Highlights of Porto & the Azores - 9 day tour

On arrival at Porto Airport, you will be met by your driver and transferred to your hotel. After checking in, the rest of the day is yours to enjoy as you wish. You may like to take a leisurely walk through the city center, browse the local shops, or stop at one of Porto’s many excellent restaurants to sample the region’s cuisine.
Overnight: Porto

Today, you will meet your guide in the hotel lobby for a half day sightseeing tour of Porto. In the city’s historic center, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, you will enjoy a relaxed walk through its charming streets while learning about Porto’s fascinating history and culture.

As you explore, you will see some of the city’s most remarkable landmarks, including the famous Lello Bookshop, said to have inspired the Harry Potter series, the ornate Church of St Francis, and the grand Palácio da Bolsa, admired for its detailed granite work and Neo Arabic design (entrances not included).

The tour then continues to the scenic Douro riverfront, where you can take in the view of the iconic Dom Luis Bridge and the traditional Port wine cellars that brought international fame to the city. You will also stop at a few typical establishments to sample some of Porto’s best local delicacies.

The experience ends with a visit to one of the Port wine cellars, where you can enjoy a guided tasting. A transfer will then take you back to your hotel, and the rest of the day is yours to relax or explore at your leisure.
Overnight: Porto  |  Breakfast, Dinner

Porto - Pinhao - Douro Valley. This morning, a transfer will take you to Pinhao along the scenic Estrada Nacional 222, one of the most beautiful roads in Portugal. As you travel, you can enjoy the stunning views of the Douro River winding through the valley’s terraced hillsides.

On arrival, your guide will introduce you to Pinhao and the surrounding viewpoints that showcase the very best of the Douro Valley. You will then enjoy a traditional lunch at one of the region’s renowned wineries, where you can savour authentic local flavors.

In the afternoon, you will visit the vineyards for a guided tour and wine tasting, learning about the valley’s winemaking traditions. The day concludes with a one hour cruise along the Douro River, a perfect opportunity to take in the spectacular scenery before returning to your hotel in Porto.
Overnight: Douro Valley  |  Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, you will have free time to relax or enjoy personal activities at your own pace. Take in the peaceful surroundings or simply unwind before another memorable experience in the Douro Valley.

At lunchtime, you will enjoy one of the region’s most delightful experiences, a picnic set among the vineyards, followed by a wine tasting at one of the Douro’s renowned wineries.

Please note: If the weather does not allow the picnic to take place, lunch will instead be served in a traditional local restaurant, offering a taste of authentic regional cuisine.
Overnight: Douro Valley  |  Breakfast, Lunch

Douro Valley - Ponta Delgada. This morning, a transfer will take you to Porto Airport for your flight to Ponta Delgada. On arrival in the Azores, another transfer will be waiting to take you to your centrally located hotel in the heart of Ponta Delgada.
Overnight: Ponta Delgada  |  Breakfast

Ponta Delgada - Sete Ciudades - Ribeira Grande - Ponta Delgada. Today, the day starts with a visit to a traditional pineapple plantation, where the fruit is grown organically in greenhouses. Here, you can taste the island’s well-known pineapple liqueur before continuing along the west coast to the Pico do Carvao viewpoint, where you can admire sweeping views across both sides of the island.

Surrounded by lush greenery, you will reach the Vista do Rei viewpoint at the volcanic complex of Sete Cidades, offering magnificent views over the blue and green lagoons. Descending into the crater, you will also see the peaceful Santiago Lagoon. In the center of Sete Cidades, you will visit the Church of Sao Nicolau before enjoying lunch in a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, the journey continues along the coast, where you can take in the vibrant scenery and stop at the Escalvado viewpoint overlooking the village of Mosteiros. Travelling along the north coast, you will visit the historic center of Ribeira Grande before heading towards Lagoa do Fogo.

Your final stop is at Caldeira Velha, a natural reserve where you can choose to bathe in the warm thermal waters flowing from a waterfall. A little further on, you will reach the spectacular Lagoa do Fogo, where you can take in the breathtaking views before returning to your hotel.
Overnight: Ponta Delgada  |  Breakfast, Lunch

Ponta Delgada - Vila Franca do Campo - Furnas - Ribeira Grande - Ponta Delgada. After breakfast, you will set off to discover Furnas and the western part of Sao Miguel. The first stop is Vila Franca do Campo, the island’s original capital on the south coast, where you can admire the striking islet of Vila Franca with its crater lagoon. On arrival at Furnas Lake, you will see the geothermal activity of the fumaroles and learn how the famous Cozido das Furnas, a traditional Azorean stew, is slow cooked underground using natural heat from the earth.

You will then visit Terra Nostra Park, where you can enjoy a relaxing thermal bath before stopping for lunch. Afterwards, in the center of Furnas, you will explore the boilers, fumaroles, and bubbling springs, each with different mineral properties.

The journey continues towards the north coast, with a stop at Pico de Ferro viewpoint for sweeping views over Furnas Lake and the town below.

Your final stops are in Ribeira Grande, where you will visit the Gorreana tea plantation and factory to taste both green and black tea, followed by Santa Iria viewpoint, offering a magnificent panorama over much of the north coast before returning to your hotel.
Overnight: Ponta Delgada  |  Breakfast, Lunch

Today, you are free to enjoy the island at your own pace. You may wish to spend the day relaxing at your hotel, taking a gentle stroll through Ponta Delgada, or exploring more of Sao Miguel’s scenic landscapes.
Overnight: Ponta Delgada  |  Breakfast