The Essence of Portugal

Portugal is packed with history and beauty and Essence of Portugal has been designed to ensure your explore the best, and have the opportunity to get up close and personal to as much of this beautiful country as you can.

Starting in Lisbon, you will experience the tradition of Fado and dive into Portugese culture through music, food and art.  This cobble-stoned beauty will have you wanting more as you immerse yourself into daily life through the eyes of the locals you meet on just walking about, on market visits and more.

Then to the Douro Valley, the cradle of wine ‘delicousness’ and laid back moments.  Discover the terroir, what makes this valley so unique and the divine wines that are created here.  Your private day trip led by your very own sommelier will delight and I am sure they will send any purchases home!  There is a fabulous explore of the oldest university (and its town) in Europe, as well as mooching around Roman ruins and discovering Paleaolithic art…

Finally Porto in all its glory, where the historical centre is a UNESCO world heritage site.  There is so much to see and do it will make your head spin, from tram rides along the banks of the river, exploring the architecture, heading out to foodie heaven or just strolling the streets, people watching and soaking up the history.  The art scene is vibrant and to top it all off you will get to privately experience the book shop that is rumoured to have inspired J.K. Rowling’s Hogwarts – it is fabulous and oh so gorgeous (and this really exclusive access – but available to Travelling Divas)!

So much to see and do and all in the care of Travelling Divas and our fabulous tour director, Donna Hipgrave, a passionate traveller and lover of all things Portugal.

What are you waiting for?  Space is limited to a maximum of 12 guests to ensure the best care and attention, plus ensuring that we get to do things the big guys don’t!

Tour Price:  euro5525 per person on a twin share basis.  A euro1075 single supplement applies.

SEPTEMBER 2022

SUNDAY 25:  WELCOME TO LISBON, YOUR GATEWAY TO PORTUGAL…

On arrival into Lisbon you will be met by your driver to transfer you to your hotel, H10 Duque de Loule, home for the next 4 nights.

Check-in, relax and then later this afternoon you will enjoy your private guided tour of Lisbon, where you will discover a city that is bathed in light. The almost constant presence of the sun reflected in the Tajo River transforms the Portuguese capital into a mirror of a thousand colours, highlighting the city’s unique architecture and beauty. The city’s beauty extends beyond its famed monuments to be experienced in the streets, stimulating all of your senses. The sun, the river, the tiles, the gentle language, the colours and stories of this old yet modern city, will all be revealed. 

Lisbon is a city that makes you want to go exploring, to discover whatever might appear in every neighbourhood, on every street. It’s a safe and friendly city, relatively small but with so much to see. It’s an ideal place to spend a few days or as a starting point for touring the country. It’s old. It’s modern. It is, without doubt, always surprising. You can choose a topic or a theme to explore it. The range is wide: Roman Lisbon, Manueline, Baroque or Romantic Lisbon, literary Lisbon, the Lisbon of Bohemian nightlife, the city of Fado. And there are also very different ways of exploring: by foot, by tram, by segway, by hop-on-hop-off bus, in a tuk tuk, seen from the river on a boat trip or from the other side, after crossing the Tagus on a cacilheiro ferry… the suggestions are endless.

You will start your Lisbon theme, with a Taste of Lisbon private guided walking tour.  During this private experience the city will emerge around you, proudly revealing its character, which fully preserves the flavour of very distant times. Discover some of Lisbon’s main historical locations and some of the best views in town, as well as enjoying petiscos (local tapas) and wine.  

Overnight Accommodation: H10 Duque de Loule

Included Meals: Dinner and wine

MONDAY 26:  MORNING MARKETS & COOKING AT THE CHEF’S PLACE…

If you love foodie life then this is the place for you.  Portugal offers the fundamental ingredients: wonderful markets, fresh produce, incredible and innovative chefs, and an extensive restaurant offering throughout the country. With these elements, and representing the tradition and modernity undertaken by experts, today is all about experiencing the essence of Portuguese cuisine. 

