Portugal Gastronomy & Wines

Meet and greet at Lisbon Airport with a member of our team followed by private transfer to your accommodation. For this afternoon, our private guide and host will take you to a private half-day walking tour crossing the downtown of Lisbon. Visit Baixa the old downtown district of the city tasting the famous Pastel de Nata along the way, explore Rossio with Figueira and Comércio Squares and enjoy Chiado the glamorous part of the city with its iconic cafés and shops. You will have the opportunity to take a ride on the vintage tram to Alfama. Dinner included enjoying a Fado live performance, at an intimate and cozy environment.

The day will begin with a pickup at your stay followed by a one-hour 4x4 drive to play a visit to one of the most worldwide famous fish markets: Mercado do Livramento in Setúbal. This prized market was built in 1930 and has a truly unique wall decoration covered by 5700 tiles which depict scenes from everyday life such as fishing or farming. Light walking in Setúbal downtown followed by a lunch in a local Portuguese restaurant. After lunch, it’s time for a boat tour along the beautiful coastline of Arrábida Natural Park in an attempt to spot some dolphins (which may not be able once they're wild animals) and a little stop for a swim. At the end of the activity, our guides will drive you back to your stay. Dinner included in a local Portuguese restaurant.

Rental car pick up in Lisbon and self-drive heading to the Alentejo countryside region, more precisely to Arraiolos (ca. 130km - 1h25). To make this trip even more interesting, there will be plans for you to visit a very special Wine Estate & Producer of the Alentejo Wine, one of the most known types of Portuguese table wines. There will be a local host for a guided Tour & Wine Tasting of course. You will have the chance to visit the vineyards, winery, the working bottling line and cellars, topped with a visit to their private and impressive Carriage Museum. Lunch included at the Wine Estate Property. Now continuing driving to your next destination: the historical town of Évora (ca. 28 km - 0h30). When in Évora, you will have some time to explore this magnificent UNESCO Heritage site and its Roman Empire Legacy. All of this region has remains of human occupation since the prehistoric ages, and with significant strategical importance during the Moorish occupation and the Portuguese Kingdom period.

Self-drive from your accommodation unit to an olive grove (ca. 25 km - 0h30). It’s time to introduce you the Portuguese olive oil, which is amongst the best of the world. The day will begin with a private guided visit to an organic olive grove with almost 70-year-old planted by the grandfather of a small local producer. Discover the history of the estate (that has been in the family for 3 generations), learn about the Galega olive tree (native to Portugal) and find out what should be done to produce a small quantity of high-quality olive oil. You will also have the opportunity to taste the extra virgin Galega olive oil, savouring its qualities in the shade of an ancient tree. Finally, you will end this amazing sensory experience with a typical lunch at the estate, tasting some of Alentejo’s traditional products. Self-drive to your next destination: Redondo (ca. 30 km - 0h30). This afternoon will be dedicated to the cork production. Cork is one of the most characteristic natural products of Portugal, a fascinating and eco-friendly raw material that nature can give us. It is a 100% natural, reusable and recyclable material, extracted from cork oaks without harming the regular development of the species and the tree itself. The tree continues to live and grow and producing new cork, after having been harvested. So here is what we have planned: Let's know how it all starts? A guided visit to a “montado” (cork forests) at an estate property devoted to cork forestry and livestock, where the owner will explain the first stage of the cork extraction process. After all you're where everything begins. How does it end? Here you will visit a factory dedicated to the cork production where you can follow the industrial process and some goods made with this exclusive and natural product.

Self-drive from Évora heading the Center Region of Portugal, more precisely to Lousã (ca.250 km - 3h00). Lunch included at a typical Portuguese restaurant. Meet & greet your guide and set off for an afternoon of hiking along the green mountains of Serra da Lousã, following a path of both natural and historical importance: travelling back in time, we walk along the mountainous routes of the ancient villagers, crossing a Castle and a Chapel before we make way through the 2 of the Official Mountain Schist Villages. You will have also the opportunity to participate in a jam workshop performed by a local.

Self-drive from Lousã to your next destination: one of the 12 Historical Villages of Portugal - Marialva (ca. 170 km - 2h10). Casas do Côro is a sustainable wine tourism project that came from the recovery of 12 ruined houses in the historic village of Marialva. Once here, you will have the possibility to participate in a culinary workshop for about 2 hours at mid-morning with Carmen (one of the owners) sharing her wisdom and then have lunch all that was made. Free afternoon to enjoy Casas do Côro' facilities such as the swimming pool and the eco firendly concept Spa. Included at your accommodation unit.

Self-drive heading Douro Valley towards Pinhão (ca. 165km - 1h20). Guided tour & tasting at one of the most exquisite Wine Estates & Producers of Port and Douro Wines. Picnic-style (gourmet) lunch among the vineyards and contemplating the river. From the quay in Pinhão, 2-hour boat trip on Douro River in a 'rabelo' (typical wooden boat used to carry Port Wine to the warehouses in Porto/Gaia).

Self-drive from Pinhão to your next destination: Porto (ca. 160 km - 2h15) and drop-off the rental car. In Porto, our guide and host will go with you for a private half-day walking tour exploring the UNESCO Heritage historical centre of the city, presenting the history and main attractions from the Cathedral down to the unique Douro riverbanks. Porto is an inviting city of contrasts, with countless museums and ancient churches, and it is no wonder that it has won more than once the title of Best European Destination. Later, we will give you the guiding information for you to go for one of the most iconic and "must do" experiences in town: guided tour & tasting at an exquisite Port Wine Cellar at the riverbanks, a real legacy of the history of all this region. Now it's time for dinner to experience Porto's famous Francesinha - watch out for that spicy sauce!

During this "out of the circuits" experience, you will learn and taste something that is deeply connected with Portugal’s history and legacy: The Sea! You will have the chance to interact with several stages of the fish production. The day will begin by visiting a nearby beach, waiting for the traditional fishermen’s boats to arrive from the sea with the catch of the day. Already on shore, the selling and bargaining between fishermen and local sellers begins, where everyone tries to get the best and earn their living. We will visit a very small fish market, while the fishermen arrive with the live fish and do the trade with the local fish sellers. After enjoying this emblematic moment, we will set to visit a top quality sardine canning factory, a typical Portuguese delicacy that is known all over the world. This unit is carefully selected by our team due to its near 100 years of history and the manual labor process that is a live legacy of tradition! At the end of the visit there will be a can fish tasting. This morning of culture and tradition will end at the market where you will have the chance to choose your fresh fish directly from a traditional fish seller, to then be prepared at a restaurant close to the market. Lunch included at the end of the activity. Free afternoon to buy the last souvenirs or simply to relax!

Private transfer from your accommodation unit to Porto Airport.