Pousadas of Portugal

Savour the very best of Portugal with stays in three historic, charming and unique pousada hotels along the way.

Porto

Obidos Day One – Fly to Portugal Fly into Lisbon, meet your tour manager and transfer the short distance to the sumptuous Pousada de Queluz opposite the Royal Palace. Settle in to your surroundings and, if you have the time, perhaps wander through the beautiful Palace gardens, before dinner is served in the Pousada’s Old Kitchen dining room. Day Two – Included tour of Lisbon Join your tour manager for a guided introduction to the historic Portuguese capital. Stand on the banks of the River Tagus and imagine the great explorers setting off for the New World, wander through the ornate Belem quarter, or explore the Baixa’s wide, tree-lined avenues fringed with cafes and restaurants. Check out the street-sellers and artists of bustling Rossio Square, and stroll the narrow streets of the Alfama district. In the afternoon, why not enjoy a ride on a historic yellow tram? And, this evening, stay in the city or return to the hotel to dine.

Day Three – Included tour of Cascais, Estoril

and Sintra On today’s included tour you’ll explore the elegant Atlantic resorts of Cascais and Estoril, and journey to UNESCO-listed Sintra. Estoril’s elegant seafront, lined with bistros and old-fashioned cafes, has long been a favourite destination, while Cascais, on its sweeping bay, is no less alluring. The jewel in the crown, today, is Sintra, a former royal retreat with two remarkable Palacios set in a National Park full of exotic, tropical trees and plants. After a marvellous day, which will also include a visit to windswept Cabo da Roca, at Europe’s westernmost point, you’ll return to the Pousada for dinner. Day Four – Travel to Viseu Head north, calling at walled, hill-top Obidos to see its cobbled lanes, walls and ancient aqueduct, and former capital and university seat, Coimbra, the “Oxford of Portugal”, with its stunning Romanesque cathedral. In the late afternoon, you’ll arrive at your second luxurious Pousada, in Viseu, set on

Available May, Jun & Aug to Oct 2023

Fly direct from these airports. Prices from

• Bristol £1,485 • Edinburgh £1,505 • Gatwick £1,485 • Heathrow £1,485 • Luton £1,445 • Manchester £1,465 • Stansted £1,445 • Teesside £1,785 Room for Sole Use from £182

Please note: The transfer time from the airport to your hotel is approximately 30 minutes on arrival and one hour and 15 minutes on departure.

Amares

Porto Regua

Viseu

Spain

Estoril, Cascais & Sintra Portugal

Lisbon

Newmarket Plus ESCORTED TOUR

Whether it’s unique included holiday experiences or extra-special hotels, these tours fulfil the ultimate wish-list dreams.

• Stay in three of Portugal’s famed pousadas • Discover the historic capital Lisbon on an included city tour • Visit UNESCO-listed Royal Sintra • Enjoy chic Cascais and elegant Estoril • Admire Cabo da Roca, Europe’s westernmost point • Journey to medieval Óbidos and Coimbra – the ‘Oxford of Portugal’ • Taste regional wines, bread and cheeses • See Aveiro’s Venetian-like canals • Visit Porto – the historic second city • Discover ‘Golden Rivers’ Douro Valley • Seven nights’ carefully chosen four-star bed and breakfast pousada accommodation • Four evening meals • Outbound flight to Lisbon, returning from

Porto, with coach travel and transfers throughout • Fully escorted by a friendly, experienced tour manager

our product manager loves...

The Pousada Palacio de Queluz is one of my favourite hotels in Europe. Situated close to the Royal Palace, you’ll feel like royalty with its landscaped gardens and impeccable service.

Viseu Guinmaraes Main Square Pousada Mosteiro de Amares

a high plateau in heart of the beautiful Beira Alta region. Make yourself at home, perhaps enjoying a sauna or swim, and join friends in the bar before dinner. Why not accompany your meal with a locally produced Dao wine, and wander the historic streets of the beautiful town before retiring for the night?

Day Five – Included wine tasting at a local

quinta Today is spent enjoying the hotel and its surroundings, and making a short trip through the scenic hills to enjoy a tasting at a local quinta. The regions Dao reds are famed for their Burgundylike qualities, and its whites are fast gaining a fine reputation. You’ll also enjoy a visit to an artisanal bakery and a local cheese-maker. This evening, you’re free to explore Viseu, and to enjoy dinner at your leisure in the city. Day Six – Included tour of Porto Journey west down the beautiful Vouga Valley to colourful Aveiro, known as the Venice of Portugal because of its canals, lagoons and gondola-like fishing boats. Here you might like to try a delicious Ovos Moles de Aveiro cake with a morning coffee, before you continue north to Portugal’s glorious second city, Oporto, above the ‘golden’ River Douro. Enjoy an introductory tour of the city that gave its name to the country. it clings to the hillside above the river, and is connected to its neighbour, the port-wine centre, Vila Nova de Gaia, by several vertigo-inducing bridges. Highlights of Oporto include its ancient cathedral and UNESCO-listed Ribeira district – a beguiling maze of cobbled passageways lined with restaurants, bars and shops. On the quayside, flat-bottomed barcos rabelos, used to carry the port barrels on the river, add to the charm of the setting. After a marvellous few hours, re-board the coach to head to your final, luxurious, unique Pousada, housed in an ancient monastery in the beautiful northern Minho region. Settle into your sublime surroundings and opt for a drink in the bar, then perhaps wander to the local restaurant, Cruzeiro, which you’ll find just a short walk away.

Day Seven – Included tour of Regua

and Guimaraes After breakfast, re-board the coach to begin a last memorable day’s scenic touring. You’ll head first to Regua, the bustling Douro town that’s one of the most long-standing centres of the region’s wine production. Take in the meandering river, and perhaps enjoy a tasting at a working quinta, before heading north once more, to enthralling, UNESCO-listed Guimaraes. Generally regarded as the birthplace of Portugal, Guimaraes boasts an ancient Norman castle, exquisite cobbled squares and cafe-lined plazas. It’s a perfect place to enjoy lunch in some splendid surroundings, before you return to the Pousada Mosteiro de Amares to spend a last evening and enjoy a farewell dinner. Day Eight – Fly back to the UK Bid “adeus” to your hosts and transfer to Oporto to check in or your flight home, at the end of a marvellous holiday.

your hotels

Pousada Palacio de Queluz, Lisbon HHHH B&B plus two dinners nights 1-3

This former headquarters of the Royal Guard is set across from the Royal Palace – ‘Portugal’s Versailles’. It boasts a restaurant housed in the former kitchen, a bar and beautiful public rooms furnished in wood and marble. Pousada Mosteiro de Amares, Amares

HHHH B&B plus one dinner nights 6-7

This luxurious pousada is a converted monastery. Superb amenities include an outdoor pool and tennis court. There’s a welcoming bar and a restaurant housed in the former kitchen.

Pousada Palacio de Queluz Pousada de Viseu

Pousada de Viseu, Viseu HHHH B&B plus one dinner nights 4-5

Housed in an old hospital, adapted by a renowned architect, this landmark building, just five minutes from a beautiful park, has a superb wellness centre and outdoor pools, the latter with views over the town.

Pousada Mosteiro de Amares