*EXPIRED* Journeys Rediscovered - Culinary Journey of Portugal
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Culinary Immersion Tour Unique to Journeys Rediscovered
"Culinary Journey of Portugal"
(Small Group Tour of no more than 8 people)
Lisbon – Douro Valley - Porto | 8 days/7 nights
- 2 nights accommodation in Lisbon – H10 Duque de Loule
- 3 nights accommodation in Duoro Valley – The Vintage House
- 2 nights accommodation in Porto – Hotel Infante Sagres
- Breakfast daily at hotels
- Other meals & tastings included as per itinerary at specially selected restaurants and culinary experiences
- All private transfers
- All activities included as per itinerary
- Entrance fees
- Sightseeing and touring with a local English speaking guide
Contact Journeys Rediscovered on 0477002235 for pricing to suit your preferred departure dates as a private itinerary or REGISTER for our 2022 or 2023 Small Group Journeys (no more the 12 passengers).
Boutique 4.5 star accommodation twin share. Single Supplements available.
More Information
Day 1 - Lisbon: Upon arrival at Lisbon Airport (please provide flight information), you'll be welcomed by your private driver and vehicle, and escorted to your hotel. Lisbon sprawls along the banks of the Tagus River estuary. Its name comes from the Phoenician words meaning "enchanting port”. From the city’s hills, you can look toward the Atlantic, where the Portuguese inaugurated the Age of Discovery. The low-lying areas of the city were rebuilt after the destructive Great Earthquake of 1755. Recent decades have seen a similar renaissance in Lisbon’s cultural landscape. Since Portugal emerged from dictatorship and joined the EU, the capital has built infrastructures, hosted numerous international events and developed a thriving nightlife.
Day 2 – Lisbon: Visit to the Belem district: Today your expert guide and private driver will meet you at your hotel for a half day tour of Lisbon, focused on the Belém district. You might start your tour with a visit to the Belém Tower; it originally stood in the middle of the Tagus but now is just off the shore. For centuries, Portuguese explorers set off from this 16th century fortress in search of the riches of the new world. A short walk inland, you will find the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos. The incomparable monastery epitomizes the Manueline style, a highly decorative form of architecture that emerged during the reign of Manuel I (1495-1521). A UNESCO World Heritage site, this ambitious building reflects the confidence Portugal enjoyed when its explorers roamed the seas. One of the greatest navigators, Vasco de Gama, is buried in the monastery’s church.
You will also visit the Pastéis de Belém factory and shop. These cream filled pastries are named after the neighborhood and follow an ancient recipe from the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos. Custard Tart Workshop - After your tour you'll be taken to a private cooking atelier and enjoy a fun workshop where you'll learn the secrets for making a Pastel de Nata (custard tart). It’s well known all over the world and, nowadays, it’s impossible to visit Portugal without trying it. So, imagine how it would be to surprise your friends at home with a Portuguese treat! You just have to get your hands dirty and learn all the secrets with a Pastry Chef. You’ll discover the necessary ingredients to sprinkle with flavour this traditional sweet treat. When you're ready, your private driver will escort you back to your hotel. The remainder of the afternoon is at your leisure.
Dinner with Fado live performance - Tonight, you will go to a typical Portuguese Fado House for dinner and Fado live performance (Fado Menor Fado House is located a walking distance from the hotel). Reservation for 8:00 pm. Suddenly you might hear, "Silence, Fado is going to be sung!" as is traditionally announced before every performance. Your meal will be accompanied by the plaintive 'songs of sailors,' followed by an opportunity to hear personal tales from the performers themselves, as the evening draws to a close. Once you feel you had enough Fado for one night, you will make your own way back to your hotel.
Meals included: B D
Day 3 – Lisbon/Duoro Valley: Today you'll head North towards the Douro Valley with your private driver. En route, you'll stop in the small village of Óbidos (approx. 1 hour 15 minutes from Lisbon), one of the most picturesque and well preserved in Portugal, and certainly one of the more significant wedding gifts throughout history. King Dom Dinis built his massive castle here (now a Pousada) and gave the city to his wife as a wedding gift. Óbidos then became the traditional gift for Portuguese queens. Still completely surrounded by its ancient walls, its whitewashed houses and colourful bougainvilleas make for a very pleasurable visit.
