Experience the diversity of Portugal on this 8-day roundtrip from Faro. Your program: Day 1 (Wednesday): Arrival in Faro You will be picked up at the airport and transferred to your hotel. You can spend the rest of the day as you wish. For example, you can enjoy a stroll through Faro and explore the city or try local cuisine at a restaurant. Day 2 (Thursday): Faro – Lisbon Your journey begins on Thursday as you head to your first destination: Lisbon. Drive through the mountain range in the Algarve and the plains of Alentejo to the bridge over the Tagus River. From there you can admire the magnificent view over Lisbon. Upon arrival in Lisbon you will enjoy a panoramic tour through the historic part of the city and Alfama, the oldest district in Lisbon. Here you will visit the Jerónimos Monastery, famous for one of the most valuable cloisters in the world and a monument to the heyday of Portuguese history. Afterwards you will drive to Belém Tower, the landmark of the city on the Tagus River, as well as the Monument to the Discoveries. This was built in 1960 in memory of the Age of Discovery. Here you can see more than 30 statues in honor of the Portuguese navigators as well as the world map and the marble Compass Rose, a gift from the Republic of South Africa. Day 3 (Friday): Lisbon – Coimbra You will leave the capital city and drive to the quaint town of Óbidos, also known as the “Town of Queens”. Here you can enjoy a leisurely stroll through the picturesque town. The journey then continues on to the traditional fishing town of Nazaré, where you will visit the famous Monastery of Batalha. Continue on to Fátima, the largest place of pilgrimage in Portugal, which attracts 4 to 6 million pilgrims every year. The final stop on this busy day is Coimbra. Day 4 (Saturday): Coimbra – Porto In the historical university city of Coimbra you will visit the Baroque library, the center of the traditional university, with approximately 300,000 books and prints. Another must is St Michael's Chapel at the oldest university in Portugal, which was founded in 1291. Porto, the second largest city in Portugal, is your next destination. After a scenic drive through the city to the cathedral you will see the magnificent Palácio da Bolsa (Stock Exchange Palace) and visit a port winery to sample port wine. Day 5 (Sunday): Porto – Guarda Say goodbye to Porto and continue north to the green province of Minho. You will first stop at the birthplace of Portugal, Guimarães, where you can explore the wonderful old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Continue on through the breathtaking landscapes of the Douro Valley to the heart of the Port wine region of Régua. A short stop in the historical town of Lamego gives you the chance to admire the pilgrimage church Senhora dos Remédios with its monumental staircase. You will then head through the beautiful mountainous landscapes of inland Portugal to reach Guarda, at approximately 1,000 meters above sea level. Day 6 (Monday): Guarda – Évora Today’s destination is the unspoiled landscape of the province of Alentejo. Stroll through the beautiful town of Castelo de Vide and visit the medieval synagogue. Afterwards you will drive to the town of Estremoz, the marble capital of Portugal, where you can see many marble quarries. Day 7 (Tuesday): Évora – Faro Explore the city of Évora by foot and see the Roman Temple of Diana, the cathedral, Praça do Giraldo, and the Church of St. Francis with the famous Chapel of Bones. You will then have free time to explore the city as you wish. Afterwards you will journey back to Faro, with a stop along the way in Beja, where you can visit the castle. Day 8 (Wednesday): Departure from Faro Return to the airport in Faro.

