PORTUGAL CULTURAL TOUR OF LISBOA & ALGARVE April 13-20, 2018 (Dates of travel to be confirmed upon flight booking) 8 DAYS / 6 NIGHTS
DAY 1: USA - PORTUGAL (Friday) Fly through the night to Lisbon. DAY 2: LISBON (Saturday) Welcome to Portugal! Your Forum Tour Manager will greet you at the airport and will remain with your group for the length of your stay. As you transfer to the hotel, see Parque das Nações and drive along the majestic Tagus river to the city center. Drop off your luggage at the hotel; check-in will be later in the day. Your adventure in Lisbon will start on foot. From the city center head to the Portas do Sol Belvedere to appreciate the view of the Tegus River, passing by the Rua Augusta, the Santo Antonio Church and the Cathedral. Visit the Castelo de São Jorge, and appreciate the magnificent view of Old Lisbon. You will then walk through the Alfama Quarter to Praça do Comercio. Get ready for your first, authentic Portuguese dinner. Night accommodation in Lisbon. DAY 3: LISBON (Sunday) Breakfast at the hotel. Visit the Museu Nacional dos Coches to see the world s largest collection of Royal Coaches, then the Jerónimos Monastery and the Belém Tower. Both good examples of the 16th century s Manueline style (Gothic) and finally the Monument to the Discoveries. Make a stop at the world famous Pastéis de Belém bakery, a true Lisbon institution. In 1837 they began making the original Pastéis de Belém, following an ancient recipe from the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos. Have a tour of Benfica Football Club s impressive stadium, the Estádio da Luz. Return to Old Lisbon and its quaint cobblestoned narrow streets. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant and get ready for a Fado experience (recognised by UNESCO as intangible heritage), where Portuguese guitar and the voices of Fado will capture your full attention! And silence, Fado shall now be sung... Night accommodation in Lisbon. DAY 4: SINTRA - CABO DA ROCA - CASCAIS (Monday) After breakfast at your hotel, board you motor coach and drive to Sintra, declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO. Discover the magnificent Palácio da Pena, the former Royal summer residence. That palace is said to have inspired many writers and poets, such as Lord Byron who named it The Garden of Eden. Visit the Castle of Moors, taken by the Christian forces against the Moors after the fall of Lisbon of 1147. It became an important strategic point during the Reconquista. Why not try some Queijada de Sintra - a local treat similar to a cheesecake.
Continue on your journey to Cascais. En route, you will make a stop in Cabo da Roca, which is the cape that forms the most western point of continental Europe. Explore Cascais - a former fishing village that gained fame as a resort for Portugal s royal family in the late XIX century. Walk through the typical streets and try the most famous ice cream of Portugal: Santini s Gelati. It is truly a gift from the gods! Enjoy an authentic dinner and taste the delicious Frango Piri-Piri Return to Lisbon for night accommodation. DAY 5: LISBON - EVORA - ALGARVE (Tuesday) After breakfast at your hotel, board your motor coach and head south to Azeitão. There you will taste the famous Azeitão Cheese, an DOP protected, handcrafted, unpasteurised sheep s milk cheese made at the foothills of the Arrábida Mountains in the south west of Portugal. Drive to the Museum-Town of Évora, another UNESCO world heritage site and member of Europe s network of most ancient town. One of Portugal s most beautifully preserved medieval towns, Évora is an enchanting place to delve into the past. Inside the 14th-century walls, Évora s narrow, winding lanes lead to striking architectural works: an elaborate medieval cathedral and cloisters; the cinematic columns of the Templo Romano (near the intriguing Roman baths); and a picturesque town square, once the site of some rather gruesome episodes courtesy of the Inquisition. Drive to Lagos for dinner and night accommodation. DAY 6: LAGOS (Wednesday) Breakfast at your hotel. Lagos is a historic and lively city that is situated on the beautiful Western Algarve coastline. The older part of Lagos is still circled by the city walls that were constructed during the 16th century when it was the residence of the governors of the Algarve. Follow your tour manager for a walking tour of the city. Discover the Porta de São Gonçalo (St.Gonçalo s gate) with a watchtower on either side and the Governors Castle (of Arab construction). You will then visit Fortaleza da Ponta da Bandeira. This petite fortress at the southern end of the avenue was built in the 17th century to protect the port. Now restored, it houses an exhibition of the Portuguese discoveries and a quaint chapel dedicated to Santa Barbara, often invoked as a protector against storms. After some free time for lunch, hop on a boat ride and explore the caves and rock formations of the famous Ponta da Piedade at Lagos coast. See the impressive Praia de Benagil. Have dinner at a local restaurant in Lagos. Night accommodation in Lagos. DAY 7: SAGRES (Thursday) Breakfast at your hotel. Drive to Sagres: a remote, adventurous and unlike any other destination
in southern Portugal. The small town is situated at the extreme western tip of the Algarve, a region of dramatic natural scenery; comprising of raging seas, towering cliffs and vast beaches. Visit the Light house and the Fort. Continue to Cabo Sao Vicente. Here is the most westerly point of mainland Europe and up until the 14th century it was believed to be the end of the known world. The ferocious waves of the Atlantic Ocean pound the massive cliffs high above the immensely bright light house that guards the treacherous cliffs. No visit to Sagres is complete without visiting this bleak and wind torn headland. Drive back to Lagos for dinner and night accommodation. DAY 8: DEPART (Friday) Transfer to the Lisbon airport for your return flight home.