You will also have the opportunity to taste the famous “Ginjinha de Óbidos”, the traditional local liqueur. This natural handmade sour cherry liqueur combines the wisdom and ancient traditions of Monks with the exceptional quality of the fruits from the Óbidos region. At the end of the tour, you will be transfered to Mealhada for lunch (approx. 1 hour 30 minutes from Óbidos) and discover the flavour of the local delicatessen Roasted suckling pig, a traditional regional delicacy cooked on a turning spit in a wood-burning oven, served along with sparkling Portuguese wine.
Then it's time to continue your journey to the Douro Valley (2 hours distance driving). With an exceptionally beautiful landscape of terraced hillside vineyards, patches of woodland and charming little villages, this is the home of the worldwide famous Port. Besides this nectar, this is one of Portugal's most unique wine region with a lot of secrets yet to discover. The Douro river crosses the oldest winery demarcation region in the World, the Douro Region, dated from 1756, established by Marquis of Pombal. The secular traditions of the Wine, Olive and Almond culture and the work done by the man in the construction of thousands of miles of schist walls, along the slopes of the river created a landscape of exceptional beauty. Because of this authenticity and integrity of the cultural landscape, in 2011 UNESCO raised the Alto Douro Wine Region for World Heritage status. Check in at The Vintage House Hotel. Tonight, you'll enjoy a light dinner at the hotel's restaurant.
Meals included: B L D
Day 4 – Duoro Valley: After breakfast, you’ll walk to Pinhão docks, just across your hotel, to embark on a traditional Rabelo boat. Rabelo, is a typical wooden vessel that was used for years to transport Port wine barrels from the Douro to Vila Nova de Gaia. In this private cruise, you’ll appreciate the Valley from the river perspective, while tasting some Port wine. Upon your arrival to Ferrão, you’ll be escorted by Jeep to the winery Quinta Nova Nossa Senhora do Carmo. With a history of over two and a half centuries, this beautiful wine producing estate is owned by a family with a long connection with the export houses of Vila Nova de Gaia. They have also been in the cork business for over 250 years.
You’ll experience being a “Winemaker for a Day”. Try something unique and remarkable, as you monitor the winemaking process and create your own wine at the same time. It begins with the traditional "blending", followed by the bottling, corking, and labeling. In the end, you may take the wine with you. Then it’s time to lunch at The Quinta Nova’s Restaurant. The Chef favors "local food", assuming oriented sustainability and preservation of local food resources, depending on the season. Every day the chief surprises with a different menu, so prepare to be amazed because your meal will be created to be tasted in perfect harmony with the state’s wines (pre-set menu with wine pairing). Life doesn't get much better than gazing over the Douro Valley vineyards while enjoying fine food and exceptional wines.
Once you finish, you’ll be transferred to Ferrão train station for a short train ride back to Pinhão (approx. 15 minutes). The train travels by the Douro shore, so have your camera ready to capture the splendid views. Once you arrive at the Pinhão station, you will easily walk back to your hotel.
Meals included: B L
Day 5 – Duoro Valley: Cooking experience with the Viscontess. Today you'll go to Casa dos Viscondes das Varzeas (approx. 45 minutes driving from Pinhão). This is a 17th Century Manor House with a typical old kitchen that includes a wood stove. The Chef will be able to pick fruits from the garden and some other ingredients. After the cooking lesson, lunch will be served in one of the elegant dining rooms of the estate or al fresco in the patio (subject to weather conditions). When you're ready, your driver will take you back to your hotel. Enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure. Please note: the cooking lesson will take place in a kitchen with a wooden oven, iron pots and “open fire” fireplace.
Meals included: B L
Day 6 – Duoro Valley/Porto: Breakfast at your hotel. You'll have a private transfer from the Douro Valley to Porto (approx. 1h45m driving). Porto is the capital and gateway to the north of Portugal. It presents an amazing geographical location that dances with the river Douro. Its rich history dates back to many centuries and enriches its cultural wealth as the city is one of the oldest European centers. In addition to its history, any visitor will be quickly impressed by the forceful character of the city and its inhabitants. Besides the world-wide famous Port, a fortified wine, the city has an architectural heritage of exceptional quality.
