Ten-Day Family Vacation to Portugal

This morning, a stand-up paddleboarding adventure will be waiting for you and your family, which can be an excellent way to begin the day. Paddling will have surely worked up your appetite, so once you are finished with your paddleboarding adventure, you will indulge in a family-friendly food tour of Porto’s best delicacies with a local connoisseur. You will be amazed at how your host can infuse history and educational information into the tour in such an interactive way. This evening, you will partake in a private art session. This informative lesson will teach you how to craft a handmade, Portuguese tile and how important Azulejos are within Portuguese culture.

Today’s excursion will usher you into the awe-inspiring, natural playground of Peneda-Geres National Park. While traipsing through enchanted forests and woods, you will enjoy this peaceful time away together far from the hustle and bustle of the city. As you trek together through hidden pathways that only the locals know about, you will be rewarded with spectacular views of cascading waterfalls. Afterward, you will stop for a delicious al fresco picnic that will offer you an epic view of the entire park.

Today, you will transfer to the wonderful city of Sintra for an overnight excursion. During your time in Sintra, you will visit Quinta da Regaleira and its gorgeous onsite gardens, the captivating Castle of the Moors, and the rainbow wonderland of Pena Palace. After witnessing all of these wonders, you will make your way via horse-drawn carriage to Sintra town, where charming alleyways wind their way among cute cafes and cozy eateries. Your guide can also provide you with dining recommendations so that you can enjoy a lovely dinner in Sintra together.

Today, you will venture to the capital city of Lisbon. Upon checking in to your accommodation and depositing your luggage, you will have a bit of time to relax and regroup before your day’s first excursion, which will be a comprehensive bike tour of many of Lisbon’s iconic sites. Following your sightseeing, a sweet ending to your evening will arrive via a private cooking class, which will be led by a master pastry chef. This will be an opportunity to learn how to craft Portugal’s signature pastry: Pastel de Nata.

Today, you will visit a honeybee farm, where you will be able to witness how honey is made. Upon your arrival at the farm, you will have the exclusive opportunity to witness the inner workings of the farm, which will show you where the bees live and every step of the process that is required in order to craft the golden elixir. This interactive experience will also include the chance at donning bee suits and getting an up-close look at the hives, where you can even spot the queen bee. Once you are back in Lisbon, you will meet your expert guide for a private sailing lesson.

This morning you will escape to the Azores for the final leg of your family getaway. When your flight arrives in Ponta Delgada on the island of Sao Miguel, a private driver will be waiting to lead you to your opulent accommodation. Once you have checked in and dropped your luggage off at your suite, you will be whisked away to explore the charming city center with a private guide. Your guide will then lead you to two different working plantations, where you will be given a behind-the-scenes tour of a tea and pineapple plantation.

This morning, you will venture to Sete Cidades, where you will hike and kayak to your hearts’ content before enjoying a glamping experience. When you arrive at your accommodation in Ponta Delgada, you will be led by an expert guide around a jaw-dropping lakeside trail. After your nature trek among the incredible scenery, you will be provided with the chance to stand-up paddleboard on the lakes. After your paddling adventure, you will indulge in a lakeside dinner in the great outdoors per your guide’s recommendation.

This morning will transfer to Furnas, where you will spend the morning on a hike that will lead you around Furnas Lake. Following your hike, you will stop at the nearby steam vents that create an eerie aura over the entire area. You will even be able to witness how the locals use this natural phenomenon to make one of their signature dishes of Cozido das Furnas, which is a delicious stew that is actually placed down below the earth, cooking with the intense heat of the steam to slow-cook the ingredients. Afterward, you will travel to the nearby thermal springs, where you will spend the afternoon in the warm water of the island’s thermal springs.

After spending ten days in Portugal, you will certainly be wishing that you could stay longer, and as you wake up to your final morning in Ponta Delgada, you may very well be planning your return trip. You will be provided with a farewell brunch before your private diver transfers you to the airport for your flight home.