PORTUGAL
Portugal byTravelTailors
Heritage, culture, gastronomy and unique, off-the-beaten-track Portugal including Azores and Madeira.
There’s been a huge buzz about Portugal over the last decade and it’s easy to see why. Lively, colourful cities, a wildly underrated food scene, remarkably diverse landscapes, from golden cliffs to epic valleys, and warm, down-to-earth people make up the essence of the country. Flung far out on the far western edge of Europe, Portugal offers a lifetime of adventure, from the inviting sands of the southern Algarve and the soulful cities of Lisbon and Porto to its cast-adrift islands and often-deserted peaks that populate its northern border. That buzz isn’t disappearing anytime soon.
We are delighted to work with Portugal by TravelTailors and recommend them to you.
Portugal by TravelTailors is the perfect operator in Portugal. They create the most unique, tailor-made itineraries for your clients taking in both the highlights of Portugal but also the lesser-visited areas like Alentejo, the Azores and Northern Portugal as well as venturing into Spain. Paula (Portuguese & US Citizen) and her team have a flair for unique properties, engaging cultural and gastronomy/wine experiences as well as curating a fabulous hand-picked villa collection. Wonderful attention to detail and a friendly and highly supportive team to work with.
Here are a few examples of the kind of travel experiences on offer with Portugal by TravelTailors to give you an idea of how wonderful a tailor-made trip with them could be.
Private cooking experience with a professional chef
Over the course of a full day, our chef will lead you on an exclusive private tour along the seaside. Together you will visit a traditional market with fresh fish and vegetables, where you will source the best and freshest local ingredients. Enjoy a traditional Portuguese breakfast with the chef at a local bakery and visit a shellfish farm to buy fresh seafood that you will cook for lunch. Explore the beautiful sights of the Atlantic Ocean from the Arrábida hills and stop at the seashore to enjoy a private cooking lesson. Partake on an informal lunch together, enjoy delicious wine, nap in the sun or take a plunge in the cool water from the nearby beach.
Traditional tile painting experience
When someone mentions Portugal, a few things come to mind: Port wine, seafood, surfing, and … azulejos! Even visitors who aren’t familiar with the term may see images of these glazed, ceramic tiles. Deeply embedded in Portugal’s history, culture and architecture, there are countless wonderful examples of these beautiful tiles from North to South. Azulejos date as far back as the 13th century, when the Moors invaded the land that now belongs to Spain and Portugal. The word azulejo stems from Arabic roots, meaning ‘small polished stone’. Even though they only became more popular in the 16th century and going through different designs and colour over the centuries. Still today this tradition subsists in small production workshops where you can learn how the glazed tiles are made from the start. If you are keen to try out and put your hands to work, then you may join a team of artisanal painters and paint your own glazed tile.
The Medieval West Coast – When sea and culture meet
We love to take guests to the beautiful medieval towns of Óbidos, Alcobaça, Nazaré and Batalha and try local delicacies such as cherry liquor in a chocolate cup and traditional sweet egg pastries. Óbidos is one of the most beautiful villages of Portugal. The old buildings are home to restaurants, craft shops and art galleries full of charm, plus many cellars - between alcoholic local specialities and wines are ginjinha, a kind of liquor made from a type of wild cherry, small and very delicious, abundant in the region. Alcobaça, is a famous monastery with unusual history and lovely gardens. Nazaré is a typical fishing village that managed to preserve its characteristics and customs, with its hospitable and warm people. Here you can see women in the town still wearing their traditional headscarves, embroidered aprons, and wooden clogs. Their aprons are worn over seven flannel skirts of different colours. Lastly Batalha, known for its incredible Monastery of Santa Maria da Vitoria, best known as the Batalha Monastery, which is part of UNESCO World Heritage.
Horse Ride in Paradise – A unique experience in Comporta
Take a private Horse Ride on the stunning and vast Comporta Beach during the day or at sunset. Enjoy Portuguese wine and tapas - Portuguese cheese, chouriço and our delicious Alentejo bread - at the stable at the end of the ride. Comporta is an amazing beach with seemingly endless golden dunes, green rice fields, traditional fishermen's dwellings, unrivalled cuisine, and the close contact with a myriad of indigenous animal species. Riding along this almost deserted shore is truly a luxury experience for those who love nature.
Wine Valley Cruise – Experience the Douro Valley in luxury
Guests take a private yacht and sail down the Douro Valley whilst enjoying Port Wine and Portuguese tapas. The Douro region is a UNESCO World Heritage site and its wines are classified as D.O.C. The style of wines produced in the Douro range from light, Bordeaux style claret to rich Burgundian style wines aged in new oak. Porto Wine is a world-famous fortified wine produced exclusively from grapes grown in the Douro Wine Region, about 100 km east of Porto. The wine took the name of Porto, but its cellars are located on the opposite bank of the Douro River, in Gaia. This cruise will take guests on a journey to see the most beautiful views of the valley while tasting red and white Port, accompanied by a variety of salty and sweet Portuguese treats.
Horse and Bull Farms – Our equestrian traditions
There is a remarkable Iberian tradition regarding Horses and Bulls. The Iberian Peninsula is the birthplace of four equine breeds and fifteen bull breeds! These amazing animals have always been in close contact through natural and man-made bonds! Each breed with its own characteristics and beauty. Accept our invitation to discover these native breeds in both Portugal and Spain. Even though they face each other as enemies inside the bullrings, they have a relationship of respect and friendship when they are free. Discover traditional horse and bull farms, their role to the Portuguese society and economy, and the long generations of families who have been responsible for protecting them! Visit the Royal Equestrian School of Alter Real, attend a riding show in Lisbon, or a bullfight in a traditional arena, enjoy a countryside pic-nic surrounded by horses, ride one of our Garrano horses in the mountains of the North, or the Lusitano or Sorraia horses in the plains of Alentejo or along our Atlantic Coast in the ancient trail of the Vicentine Coast.
Paula and her team are a highly ethical company that acts with integrity, honesty and respect for our customers, colleagues and partners. They place sustainability at the top of their agenda and make every attempt to work with service providers that respect and work to enhance their local communities through educational, environmental, social and cultural initiatives. They are also committed to minimizing the environmental and social impact of all of their personal and professional activities.
Let me know if you would like to set up a meeting with Paula to discuss how Portugal by TravelTailors can assist you and your clients in Portugal (inc. Azores and Madeira). You can jump into checking out some of Travel Tailor's example itineraries, and presentations. If you are interested in Villas we can connect you with Paula to discuss directly.
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