Soirée Travel Specialists presents
Portugal Discovery
-an ENCORE small group journey-
From stunning beaches with crystal blue waters to great food and wine, world class architecture, and deep cultural roots,Portugal checks all the boxes for a perfect vacation.
On our carefully crafted itinerary you’ll experience lively Lisbon, colorful Sintra, Templar Knights and Roman history, the Douro Valley wine region, fabulous Porto, and more. We venture off the beaten path to discover little towns and villages bursting with character and colors.
Our Soirée Tour Manager will help you experience the best Portugal has to offer, and our English-speaking professional guides will bring the history, culture, and charm of Portugal to life.
There’s no skimping on this extra-small group Portugal Discovery tour. Our 11-day, well-balanced itinerary keeps you comfortable in 4* hotels right where you want to be. Our 19 hearty meals include 3 lunches and 6 dinners, along with 4 winery visits with tastings.
We can’t wait to meet you in Portugal in 2023!
Itinerary and pricing details below.
Our Soirée Tour Manager will help you experience the best Portugal has to offer, and our English-speaking professional guides will bring the history, culture, and charm of Portugal to life.
There’s no skimping on this extra-small group Portugal Discovery tour. Our 11-day, well-balanced itinerary keeps you comfortable in 4* hotels right where you want to be. Our 19 hearty meals include 3 lunches and 6 dinners, along with 4 winery visits with tastings.
We can’t wait to meet you in Portugal in 2023!
Itinerary and pricing details below.
One exclusive departure in 2023
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Portugal Discovery
May 16 - 26, 2023
-only $6,499 per person-
See informational tabs below for more details
May 16 - 26, 2023
-only $6,499 per person-
See informational tabs below for more details
Ready to book? Have a question?
We work with travel agents!
Want to book your private group on your preferred dates? We can do that!
Portugal Discovery
May 16-26, 2022
11 days/ 10 nights
11 days/ 10 nights
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Meals: 19 (10 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 6 dinners)
Hotels: 4* Lisbon: Hotel Vincci Liberdade (4*) or similar, 3 nights Tomar: Hotel dos Templarios (4*) or similar, 2 nights Douro Valley: Hotel Douro Palace (4*) or similar, 2 nights Porto: NH Porto Jardim (4*) or similar, 3 nights Highlights:
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Day 1: Lisbon Arrival with Welcome Dinner
Welcome to Lisbon! Your driver will meet you at the Lisbon airport for your included arrival transfer.
Lisbon is a city of seven hills with spectacular views and a unique light. Views out across the River Tagus, the labyrinthine neighborhoods of narrow streets roofed in terracotta tile, the castle, the iconic bridge and so much more!
Lisbon’s greatest treasures are its historic neighborhoods themselves. From majestic Commerce Square to a wide array of shops, galleries and fine restaurants.
Join your Soirée Tour Manager for an included orientation walk this afternoon and then get to know this warm, lively city on your own terms
Enjoy an included Welcome Dinner tonight with your Soirée Tour Manager and travel companions
D*
*indicates included meals: Breakfast (B), Lunch (L), and/or Dinner (D)
Welcome to Lisbon! Your driver will meet you at the Lisbon airport for your included arrival transfer.
Lisbon is a city of seven hills with spectacular views and a unique light. Views out across the River Tagus, the labyrinthine neighborhoods of narrow streets roofed in terracotta tile, the castle, the iconic bridge and so much more!
Lisbon’s greatest treasures are its historic neighborhoods themselves. From majestic Commerce Square to a wide array of shops, galleries and fine restaurants.
Join your Soirée Tour Manager for an included orientation walk this afternoon and then get to know this warm, lively city on your own terms
Enjoy an included Welcome Dinner tonight with your Soirée Tour Manager and travel companions
D*
*indicates included meals: Breakfast (B), Lunch (L), and/or Dinner (D)
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Day 2: Sintra Day Trip with Cascais & Belem
Sintra leaves most visitors with a feeling of mystical enchantment. Its magical palaces, forests, Moorish castle and UNESCO World Heritage site city center are like a page from a fairy tale. Just 40 minutes from Lisbon is a fairy-tale land of castles and palaces. Eighteen miles and a world away from Lisboa, it’s easy to see why Sintra - with its cool, lush |
hills and proximity to the Atlantic coast - is where Portuguese royals used to spend their summers. Today, the concentration of these former regal estates and equally fanciful gardens has turned this UNESCO site into a popular day-trip destination. After seeing the 19th-century Romantic architecture, cobblestone streets, and dense forests, you will understand why Lord Byron once referred to the town as a “glorious Eden.”
