FV0002 – Standard

Today, and after airport formalities, you will be collected outside customs, and transferred, by Deluxe vehicle with English speaking chauffeur, to your hotel in Porto.

After check-in procedures, take your time to unwind and relax!

This morning, enjoy a tour of Porto escorted by an expert guide, including Stock Exchange Palace and the 14th century Gothic and Baroque construction of the São Francisco Church. You’ll peek into the Lello bookshop, an exquisite landmark dating to the early 1900’s.

For lunch (not included) savor a tapas meal at an informal and cheerful restaurant whit natural blend of the traditional and the modern. The cuisine, largely Portuguese inspired, is nevertheless influenced by travels abroad.

During the afternoon, venture on a special tour. Your driver/guide will take you on a “Mercedez Maria”, a Ural Ranger, a charming vintage motorcycle, with the look of Second World War but with all the modern safety features of an XXI century motorcycle and with room for two each. The rhythm is slow-paced with a lot of conversation, historical facts and curiosities, lots of stops for photos and to enjoy the views. Through the Historical Center, you’ll see places like S. Bento station, along the Douro River with its bridges, the Miragaia neighborhood, and all the way to the beach to understand the connection of the city’s history with the ocean. Return to the city center, explore Cristal Palace and neighborhoods like Virtudes, Vitória, and Clérigos, learn all their history and see the great views that Porto has to offer. 

Cross to Gaia, on the other side of the river and see the D. Luís bridge and the Port wine neighborhood.

Sidecar tour ends at your hotel in Porto.

• For guests overnighting at The Yeatman, we suggest dinner (not included) at your hotel’s Gastronomic Restaurant, one of Oporto’s most inspiring dining experience, with a one Michelin star awarded Chef, which imaginative cuisine reflects the traditional flavors of Portugal interpreted and presented with contemporary flair (closed Sundays and Mondays);

• For guests not overnighting at The Yeatman, we suggest dinner (not included) at a Michelin awarded restaurant, built on the rocks, hand in hand with the sea. Chef Rui Paula surprises customers with his audacity, taking them to the next level of gastronomic experiences, through a symbiotic vision where he really shows his inner self (closed Sundays and Mondays);

• Not feasible on January 1st, Easter Sunday, May 1st, June 24th and December 25th.

Hit the road towards Douro Valley, the world’s oldest wine region. En-route, stop at a lovely property dating back the 13th century and enjoy a magic day around flavors and scents in the family old kitchen learning about Portuguese authentic recipes. 

A full menu, from starter to dessert, will be prepared by participants, who are invited to: Have a coffee and cookies in the garden; Take a basket and pick from the vegetable and herbs garden, the season products; Be dressed with hat and apron; Start the lesson: Taste tapas and wine during the lesson; have lunch in one of the places chosen according to the weather. Inside dining room of the rose garden or outside in the courtyard with a view to the Barrosas mountain.

• For dinner (not included) we suggest a magical experience at Six Senses Douro Valley Hotel. Be part of a perfect journey of flavors through an unique gastronomic experience. Take your seat in the heart of Six Senses Hotel kitchen and let the Chef take control. Not only will you witness meal preparation but also discuss culinary techniques and try some of the selected delicacies. An enriching experience marked by interaction between guests and Chef, combined with the prestige of astonishing and reinvented recipes.

• Not feasible on Sundays and from November to February.

Your journey today begins with a stop on a charming family-owned wine estate, one of the best-known properties in the Douro and also one of the first to bottle wines with its own brand. 

This Wine Estate is mentioned for the first time in a document dated April 1738. However, it was only in 1903 that Dom José Freire de Serpa Pimentel decided to develop his interest in oenology, bought the property and began to devote to the winemaking business.

You will be warmly received and will enjoy a private tour through the cellars, followed by lectured wine tasting. 

