11-Nights Classic Portugal: Mainland & Azores Adventure - Classic

Classic Portugal: Mainland & Azores Adventure
Dive into 12 magical days of vibrant cities, world-class wines, and stunning UNESCO World Heritage Sites — all wrapped up in jaw-dropping architecture. Then, switch gears and dive into the wild beauty of the Azores, where dramatic volcanic landscapes, lush hiking trails, and soothing geothermal hot springs await. Explore the lively streets of Porto, Coimbra, and Lisbon before hitting some of the Azores’ most epic hikes sure to get your heart racing and your soul soaring. This, right here, is the ultimate mix of culture, nature, and unforgettable moments — the very heart of Portugal, all in one trip!

Highlights
Savour local delicacies and awaken your inner port wine connoisseur, Wander through the enchanting seven hills of Lisbon, Embark on a mystical hike to the Azores’ highest and most mesmerizing body of water, Lose yourself in a walking tour of Angra do Heroísmo’s UNESCO World Heritage site, Step into the mysterious glow of ancient lava caves and marvel at nature’s hidden wonders

Accomodation
It is important to note that accommodation in Europe tend to be quite different to other areas of the world you may have travelled in. Buildings and rooms are generally old and may not have been renovated or maintained to the highest standard. Downtown hotels in Europe were not build to be hotels but rich owners houses, which have been changed into hotels. Therefore unusual room sizes are common as large rooms have been partitioned in the past, resulting in rather "thin" walls. Reception areas, rooms and bathrooms tend to be very small as they were often added into an existing room, and may have a hand nozzle rather than a conventional shower head. On this trip you can expect to stay in small family-run hotels or pensions (with the exception of the start and finish hotels, which are often larger city hotels), which will vary a little in standard and facilities: some may not have elevators, air-conditioning or English-speaking staff, but most importantly all are locally-run, with some traditional character, and in excellent central locations to give you maximum time for exploring the sights. You can expect to find clean, safe, simple accommodation in convenient locations. Staff can occasionally demonstrate less than perfect customer service. As accommodation is in short supply, especially during the summer months, hotels can charge a premium and there is sometimes little motivation to improve facilities.

Group Leader
This G Adventures group trip is accompanied by one of our group leaders. The aim of the group leader is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. They will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the countries visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects. We also use local guides where we think more specific knowledge will add to the enjoyment of the places we are visiting - we think it's the best of both worlds.

Group Size Notes
Max 16, avg 12.

Meals Included
11 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 1 dinner

What's Included
Your Welcome Moment: Meet Your CEO and Group
Your Hands-On Moment: Port Wine Cellar Visit, Porto.
Lisbon orientation walk. Batalha gothic monastery entrance and visit. Porto orientation walk. Ribeira Funda to Maia hike. Angra do Heroísmo Walking Tour. Visit to the Terra Nostra Geothermal Hot Springs. Hike to the highest body of water in the Azores Lagoa do Fogo. Mistérios Negros trail Hike and Algar do Carvão lava caves. Sete Cidades Parish Hike. Rocha do Chambre hike. Internal flight. All transport between destinations and to/from included activities.