South of Portugal | 4 Days

Day 1 – Saturday              LISBON – EVORA

You will be picked up from your central Lisbon hotel or you may need to make your way to Marques de Pombal terminal for a 9am departure. Details will be on your voucher. Enjoy a full day discovering the town of Évora, mosaic of culture, history, and traditions. Leaving Lisbon, cross the bridge over the river Tagus passing through a beautiful and bucolic landscape of olive trees, cork oak trees and vineyards. Upon arrival into Evora – a World Heritage site of UNESCO, visit some of the most important monuments: the Roman Temple, the Romanesque-Gothic Cathedral, Saint Francis Church with the “Bones Chapel”, and the University. Continue to the market where you can see the richness of produce used to prepare one of the most elaborated and appreciated gastronomies of Portugal, and admire the authentic local handicraft made with cork, ceramic, and copper. You will have free time for lunch and to explore more of the city. Overnight Evora.

Day 2 – Sunday                 EVORA – BEJA – SILVES – LAGOS

Breakfast at the hotel and morning at leisure in Évora. Then, drive south, passing Beja where the highest tower of Portuguese Medieval castles dominates the town and the region. Continue to Silves, known for its red sandstone castle dating back to Moorish times. Continue to the golden sands of the Algarve passing by Praia da Rocha, to Lagos for overnight. (B)

Day 3 – Monday               LAGOS – PONTA DA PIEDADE – SAGRES – CABO SAO VINCENTE – LAGOS

Breakfast at the hotel. Visit ‘Ponta da Piedade’ and admire the magnificent view over the Atlantic Ocean, and cliffs, shaped and sculpted by the erosive action of both the sea and time. Continue to Sagres, a fishing port, for a visit to the fortress where the mythical “navigation school” was linked with the presence of Prince Henry, the Navigator during the first days of Atlantic navigation and the discovery of the African coast. Proceed along the cliffs to Cabo São Vincente, the most southwestern point in Europe before returning to the city of Lagos, a cosmopolitan town with a marina and fishing port, where you can taste the delicious Algarve dishes, such as the fish and shellfish cooked in a copper pan (cataplana), and the fine sweets such as the famous marzipans, almond and fig cakes. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure to explore the city or take a dip in the sea. Overnight Lagos. (B)

Day 4 – Tuesday               LAGOS – SETUBAL – SERRA DA ARRABIDA – LISBON

After breakfast, depart Lagos. The return trip to Lisbon will take you by the city of Setubal, a major port and industrial centre on the north bank of the Sado estuary and through the scenic route over the Arrábida Mountain Range, an area preserved as a Natural Park, with amazing scenery, unique vegetation, and sweeping views of the Tróia Peninsula. Arrive back in Lisbon. End of our services. (B)

ACCOMMODATION (or similar):

EVORA: Evora Olive Hotel

LAGOS: Hotel Marina Club

Includes:

–          Transportation by air-conditioned vehicle

–          Accommodation as listed below or similar

–          Meals as per itinerary (B-breakfast, L-lunch, D-dinner)

–          Touring with Multilingual speaking guide

–          Entrance into the following monuments: Capela dos Ossos, Igreja de São Francisco (Évora), Catedral de Évora, Forte de São Vicente (Sagres).

Things to Note:

–          Accommodation is subject to change without notice. Every effort is made to avoid hotel changes, but should a mid-tour hotel change become necessary after this list has been printed, contact details of the new hotel will be supplied to you by your Tour Director.

–          Hotel rooms may not be available for check-in before 2:00 p.m. Hotel taxes, service charges and tips for baggage handling are not included in the tour price.

–          Tour can be a combination of regular tours, therefore coach changes may be required. The same people may not be travelling throughout the tour.