Discovering Portugal - Portugal

Reception of the tour participants at the airport and transfer to the hotel with Hertz Ride, welcome drink, dinner and tour presentation.

Be prepared to enjoy magnificent coastal views as we ride along the Costa Vicentina, and across the Alentejo —a poster region likened to Tuscany or Provence—past wheat fields, cork oak forests, and wildflower meadows. One of the day's highlights is the super-photogenic Évora, a beautifully preserved Roman-era, still-cobbled city steeped in charm and antiquities. The whole Alentejo scenery is a calm, inspiring, soul-filling place, that will make you want to come back and relax for a few days.

We continue east to spiral up to Monsaraz, a sensational medieval hilltop town with one of the most beautiful castles in Portugal. We end our day in another spectacularly situated walled hilltop village—Marvão--where our hotel is perfectly perched for sublime sunrise and sunset views. At night you'll have the chance to try the delicious Alentejo's cuisine and the region's famed wines on a mouthwatering experience that you'll never forget.

Behind us will stay the planes of the North Alentejo, and we'll have a thrilling ride through twisties and sweepers as we climb past boulder-strewn alpine meadows to the summit of Serra de Estrela, Portugal's highest mountain. We then aim for Monsanto, a quintessential Portuguese hilltop town build amid giant boulders and Sortelha, a medieval walled village perched atop a rocky promontory and hailed as the prettiest village in Portugal. Almeida is one of the jewels of the Portuguese old defense and military system on the independence wars against Spain.

Get ready for another fantastic day in northeast Portugal as we pass Castelo Rodrigo and its amazing views into the heart of the Douro Valley wine district. The first time we get to see the famous waters of the Douro River will be in Barca D'Alva, a small town where time seems to forget to move. Our route takes us past the dramatic cliffs to Freixo de Espada à Cinta, perched over emerald hillside corduroyed in vines spilling down to the river.

We then head west on a northern loop, passing Vila Nova de Foz Côa, where the first inhabitants of this region engraved primitive art on the rocks of River Côa, and follow the river Douro to Pinhao, a small and charming riverside wine-producing town. Its railway station is a must-see, decorated with tiles dedicated to viticulture. The Douro Wine and the Port Wine are a must-try during our dinner in Pinhão, as both are part of this amazing region's culture and history.

We'll spend the morning exploring the Peso de Regua district, with its tiered vineyards rising from the banks of the Douro River. Our route along the N222 was voted "Most Scenic Drive in the World"! We then head northwest via Amarante, an architecturally stunning town in the Minho region, where the Saint Gonçalo Bridge is another must-see attraction, with a story of more than 800 years. Next is equally enchanting Guimarães—the "birthplace of Portugal"—with a crenelated castle fit for a Hollywood movie.

Our route through the Viana do Castelo region leads to Ponte de Lima, with its long Roman bridge, and the heartland of Portugal's acclaimed Vinho Verde (a vibrant and fruity young wine) terroir, the country's largest wine region.

Arriving in Viana, the views of Santa Luzia's promontory church will mark the end of our day with one of the most incredible landscapes of the whole trip.

A short ride along the Atlantic - washed western shore brings us to Porto, a gorgeous city at the mouth of the Douro River. Marked by faded sophistication, this fabled estuary town (and UNESCO World Heritage Site) combines a picturesque medieval heart and a trendy contemporary buzz. We’ll end our day by the Cais de Ribeira waterfront, with its traditional barcos rebelos (flat-bottomed boats) laden with port caskets…and, across the river, the city’s hallowed port cellars.

Portugal's identity is tied to the mighty Atlantic Ocean. The sea is our guide as we head south via Aveiro, a small coastal town crisscrossed by canals adorned with brightly painted "moliceiros" (traditional watercraft with upturned prows, like the gondolas of Venice), and thus known as the "Portuguese Venice."

Next, we'll wind inland through the Buçaco forest, then return to the coast to be awed by the rolling Atlantic swell at Nazaré. This fishing village is famous for the world's largest surfable waves on the world-famous underwater canyon, while nearby Peniche awes with sublime seascapes. Lisbon—Europe's sunniest capital city--beckons on the horizon to provide a memorable flourish to end this sensational trip with the magical and unforgettable late afternoon light over the Tejo River and the incredible number of national monuments in such a short space of land.

We'll spend the day enjoying a guided tour of Lisbon's historic heart, where antique wooden trams still rumble through crooked cobbled streets, and the Baixa district is an unforgettable mélange of baroque architecture, haberdashers, and magnificent plazas.

Tonight, we celebrate our ride with a farewell dinner in a traditional restaurant, the icing on the cake of this memorable tour, and you will most probably feel like coming back to Portugal someday, to rediscover more of this country's hidden jewels.

Breakfast at the hotel and time to say farewell to our group. Hertz Ride will provide the transfer to the airport for your flight home.