Lisbon, Porto & The Douro Valley

Your holiday starts at London Gatwick where you meet the Tour Manager and group to fly to Lisbon. On arrival, we are transferred by coach to our hotel, with four nights to explore this exciting city. Our hotel is in the heart of Lisbon's Old Town, conveniently close to the public elevator, designed by Gustav Eiffel, which gives us easy access to the Bairro Alto, the higher part of the city.

Tonight we have our first dinner together at a local restaurant. Lisbon comes alive after dark and you could enjoy a walk through the Old Quarter around our hotel after dinner, visiting a local coffee shop or wine bar.

• Dinner

This morning we explore the historic heart of Lisbon on a guided tour by coach and on foot. Lisbon is full of diverse architecture, superb food, and fascinating history, from its time as a Roman settlement to its rebirth as a major elegant European city. Our tour starts at Rossio Square, Lisbon's central plaza and social hub. There is a fountain, and the statue of Dom Pedro IV looks across the wave-patterned mosaics, towards the impressive National Theatre of Lisbon.

We continue through the city's narrow streets to the district of Belém and then your afternoon and evening is free. You could sightsee some more or simply soak up Lisbon's great atmosphere. For dinner, there are many eating options in the Old Quarter or its surrounding neighbourhoods for you to choose from.

• Breakfast

Today we board the train to Sintra, a historic city with a Moorish castle and fairytale palaces, nestled in the forested hills above the town. Sintra was the summer residence of Portugal's royal family for over 600 years. With its mixed history, the town has lots to explore, from its fantastical palaces and romantic architecture to its Moorish fortress walls.

Your Day Pass includes travel on Sintra's shuttle bus which takes visitors from the centre to the different palaces. The palace exteriors alone are impressive, but if you'd like to look inside, please note that entrance fees are payable. The town itself has a good choice of cafés and restaurants where you can find lunch. You're free to either travel back with the group to Lisbon, or return at your own pace with your Day Pass.

This evening you are at leisure to continue exploring and to find an interesting place to eat in Lisbon.

• Breakfast

Today we travel by rail to Cascais, a nearby coastal resort town known for its golden beaches and marina. The route follows the coast all the way and we pass the glitzy resort of Estoril. You are free to explore this traditional Portuguese fishing town which, like Sintra, was used by the royal families of Portugal when they wanted to escape the city. You could stroll down the pretty cobbled streets of whitewashed buildings, walk along the seafront to the picturesque port, relax on the golden sands or take a dip in the sea. Another option is to visit the town's Museum Quarter to learn about the town's local history and lighthouse. We travel back to Lisbon by train in the afternoon and this evening is free to dine independently.

• Breakfast

This morning we join the train to Porto. This scenic journey of around three hours showcases beautiful views of the Portuguese countryside and picturesque cities like Coimbra, and follows the Atlantic coast before we reach our destination. Our base for the next three nights is an elegant central 3-Star hotel.

After free time for lunch, rejoin the group on a guided city tour for the afternoon. We discover Porto's important landmarks and learn about its interesting heritage. The city is built on a set of hills, the peaks of Porto, which means plenty of stunning views. You are free to look around independently, before a buffet dinner at our hotel this evening.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Today is a highlight of our tour as we take a special rail trip, travelling into the stunning Douro Valley - the best way to experience this UNESCO World Heritage region. Our route takes us through a landscape of terraced vineyards and lush vegetation, scattered with farmhouses and villages, as our train follows the meandering Douro River. The Douro flows from Spain, across Portugal and out into the Atlantic Ocean through Porto.

Our destination is Pinhão, a pretty town surrounded by rolling hills. The historic port wine estates, called quintas, and terraced vineyards around here produce some of the finest port wine across the world, and some of the world's most famous brands own estates which are hidden away in these hills. After free time to look around and find lunch independently, we visit the traditional estate of Quinta de São Luiz by coach. Here we enjoy a tour of the vineyards and a tasting of the Quinta's excellent local port.

At the end of the afternoon, we travel back to Porto by coach, with a free evening ahead.

• Breakfast

Today you are free to discover charming Porto on your own. You could continue sightseeing with a visit to the city's historic heart, medieval Ribeira or 'Riverside'. You could also ride on one of Porto's historic trams (known as Eléctrico) up and down the city hills. Another great thing to do is travel across the Douro to a district called Vila Nova de Gaia. This historic part of the city is where the very first port wine houses were established in the 17th century. This evening we have a farewell buffet dinner at our hotel.

• Breakfast, Dinner

This morning we bid farewell, or 'tchau', to Portugal. Our coach takes us to Porto's airport for the flight back to London Gatwick, or to your local airport. Your holiday may be over but memories of this country's colourful cities and beautiful scenery will remain. A guided tour of Lisbon introduced us to its vibrant atmosphere before time at leisure at the enchanting palaces of Sintra and in the coastal town of Cascais. Travelling through the picturesque Douro Valley, we enjoyed a taste of Quinta de São Luiz and ended our week discovering Porto.

• Breakfast