The colorful Pena Palace is the standout monument of Sintra. The vividly painted palace stands at one of the highest points of Sintra and is surrounded by the pine forests of the region. The interior of the palace has been retained to how it appeared in 1910, when the Portuguese nobility fled Portugal due to the revolution.
The village of Cascais fascinates its visitors by its immensity of natural and cultural attractions. Situated at Costa de Lisboa, Cascais, a famous 1930’s & 1940’s refuge for Europe’s Aristocracy and Elite, retains its original features as a fishing village. Its historical charm, glamour, and privileged location with beaches of soft sand and a sea that spreads along the coast make Cascais a lovely stop for us today.
On our way back into Lisbon, we’ll stop in Belém, one of the city’s most beautiful districts and home to Belém Tower, the Jerónimos Monastery and many other stunning landmarks.
(B)
The colorful Pena Palace is the standout monument of Sintra. The vividly painted palace stands at one of the highest points of Sintra and is surrounded by the pine forests of the region. The interior of the palace has been retained to how it appeared in 1910, when the Portuguese nobility fled Portugal due to the revolution.
The village of Cascais fascinates its visitors by its immensity of natural and cultural attractions. Situated at Costa de Lisboa, Cascais, a famous 1930’s & 1940’s refuge for Europe’s Aristocracy and Elite, retains its original features as a fishing village. Its historical charm, glamour, and privileged location with beaches of soft sand and a sea that spreads along the coast make Cascais a lovely stop for us today.
On our way back into Lisbon, we’ll stop in Belém, one of the city’s most beautiful districts and home to Belém Tower, the Jerónimos Monastery and many other stunning landmarks.
(B)
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Day 3: Évora Day Trip
A region of sun-baked olive groves, fortified towns and traditional villages, all of which are a joy to explore. The Alentejo offers a truly unique Portuguese experience, with a distinctive heritage, delicious regional cuisine and an infectious unhurried pace of life. |
In the Alentejo, Évora, listed as World Heritage by UNESCO, shows the tenacity of the people. Perhaps this is the reason that culture and spirituality take on a singular character here. Easy to explore, this beautiful city will also reveal some of its special treasures on our guided tour: Roman ruins and the Chapel of Bones
You will also breathe the scents of the countryside here as we stop to enjoy a wine tasting with lunch.
(B, L)
You will also breathe the scents of the countryside here as we stop to enjoy a wine tasting with lunch.
(B, L)
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Day 4: Obidos, Nazare & Tomar
We’re off to Tomar today. But our first stop is enchanting Óbidos, one of Portugal’s most beautiful destinations and one of Europe’s best-preserved medieval villages. Postcard views, whitewashed houses with gothic doorways, potted plants and bougainvillea, snuggle together inside the crenelated walls of an ancient castle. Many locals still dedicate their lives to the traditional handicrafts and the famous local drink, Ginja de Óbidos, sold on the only real street in town, Rua Direita. |
From there it's on to Nazaré (Portuguese for Nazareth) is arguably Portugal’s most picturesque fishing village, although its days as a traditional place are long gone. It has become internationally famous for having the world’s biggest waves, and as a result it is now better known as a surfing mecca. But that means we’re in for some gorgeous views and perhaps an optional seaside lunch.
With its pedestrian-friendly historic center, its pretty riverside park frequented by swans, herons and families of ducks, and its charming natural setting adjacent to the lushSeven Hills National Forest, Tomar makes a lovely central Portugal pitstop for us for 2 nights..
Dinner is included tonight
(B, D)
With its pedestrian-friendly historic center, its pretty riverside park frequented by swans, herons and families of ducks, and its charming natural setting adjacent to the lushSeven Hills National Forest, Tomar makes a lovely central Portugal pitstop for us for 2 nights..
