An adventure to explore Portugal’s secret highlights - from exclusive dining in private homes, to jaw-dropping scenery in remote locations

Personalised journeys from start to finish

Every trip helps support Conservation

Every detail taken care of

  • Personalised journeys from start to finish

  • Every trip helps support Conservation

  • Every detail taken care of

Highlights

  • A tasting dinner of Petiscos in charming Porto
  • Exploring rural Alentejo on horseback
  • Leran about 2000 years of history at Evora
  • Dine in a private home for an exclusive experience in bustling Lisbon
  • Get back to nature at Sete Cidades and Lagoa do Fogo

What's included

  • Full support from your Travel Concierge before, during and after your trip
  • Expert guides or local hosts in each destination
  • Luxury accommodation throughout
  • Meet and greet airport service
Use this itinerary to inspire your bespoke journey

At a glance

Portugal offers a wonderful array of stunning landscapes, distinguishing culture and rich traditions. Among the main sites, there’s a host of lesser-known attractions just waiting to be experienced, whether you’re gaining exclusive ‘back-stage’ access to Lisbon’s culinary scene, or venturing into remote, rural locations to live-like-a-local in Alentejo. On this hidden gems 11 day adventure you’ll get to go beyond the main tourist attractions to see just that little bit more, and really get under the skin of this fascinating country.

Your trip begins in the coastal city of Porto, famous for its port wine, fishing culture and UNESCO protected historic centre. The city buzzes with atmosphere and, with your expert guide you’ll delve into the lesser-known areas on lifestyle excursions and sample delicious Pesticos. Enjoy tasting plates of  Amêijoas (clams), Pica-Pau (sausage, cheese and pickles), Bacalhau (salted cod) and smoked ham and cheese, to name just a few.

After your time in the city, retreat to the countryside to experience rural life in Alentejo, a region known for its beauty, including rolling hills of cork farms and olive groves. Here you can experience horseback riding and mountain biking on verdant farmlands and explore 2000 year old ruins at Evora.

No trip to Portugal is complete without a trip to the capital, and Lisbon never disappoints. Set out on foot with your local guide to ‘taste’ what it’s like to be resident in this great city as you stop at cafes, sip wine, visit food markets and try local produce. Connect to local life and meet one of the city’s well-known residents, as you spend the evening with the Princess d’Orleans in a beautiful private home.

After your time in the city it’s time to take to the skies as you fly to the emerald green Azores archipelago and the island of São Miguel. Here you will enjoy outdoor adventures exploring some of Portugal’s most stunning, natural, hidden gems.

Example trip itinerary

Days 1 - 3

Porto

Flights & transfers

Transfer

Private transfer to your hotel in Porto

Accommodation in Porto

Porto Lifestyle Tour Porto Lifestyle Tour

Immerse yourself in the local lifestyle of Porto, where life revolves around the river and sea. Your host will take you along the river and out of the city centre, showing you a lesser-known side of Porto. You’ll visit local artisans, an open-air market and relax into a slower and simpler lifestyle as you escape the city.

pintxos-san-sebastian
Petiscos tasting dinner Petiscos tasting dinner

Enjoy the flavours of Portugal with a petiscos tasting dinner, made up of lots of tasty dishes that showcase the country's rich culinary heritage.

Located in one of the most charming streets of Porto, Mercearia das Flores opens its doors to food lovers looking for a local gourmet experience. The owners, Joana and Joana, will welcome you into their specialty shop, sharing with you their large selection of organic, Portuguese goods, and inviting you to sample some of the many petiscos, or small plates, on their menu.

While you eat, Joana and Joana will discuss the origins of the fresh, local products that you are enjoying, the quality of which will become more and more evident with each bite.

Flights & transfers

Transfer

Private transfer to your hotel in Alentejo

Days 4 - 6

Alentejo

Accommodation in Alentejo

Day at leisure at São Lourenço do Barrocal Day at leisure at São Lourenço do Barrocal

Sao Lourenço do Barrocal Farmscape offers guests a range of wonderful excursions and experiences. Many of the signature experiences here focus on the stunning natural environment of the farmland itself. There’s the estate tour, olive trees trail guided tour and relaxing picnic tours. For those looking for a little adventure why not try horse riding, hiking, and mountain biking. Then there’s culinary activities; from wine tasting, olive oil tasting and cocktail making to cookie making workshops and cooking demonstrations, using natural ingredients from the farm.

Private guided tour to Evora Private guided tour to Evora

A UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the 'museum city', Évora traces some 2000 years of history, from the Roman to the Neoclassical via Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque.

