From CAD 4,465
Guarantee
Small Group
Light
Rating
(20 reviews)
Experience Overview
Uncover the flavours of Galicia and Portugal on this eight-day adventure full of culinary delights, local wines and European hotspots. Take a tour of the central markets of Santiago de Compostela and enjoy a francesinha dinner in Porto. Discover how centuries of invasion and trade have given Portuguese cuisine a mixture of Mediterranean, African and Middle Eastern influences. Sip port and local wines among the terraced vineyards of the Douro Valley and roll up your sleeves for a cooking class at an Alentejo farm stay. Explore coastal Lisbon, rubbing shoulders with locals at a canned fish hotspot and tuck into a glass (or two) of ginjinha (wild cherry liqueur) and the famed Portuguese tarts.
Highlights
- Explore the Coa Valley, the centre of a rewilding project, and enjoy a night in a gorgeous historical guesthouse where you’ll join your hosts for a home-cooked meal of fresh, local produce.
- Pick up some local recipes during a cooking class at your farm stay in the rolling hills of the Alentejo region, whipping up regional specialties like pork with clams.
- Meet local producers along the way, including an olive oil producer where you can taste-test everybody’s favourite cooking staple. Sample Douro Valley wines and Porto’s fortified namesake.
- Take in the renowned riverside district in Porto, the colourful coastal hotspot of Lisbon and the rolling hills of the lush Douro Valley on the quintessential tour of Portugal.
- Sample iconic foods of the region – francesinha, cured meats, cheese, pasteis de nata (Portuguese custard tarts) and canned fish – with local producers and a local leader who knows all the best spots.
- By travelling on this trip, you’ll directly support our Intrepid Foundation partner, REFOOD. Donations help them save good food, from restaurants and supermarkets, that is destined to go to waste and distribute it amongst people in need.
Trip Details
Product Code: 3293
Tour Type: Small Group
Accommodation: Moderate
Transport: Private Vehicle,Public bus,Metro,Tram
Guide Language: English
Supplier Code: ZMZP
Starts: Santiago de Compostela, Portugal
Finishes: Lisbon, Portugal
Duration: 8 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical rating:
Light
Includes
Meals: Breakfasts (7), Lunch (2), Dinner (3)Accommodation: Hotel (5 nights),Guesthouse (1 night),Farmstay (1 nights)
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD 4465 (CAD 558 /day)
Itinerary
Hola! Welcome to Santiago de Compostela – the capital of northwest Spain’s Galicia region. If you arrive early, maybe walk the streets of the Old Town, known for its distinctive Romanesque, gothic and Baroque buildings. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm. After, maybe get to know your fellow travellers with an optional dinner of traditional Galician favourites. For seafood lovers, try the pulpo a la gallega (Galician-style octopus).
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
This morning, you’ll head to a local market in Santiago de Compostela – one of the city’s most popular attractions (alongside the cathedral). Follow your leader as they share tastes of local delicacies around the market. If you like, you can grab some extras for the public bus journey this afternoon, travelling over the border into Portugal. Arrive in the charming city of Porto in the late afternoon – known for its medieval riverside district with colourful houses bordering the Douro River, this is one of the country’s most romantic cities. Tonight, you’ll head out for an included dinner of a plant-based version of Porto's favourite dish, the francesinha.
Included Activities:
- Santiago de Compostela - Market visit and tasting tour
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Taste your way around Porto this morning, exploring its majestic bridges, cobbled streets, merchants’ houses and cafes. From the grand fountain in Praca dos Leoes, head to a local café for coffee and pastel de nata (the famed Portuguese custard tart). Walk through the Clerigos, S. Bento and Se quarters before popping into a bar for a cachorrinho (a spicy bread and sausage mouthful) accompanied by a cold beer. Continue through the Ribeira District, sampling local specialties like bacalhau (dried, salted cod) and a glass of rosé. Round out your explorations with a sip of the city's namesake drop (port) and a selection of petiscos (Portuguese tapas). The afternoon is free for you to explore at your leisure. Maybe pull up a chair in one of Porto's atmospheric tavernas and order another glass of port.
Included Activities:
- Porto - City Tasting Tour
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Take a scenic drive by private vehicle this morning to the Douro Valley. Arrive at Quinta da Pacheca (winegrowers since 1738) for a picnic and wine tasting. Over a couple of glasses of local wine (and a port, of course), you’ll share an assortment of olives, sausages, dried fruits, traditional salads, regional cheeses, apple tartlets and more. Travel on to the Coa Valley – known for the combined efforts of passionate locals to rewild the area, starting with the reintroduction of ancient cow breeds. Here, you’ll stay in an historic guesthouse atop a hill, overlooking the village and surrounding fields. Tonight, enjoy a home-cooked dinner of the best local produce.