Thanks to these elements, and representing the tradition and modernity introduced by the most innovative chefs, you will learn how to make the most of Portuguese cuisine. First, you’re heading to the market to find the best seasonal products under the expert guidance of your chef; then, you’ll  walk to a kitchen and learn first-hand how to produce the excellent traditional meals that make Portugal a must foodie destination.

Learn some of the tricks and secrets of this fabulous cuisine… and of course, you’ll  savour our creation afterwards!

This evening dinner is at leisure for you to explore and discover your own divine dining experience!

Overnight Accommodation:  H10Duque de Loule

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch (cooking class with wine)

TUESDAY 27:  THE DAY IS YOURS THEN FADO UP CLOSE…

Today is yours to explore at your leisure, to make your own memories and find those places you have on your list….  Indulge your senses and people watch the day away from an exquisite cafe, dining at leisure and committing all to memory.  Or indulge in some retail therapy from delightful boutiques to exquisite momentoes.  Of course there are art galleries to explore and history to discover.  Suggestions and options can be provided – just ask!

Then this evening a true Portugese tradition…get ready to be collected by your driver for a beautiful evening of entertainment.

In the heart of old Lisbon, on the labyrinthic Mouraria quarter, fado was born in the 19th century – a song of yearning, melancholy and feeling. Hidden in the corners of a small restaurant or tavern you may very well still hear the echoes of Maria Severa or Amália Rodrigues, legends of this local yet universal music.

Tonight we will find ourselves in the midst of the Alfama, one of the oldest and most authentic neighbourhoods in Lisbon, to discover first-hand the fascination of fado.  You will experience authentic Portugal through music, poetry and saudade at a “casa de fados”, a restaurant that host live shows.  Enjoy dinner this evening and experience the perfect ending for a unique evening in Lisbon.

Overnight Accommodation:  H10Duque de Loule

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

WEDNESDAY 28:  DISCOVERING SINTRA & CASCAIS – A FAIRYTALE VILLAGE AND MORE…

This morning post breakfast, be transferred to the beautiful village of Sintra, one of colour and faded elegance.

A World Heritage Site from 1995, the city of Sintra, is located just 30 minutes from Lisbon.   Offering the most beautiful gardens and palaces with delicious centenarian legends. 

Once you have explored to your heart’s content it is time to enjoy a traditional lunch in Sintra before heading to Cascais.

The nearby Cascais stands out for its relationship with the sea. Located on a beautiful sandy bay, featuring the Citadel Fortress, the Palace and Quinta de the Marqueses de Pombal it is perfect for a quiet evening stroll at dusk.

Return to Lisbon for dinner at leisure.

Overnight Accommodation:  H10Duque de Loule

Included Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch

THURSDAY 29:  TO DOURO WE GO…

Alas it is time to farewell Lisbon and head to the beauty (and wines) of the Douro Valley.

On your way stop we make a stop for a private guided tour of Coimbra and the Conimbriga Ruins and lunch.

The medieval capital city of Portugal for over a century and the location of the country’s main university for over five hundred years, Coimbra has a central and dignified role in Portuguese history.  This beautiful  city is located at the foothills of a valley, with the Mondego River as a mind-blowing backdrop of the eastern side of the city.  Enjoy views of a multicoloured collage of buildings with a history that goes back over one thousand years.

Its top site is, undoubtedly, is the University of Coimbra, which is one of the oldest in Europe. Founded in the late 13th century and declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the university moved between Lisbon and Coimbra before being established here in the mid-16th century. It has occupied the same site and building ever since. Its location, atop the hill, also provides spectacular views of the city and the Mondego river, and its Library (“Biblioteca Joanina”) is one of the city’s top attractions, an invaluable marvel of architecture and preservation of knowledge.

