Portugal’s Best: Culinary Escapade for Seasoned Travelers

Upon your arrival in Lisbon, your private driver will be waiting for you at the airport to transfer you to your luxurious accommodation in the heart of the city. Once you have had some time to settle in, you will meet your private guide for a food tour of Portugal’s capital city. You will spend most of your time in Belem, where you will witness the iconic wonders of Jeronimos Monastery and Belem Tower. Afterward, you will stop at the famed Belem pastry shop, which is known as being the original bakery that introduced Pasteis de Nata to the country. After touring the bakery, you will be able to sample the dessert. Then, you will have the incredible opportunity to learn how to create your own Pasteis de Nata from scratch.

Today, you will be whisked away to the Cheleiros and Bucelas wine regions. During your adventure to the wine regions of Portugal, you will be led on a tour that will inform you about the process of producing the wine in addition to providing you with a tasting. After uncovering a handful of wines that were long thought to be extinct, you will enjoy a picnic lunch that overlooks one of the winery’s vineyards. Following your winery visit, you will make your way back to Lisbon and stop at a few villages along the way. At one of these stops, you will be hosted for a delicious dinner at a local tavern.

This morning, you will replace the hustle and bustle of Lisbon with the scenic countryside during a visit to a pair of berry farms. If blueberries and raspberries are your jam, then you will adore this excursion that offers an up-close look into a berry farm’s daily operations. In addition to visiting two incredible farmsteads, you will also be able to sample a plethora of all-natural treats that will have been made on-site. You will even be provided with the opportunity to participate in the harvest of these colorful berries if you visit during the right season. After spending your morning at a blueberry farm, you will transfer to a nearby raspberry farm. Here, you will be able to cook some of the farm’s award-winning preserves with the farmer’s family.

Today will have you departing from Lisbon and making your way to a shiitake mushroom farm, where you will learn about the intriguing process of growing mushrooms. During your visit, you will have the privilege of learning from the farm owner himself about how to grow this highly sought after fungi. Upon arriving at the mushroom farm and meeting the farmer owner, you will be given a brief introduction about the history of shiitake mushrooms. Afterward, you will be led around the farm for a comprehensive tour of the facility. After your informative tour, you will spend the remainder of the day in the kitchen, crafting a gourmet feast using the fresh shiitake mushrooms that you just picked. This evening you will spend the night on the farm, glamping in style within luxury cabanas.

Before you leave the farm this morning, you will thank your gracious host and depart en route to Cascais. Upon your arrival in this resort town, you will check in to your luxury accommodation before meeting your private guide for your exciting excursion. You will spend the morning alongside a professional fisherman, learning about deep-sea fishing and trying your luck at catching some fish with your newly learned techniques. Afterward, you will return to the fisherman’s home, where you will be able to participate in cooking your fresh catch in his kitchen with his family.

Today, you will depart from Cascais and make your way to the captivating village of Constancia. Here, after checking in to your accommodation, you will indulge in a private tour of this charming enclave. After strolling through the picturesque village, you will transfer to Almourol Castle before venturing back to Constancia, where you will meet up with a local master baker who will introduce you to the village’s signature Queijinhos do ceu. After a taste of this delicious treat, you will understand why this haven has received worldwide recognition for this dessert item.

Once you have arrived in Evora and checked in to your luxurious accommodation, you will meet your private guide and embark on a tour of what is aptly known as “Portugal’s Bread Basket.” Evora is considered to be the capital of the Alentejo region, which is known for its mouthwatering cuisine, specifically its offerings of freshly baked bread. Other delectable specialties that can be found here include black pork, a wide variety of artisan cheese, wines, olives, and olive oils. You will later indulge in a tour of the town, which is an official UNESCO World Heritage Site. After your tour, you will spend the remainder of the day learning how to bake Evora’s famous bread.

This morning, you will indulge in an exclusive tour of a local olive oil farm that will teach you about the inner workings of an olive oil grove. As you are instructed about how the olives are grown, harvested, and made into olive oil, you will develop an awareness and appreciation for this refined process. Once your tour has concluded, you will be able to sample the many different olive oils that they create on the farm. After touring the farm and sampling the olive oil that is produced onsite, you will culminate the day by watching the sunset with a gourmet feast.

This morning, it will be time to venture to Serpa, where you will find yourself delving into Serpa’s signature food item, spicy cheese. Made from raw sheep’s milk, this spicy cheese has made Serpa famous in Portugal, and people flock here just to get their hands on a sliver of this delicacy. Upon your arrival in Serpa, you will meet your guide for an incredible day that will have you indulging in a wealth of flavors. After touring the heart of the village with your guide, you will be able to sample Serpa’s famed Serpa cheese. Your evening event will then lead you through the process of crafting the cheese with a local artisan.

Your final morning in Portugal will have come far too soon, but luckily, a farewell brunch will be waiting for this morning. Once you have finished your meal, your private driver will transfer you to the airport for your flight home.