Included Activities:
- Douro Valley - Wine Tasting & Lunch
- Coa Valley - Home-cooked dinner
Accommodation:
- Guesthouse (Number of Nights: 1)
Relax into the day with no plans until a late morning departure. You might like to explore Castelo Rodrigo (the surrounding village) or go for a hike in the countryside. Then hit the road for the Alentejo region – surrounded by wheat fields dotted with grazing cows. Stop at Castelo Branco to stretch your legs and spend some time exploring the historic town. Maybe grab some lunch and people-watch or walk around the Jardim do Paco Episcopal (a popular baroque garden). Continue to your farm stay in Alentejo – this area is renowned for its cork plantations, vineyards and the coveted Azaruja sausage made from black Alentejo pigs. You’ll be greeted with a local tipple and a tour of the farm, which has been in the family for the last six generations. You’ll see what’s it like to live at the farm, before some free time to settle in, take a swim in the pool or amble around the property, enjoying the peace and quiet. Then, guided by your host, prepare a meal of regional specialties from the best fresh produce. On the menu might be pork with clams, baked goats cheese, soup with cod or cheesecake flavoured with local honey and lemons.
Included Activities:
- Alentejo - Farm cooking class
Accommodation:
- Farmstay (Number of Nights: 1)
Say goodbye to the farm and head to a local olive oil producer for a tasting (a bottle of this locally produced oil makes an excellent souvenir!). Continue to Lisbon, popular for its pastel-coloured buildings and the Sao Jorge Castle. Enjoy some free time when you arrive to find some lunch, then head out on a leader-led orientation walk to get your bearings and see the city’s highlights. As you make your way, take a moment to try some ginjinha, a sweet cherry liqueur that originated in Lisbon. Afterwards, make a detour to Loja das Conservas, a quirky deco store selling canned fish from 17 different national canned fish outlets for you to taste and explore! Tonight, you’re free to explore the city’s nightlife or find a great spot for dinner – your leader will have some great recommendations for local restaurants or where to find the best live fado show (a genre of Portuguese soul music that originated in Africa and has evolved to suit the streets of Lisbon).
Included Activities:
- Lisbon - Leader-led orientation walk
- Alentejo - Local producer visit and olive oil tasting
- Lisbon - Market Visit
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
This morning, visit the local market Mercado da Ribeira, a vibrant food market offering fresh produce, local delicacies, and artisanal goods. This afternoon, after some free time for lunch, you’ll visit one of the city's iconic eateries, Pasteis de Belem, for pastel de nata – established in 1837, these are arguably the country's best! First made in the 16th century by nuns, this mixture of crispy pastry and creamy filling is Portugal’s best-known dessert, so why not take every opportunity to treat yourself (and maybe some extras for later?). Tonight, maybe head out for an optional farewell dinner with your group.
Included Activities:
- Lisbon - Pasteis de Nata tasting in Belem
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Today, there are no activities planned and your trip comes to an end. If you’d like to spend more time in this gorgeous city, just speak to your booking agent.
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Tour Operator
Intrepid Travel
Intrepid Travel is a global adventure travel company, dedicated to providing sustainable, experience-rich travel opportunities. They’ve been the leader in ethical, small-group travel since 1989 - taking people around the world for more than 30 years. They’re the world’s largest travel B Corporation - dedicated to being the best travel company for the world. In 2002, they established The Intrepid Foundation so their travellers could make a lasting impact on the communities they had visited. Although Intrepid Travel absorbs all administrative costs of The Intrepid Foundation, they are separate legal entities, allowing The Intrepid Foundation to grow independently. Intrepid Travel is made up of a collection of tour operator brands and 28 destination management companies all united by one vision: To change the way we all see the world.
In Business Since 1989
Reviews
Rich - Traveled, October 2023
We had an amazing trip with great people, Loved the cooking class and the Douro Valley tour. Our leader Adrian was superb at offering great insights and options. We recommend this trip to anyone wishing to learn more about the Portugal and Galicia.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/05/2023
Kim - Traveled, October 2023
The Portugal Real Food Adventure featuring Galicia with Elena was great fun. Good food and wine along with many belly laughs. What more can you ask for?
