Portugal

HISTORY AND ADVENTURE MEET HERE!

Small yet bewitching, Portugal truly packs a punch. Rich in history & lore, blessed with a diversity of terrain and terroirs, the country beckons with enchanting experiences, heavenly seafood and memorable wines!

Not to be missed

Port trails by boat
Douro
Port by port, taste all the Port you want. This is its birthplace and you can float your way to wineries and distilleries, while drinking in the local landscape and culture!
Port by port, taste all the Port you want. This is its birthplace and you can float your way to wineries and distilleries, while drinking in the local landscape and culture!
The Douro region in Portugal is not only a UNESCO Heritage Site, but arguably the most beautiful wine growing region in the world. Here the Douro river snakes its way past banks that rise almost vertically. These tumbled granite slopes create a special micro-climate, perfect for growing vines. The grapes are grown on contours and terraces sloping down to the water, making the view unlike any other.
Port, red wine fortified with brandy during fermentation, was transported out of here to England, on Rabelos (old Portugese boats) and some of them still ply on the river, this time carrying wine enthusiasts! Choices of boats and cruises go without saying.
The wine trail floats past the city of Porto, offering you a glimpse of its legendary bridges. Tasting stops include halts at traditional Quintas or estates; where you can sample the entire range from white, ruby, tawny, crusted, late-bottled vintage, single quinta, colheita, to classic vintage. Each with a distinct personality of its own!
The region is now equally proud of its ‘Table Reds’; unfortified red wines that are fast becoming an international rage. Estate cum boutique hotels and gourmet restaurants offer you the finest in Portuguese fare, accompanied by scenery that like its wines is utterly breath-taking.

Must Dos

Ride in any of Lisbon’s 3 historic funicular railways – Gloria, Bica and Lavra, taking you uphill for scenic views of the city.
Drink in the panoramic views from the Belém Tower, Lisbon.
Listen to Portuguese melancholic music, Fado, at one of Lisbon’s oldest Fado houses – A Severa.
Buy yourself an original or a reproduction of the famed Azulejos or glazed tiles from any of the city’s tile shops.
Take a dip in the Atlantic at the fishing village of Cascais, while feasting on the day’s catch at local eateries.
Let the Ramisco grapes speak their language to your taste buds at Colares, as you sip on wine from the region.
Try a wooden boat ride; these boats used to ferry Port wine to the cellars in Porto.
Set sail from the coasts of Algarve to catch sight of Bottlenose Dolphins playing gleefully.
By boat or road, visit the geographic wonder of Douro Valley, the home of Port and a UNESCO Heritage site.

Azulejos or glazed tiles are Lisbon’s signature. Found everywhere from walls of churches and monasteries to trams, these artistic creations have several stories to tell. Top spots to admire them in Lisbon are the Museu do Azulejo, Palácio dos Marqueses de Fronteira, Mosteiro de São Vicente de Fora, Fábrica Sant'Anna, Fábrica Viúva Lamego and the Convento dos Cardaes (depicting the life of St. Teresa of Avila).

The volcanic island of Madeira is home to mountains that play hide and seek with the ocean and ancient subtropical rainforests. Some of which thrive on the north side as Laurisilva forests, the oldest & biggest of its kind in Europe. In the early 16th century, the Romans thoughtfully peppered this landscape with open canals or levadas. Today, the levadas are not only sights by themselves, but open up dramatic vistas along their lengths.

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