Dinner is included tonight
(B, D)
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Day 5: Tomar Exploration
To understand what makes Tomar truly extraordinary, just look to the crenelated walls of the Unesco World Heritage–listed Convento de Cristo, which forms a beautiful backdrop from almost any vantage point in the city. Eight-and-a-half centuries after its founding, this venerable headquarters of the legendary Knights Templar is a collection of Gothic, Manueline and Renaissance architecture that testifies to the city’s integral role in centuries of Portuguese history, from the founding of Portugal as a nation state to the Age of Discoveries. |
This morning we'll enjoy a private guided tour of Tomar’s Templar Sites. The balance of your day is for Independent Exploration
(B)
(B)
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Day 6: Douro Valley
Today we make way to The Douro, a land of experiences, known for its breathtaking scenery sculpted by the vineyards, for its people, for its heritage, and for its genuine uniqueness. For centuries, Portugal’s Douro Valley, the world’s first officially designated wine region, has drawn people for not only its port wine but also for the postcard-pretty landscapes—steep terraced vineyards carved into mountains along the Douro River and whitewashed quintas (wine estates) atop granite bluffs. |
While the traditional way of touring the Douro has been on day trips from Porto, we’re going to immerse ourselves in the valley experience. This is a land of traditions, a place of enchantment and mysticism, a great stretch of land where nature reigns in perfect harmony with the inhabitants that have shaped the valley slopes and organized the land into vineyards.
This magical place is ours. So is a very special and hearty lunch on the way.
Dinner is also included at our scenic countryside accommodation
(B, L, D)
This magical place is ours. So is a very special and hearty lunch on the way.
Dinner is also included at our scenic countryside accommodation
(B, L, D)
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Day 7: Douro Valley Exploration with Casa Da Mateus Winery & wine tasting lunch
There has been evidence of wine production for more than two thousand years in the Douro Valley. It was the first region in the world to be demarcated and it’s a land where traditions and modernity go hand-in-hand. This combination is still evident today in the traditional harvest that is still done by hand and the squashing of the grapes by foot and the most modern processes that accompany these traditions. |
The Casa de Mateus is a magical place. A time machine that allows us to travel over the last five hundred years of Portuguese History, Europe and the World. Enjoy an absolutely personalized experience, through the House and the gardens, made up of stories and people that fill our imagination.
We’ll enjoy a tasting of the estates wines before going onward to another winery for a tasting and lunch.
Dinner is, again, included at our countryside accommodation tonight
(B, L, D)
We’ll enjoy a tasting of the estates wines before going onward to another winery for a tasting and lunch.
Dinner is, again, included at our countryside accommodation tonight
(B, L, D)
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Day 8: Amarante & Porto
Off we go to Porto today with a picturesque stop in Amarante on the way. Amarante is easy to fall in love with. In fact, its name is derived from the Portuguese verb amar. To love. The river Tâmega runs through the town giving the landscape a unique touch of beauty and the pretty São Gonçalo bridge helped Amarante to survive French attacks in the 19th century. Then it’s onward to Porto. Humble and honest, Porto is a laid-back destination full of pretty shops, historic alleyways, magnificent architecture, modern gastronomy and the delights of a relaxed city with a strong cultural identity. And our base for 3 nights. Dinner is included tonight in Porto. (B, D) |
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Day 9: Porto Exploration
It was in the Porto and in the North regions that Portugal was founded in the 12th century and the Portuguese became a people and a nation. Porto, a World Heritage city, is the gateway and departure point for a journey across the natural and cultural diversity of the region. |
It is known for the Port Wine which is shipped from here all over the world, but also for an heritage which combines ancient churches and monuments, such as the Cathedral, the Stock Exchange Palace and the Church of São Francisco, and modern buildings, such as Casa da Música and the Serralves Museum. And for its School of Architecture which bred names like Álvaro Siza Vieira and Eduardo Souto de Moura, both winners of the Pritzker Prize.
We’ll enjoy a guided walking tour of Porto this morning and a Port Wine producer visit with tasting.
The balance of the day is yours for Independent Exploration.
(B)
We’ll enjoy a guided walking tour of Porto this morning and a Port Wine producer visit with tasting.
The balance of the day is yours for Independent Exploration.
(B)
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Day 10: Quinta da Pacheca
Quinta da Pacheca, one of the best known estates in the Douro region, was also one of the first properties to bottle wine under its own label. It is first mentioned in a document dated April 1738, where is it referred as “Pacheca’s”, because it was property of D. Mariana Pacheco Pereira. |
But it was only in 1903, when Dom José Freire de Serpa Pimentel decided to develop his interest in oenology, that he bought the estate and began to seriously dedicate himself to the risky business of winemaking.