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/20/2023
Jean - Traveled, September 2023
Highly recommend this trip. Portugal is lovely and Daniel is a wonderful leader.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/12/2023
Cait - Traveled, July 2023
Portugal food tour trip was great fun! Our tour leader made the trip stress-free as he navigated a cancelled train and connections, had an immense knowledge of history of the places we visited, and was a lovely soul to travel with. The itinerary was full and fast paced but we did have a couple downtime afternoons like jumping into a cool pool at our farmstay and having time to resupply at a supermarket one day
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/20/2023
Gail - Traveled, June 2023
Have just had the best time on this Intrepid trip with a group who’d never met becoming good friends. Our leader Maria Craveiro was exceptional in her knowledge and enthusiasm for providing us with a memorable experience by being very organised and a lot of fun.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/20/2023
Jane - Traveled, September 2023
There were 7 of us taking this tour. The leader was professional and cared about our needs very well. History of Portugal was communicated well. Loved every minute of this trip!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/03/2023
Chris - Traveled, September 2023
Excellent tour! Got to see a lot of Portugal and its lovely food cuisine. Meet some lovely people and we will all keep in contact which is awesome. Highly recommend this tour
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/03/2023
Janet - Traveled, September 2023
If you want to visit a country with a leader who knows the country, and it feels like you are really visiting friends instead of being on a tour, I wholeheartedly recommend the Portugal Real Food Tour. I fell in love with the pastries, the wine, the port and the entire food experience on this trip.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/02/2023
Jane - Traveled, September 2023
There were 7 of us taking this tour. The leader was professional and cared about our needs very well. History of Portugal was communicated well. Loved every minute of this trip!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/03/2023
Olivia - Traveled, August 2023
We couldn’t have asked for a more incredible tour! The food, the sights, and our amazing guide Daniel made this a truly unforgettable experience. We can’t wait to go back to Portugal!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/13/2023
Davinia Elizabeth - Traveled, August 2023
A fantastic trip! Highly recommend. We saw so many places, tasted the freshest Galacian / Portugese produce, learned to cook it from local experts & walked it all off on the charming (& hilly) streets of Portugal's beautiful towns & cities. Our small group size & and leaders' insights meant we experienced Portugal more like a local. Was wonderful.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/15/2023
Vanessa - Traveled, July 2023
What a great way to experience a new culture and landscape! We were a small group of fellow travellers and laughed so much. Beautiful nature, friendly locals, great food and wine plus lovely walks every day. What is not to like?
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/26/2023
Nicole - Traveled, July 2023
We had a wonderful trip to Galicia and Portugal. Sergi was an excellent group leader. Intrepid chose amazing local guides in all of the locations. We really enjoyed the variety of food inclusions. The cooking class near Vigo was a highlight. I would recommend staying an extra night in Santiago de Compostela. Remember to bring good walking shoes as there are many hills to climb during the trip.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/29/2023
Aris - Traveled, June 2023
Maria Craveiro, our group leader was a charming, knowledgeable and delightful companion to our small group of four. She managed to keep us oldies under control and added enormously to the pleasure of our trip with good recommendations on restaurants and sites to visit.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/23/2023
Gail - Traveled, June 2023
Maria Craveiro was an exceptional leader of our tour, having a wealth of knowledge about Portugal and a personal style to easily communicate with all of us. Nothing was ever a problem and she went over and above to provide suggestions for activities in our free time.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/22/2023
Mick - Traveled, May 2023
None of the accommodation on the Portugal Tour was considered satisfactory for a whole range of reasons - I thought that in Portugal as opposed to previous days on the Spanish tour leg that accommodation would be more affordable and therefore at a better level (or at least satisfactory )- at times either/ or dirty, small , poorly located , amenities sub par , hard beds , noisy locations including wafer thin walls etc etc
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/23/2023
Jill - Traveled, May 2023
With a thoughtful itinerary, a wonderful group leader (Isabel), a strong group of day-guides and the fun-loving people who joined this tour date, I can easily say this was one of my favorite Intrepid Travel trips so far. I greatly enjoyed this tour and happily ate too much!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/16/2023
Jeanne - Traveled, May 2023
Take the time to arrive in Santiago de Compostela, one day early to enjoy this beautiful town. The local food markets are a short distance ( up the ramp) from the accommodation. Well worth the visit. I also did the local free city tour before the intrepid tour commenced. All tours accomodation was central, with lifts, clean, easy access. Cooking class, Douro valley vineyards and country stay enjoyable. All aspects of the tour outstanding. Tour leader and guides experienced, knowledgeable and passionate. Excellent tour for sole travellers as group was small and fun. Thank you Isabel for everything.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/19/2023
Jason - Traveled, October 2022
Well-organised trip that gave a really enjoyable taste of what Spain and Portugal had to offer
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/29/2022
Meagan - Traveled, July 2022
I loved this trip! Our tour guide (Ana) was amazing and made sure everyone was included and having fun.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/14/2022
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