The main square, Praça do Giraldo, is the heart of the city where you can see the 16th Century St. Anton’s Church and the popular Henriquina Fountain. The Gothic and Manueline architecturally influenced Church of St. Francis is a pearl of its own with its golden altars and painted blue, as well as the Capela dos Ossos - the Chapel of Bones – the entire room covered with about 5000 human bones and skulls built by Franciscan monks. Then, of course, there’s Évora’s Cathedral, by far the most dominating site in the whole town and the largest cathedral in Portugal. Inside, you may enter the Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Piedade (also known as Chapel of Esporão), and observe the fine decoration representative of the Renaissance movement.

Flights & transfers

Transfer

Private transfer to Lisbon

Days 6 - 8

Lisbon

Accommodation in Lisbon

lisbon-street-view
Lisbon Lifestyle Walking Tour Lisbon Lifestyle Walking Tour

Meet your local host and embark on a unique walking tour of Lisbon. Stroll through the wonderful old streets, visit a food market and sample local products, learn about Portuguese gastronomy and sip on local wines while sitting at an outdoor café discussing life in Lisbon. This tour will give you a taste of what it's like to live in Lisbon, rather than just visit.

Lunch at a private home in Estoril hosted by the Princess d’Orleans Lunch at a private home in Estoril hosted by the Princess d’Orleans

Dona Diana Álvares Pereira de Melo, Princess of Orléans, 11th Duchess of Cadaval, Duchess of Anjou will welcome you today at her home. Built in the seventies by her parents, the Dukes of Cadaval, the home has been her residence since she married. The project was commissioned by the American architect Peter Harden, who lived in Málaga, and the decoration, Jacques Grange. Diana will share her home with you, beginning with a tour of the picture windows, lush gardens, and the Portuguese ceramic columns in the stunning dining room and living area. Finally, she will welcome you to her dining room where you will enjoy a regional lunch as you chat about what life is like for modern day Portuguese nobility, and her family’s veritable history.

Flights & transfers

Transfer

Private transfer to Lisbon airport

Transfer

Flight to The Azores

Days 9 - 11

The Azores

Accommodation in The Azores

Full day nature excursion to Sete Cidades and Lagoa do Fogo Full day nature excursion to Sete Cidades and Lagoa do Fogo

The first stop will be at a pineapple plantation where you will discover how this tropical fruit grows on these islands in the middle of the Atlantic. During this visit you'll learn about the different stages of pineapple growth. You'll even get to taste pineapple liqueur!

Continue towards Pico do Carvao, with a magnificent panorama over the North and South coasts and Vista do Rei Belvedere with breathtaking views of the Caldeira das Sete Cidades, an impressive caldera of two large lakes of almost equal size; The Green Lagoon of crystalline waters and the Blue Lagoon of amazing blue waters, separated by a narrow path. Don't miss a visit to the Sete Cidades village.

You will stop for lunch at a local restaurant in the Ribeira Grande area; the center of Baroque art in Sao Miguel (cost of food included). After lunch, you will have time to sink into the Caldeira Velha hot baths and end with a visit to Lagoa do Fogo in Barrosa Mountain, surrounded by an idyllic landscape, crystal clear water, and white sand peninsula.

Note: These experiences are subjected to weather conditions and can be cancelled or modified due to the fog.

Full Day Mountain Bike Tour in Furnas Full Day Mountain Bike Tour in Furnas

Today you will meet with your expert guide and make your way together to the activity centre to get kitted up and ready for your day of biking. You’ll have the chance to try out the bikes and get comfortable before setting off on your adventure.
Your biking route today will lead you through the volcanic terrain Furnas, a smouldering, magical place. Cycle to Furnas lake where you will visit the Caldeiras da Lagoa das Furnas (Furnas lake calderas), a place where they cook the famous “Cozido das Furnas” (a very special meal cooked only with the steam of the Earth). Then you will explore the Furna’s fumaroles and the hot water springs that contain water with different tastes. Afterwards you’ll visit the centenary Terra Nostra botanical garden that is famous for its extraordinary collection of native plants of the Azor.

Flights & transfers

Transfer

Private car transfer to the airport

Transfer

Airport assistance

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Portugal's Hidden Gems

11-Day Example
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We create fully personalised trips from start to finish, working with you to pick locations, accommodation and guides that suit you.

Every trip helps support Conservation.

From in-depth private tours to restaurant reservations, we take care of every detail so you can make the most of your journey.