I recently had the luxury of experiencing Collette Coach Tours on their “Sunny Portugal” tour.
Portugal is fortunate enough to have an average of 25 days per month of sunshine, add in their fabulous food and wine and what else could one need for a fabulous holiday.
The Portugese history, culture and traditions are showcased during this tour which includes good quality 4-star hotels and luxury coach travel with an excellent experienced guide.
We started in Lisbon, the capital which was impeccably reconstructed after the 18th-century earthquake, and is full of monuments linked to their Portuguese Age of Discoveries and gorgeous Portuguese sidewalks.
On our way to Evora, we visited a cork factory which was surprisingly much more interesting than I was expecting, who knew that we could make furniture and bow ties and all sorts of things out of it, the handbags and wallets were a hit for the shoppers and you can see these for sale all throughout Portugal.
The next stop was Evora which is medieval walled city located inland, this is known as the “Museum City of Portugal.” It features a well-preserved Roman Temple and the mysterious Chapel of Bones. This Chapel was decorated with bones in the 16th Century (two centuries before the Paris Catacombs!) by Franciscan monks in an attempt to remind the locals how fragile life is.
One of our highlights here was a traditional lunch with Alentejano music where the singers and musicians just sat at a table next to us singing and playing their instruments, their voices were incredible.
A visit to a gin factory in the whitewashed village called Reguengos de Monsaraz mid-morning was certainly enjoyed by all along with a delicious lunch and wine tasting at Herdade do Rocim winery before arrival into the beautiful seaside resort town of Lagos.
Lagos has the most stunning coastline of seaside cliffs and turquoise water, a boat ride here into the caves was an absolute highlight.
The next day, another sunny morning, with a beautiful view from the Saint Catherine Fort. Afterwards, we visited the Portimão Museum, constructed on a former can fish factory, with a very interesting archaeological exhibition alongside storytelling of the evolution of the industry of can fish and how important it was to the city;
Afterwards we headed to Monchique: A traditional and small Algarve village. Our guide Pedro took us around Monchique, we tasted the fiery spirit "medronho", and we visited a fantastic pottery atelier. After the visit, we travelled towards the highest mountain of the Algarve: Alto da Foia, where Marie Ann (the chef), Pedro, and her team, welcomed us with a sourdough bread workshop, delighting us with knowledge and tasteful experiences filled with local products. I still dream about those little breads filled with cheese and aromatic herbs, perfectly baked in the oven. And the view...
On our way from Lagos to Cascai we stopped at Setubal, which is the 4th largest port in Portugal, where we visited the Mercaso (Farmers Market) do Livramento up close. It is considered one of the best fish markets in the world, and it’s rich with displays of fruit, vegetables and sweets. I won’t forget Jacques beautiful shop with amazing products to try: cheese, olive oil, hams, bread, wine….
Cascais was such a beautiful place, this is on the coast not far out of Lisbon and has a spectacular marina and historic centre filled with cobblestone streets, picturesque alleys, and beautiful architecture, showcasing its rich cultural heritage.
From Cascais we visited the breath-taking westernmost point of Europe, Cabo da Roca, and the towns of Obidos and Sintra which are both medieval towns where you feel like you are travelling back in time.
Our tour concluded with a group dinner to celebrate the end of an unforgettable journey and bid Portugal goodbye.
I can highly recommend Collette Tours and Portugal as a destination. Although I didn’t get time to visit Porto, a lot of people quite often say this was a highlight for them, so I may just need to return and experience a river cruise on the Douro.
Eu voltarei (I will return)
In Europe I have also travelled with Scenic, APT, Trafalgar and Insight tours, so please reach out if you would like to discuss the most suitable option for you, or I am also quite experienced in tailor making itineraries to make your dreams become a reality.