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Flavours of Portugal

Taste your way through Lisbon, the Alentejo region and the Algarve, sampling delectable pasteis de nata and incredibly fresh seafood and wine. And to help you point your appetite in the right direction, the Ferreira family has shared some dining tips from their web series Portugal Gourmand. You'll find all of their expert advice directly in the itinerary. You'll also travel through timeless villages, kayak through caves and grottoes, and witness a moving Fado show.

If you love the freedom and adventure of the open road, then a Fly & Drive vacation is just what you need. Drive your way through the experience of discovering parts of Portugal one kilometre at a time.

The car rental and hotel stays are included in the package, along with a bunch of other travel essentials that will help make this trip easy, fun, and unforgettable.

Itinerary inspired by Portugal Gourmand: follow the web series at portugalgourmand.com

Location:

  • Lisbon, Portugal (LIS)
  • Beja, Portugal
  • Lagos, Algarve, Portugal
  • Faro, Portugal
  • Portugal
10  Days | 8  nights

INCLUSIONS

  • Round-trip flights to Lisbon (if flight and hotel package option is chosen)
  • 8-day car-rental in selected category
  • 8 nights of accommodation
  • 8 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 2 dinners (including 1 dinner at São Miguel d'Alfama Fado Restaurant) and 2 tastings
  • activities included:
    • Cooking lesson and dinner at the Tertulia Algarvia
    • Tuk Tuk sightseeing tour and gastronomy experience in Lisbon
    • Wine tasting and lunch with 'Wine Pairing' menu at Herdade dos Grous, Alentejo
    • Guided kayak tour in the Algarve
    • Guided tour to the natural salt pans and spa experience in Castro Marim
  • Earn Aeroplan® points 

ITINERARY

Day 1

Depart Canada

Fly to Lisbon.

Flavours of Portugal

Day 2

Welcome to Lisbon

Upon arrival, pick up your rental car, then head to your hotel to check in. Discover Lisbon, a historical city full of stories and famous for its hospitality, where the sun shines 290 days a year.

Accommodation:
(1 night)
Flavours of Portugal

Day 3

Lisbon

Tuk Tuk Sightseeing & Gastronomy Experience: After breakfast, hop on a Tuk Tuk (included) to see Lisbon's well-known quarters. See the Bairro Alto, Chiado and Rossio and try pasteis de nata.

Optional Activities ($):
Portugal Gourmand Tip:

Tonight, why not go to the Bairro do Avillez for dinner ($) in the Chiado quarter. The restaurant is owned by Jose Avillez, a two Michelin star chef, and features different eating areas inspired by the best Portuguese flavours.

Meal(s): Breakfast, tasting
Accommodation:
(1 night)
Flavours of Portugal

Day 4

Lisbon - Évora - Ferreira de Alentejo - Alentejo Region (Beja) (approx. 235 km)

Travel through the Alentejo region, filled with flavours, landscapes, tradition and  historical legacies. Stop to check out the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Évora to see the Praça do Giraldo, the Cathedral and Church of Sao Francisco with its curious Chapel of Bones, the Roman baths and the Temple of Diana. Spend the night in Beja.

Meal(s): Breakfast
Accommodation:
(1 night)
Flavours of Portugal

Day 5

Beja - Lagos (approx. 197 km)

Wine Tasting & lunch with 'Wine Pairing' Menu:

Explore Beja, the major town of lower Alentejo. Walk around the town and visit Santiago Church, the cathedral and the castle keep, known as Torre de Menagem, and climb to its top to admire beautiful countryside views. Then continue to Herdade dos Grous to sample wine and enjoy lunch with a tasting menu .Travel west to Ferreira do Alentejo, then continue south to Lagos for the night. 

Optional Activities ($):
Portugal Gourmand Tip:

Visit the country's largest olive grove and taste olive oil. Oliveira da Serra is the winner of the World's Best Olive Oil in Mild Green Fruitiness category - definitely worth a taste!

Meal(s): Breakfast, lunch, tasting
Accommodation:
(1 night)
Flavours of Portugal

Day 6

Lagos

After breakfast, embark on a guided kayak tour (included). Explore amazing caves, grottoes and beautiful hidden beaches. Stop at a secluded beach and try some snorkelling. In the afternoon, visit Lagos, a beautiful and historical city.

Optional Activities ($):
Portugal Gourmand Tip:

With free time for dinner, sample fresh fish and shellfish—thinks clams, prawns, octopus, squid and mackerel. Then for dessert, try dom rodrigo, a magnificent local specialty made from the recipe of the nuns of Nossa Senhora do Carmo Convent. 
 

Meal(s): Breakfast
Accommodation:
(1 night)
Flavours of Portugal

Day 7

Lagos - Sagres - Silves - Faro (approx. 170 km)

Drive to Ponta da Piedade promontory and admire the magnificent views and stunning rock formations. Continue to Sagres and Cape St. Vincent, the most westerly point of Europe. Drive to Silves, a pretty historical town, before continuing to Faro for the night.

