy of a beautiful romantic Palace and wander around the charming Sintra village, where you will have time for lunch. Leave for Cabo da Roca and appreciate the view from Europe’s westernmost point. End the day along the coast, passing by Cascais & Estoril. 

PHOTO: Palace of Pena in Sintra. Lisbon, Portugal | Gluten Free Portugal | Vacation Pros

We will start our visit in Sintra, a small village built against the northern slope of the Serra de Sintra Mountains. Sintra is well-known by its charming narrow roads enveloped in lush greenery, its climbing flowers and the semi-tropical vine like plants trailing from mossy walls and balconies.  In Sintra, we will visit the National Town Palace, distinguished by its twin kitchen chimneys. This National Monument is a mixture of architectural styles, combining Gothic, Mudejar and Renaissance work, with superb 15th and 16th century Azulejos (hand painted wall tiles) in the main halls and Chapel.

Lunch will be served at local restaurant. After lunch continue to Cascais. The pretty fishing town of Cascais makes for a fantastic day trip from Lisbon. The area surrounding Cascais is regarded as having excellent beaches and the town was once where the Portuguese royal family took their bathing holidays, giving Cascais the affectionate name of “The Town of Kings and Fishes”. This royal connection brought in the Portugal’s wealthy who constructed fabulous residences which line the town's streets. Return to the hotel. Dinner at local restaurant included – with specialized gluten free menu (to be announced).

Accommodation: Hotel NH Collection Lisboa Liberdade -Standard room

PHOTO: Waterfront of Cascais, Lisbon Coast in Portugal | Gluten Free Portugal | Vacation Pros

Day 7 l Lisbon | Friday, November 10th Breakfast.

TOUR TO EVORA INCLUDING LUNCH AND WINE TASTING.

Along the rolling landscape of Alentejo, we pass by fields of Olive trees, cork trees and vineyards, to find the charming town of Évora, World Heritage of UNESCO. By the richness of his history, architecture, gastronomy, and handicraft, we are taken to a variety of times, styles, flavours, smells, colours and shapes, time for lunch in Évora. The lovely charming town of Évora, World Heritage of UNESCO is a beautiful town full of tradition and history, handicrafts and gastronomy on the walking tour see the Roman Temple, the Romanesque Gothic Cathedral, Giraldo square and St Francis Church with its unique Bones Chapel, after you will have free time to explore and shop on your own, you can find a great variety of items, such as the hand painted pottery, cork work, copper items and the colourful furniture. We will go to Reguengos in search of the sweet aromas of the “alentejano” wine on the Esporão Wine Estate, blending ancient and modern winemaking techniques, for a visit to the wine cellar with wine tasting. At the end of the day, return to Lisbon. Dinner at local restaurant included – with specialized gluten free menu (to be announced).

Accommodation: Hotel NH Collection Lisboa Liberdade -Standard room  

PHOTO: Evora city in Portugal | Gluten Free Portugal | Vacation Pros

Day 8 l Lisbon | Saturday, November 11th 

Day at leisure 

Farewell dinner at a local restaurant (TBA) 

Accommodation: Hotel NH Collection Lisboa Liberdade -Standard room  

PHOTO: Lisbon view of old town, Portugal | Gluten Free Portugal | Vacation Pros

Day 9 l Lisbon - Departure | Sunday, November 12th 

Transfer to the airport for your home flight.

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