Conímbriga, located Set in the southwest of Coimbra, is Portugal’s largest and most impressive Roman site. Ancient Conímbriga was an important city in the Roman province of Lusitania and its ruins are extensive and wonderfully well preserved. Highlights include villas paved with elaborate floor mosaics – in particular the Casa dos Repuxos – and a 3rd-century defensive wall.

It is then time to head to Douro and get ready for the next chapter of this beautiful story.

Overnight Accommodation:  Vintage House

Included Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch

FRIDAY 30:  TIME FOR WINE…

Get ready for a full day out in the beauty of the Douro Valley.

In the heart of the Douro Valley, with an astonishing view over the river and its steep terraced vineyards, you will tour around the cellars, discovering the production processes that have been used over the centuries and how they have evolved.  Your personal sommelier will be on hand to help you understand the local wines, and be able to answer any questions you may have!

After the visit the perfect place for a very special tasting is in the middle of the vineyards, in a tranquil, relaxed picnic with local traditional food, you’ll most likely enjoy a siesta in the shade of fruit trees, with the Douro at your feet! A perfect day out to experience the Douro region at its absolute best, in beauty, heritage and flavour.

Overnight Accommodation:  Vintage House

Included Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch

OCTOBER 2022

Saturday 01:  TO PORTO WE GO, WITH A LITTLE PALEAOLITHIC ART ON THE WAY…

This morning after breakfast we head to Porto.

On the way,  we want you to discover a spectacular open-air Palaeolithic Art site, the largest of its kind, (as far as we know).

The first artistic manifestation in the history of mankind can be seen here over engraved surfaces that are open-air, unlike other sites where art is found inside ancient caves. Over 20 engraved rocks have been identified since its discovery in the early 1990s. Almost three decades later, it is listed as World Heritage Site by UNESCO.  Most are decorated panels from the Palaeolithic age, although there are examples of other archaeological eras as well. There are more than 1000 figures known to experts, depicting species such as aurochs, horses, ibex and deer, but there are also anthropomorphic figures and undetermined ornamental symbols.

Enjoy a guided tour in one of the routes offered, where you will discover the history and some of the secrets of this absolutely unique site, whose importance and beauty make it undoubtedly worth the visit!

A stop for lunch and then it is on to Porto, the capital and gateway to the north of Portugal.

With its gorgeous geographical location on the mouth of the river Douro and an architectural heritage of exceptional quality, the historic centre of Porto was declared UNESCO World Heritage in 1996. Porto is the capital of the North and the second largest city in the country; its hard-working inhabitants are noted for their commercial enterprise, always standing firm against outside impositions and foreign invaders, which explains why Porto has become known as the ‘unvanquished’ city.

This afternoon is at leisure, so if you want to get to know the city better, we recommend a gentle stroll through its streets, taking time to admire the typical granite houses and monuments, enjoying a tram ride along the banks of the river, or even going for a boat ride under the city’s six bridges, from where you can enjoy an entirely different view of the city.

The “Baixa (Downtown)” of Porto, with all the rhythms of city life, its movement and intense retailing. There is a very peculiar expression which bestows a Nordic, mercantile tone onto a city that is both spiritually and intensely baroque. In sharp contrast, in the Serralves Park, there is the sheer modernity of the building housing the Museum of Contemporary Art, and the romantic, soothing surroundings of the surrounding leafy park.”

Dinner at leisure this evening.

Overnight Accommodation:  Pestana Vintage Porto Hotel

Included Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch

Sunday 02:   PORTO’S FOOD SCENE = FOODIE HEAVEN…

Time to hit the food scene!

You’ve travelled this far, and now you want more of  the culture, the food, the history. So that’s what you’re going to get on this immersive private tour – you’re jumping into Porto’s food scene!  Not the one on Instagram, but the one in the streets. From the old-school specialty grocery stores to the big-mouthed vendors of the Bolhão market, to the little tavern or the smash hit, you’re going to be in the thick of it.

