Luxury is found throughout every experience with this celebration of Portugal. From three eclectic bases, you will journey into the culture and charms of a nation. Enjoy a tasting with the winemakers in Porto cellars, sailing around Madeira, and insider insight in Lisbon. Move through fairytale palaces, medieval walled towns, volcanic mountains, fishing villages, ceramic baroque masterpieces, and everything in between. Privately guided, this 10-day luxury tour has been handcrafted to take you...
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
Madeira – Wilderness and Charm on a Remote Volcanic Island
Dazzling cliffs set the scene on Madeira for a rugged and lush backdrop to the waves of the Atlantic Ocean. The cliffs twist and turn around the island and bring a feeling of wilderness that stretches across the interior of the island. From these cliffs, you can watch pods of dolphins rising in unison as they surf the waves. Picturesque fishing villages also hide down below, their scents of coffee and seafood carried on a breeze. Farming hamlets dot the interior hills, serene, and picture-perfect as they mark the panorama. Madeira is a perfect place for you quickly succumb to nature and overcome any travel fatigue.
You will be greeted at the airport and transferred to a timeless hotel that will overlook the ocean. Your hotel has been entertaining luminaries for over a century and is a place of indulgence and decadence to complement the wild feel of the island. Enjoy a welcome drink with your Madeira guide and discuss the itinerary for the next few days. A high level of customization is possible with the private four-wheel drive tour and the yacht expedition, with options to discover different parts of Madeira dependent on your interests and mood. You will not need to decide now, but while introducing the region’s history, the guide is likely to inspire your imagination.
What's Included:
Day 2
Madeira – From Fishing Villages to Dramatic Mountains and Coastline
Day 3
Madeira – Private Yacht Expedition and Natural Rock Pools of the Northern Coast
Day 4
Porto – Overlooking the Port Cellars and Celebrating the History of the City
Day 5
Porto – Private Cruise on the Douro River and the Wines of the Douro Valley
Day 6
Lisbon – Connecting Culture and History on a Beautiful Route Through Northern Portugal
Day 7
Lisbon – Insider Tour of Lisbon’s Distinctive Neighborhoods
Day 8
Lisbon – Private Tour to the Fairytale Palaces and Hills of Sintra
Day 9
Lisbon – Rural Portugal at its Best: Private Tour to Evora and Alentejo Region
Day 10
Lisbon – Departure
Trip Highlights
- Discover more with entirely private tours and a handpicked selection of local experiences that will enable you to travel far beyond the suggestions of any guidebook
- Escape into the wilderness of Madeira to find a dramatic cliff-strewn island that is fully attuned to the rhythm of nature
- Celebrate the eclectic history of Porto, from the beautiful blue ceramics to the pungent wine cellars and the cobbled World Heritage center
- Spend a day cruising along the Douro River, beneath lush vineyard terraces and distant castle ruins
- Explore the medieval fantasies dotted around Portugal, like the walled city of Obidos and the fairytale castles of Sintra
- Immerse yourself in the local side of Lisbon to discover distinctive neighborhoods with your expert local guide
- Take a journey into rural Portugal as Alentejo is a region of enchantment with evocatively narrow whitewashed streets
- Spend a day in Madeira to cruise around the Atlantic on a private yacht, and then another day crossing the rugged mountains of the island’s interior
- Experience Portugal as an insider as you connect with local culture while absorbing the proud inimitability of a country that holds true to its past
Detailed Description
Portugal dazzles with authenticity as medieval cities are packed with cobbles and charm, a river weaves through the old Port vineyards, scenes are painted in colorful blue tiles, and traditional food has been given a contemporary local makeover. The great highlight of Portugal is the opportunity to uncover the realities of each region of this beautiful country. The great challenge is knowing where to go and who to meet, for this is not a country that widely advertises its great pleasures as rather they are kept secret and low-key as one means of preserving the authenticity. On this luxury 2020 tour, you will be guided privately by local experts, and their insider knowledge will ensure that you go far beyond what is found in the guidebooks and into a land that is proud of its tradition and unseen heritage.
This luxury tour includes three nights on the island of Madeira, two in Porto, then four nights in capital city Lisbon. Each day is led by local specialists, so whether you are meeting the winemakers in a Porto cellar, exploring pre-Moorish history in Sintra, or cruising around Madeira in a private yacht, your excursions will showcase electric highlights. This will allow you to taste both the urban and the rural pleasures, as well as the scent of wilderness that Portugal’s coast can provide. As you cross the country, there will be a focus on all the paradigms as every day will celebrate the very best of what Portugal has to offer: culture, history, cuisine, wine, landscapes, beaches, medieval cities and colorful modern neighborhoods.
First Madeira, the redolent island off the coast of Africa. Local markets and private studios are among the stops on your first day, complemented by a four-wheel drive adventure across the heart of the island the next. Set sail the following day as dramatic cliffs serve as the backdrop to the serene Atlantic waters and beaches that are inaccessible by land. You could also choose to follow Madeira’s hiking trails instead, as with its wild feel and tranquil atmosphere, the island is an easy way to start your discovery of luxury Portugal.
Fly to Porto the next day, and your boutique hotel will overlook the port cellars and the bridge to the historical center. So many beautiful buildings fill this living UNESCO World Heritage Site, the liberal use of blue tiles connect the Roman, medieval, baroque and contemporary. Spend an afternoon exploring with one of the city’s pre-eminent guides, before a day on the Douro River. Like so much in Portugal, the private ravelo boat cruise blends adventure and discovery with a laid-back cadence. The drive south to Lisbon will provide an opportunity to explore further with a stop in 13th-century Coimbra and the whitewashed brilliance of medieval Obidos.
Lisbon can be vibrant and colorful, and the Portuguese capital can also be soothing and sublime. Built across seven hills, it is a city with many different sides, and all will be experienced on a private tour with an insider. There’s the eye-catching Alfama and the monuments of Belem, but also neighborhoods of vintage stores and grand cathedrals that overlook the city. Enjoy unique encounters with esteemed local artists, travel further afield to the fairytale world of Sintra, take a day in the fabulous Alentejo region, and return each evening to a version of Lisbon that best suits your mood. You will quickly understand why Portugal has been one of the world’s most talked about destinations throughout recent years. Begin planning your dream Portugal tour by connecting with one of our luxury Portugal travel companies.
Starting Price
$9,000 per person (excluding international flights)
Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.
What's Included
- Accommodations
- In-country transportation
- Some or all activities and tours
- Expert trip planning
- 24x7 support during your trip
Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.
Reviews of Zicasso's Referral Service
4.92 stars based on 1135 reviews.
Reviewed By Howard R.
Reviewed By Teresa F.
Reviewed By April M.
Reviewed By Mark K.
Reviewed By Nancy H.
Reviewed By Kashyap K.