Today, a century and many successes later, a brand-new generation of the Serpa Pimentel family is at the head of Quinta da Pacheca: Maria, Catarina and José are the young new faces of this family old company.
Balance of day for Independent Exploration in Porto
A Farewell dinner is included at our hotel tonight as we celebrate the amazing experiences we’ve shared together.
(B, D)
Today, a century and many successes later, a brand-new generation of the Serpa Pimentel family is at the head of Quinta da Pacheca: Maria, Catarina and José are the young new faces of this family old company.
Balance of day for Independent Exploration in Porto
A Farewell dinner is included at our hotel tonight as we celebrate the amazing experiences we’ve shared together.
(B, D)
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Day 11: Departure
We include your departure transfer to the Porto Airport (OPO) Thank you for joining us on a spectacular Portugal Discovery! (B) |
NOTE: All itinerary inclusions and routing are subject to weather conditions
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Inclusions:
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Exclusions:
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Price & Payment Deadlines
Prices are PER PERSON
Portugal Discovery land price PER PERSON: $6,499
Single rate supplement: TBD
Deposit Per Person to book: $1,881 due at time of booking [$799 is non-refundable unless Soiree cancels the tour]
February 01, 2023 Installment Per Person: $1,938
March 15, 2023 Full & Final Balance Per Person: $1,880
Single rate supplement: TBD
Deposit Per Person to book: $1,881 due at time of booking [$799 is non-refundable unless Soiree cancels the tour]
February 01, 2023 Installment Per Person: $1,938
March 15, 2023 Full & Final Balance Per Person: $1,880
**AIRFARE NOT INCLUDED**
Airport & fly dates are for your convenience only
(If you need assistance with airfare, we can recommend a trusted booking agent)
Airport & Dates:
Arrive Lisbon Portela Airport (LIS)
Depart Porto Airport (OPO)
Arrive May 16, 2023 | Depart May 25, 2023
**AIRFARE NOT INCLUDED**
Airport & fly dates are for your convenience only
(If you need assistance with airfare, we can recommend a trusted booking agent)
Airport & Dates:
Arrive Lisbon Portela Airport (LIS)
Depart Porto Airport (OPO)
Arrive May 16, 2023 | Depart May 25, 2023
**AIRFARE NOT INCLUDED**
Portugal Discovery
PLEASE NOTE
CANCELLATION PENALTIES
We strongly urge you to fully insure your trip and flight, and to purchase airfare with the most flexible terms possible.
Deposits & Final Payment
The deposit amount is $1,881 per person, due to book ($799 is nonrefundable unless Soirée cancels the tour due to insufficient minimum booking numbers)
November Installment and December Final Payment are due to Soirée Travel Specialist’s no later than due dates listed above. Bookings without installment and final payments may be subject to cancellation without notice. Failure to make payments as scheduled above will be considered a cancellation by the guest and all applicable cancellation fees will apply
- This is a scheduled group departure only. Inquire for availability of alternate dates and pricing for your own private group
- Maximum 16 guests, minimum 8. Tour may not run unless a minimum of 8 guests are confirmed by February 1, 2023
- First come, first served. Waitlist is available
- DEPOSIT DUE TO BOOK: $1,881 per person ($799 is NON-REFUNDABLE unless Soirée cancels the tour due to insufficient minimum booking numbers)
- FEBRUARY 01, 2022 INSTALLMENT PAYMENT: $1,938 per person
- MARCH 15, 2023 FINAL PAYMENT: $1,880 per person
- CANCELLABLE: in writing until February 28, 2023. Penalties apply as per below
CANCELLATION PENALTIES
- Until February 15, 2023: $799 non-refundable deposit
- February 16-28, 2023: 50% of total trip cost
- From March 01, 2023: 100% of total trip cost
We strongly urge you to fully insure your trip and flight, and to purchase airfare with the most flexible terms possible.
Deposits & Final Payment
The deposit amount is $1,881 per person, due to book ($799 is nonrefundable unless Soirée cancels the tour due to insufficient minimum booking numbers)
November Installment and December Final Payment are due to Soirée Travel Specialist’s no later than due dates listed above. Bookings without installment and final payments may be subject to cancellation without notice. Failure to make payments as scheduled above will be considered a cancellation by the guest and all applicable cancellation fees will apply