Portugal Tours and Trips

First of all the trip leader Oriole was excellent and attentive, as was Pedro the sag driver. It was a great idea that Pedro also set a spread out for lunch every day. It was delicious and efficient. The itinerary was beautiful on the coast. Iiked that all of us went to dinner together every night. We had a group that geled. I might change the last overnight from the town we ended in to the beautiful beach town just prior to the one we ended as by the time we got to the end beach and leisure time was past.

Definitely yes this was an amazing trip TIAGO WAS AN AMAZING DIRECTOR EVERYTHING WAS WELL PLANNED HE WENT OVER AND BEYOND TO MAKE SURE WE HAD A TASTE AND FEEL THE LOVE OF EVERY PLACE WE WENT AND OUR DRIVER Victor was also the best I would recommend these two Thanks to both of them

Madeira was a gorgeous island. Our group leader (Filipe) was outstanding. Very organized and helpful... was great with the logistics and on the hikes, and really went above and beyond to make sure we all had a great time. The hikes were mostly fantastic. We were lucky to get to do the Pico Ruivo from Pico Arieiro (now reopened). The itinerary should have absolutely included the Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço (which we were lucky enough to do on our own). The hotel Euro Moniz and Ocean Garden were great. The Hotel O Colmo in Santana was clearly the weakest of the 3 (good restaurant though). Overall a lovely trip, and will definitely travel with you guys again.

This really was the best tour I have ever been on. The itenarary was great and well balanced with actiities and free time. Our Trafalgar guide ************* was outstanding! Great sense of humor, always helpful and he even played guitar-ukulele and sang for us. Javer made us laugh and was so much fun to be around. Hotels were great, the food as well. My only wish is that all hotels we stayed at would have a swimming pool, as I love swimming after a long day of exploration and activities.

The itinerary was was fresh and full of Portuguese culture. Traveling throughout the country enhanced my understanding of the history of Portugal all while thoroughly enjoying authentic Portuguese food and drink. Make note to wear comfortable footwear that can handle the steep yet beautifully paved calçada streets. My travel group & I experienced Fado, funiculars, walks along castle walls, a river cruise, winery tours, a horse farm, and so much more. It was girls' trip of a lifetime!

The Best of Portugal Tour offered visitors the chance to experience a wonderful variety of historical and cultural sites around Portugal. Monasteries and churches, castles, palaces and fortresses, fishing villages and sun-soaked beach towns, wineries and restaurants... it was a great collection of places to see and explore. Trafalgar curated a wonderful list of sights, experiences and tastes. Accommodations were well selected at each location along the way... comfortable and in great, central locations that allowed tour members to explore these beautiful cities in free time. The itinerary was well-balanced...we saw so much of this lovely country. Travel days included regular stops in lovely towns, markets, monuments, historical sites en route to the main destinations. A balanced mix of 'drive & see' with opportunities to walk, taste and explore places along the way. Travellers in this group had a range of ages, physical abilities and fitness levels. Some days, touring through historical sites did involve more walking (steps/stairs at some sites and, at times, hilly walks through some villages and towns.) Some people might have found the walking at some locations/ events to be a challenge. Good footwear is also a MUST. Optional experiences allowed guests enrichment of additional locations and dining. These also served to allow guests to "pace to their needs and abilities". Opting out of a side trip might reduce walking (take a break/ rest) or allow those with dietary preferences to "choose their own adventure" in local restaurants. For some, opting out might also allow more explore time at some locations where there is so much to see but limited time. Have your phone charged and GPS ready for self-exploring (a back up battery is recommended!) Insight into the history, cultural relevance of sights, and day to day living of the Portuguese people was provided through our skilled guide, Pedro. He was able to speak to the regions of Portugal, history, important industry, food, football and family lifestyles. Pedro was also well versed in the botanical side of Portugal, which I truly enjoyed...cork trees (and industry), blossoming Lisbon jacaranda trees, the amazing fragrances of the citrus tea trees in Viseu and visit to the Mateus Estate gardens were lovely experiences. He is also an expert guide to the pastries of Portugal! His advice to not miss the optional visit to Monserraz should be taken seriously. So beautiful! Further, specialist guides provided wonderful perspectives into sights such as Batalha (spectacular!!!), Sintra and Evora. These guides have extensive knowledge of history, art, literature, architecture, and viewpoints of past ages ... walking these locations with a guide provides such a rich experience and perspective. This was my first experience travelling in a tour group. I loved the simplicity of booking the curated tour, then sitting back and enjoying the trip. As a solo traveller, the tour group also offered social opportunities and security. I made friends along the way and thoroughly enjoyed my fellow travellers from many countries and cultural backgrounds. I would definitely consider another tour with Trafalgar! I will quite certainly return to Portugal!