More importantly,  you’re going to understand why it’s there. Where it came from. What civil wars have to do with dessert. Why we eat snout-to-tail, but also fin-to-gill. Pack your appetite and a sense of adventure.  Prepare to eat curiously. The hosts of your Porto foodie delight are Maria and/or Bruno, who have won a bunch of awards for being food “nerds”, but what really matters is their love food and the stories behind it.

The goal is for you?  Have fun while tasting and learning, and take some fond memories of Porto with you.

Overnight Accommodation:  Pestana Vintage Porto Hotel

Included Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch

Monday 03:  DISCOVER THE CITY ON FOOT – WITH A VIEW ON ART…

After breakfast this morning it is time to discover the city of Porto…

This morning you will take a route to discover the secrets of the city and wander through its streets guided by a local expert.

Explore the highlights of this beautiful city through its central quarters and historical areas, charming cobbled streets and friendly locals; with the gentle language sounding like music in our ears and the smell of delicious food or tasty wine.

The Baixa neighbourhood, the city centre, the Cathedral; Rua das Flores; São Bento’s train station and its lovely “azulejo” façade; the impressive Torre de los Clérigos or the Lello Irmão bookshop, famous for being a filming set in the Harry Potter movies; Café Majestic or the Praça da Batalha.

You will also discover the wonderful Fundação Serralves, built by the architect Álvaro Siza. It is the main modern art museum in Porto and a walk in its gardens alone makes the trip worthwhile. Displaying exciting art by prominent Portuguese and international artists, it also works as a cultural and live arts centre.

Then time for lunch and the rest of the day is at leisure until later this evening when you are in for a special, Diva exclusive.

Tonight it is time to get your ‘Wizarding’ on and let your imagination roam free.  You will experience an exclusive access, after hours visit to Livrario Lello,  often featured as one of the world’s most stunning bookshops.  Its architecture is so stunning, it’s rumoured to have inspired J.K. Rowling’s depictions of Harry Potter’s Hogwarts.  It is opening exclusively for you – something that rarely occurs.  Explore this divine treasure trove and enjoy your last taste of Fado whilst exploring this fabulous world.

Then head out for your last dinner in Porto, at leisure, before this chapter comes to an end.

Overnight Accommodation:  Pestana Vintage Porto Hotel

Included Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch

Tuesday 04:  SO LONG, FAREWELL UNTIL NEXT TIME…

Thanks so much for coming – it has been amazing.  Enjoy breakfast and then it will be time to depart.  Departure times will be advised.  Or maybe you will join Donna in Barcelona for an amazing extension with Dali & Picasso?  Check it out here.

Meals Included:  Breakfast

Lisbon:

Set in a historic building in the city centre, the H10 Duque de Loulé is a four-star superior Boutique Hotel that fuses traditional Portuguese décor with a modern and elegant touch. It offers comfortable rooms, the Azul e Branco Restaurant, two meeting rooms and the Limão Rooftop Bar with spectacular views of Lisbon and the Tagus Estuary.

Douro Valley:

The Vintage House Hotel enjoys an idyllic and tranquil riverside location at Pinhão in the authentic heart of the Douro Valley. The Douro is one of Europe’s oldest and most beautiful wine regions, a breath-taking man made landscape enjoying World Heritage status. Remote and undiscovered, it offers the discerning traveller one of Europe’s most unforgettable vineyard experiences.

Porto:

In one of the most prestigious areas of Porto, the Ribeira historic district you will find the Pestana Vintage Porto, constructed as a group of 18 buildings that have been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Postcards always feature the hotel right in front of the Douro River, which blends in nicely with the other historic buildings in the area. We welcome you with an atmosphere that is at once vintage and contemporary, luxurious and romantic. The RIB BEEF & WINE restaurant is the place for true connoisseurs of great beef and wine.

All rooms have Wi-Fi and some feature views of the Douro River, the Wine Cellars of Gaia and the D. Luís Bridge.