Day 1: On the first day of your private adventure, discover many of the historic sights that Lisbon - Portugal's capital city has to offer. First, see Saint George's Castle, one of the few vestiges of Arabic culture in the city. Admire the building which has witnessed multiple reconstructions since Roman times and is today one of the most visited monuments in the country. Then, head over to Alfama, the oldest quarter in Lisbon. Discover the small alleyways of the Medina which acted as the perfect defensive system during the 8th to 12th century. Continue into Lisbon's downtown Baixa neighborhood and learn about the terrible earthquake of 1755 which influenced Portuguese history and architecture forever.  Finally, explore the Belem or Bethlehem district to the west of central Lisbon. Marvel at how this area combines historic monuments, fascinating museums, and attractive gardens, all of which line the cooling waters of the Tejo Estuary. See the place where the shipyards and harbors used to be from where Portuguese explorers in the 15th-century set out to discover sea routes to India, Africa, and Brazil. Day 2: On the second day, visit the enchanting small village of Sintra which boasts a great concentration of historic palaces and interesting monuments. Your guide will give you information about all of the attractions you can visit and the choice is yours for what you would like to see. Then, head to Cabo de Roca - the most western point in Europe. Marvel at 165-meter-high Lighthouse which dates back to 1772. After this, continue to the beach town of Cascais, known for its picturesque streets and fishing village charm. Stop at one of the many restaurants serving fresh seafood. Return to Lisbon taking the coast road with stunning panoramas of the sea and Estoril. The town is known for its famous casino which boasts the largest gambling room in Europe and was made famous by Ian Fleming's Jame Bond novel 'Casino Royal'. Day 3: On the final day of your tour, set off to explore the Sanctuary of Fatima. Here, find various chapels including the Chapel of the Apparitions and have the option to attend a Mass. Visit the Monastery of Batalha another important landmark in the history of Portugal. Next, continue on to the scenic village of Nazare which has an intense past that is best portrayed in its architectural heritage. Admire the many picturesque churches and traditional houses. Lastly, explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Obidos. Step back in time, as you walk through the beautiful and narrow streets full of traditional shops, and white painted old houses. Return to Lisbon where your 3-day experience concludes.

Experience a fantastic 8-day tour of Portugal’s beautiful cities, and enjoy a week full of exciting and interesting activities. Day 1 (Wednesday): Arrival in Lisbon Transfer from the airport to your hotel in Lisbon. You have the rest of the day to spend as you wish, for example you can use this day to enjoy a stroll through the city. Overnight stay with breakfast at a 3 or 4-star hotel. Day 2 (Thursday): Lisbon Explore Lisbon on a scenic drive through the old town to Alfama, the oldest district of the city. Afterwards you will visit the Jerónimos Monastery, home to one of the most beautiful cloisters in the world. You will then continue on to Belém Tower and the Monument to the Discoveries before heading back to the hotel. Overnight stay with breakfast at a 3 or 4-star hotel. Day 3 (Friday): Lisbon – Coimbra Leave the capital city and drive to the picturesque village of Óbidos, where you can enjoy a relaxing stroll. Afterwards you will head to the traditional fishing village of Nazaré, where you will visit the famous Monastery of Batalha. Continue on to Fátima, the largest place of pilgrimage in Portugal which attracts 4 to 6 million pilgrims every year. From there you can take a trip to the traditional university city of Coimbra. Overnight stay with breakfast at a 3 or 4-star hotel. Day 4 (Saturday): Coimbra – Porto Enjoy a tour of the Baroque library and St. Michael’s Chapel of the oldest university in Portugal, which was founded in 1291. Afterwards you will drive to Porto, the second largest city in the country. Here you can enjoy an extensive panoramic tour of the city to the cathedral. You will then visit the old stock exchange of Porto – the Palácio da Bolsa – before sampling local wine at a famous port winery. Overnight stay with breakfast at a 3 or 4-star hotel. Day 5 (Sunday): Porto – Vila Real Today you will leave the capital of the north and head to the green province of Minho, where you will explore the region of Vinho Verde (green wine). Visit the old town of Braga, which is also known as the Rome of Portugal. You will then head to the sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte with a monumental stairway. Afterwards you will drive to the city of Guimarães, the cradle of Portugal. Explore the old town and the Palace of the Dukes of Braganza. You will then drive through Amarante to Vila Real. Overnight stay with breakfast at a 3 or 4-star hotel. Day 6 (Monday): Vila Real – Guarda After breakfast you will drive to the station of Vila Real. Travel by train through the Port wine region, and along the Corgo River to Régua. Enjoy a fantastic trip to Lamego, known for Presunto (dry-cured ham), where you can take a break. Continue on through Viseu to the city of Guarda at 1,000 meters above sea level. Overnight stay with breakfast at a 3 or 4-star hotel. Day 7 (Tuesday): Guarda – Lisbon Today you will head through the mountainous areas of Portugal to the city of Castelo Branco. Explore the gardens of the Bishop’s Palace before heading towards the city of Tomar. There you will visit the Templar Castle before driving back to Lisbon. Overnight stay with breakfast at a 3 or 4-star hotel. Day 8 (Wednesday): Depart Lisbon Transfer to the airport in Lisbon.