PRICE PER PERSON SHEET This is a privately operated tour - you will not be combined with another group! PRICE PER PERSON 20+ participants $ 2,690 16 to 19 participants $ 2,740 13 to 15 participants $ 2,850 10 to 12 participants $ 2,990 PRICE INCLUDES: PAYMENT SCHEDULE September 30th, 2017 $ 300 October 25th, 2017 $ 800 December 15th, 2017 $ 800 January 15th, 2018 Balance Online options available Round trip airfare from Boston to Lisbon Departure taxes and Airline fuel surcharges at $625 per person* Associated transportation costs while in Europe Multiple occupancy (3/4 per room with private bath) in quality 3 star hotels All breakfasts All dinners (Includes one beverage and a vegetarian option) All cultural and aforementioned visits, activities, tours and admissions, as per itinerary Service of a dynamic, professional bilingual Forum Tour Manager with the group on tour PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE: Meals not indicated in the daily program Tips are at your discretion these are standard guidelines - Forum Tour Manager: 3 Euro per day, per person - Bus Drivers: 1 Euro per day, per person ADULT AND ROOMING SUPPLEMENTS: Twin Room Guarantee Supplement $40 pp/night - Single Room Guarantee Supplement $80 pp/night Adult Activity Supplement $10 pp/day NOTES Forum By Prometour has purchased the Student Protection Plan from Travel Insured International on behalf of all participants. Cancel For Any Reason is an available option that must be purchased at the time of trip deposit. *CFAR is not available to residents of NY* Forum has quoted this package at an exchange rate of 1Euro = 1.15 USD. In the event of a significant change in the exchange rate, Forum reserves the right to update prices accordingly. * Airlines have the legal right to increase fuel surcharges to flight tickets after bookings have been made. In the event of an increase in airline taxes and/or fuel surcharges, Forum reserves the right to update prices accordingly. Date of quote: May 17, 2017 Prices are valid until: First payment deadline Your Forum Tour Consultant: Anaïs Boschet Forum Language Experience, Forum by Prometour and Forum are all used interchangeably. Forum Language Experience is a member company of Prometour Inc.
REGISTRATION INSTRUCTIONS Registering for this trip is as easy as going to https://enrollment.forumlanguageexperience.com/tour/milford-hs-portugal/ The registration process will take you about 10-15 min. During, you will be asked to: provide personal information, a valid passport number (don t worry if you do not have one yet, you will be able to continue without adding that information), and to choose a payment method and payment schedule. Make sure you have your passport with you (if you have one) and to have payment method ready at the time of registering for this trip. Per the insurance company terms and conditions, if you would like to upgrade to the Cancel For Any Reason Protection Plan, you must choose it at the time of registration, and the additional fee MUST be included with your first trip deposit. The total cost for this upgrade is $30.38 After registering and your payment has been received, you will receive an email with a username and password to access your personal web account. Here, you will be able to make: future payments, modify your personal information and access documents related to your trip. Please feel free to contact us with any questions you may have on 1.888.282.0991. You can reach us Monday through Friday from 11AM to 7:30PM EST We look forward to having you join this wonderful travel experience! Customer Care 1281 University Avenue, Suite H, San Diego, CA 92103 Tel 888-282-0991 / 619-432-0249 ext.302 - Fax 619-432-0261 www.forumbyprometour.com