Food, Wine & Cultural Small-Group Tour of Portugal View Basket

Discover the Flavours of Portugal on this Luxury Gourmet Tour

May & Sep 2012: 13 days of fine cuisine, wine and luxury accommodation

Embark on an uplifting journey of the senses on this small group tour (maximum 16 persons) with a qualified local guide and an Australian escort.

Enjoy the flavours of traditional Portuguese dishes prepared for you by master chefs and even take the opportunity to reproduce some of the dishes at a cooking school. Learn how cheese is made, share in the art of bread-making and learn how wine is produced using a blend of old and new world techniques.

Whilst discovering this beautiful country you can also visit several wineries and Portugal's famous port houses. At the end of each day, premium accommodation in Pousadas, Deluxe and Boutique Hotels provides luxurious comfort and relaxation.

The history, culture and heritage of Portugal is served up on a heaving platter - find yourself immersed in castles, city squares, cafés, monuments, vineyards, gardens, architecture, museums, temples, villages, and enjoy a cruise, shopping, craft markets and more.

Discover Portugal's Food, Wine and Cultural Tour brochure takes you through all the destinations and gives great detail on accommodation and restaurants. Here are some tempting tidbits...

Take in Lisbon, including Saint George's castle at the top of the hill overlooking the old Alfama neighborhood and visit Cascais, once a small fishing village with seafaring traditions.

You haven't lived till you taste the Oysters of Setúbal, known by the French as "Les Portugaises", or taken in the atmosphere of Évora, World Heritage Site and home of the Roman Temple and the skulls of the sinister Chapel of the Bones...

Visit the finest wine producing estates, including the Heridade do Esporão and venture into the Alentejo region, known for its Black Iberian pork, which is a breed of pig fed predominately on acorns, giving it a unique flavour...

Enjoy the sights of Belmonte, a small, beautiful village where one of the oldest Jewish communities in Portugal still lives and the birthplace of the navigator who discovered Brazil, Pedro Álvares Cabral.

Experience very special wine tasting, with different local wines and an assortment of unique regional sausages and other delicious local flavours. Explore the river Douro on a private cruise in a traditional rabelo boat, through spectacular scenery.

The Mateus Manor House is an outstanding example of Portuguese Baroque architecture and the charming little town of Guimarães is beauty and simplicity personified. This is the "cradle" of Portuguese nationality and the first important city of the kingdom of Portugal with more than 800 years of history.

The Dukes of Bragança Palace, built in the first half of the 15th century, stands out for its well-known Pastrana tapestries, portraying important events related to the maritime discoveries of the 15th century, its porcelain collection from the Indian Company, Portuguese ceramics and Flemish tapestries.

One of the many gourmet highlights of this tour is a special dinner at the Largo do Paco. This restaurant is one of the finest in Portugal and received a Michelin star in 2008. Chef Ricardo Costa prepares his signature dishes, which include smoked sardines served with tomato confit, pepper jam, regional sausages and fresh vegetables drizzled with olive oil; and the Bisaro suckling pig with polenta cream, smoked ham, balsamic onions and Amarante jus.

Viana do Castelo, the capital of Minho region is where the Lima River flows. Besides its charming historic centre, don't miss the lovely panorama over the Atlantic (a visit to the Santa Luzia Belvedere is mandatory). In Ponte de Lima, you will be able to enjoy unique gastronomy and the locally produced Green Wine - Vinho Verde.

There's so much more! This ultimate experience evokes good times with the familiar clink of wine glasses, delicious food, beautiful views and lots of laughter and friendship.