Lunch (not included) will be served in the charming restaurant of the wine estate. The building, construction of the 18th century, is decorated in an authentic style, yet with modern conveniences, and offers a gourmet cuisine based on local products, with panoramic views of the surrounding countryside.

During the afternoon, marvel with a private river cruise aboard a typical Rabelo boat.

Until the end of the 19th century, the Douro River was the main access route to the interior regions and the only means of importing foreign products. A difficult river and risky to navigate, there was only one type of boat that could overcome its natural obstacles, the Rabelo Boat. The robustness of the boat and the ability of the first crews made it possible to carry large barrels of wine above the river. 

With the help of a local guide, discover the green vineyards, stratified culture and stunning natural beauty of the Douro Valley. Marvel at the beautiful slopes, heavily planted with vines, which offers breathtaking views of one of the most impressive man-shaped landscapes in the world.

• Possible winery and cruise upgrade;

• • Not feasible on December 24th and 25th;

• Suggested dinner (not included) at an elegant restaurant settled in a building of contemporary lines with a picket based that extends along an elegant wooden deck overlooking the river (closed on Tuesdays).

Today, you’ll have private chauffeured transfer from Douro Valley to Porto International Airport where you’ll catch your internal flight from Porto to Ponta Delgada (not included).

Upon arrival to Ponta Delgada, your private chauffeur will be waiting for you outside customs to drive you to your hotel.

• Suggested dinner (not included) at a local rustic and tiny tavern with excellent regional food, fresh fish, and ultimate wine selection (closed on Sundays).

Explore Sete Cidades, one of the 7 Natural Wonders of Portugal, that showcases the Green and Blue Lakes, which according to legend, were formed from the tears of a shepherd and a princess who shared a forbidden love. 

These lakes can be seen from the Vista do Rei (King’s View) Lookout, named after King D. Carlos and Queen D. Amélia to celebrate their visit to the island in 1901.

Venture on an jeep tour and learn about the fauna, flora, history, volcanic formation of the island and of course, the legendary love story behind the formation of the lake. 

Along the route, you’ll have superb views over several lakes in the region as well as the adjacent coastline.

Allow yourself to immerse in the breathtaking nature of Sete Cidades! 

Lunch (included) will be served as a regional and intimate picnic at a natural park with amazing natural surroundings. 

Sit back, relax and enjoy your meal while experiencing the nature at its best.

Meet your private chauffeur at the lobby and indulge on an authentic gastronomic journey. 

Meet Maria at Graça Market and marvel with the variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, particularly pineapple, butcheries, fishmongers and of course the popular Rei dos Queijos (King of the cheese). 

Maria will be your guide and will teach you how to cook the best traditional Azorean dishes. Learn from the best, the art of local recipes where the history and resident roots are revealed. 

Allow yourself to create memories and stories that will last a lifetime, where cultural differences, smells, the mystic of the place, the way of living inside this volcanic island will be present.

Enjoy your flavoured and homemade meal plenty of history and love!

At the end of the activity, your driver will take back to your hotel.

Today adventure on a hiking tour through Janela do Inferno. 

This hike passes by an ancient aqueduct, in the shape of a tunnel, around 50m long. From here, the trail goes along Ribeira Seca, crossing several impressive aqueducts that used to supply the ancient Alcohol Factory of Lagoa and nowadays supplies water to the municipality. 

You will reach a particular point of interest – Janela do Inferno – a vertical wall, rich in water springs, where it is possible to spot Newts (Triturus cristatus) in different stages of their life cycle (aquatic larva, juvenile/eft and adult). Take the opportunity to appreciate the beauty of this place and to regain energy. 

Along this trail, enjoy the beautiful views over the municipality of Lagoa and Ponta Delgada. 

By the end of this experience, drive continues towards Furnas one of the most exotic areas of São Miguel, enjoy some leisure time to relax and enjoy the thermal waters.

According to your flight departure time, and after check-out procedures, your private chauffeur will meet you at the lobby and take you towards Ponta Delgada Airport.