November to March

 CASCAIS

Cascais is a town on the Atlantic Ocean about 30 kilometers west of Lisbon, Portugal. It is a cosmopolitan suburb of the Portuguese capital and one of the richest municipalities in Portugal. The former fishing village gained fame as a resort for Portugal's royal family in the late 1800s and early 1900s.Today and after the airport formalities you will be collected, outside customs, and transferred by Deluxe Mercedes Sedan with English speaking driver to the Albatroz Hotel, a fairy-tale hotel, most notable for its traditional style of luxury.
– Individual transfers, depending your arrival time –This house, with a terrific location over the Praia da Conceição, was built by the orders of the Duke of Loulé, with the project of Architect Ávila, in 1870.
It was one of the first luxury houses built by the Portuguese nobility to join the royal family in their Summer vacations in Cascais.
The rest of the day you will be on your own, resting or enjoying the hotel swimming pool.
Your dinner will be served at the Fortaleza do Guincho restaurant, awarded with one Michelin star.
Strategically built back in the 17th century as a fortress, the Fortaleza do Guincho  still holds its noble and strong posture, watching and diving with exquisite elegance into the Atlantic Ocean.

CASCAIS - MUGE - CASCAIS

Full-Breakfast at the hotel.
Your driver will collect you at the door of your hotel and will take you to the Casa do Cadaval.
This magnificent wine and horse estate, founded during the XII century, is the ground for one of the most beautiful Portuguese Palaces.
Upon arrival at the estate you will be welcomed by the master rider at the Riding Hall who will and you will have the opportunity to ride a Lusitano Stallion for a classical dressage lesson.
The Lusitano is an ancient Portuguese breed of horse that until the 1960s shared its registration with the Spanish horse, the Andalusian. Both are sometimes called Iberian horses, as their land of origin is the Iberian peninsula. These Iberian horses were developed for use in war, dressage and bull fighting.
Lusitanos make excellent riding horses due to their levelheaded temperament and tendency to bond strongly with humans. They are intelligent, sensible, and have great balance.
After this unforgettable experience you will have time to taste their wines from the different varietals (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Pinot Noir) as well as selected blends such as Padre Pedro, Herdade de Muge and Marquees of Cadaval. The house oenologist will lecture you on the “secret” flavours while you taste.
Then you will be invited by the owner of the Domain, to have lunch at the Palace.
After lunch your drive follows towards Cascais. Afternoon at leisure to rest.
Today you will be introduced on Portuguese gastronomy. Cooking Class followed by dinner.

CASCAIS – AZEITÃO – CASCAIS

Today your driver will take you to Azeitão, a coastal region, and located 23 miles (46 minutes) south of Lisbon near the Arrábida Mountains.
Azeitão it is mostly a vineyard farm area with a great and exquisite beauty.
The morning will be spent at a traditional cheese producing farm. You will be lectured, by who knows cheese better than anyone, on all the process of cheese making from the pasture, to milk production and to the final tasting.
For lunch we suggest you the Azeitão Restaurant, an excellent typical venue and a reference in the regional gastronomy!! You will love it!!!
The owners João Amaral and António Amaral (brothers) will treat you like special guests.
Their quality regional food and an excellent wine list will be served in a friendly atmosphere. João will lecture you on the wines you will be served while you treat and delight yourself with the regional and delicious starters.  The main courses are hearty, even sumptuous.
During the afternoon, enjoy a brief walking city tour in the centre of quaint Azeitão and visit the winery José da Maria Fonseca. José Maria da Fonseca is the oldest company in Portugal producing table wines and the Setúbal Moscatel (a sweet and refreshing wine).
It was founded in 1834 and at their museum - the old family home of José Maria da Fonseca – you will taste some of their best wines, hosted by one of the house specialists, in the original wine-cellars where the table wines and “moscatel” are still aged in wood.
En route back to Lisbon your driver will stop at Bacalhoa Wine Estate (owned by Joe Berardo the biggest private art collector in Portugal), where you will be treated with their best products and will be able to appreciate, not only their tile collection (the biggest private tile collection in world), but also their olive tree gardens with samples dating from more than two thousand years ago…Last but not least you will be, also, able to enjoy in the tasting room, the monthly art exhibition, always with masterpieces of a worldwide known artist.
Now is time to return to Cascais, your chauffeur will drop you off at the door of your hotel.    