Upon arrival, you'll embark on a food and culture tour through the streets of Porto Old Town Porto. In this food and culture tour, designed to introduce you to the city flavours, you'll visit small restaurants, cafes, monuments and sights, along with the oldest grocery stores and markets in the city. “Tascas” or taverns, old and modern, all serve recipes filled with tradition. They are warm and strong in colour and palate, opposed to the grey buildings' stones. Explore the unique smells and top typical seasoning of traditional products such as cheeses, sausages and ham. While exploring the city, you’ll be able to see how the tiles are used not only as a construction material but also as decoration. In the heart of Porto, there are several buildings where the decorative tiles are the main feature, such as the São Bento train station and Santo Ildefonso church. When you're ready, your driver will take you back to your hotel.
Tonight, you will enjoy a Tapas Dinner at a local restaurant (N’O Mercado, 12-minute walking distance from hotel). Reservation for 8:00 pm.
Meals included: B L D
Day 7 – Porto/ Quinta da Aveleda: Breakfast at the hotel, then today you’ll visit Quinta da Aveleda (approx. 40 minutes driving from Porto), a winery estate worldwide famous for producing “vinho verde” (green wine). The wine has been produced by the same family since 1870 but the main building bates back to the 17th- century. To enter Aveleda is to make a journey back in time of the traditional Minho families who lived in the region's typical “solares” or manor houses. It’s beautiful vineyards stretch as far as the eye can see and the enchanting gardens display a rich and exotic flora. Besides the old kitchen, the coach house and the threshing floor, there are also romantic style buildings among which stand out the House of Reboleira (whose window is a National Monument), the Tea House and the Four Sisters Fountain.
You’ll enjoy a visit to the cellar and witness the Aveleda bottling process. The tour will end with a picnic lunch on the vineyards (subject to weather conditions – in case of rain, the picnic will be served on the terrace). When you're ready, return to Porto and enjoy the remainder of the afternoon at leisure.
In the evening, your driver will pick you up at your hotel. You'll cross the river to Vila Nova de Gaia where you will learn the history of the famous Port wine and the wine making process. You will have a private visit to Taylor ́s Port wine cellars. Established over three centuries ago in 1692, Taylor’s is one of the oldest of the founding Port houses. It is dedicated entirely to the production of Port wine and in particular to its finest styles. You'll be guided through barrels, tanks and vats and upon completing the tour, you will have a private tasting of the famous Port.
The Taylor's Port wine cellars also houses the Barão Fladgate restaurant, where you will enjoy your Farewell Dinner. Barão Fladgate offers magnificent views across the Douro River to the old historic centre of Porto. The food is a contemporary interpretation of traditional cuisine where the accent is on fresh local ingredients and on showcasing the authentic flavours of Portugal. Your welcome dinner includes wine pairing menu. At the end of dinner, you'll have a private transfer to your Hotel.
Meals included: B L D
Day 8 – Porto: Today, your private driver and vehicle will meet you at your hotel and escort you to Porto airport, for your onward journey.
Meals included: B
Travel Dates
Valid for travel 01 Oct 2020 - until 31 Dec 2023.
Terms & Conditions
Contact Journeys Rediscovered to register for our 2022 or 2023 Small Group Journey (no more than 8 passengers.) Journeys Rediscovered Small Group - Culinary Journey of Portugal will run with a minimum of 6 passengers.
Alternatively, contact Journeys Rediscovered for pricing to suit your preferred departure dates as a private itinerary, which is guaranteed with a minimum of one person.
Land-based itinerary is based per person on twin/double share basis (unless otherwise stated), single supplement is available, contact Journey Rediscovered for this surcharge.
International & domestic airfares are additional, please contact Journeys Rediscovered for international flight options and prices.
Travel insurance is strongly recommended and can be arranged for you for an additional cost.
For full pricing, terms and conditions, contact your MTA Travel Expert, Journeys Rediscovered on 0477002235 or journeysrediscovered@mtatravel.com.au
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