Meal(s): Breakfast
Accommodation:
(1 night)
Flavours of Portugal

Day 8

Faro - Olhão - Castro Marim - Tavira - Faro (approx. 121 km)

Natural Salt Pans & Spa Experience: Travel to Olhão, then continue to Castro Marim, located on the banks of Guadiana River. Visit the natural salt pans and learn about the traditional hand harvesting process. Indulge yourself at the spa (included). On your way back to Faro, visit Cacela Velha and Tavira.

More Moments Activities Included:
Cooking Lesson & Dinner:

In Faro, enjoy a gastronomic experience, including a brief history of the cataplana, a cookery workshop, and a full meal at Tertulia Algarvia.

Optional Activities ($):
Portugal Gourmand Tip:

In Olhão, sample Algarvian flavours like the famous grilled sardines, or xerém, or visit the market - according to Carlos Ferreira, its the most beautiful market in Portugal!

Meal(s): Breakfast, dinner
Accommodation:
(1 night)
Flavours of Portugal

Day 9

Faro - Lisbon (approx. 278 km)

Dinner at São Miguel d'Alfama Fado Restaurant: This morning, take some time to walk around the old fortified city of Faro. In the afternoon, head to Lisbon. Check into your hotel, then dine at the São Miguel d'Alfama Fado Restaurant, a family-owned restaurant and one of the oldest in the Alfama quarter, with daily young voices that continue the Fado tradition (dinner and drinks included).

Meal(s): Breakfast, dinner
Accommodation:
(1 night)
Flavours of Portugal

Day 10

Lisbon - Return to Canada

Head to the airport to return your rental car and board your flight home.

Meal(s): Breakfast
Flavours of Portugal

ACCOMMODATIONS

WHERE YOU'LL STAY

The hotels listed below are presented as examples for your reference only. Hotel accommodation details will be communicated to you or your travel agent prior to departure.

Location
HOTEL
Lisbon, Portugal (LIS)
Turim Saldanha Hotel (or similar)
Beja, Alentejo, Portugal
Bejaparque Hotel (or similar)
Lagos, Algarve, Portugal
Tivoli Lagos Hotel (or similar)
Faro, Portugal
Eva Hotel (or similar)

Room Specifications

Unless otherwise indicated, guests will stay in a Standard Room at all hotels during the trip.
Room occupancy: Maximum 3 adults

IMPORTANT INFO

DEPARTURE DATES

April 1 to  October 20, 2024

 

MORE TO KNOW

Not included

  • Meals, unless noted
  • Parking
  • Gratuities
  • Additional activities and excursions
  • Personal expenses and insurance

The sequence of the itinerary may be altered for reasons beyond the supplier’s control, such as accommodation availability, weather, national events, strikes, etc.

Kilometres are estimated, depending on the routes that drivers decide to navigate (main roads vs. scenic roads).

ACTIVITIES

The day-to-day locations are already set and hotel accommodations will already be booked, but what you do during the day in each location is completely up to you. We've gathered our top picks for suggested itineraries, places to visit, things to do and even great spots for tasty treats. Explore to your heart's content and take our suggestions - or don't! No one decides what your travel days look like but you. Just make sure to get to the hotel on time!  

Portugal Gourmand Tips: The itinerary also includes dining tips from the Ferreira family's web series Portugal Gourmand.

CITY TAXES

City taxes are applicable for hotel stays in Lisbon and are payable in local currency. Rate of 2 EUR is calculated per person, per night. Rates are subject to change without notice.

TRANSPORTATION

When booking your Fly & Drive, the first name added on the file is considered as the principle driver of the vehicle. Modifications or change of name to principle driver name will incur fees.

EDMR ManualSeat Ibiza a/c

CWMR ManualRenault Megane a/c 

CMMR ManualRenault Capture  a/c

CWMD ManualRenault Megane SW DCI a/c

CCAR ARenault Megane Automatic a/c

Inclusions: Unlimited Mileage, LDW (CDW Collision Damage Waiver and TW Theft Waiver), LAF (Vehicle License Fee), 1 Additional driver and tax.

Exclusions: Gasoline, Airport Service Charge (25 EUR per rental), Personal Accident Insurance (PAI), Glass & Tyres protection (WWI), Roadside assistance cover (RSA), Refueling charges, Navigation system, Baby seats, Luggage rack, Toll management device, Toll fees, Extra Additional Drivers (third person & above). All extra fees payable at rental counter in local currency. Anything not specifically noted in the inclusions. Upon arrival at the rental location, the passenger will be asked to leave a deposit for the rental. The deposit amount varies based on rental rate, minimum 300 EUR; this will be authorized on your credit card but not debited from your account. The deposit is intended to cover additional rental costs.

Minimum age for car rental is 25 with a prepaid voucher. A driver's license from country of origin valid for minimum 1 year must be presented at time of rental pickup. All drivers 19-22 years old will be subject to a surcharge of 5 EUR per day up to 50 EUR per rental; subject to change without notice. Certain car classes may not be available to drivers under age 25.

Pricing display

Prices take into account taxes and are rounded to the nearest full dollar. Full details on taxes and fees are on the booking page.