Portugal

This Tour is designed for a small group of relaxed senior travellers

Fourteen Days, starting in Lisboa, and ending in Oporto
16 persons travelling on board a 30 Seat Luxury Coach
No more than two coach hours on any one of the movement days
Visiting the provinces of Setubal, Alentejo, Beira Baixo, Duoro Litoral
Accommodating in Luxurious and Historic Pousada Hotels

At each location, luxurious accommodation is provided in iconic structures, which have been acquired by the Portuguese Government, restored to their original splendour, and then awarded to the internationally renowned hospitality group, Pestana, to operate as hotels.

The superb restorations resulted in modernised and luxurious accommodations, but without losing any of the original and splendid architecture, art and ambience.

What is tantamount to privileged accommodation, is provided to this group by:

Pousada de Lisboa – The 17C Ministry of the Interior
Pousada Castelo Alvito – A 15C Castle
Pousada Mosteiro Crato – A 14C Convent Castle
Pousada Convento de Belmonte – A 13C Convent and Cathedral
Pousada Mosteiro de Guimarães – A 12C Augustinian Monastary
Pestana Vintage Porto – A 16C World Heritage wharfside warehouse

Superb Buffets: Cooked eggs, Mushrooms, Tomatoes etc; Smoked Salmon,
Cold Meats and Cheeses; Breads and Rolls; Cookies, Cakes and Pasteis de Nata. All fare inclusive.

One regional speciality dinner & wines evening at each location, fare inclusive.

On the first day at each location, a registered guide escorted tour, in a luxury coach, is fare inclusive. The Lisbon tour includes Belem and Sintra.

Free days are provided in each of the cities and towns visited.

Lisboa to Alvito – lunch break at the riverside village of Alcácer do Sol.
Alvito to Vila Vicosa – tour of the Roman Ruins at Vidigueira.
Alvito to Vila Vicosa – lunch break at the mountain top village of Monsaraz.
Belmonte to Guimaraes – The Palaeolithic Art Museum in the Coa Valley Archaeological Park – A World Heritage Site.
Guimaraes to Oporto – The Bom Jesus do Monte – Portugal’s most spectacular religious sanctuary site.

– Lisboa – Fado Club dinner & wine evening with Fado singing.
– Alvito – Tour of the Manueline doorways and the historic chapel.
– Alvito – Tour of the Castelo and Se at Viana de Alentejo.
– Alvito – The Village Chanting Choir, in the group’s castle courtyard.
– Vila Vicosa – Tour of the Marble Quarry, Cutting Works, and Museum.
– Vila Vicosa – Tour to Elvas, High Fashion Cork Products, Leather Goods.
– Porto – Short Douro River Cruise, ending at the Port House.
– Porto – Port House Tour and Tasting.
– Porto – Excursion to Braga and Ponte de Lima

Our Portugal Designer Tour is escort-directed personally by the owner-partners of Designer Tours – life partners Calvin Fabig and Wendy Moult. Wendy and Calvin are exceptionally pleased to serve as the Escort-Directors for the annual Portugal Tour. To them, it is akin to having a few friends join them on what would, in any event, have been their annual holiday break.

Over the years, they have managed to break their annual USA tour duty flights and spend a week or two in Portugal on personal holiday breaks. It is as a result of their having located the gems upon which these Discerning Traveller tours are based, that Designer Tours has added this tour to its “Discerning Traveller Tours” offerings.

For Date and Fare details of the Next Discerning Traveller’s Relaxed Tour of Portugal, please contact Designer Tours – +27 (0)21-788-8440 or calvin@designer.co.za

Our other Designer Tours that are escort-directed personally by Calvin and Wendy are:

The Discerning Traveller’s Safari Tour
The Discerning Aviator’s Oshkosh Tour
The SA Protea Martial Arts World Championship Tour