CASCAIS – LISBON – CASCAIS

Boasting springtime temperatures during the winter and cool summers freshened by a breeze blowing in from the Atlantic, Costa de Lisboa, on the southwestern coast, offers a rich and impressively integrated diversity. The capital of Portugal since its conquest from the Moors in 1147, Lisbon is a legendary city with over 20 centuries of History.
Your day begins when you are collected at the door of your hotel by your chauffeured luxury vehicle. You'll take in the 16th century Belem Tower and 16th century St Jeronimos Monastery.
The ambitious building reflects the confidence Portugal enjoyed when its explorers roamed the seas. One of the greatest navigators, Vasco de Gama, is buried in the monastery’s church.
Under an exquisite ambiance of the old Royal Riding Arena of Belém Palace, enjoy an exceptional collection of ceremonial vehicles from the Royal family, dating from 17th Century to late19th Century at the National Coach Museum.
Drive direction to Alfama, the Lisbon’s heart during Moorish times. The Moors (and Lisbon) have moved on, but the neighborhood retains an exotic atmosphere. You might stop at the St Georges Castle-formerly a Moorish citadel. The castle boasts panoramic views of the city.
The Alfama is one of the oldest quarters in Lisbon. Since it largely survived the earthquake of 1755, the area still retains much of its original layout. Adjacent to the Alfama are the likewise old quarters of Castelo and Mouraria, on the western and northern slopes of the hill that is crown by St. George's Castle.
The city's legendary seven hills will also seduce you into admiring characteristic mosaic pavements and dazzling tiled façades, and will reward you with strategically-placed miradouros or viewpoints offering breathtaking panoramas over the city after a ride on a charming old tram. You'll find yourself wandering through colorful 18th century squares downtown and getting lost in the medieval maze of the Alfama district overlooked by an ancient castle.
For lunch we do strongly recommend the Solar dos Presuntos, a genuine quality restaurant dedicated to good food. With a cavernous interior on two levels there you will taste an excellent fish and seafood, quality meat dishes such as roast kid and the best paella in town.
Depending on your schedule we do propose a shopping tour to the Avenida da Liberdade and/or Bairro Alto.

CASCAIS – SINTRA – CASCAIS  

Today you will meet your Chef at the hotel and driven towards the market place and the central fish market.
Enjoy the huge variety of colors and aromas of all the fresh produce available and learn how to pick out the best ones and how to recognize the freshness and quality of different Atlantic fish right off the fishing boats. Cooking class followed by lunch.
After lunch you will join your guide and head to Sintra.
The district that is now covered by the Borough of Sintra has been inhabited by man for a very long time indeed. The privileged geographical and environmental situation has over the ages attracted and fixed settlers. Numerous archaeological remains, including prehistoric and protohistoric tombs, testify to its antiquity. Sintra has remained even nowadays the "noble town surrounded by many estates, pleasant woods with plentiful springs of excellent water", referred to by various old authors.
During the afternoon you will be lectured on a superb tour of sightseeing in the surrounding area's of Lisbon and most beautiful corners. You'll see castles, fortresses, forests, and beautiful scenery. You will be touring the quaint and aristocratic town of Sintra (where Lord Byron lived and considered it to be “Paradise in Earth”). Your afternoon will be full of castles and lovely walks, with the highlight to the Pena Palace, one of Portugal's most peculiar and beautiful palaces and Sintra National Palace.
The potentialities of the Sintra district are not confined to the wild enchantments of the Serra, sometimes wreathed in mist, and to the artistic heritage of the Old Town, described by Lord Byron as "the most pleasing in Europe", but also include valuable archaeological remains, particularly from the Roman period, ancient manor houses, churches of personalized artistic value and characteristic villages.
Ending the tour you drive back to the hotel.

CASCAIS – ÓBIDOS – CASCAIS

Óbidos is a medieval village enclosed in walls, birthplace of Josefa de Ayala e Cabreira, a reference to Portuguese painting of the 18th century. A magnificent Castle, an ancient Arabic alcáçova rebuilt by D. Afonso Henriques and his son D. Sancho. It resembles a postcard with its picturesque landscape of town walls and grand castle. Stroll through town, with its narrow and winding streets and admire the charming white washes houses.
Your chauffeur and expert guide will pick you your hotel and will take you to Óbidos, a quaint and white walled town, founded by the moors, in 8th century.
Here your expert guide will lecture on the main and important historical facts and you will have time to stroll through the narrow streets, surrounded by white washed houses, with small flower gardens.
Lunch will be, on your own, at Nazaré at a local restaurant.
Possibly the most famous fishing town in Portugal, Nazaré is unique in many ways. It doesn’t contain the architectural treasures or grandiose monuments prevalent in other Portuguese towns, but it has an atmosphere of times gone by, contentment and traditions which continue to thrive, which make it a special place to visit.
The wooden fishing boats still used today are colorful and narrow with curved prows and decoration evocative of the first fishermen of the area; the Phoenicians, who settled here in pre-Christian times. On some prows you’ll even still see a watchful eye painted – in theory to detect the two most important things to a fisherman; shoals and storms – and many dangle lamps for fishing after sunset.
After lunch you will be driven back to Cascais.
At the end of the day you will have your last cooking class and dinner at Albatroz.