Sunny Portugal

br />Explore sunny Portugal, with its miles of dramatic shoreline and legacy of global discovery. Enjoy a three night stay in the beautiful resort town, Cascais, with time to meander the narrow cobblestone streets, oceanfront promenade and quaint bay area. In Evora you’ll find a medieval walled city with roman ruins. Travel to Algarve on Portugal's “Silver Coast,” dotted with charming villages, castles and miles of scenery. Find a wealth of Portuguese hand-made crafts, like azulejos, cork and hand painted tiles. Indulge in Portugal’s fresh cuisine and wine and be swept away by Fado tunes. Explore the Algarve’s miles of soft sandy beaches and typical fishing villages.

Day 1: Overnight Flight
Portugal - a historic land of great explorers - is waiting for your own exploration. Discover ancient castles, Roman ruins, groves of lemon and almond trees, quiet whitewashed villages, and kind, gentle people.

Day 2: Cascais, Portugal
Your tour begins today in Cascais, your home for four nights and a beautiful resort town on the “Portuguese Riviera.” The mansions scattered about Cascais hint at its history as a haven for exiled European royals and nobility. Tonight, join your fellow passengers for a welcome dinner.

Day 3: Cascais - Sintra - Estoril - Cascais
Begin your day exploring the picturesque towns surrounding Cascais. Visit the magnificent Baroque Palacio de Mafra, a palace, basilica and monastery. Next, visit the town of Sintra, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the favorite summer residence of Portuguese kings for six centuries. Hugging the beautiful shoreline, continue on to Estoril, a scenic coastal resort where you can stroll amongst the many specialty shops filled with Portuguese handmade crafts. An entertaining evening awaits you during dinner where you’ll savor excellent Portuguese cuisine and delicious local wine. Local artists will perform traditional folkloric dances and songs, including the Fado, plaintive songs of longing accompanied by the viola, a Portuguese string instrument shaped like a mandolin, and by the guitarra.

Day 4: Cascais - Obidos - Nazare - Fatima - Cascais
Travel to Portugal’s beautiful “Silver Coast,” a spectacular region filled with sleepy villages, rich vineyards and age-old castles. After a short lesson on the Portuguese language, proceed to picture-perfect Obidos, where white washed houses are held snug by medieval city walls. Continue to Nazare, a beautiful coastal fishing village. Later, visit Fatima, the world-famous Marian pilgrimage site.

Day 5: Cascais - Lisbon - Cascais
This morning, enjoy a city tour of Lisbon highlighting the Moorish Alfama Quarter. See the 16th century Jeronimo’s Monastery (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and the Monument to the Discoveries, which honors intrepid Portuguese explorers and their patrons. The impressive Belem Tower, also a UNESCO World Heritage site, features carved rope and balconies that stand watch where great navigators once set forth. Later today, enjoy leisure time in Cascais. Stroll its narrow cobblestone streets, walk the wide beach promenade or shop for ceramics, lace, filigree, hand woven works and tapestries.

Day 6: Cascais - Evora - Algarve
Travel through beautiful Portuguese countryside and stop in historic Evora, a UNESCO World Heritage site, known as the “Museum City of Portugal.” Inside this medieval walled city lies a 2nd century Roman temple to Diana. Then, journey south to the famous Algarve on the pristine Atlantic coast.

Day 7: Algarve
The entire day is yours to experience the beautiful Algarve. Geraniums, camellias and oleanders grow alongside fig, orange and almond trees while brightly colored fishing boats bob on the seas. Protected by hills to the north and warmed by the sea, the Algarve’s mild climate and beautiful beaches attract vacationers from all over Europe.

Day 8: Algarve - Cape of St. Vincente - Lagos - Sao Bras de Alportel -Algarve
In beautiful Cape of St. Vincente, 200 foot cliffs plunge into the Atlantic at the most southwesterly point of Europe. View its quaint landscape as you travel to the historic resort town of Lagos, where the famous voyager, Prince Henry the Navigator, began his explorations. Stroll the streets of this charming town during leisure time. Later, travel to the historic town of Sao Bras de Alportel for a visit to a local cork museum. Learn about the many uses of cork and its importance to the local economy. Your day concludes with a lovely dinner.

Day 9: Algarve - Azeitao - Lisbon
Return to Lisbon, Portugal’s capital set on seven hills overlooking the Tagus River. Stop en route to visit Azeitao, a charming agricultural village known for red wine, olive trees and beautiful country estates. Visit a family-run shop that demonstrates how azulejos, the famous hand-painted Portuguese tiles, are made. Then enjoy a tour and tasting of local wines when you visit a centuries-old wine maker. Later, bid “adeus” to Portugal during a dinner celebrating the end of a wonderful tour.

Day 10: Lisbon - Tour Ends

Touring Date	Land Only	Land + Air	Single (Land Only)	Single (Land + Air)
2/24/2012 - 3/5/2012	$1,349
3/9/2012 - 3/18/2012	$1,349
4/13/2012 - 4/22/2012	$1,449
4/20/2012 - 4/29/2012	$1,499
4/27/2012 - 5/6/2012	$1,499
5/18/2012 - 5/27/2012	$1,749
9/14/2012 - 9/23/2012	$1,749
9/28/2012 - 10/7/2012	$1,749
10/12/2012 - 10/21/2012	$1,649
10/26/2012 - 11/4/2012	$1,649
11/2/2012 - 11/11/2012	$1,549
11/9/2012 - 11/18/2012	$1,549
2/1/2013 - 2/11/2013	$1,549
2/8/2013 - 2/18/2013	$1,549
2/15/2013 - 2/25/2013	$1,549
3/1/2013 - 3/10/2013	$1,549
3/8/2013 - 3/17/2013	$1,549
4/5/2013 - 4/14/2013	$1,649
4/19/2013 - 4/28/2013	$1,649
Note: Departures appearing above in green are guaranteed to operate by the tour operator.
Airfare Disclaimer A NOTE ABOUT AIRFARE: We encourage you to buy your airfare from the tour operator, because if your tour cancels then your airlines tickets will be covered. Purchasing flights separately at a lesser rate and incorporating it with a Non-Guaranteed Departure Date can result in loss of total cost of your flight investment. Depending on the fare rules, flights may be Non-Refundable and/or Non-Transferable. Neither the tour operator and/or Atlas Cruises & Tours will be held responsible for loss if a tour is cancelled for Lack of Participation. If you would like to check for discounted fares on Guaranteed Departures or for competitive pricing on air and hotel packages, we invite you to follow this link. Documents TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: Necessary Travel Documents such as Passports and Visas is the responsibility of the traveler. Passports must be valid six months from your return travel date.

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