Undiscovered Portugal in Style

DAY 1

We will be offering both flight and rail options for travelling to Tomar. After flying into Lisbon, you will take a train directly to Tomar. If you are travelling overland from the UK, you will not need to go via Lisbon. Direct flights available from Gatwick, Heathrow, Stansted, Luton, and Manchester.

DAY 2

Founded in 1157 by the Order of the Templars, Tomar is dominated by the 12th century castle containing the UNESCO World Heritage Convento de Cristo. Originally designed as a monument symbolizing the Reconquista, the Convent of the Knights Templar of Tomar (transferred in 1344 to the Knights of the Order of Christ) came to symbolise just the opposite during the Manueline period - the opening up of Portugal to other civilizations. This morning, we will meet our local guide who will lead us in a visit to the Convent. After this you will have the option of having a free afternoon in Tomar or joining your tour manager on a train to Entroncamento to visit the National Railway Museum. Return to Tomar at the end of the afternoon for our Welcome Dinner.

DAY 3

A rail trip on one of Portugal's most under-rated scenic railway lines, the Beira Baixa, is in store today. We first take a train for the short journey to Entroncamento where we catch our regional train along the Beira Baixa Line as far as Castelo Branco. This is the most beautiful section as we ride along the north bank of the River Tagus, with some sections rivalling the more famous Douro Valley. Look out of the 'Gates of Rodao', site of a natural dam that collapsed millions of years ago. We have time for lunch in Castelo Branco, the former capital of the old province of Beira Baixa (Lower Beira). It has been celebrated since the 17th century for the brightly coloured embroidered bedspreads which are made here. Lying near the Spanish border, the town was of great strategic importance. There are only a few remains of the medieval castle (Castelo Branco, or white castle), the most recent attack on the town coming in 1807 when Napoleon's troops did a lot of damage. The most impressive feature of the town is the 'Jardim Episcopal' which you will have time to visit.

DAY 4

We leave Tomar today on our coach which will drop us at Abrantes station to catch the international train to the fortified town of Elvas (the train continues to Badajoz in Spain where there are onward connections to Madrid). A new railway line has been built linking Evora to Elvas and Badajoz and if there is a suitable train, we will try to travel on it. Elvas itself is one of Portugal's hidden gems, often ignored by non-Spanish tourists. The old town is surrounded by a defensive wall, designed so that no side was left unprotected, resulting in the formation of a unique star arrangement comprising bastions and hidden passages, allowing Elvas to fend off three separate Spanish sieges in 1658, 1711 and 1801, only falling in 1808 during the Napoleonic wars. However, the most impressive structure in Elvas is the stunning aqueduct dating from the 16th century, though it was 1620 before it first carried water to Elvas. We have a free afternoon to explore this town before our coach, which will follow us to Elvas, picks us up and takes us to the five-star Hotel Aqueduto in Evora, our home for the next four nights. Dinner in the hotel tonight.

DAY 5

This morning, we catch an inter-city train first to Casa Branca where we change to a train heading south to the regional town of Beja. The town was strategically built on top of a hill, making it very easy to spot potential invaders a long way off. First, we go to Beja Pousada for lunch, then some free time to explore the historic town, including its castle and attractive centre, before returning to the station for our train back to Evora.

DAY 6

We explore Evora today with our local guide. Sights include the Roman Temple of Diana, the university, the cathedral, the chapel of bones and the aqueduct. A free afternoon to continue exploring the town, or even enjoy the hotel's facilities!

DAY 7

Today we will travel by coach to the fascinating hilltop border fortified village of Monsaraz. Here we will have a short, guided tour with a local guide followed by free time to explore this historic hilltop village, with views over the Alqueva Dam and into Spain, and its own bullring which you can walk around. Farewell lunch in a local restaurant.

DAY 8

This morning, we catch a train to Lisbon Oriente from where we take the metro to the airport.

B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner