GPS Self-Guided Roadtrip Vacations to Portugal COMPLETE REST AND RELAXATION AT POUSADAS (10D/9N)

Complete Rest And Relaxation At Pousadas - Day 1 Lisboa / Queluz Arrival to Lisbon. Pick up the car at the airport. Departure to Queluz. Overnight at hotel. If you still have time, visit the Palace of Queluz and magnificent gardens. Overnight at Pousada de Queluz.

Complete Rest And Relaxation At Pousadas - Day 2 Queluz / Sintra / Azenhas do Mar / Ericeira / Aveiro Sintra, is the Romantic place in Portugal. Inlaid in the foothills to the north of the Sintra range. It is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage, Sintra hosts sumptuous palaces and beautiful parks. Stroll along the winding roads of Sintra or take a carriage ride through the center of town, which will allow you to enter the magical atmosphere of this lovely town. If you want to know one of the most impressive palaces in Portugal, do not miss the Palacio Nacional da Pena. After leaving Sintra, head towards Colares and enjoy the views along the coastal road passing by Praia das Maçãs. We suggest you also stop at Azenhas do Mar, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by a small village of houses scattered on a cliff side. It is a breathtaking sight. Continue along the coast to get to Ericeira, a picturesque fishing village. Try the excellent grilled fish or seafood at one of the local restaurants. By the end of the day head to Aveiro. Overnight at Pousada da Ria de Aveiro.

Complete Rest And Relaxation At Pousadas - Day 3 Aveiro / Parque Nacional da Penêda - Gerês At Aveiro visit the Natural Reserve of São Jacinto dunes. Follow the paths inside the reserve and enjoy the wonderful costal landscape with its unique and scenic forest and sand dunes that stretch until the sea. See the bird migration and other fauna in its natural habitat. As an alternative, go over to Costa Nova, a place famous for its stripped houses, beaches and walking trails. You can either have lunch at the beach or in the centre of Aveiro. After lunch head towards Peneda Gerês National Park. Overnight at Pousada de São Bento.

Complete Rest And Relaxation At Pousadas - Day 4 Peneda-Gerês National Park The Peneda-Gerês National Park was the first protected area to be established in the country. The surrounding villages have preserved a wealth of traditions. It extends to the mountains of Gerês, Amarela and Peneda which, with their luxuriant greenery, are an open invitation to visit the park. Here you will find a wild and impressive landscape, with valleys of pine trees, oak and yew and a myriad of wildlife, including wild boar, badgers otters and, occasionally, wolves and golden eagles. You can hike or take a canoe ride at Caniçada dam or even try mountain biking. Or just relax and enjoy the landscape! Overnight at Pousada de São Bento.

Complete Rest And Relaxation At Pousadas - Day 5 Peneda-Gerês National Park / Alijó This is your last day at the National Park, do not miss the chance to go to Soaja and see the granaries. Head to Alijó via Amarante, a beautiful small town. From here take the national road to Peso da Régua and then to Pinhão. From Pinhão take the beautiful Douro vineyard road to the mountain town of Alijó. Overnight at Pousada do Barão de Forrester.

Complete Rest And Relaxation At Pousadas - Day 6 Alijó / Serra da Estrela Natural Park (Manteigas) Alijó is located in the heart of the Douro demarcated region, its importance is closely linked to the production of wine, for many of the estates that produce the famous Port Wine are to be found in this municipality. It has from here that the wine was sent in Rabelo boats to Vila Nova de Gaia, where the wine would age in barrels. In this region, the vineyards that grow along the river offer beautiful views that you can enjoy from one of the many belvederes in the area. We can highlight the São Leonardo at Galafura and Santo António do Loureiro. You can stop at Pinhão and walk along the river. After lunch, head to Manteigas, a village inside the Parque Natural da Serra da Estrela. Overnight at Pousada de São Lourenço.

Complete Rest And Relaxation At Pousadas - Day 7 Parque Natural da Serra da Estrela (Manteigas) The largest protected area in the country, the Parque Natural Serra da Estrela’s landscape is marked by rocky outcrops, boulders and crags. The glacial origin of this mountain range can be seen in the valleys of Zêzere and Unhais, large gaping holes in the mountain side and around 25 natural lagoons.Enjoy your stay in this beautiful nature park by driving along its many winding roads, hiking, cycling or mountain climbing. Overnight in Pousada de São Lourenço.

Complete Rest And Relaxation At Pousadas - Day 8 Parque Natural da Serra da Estrela (Manteigas) / Castelo de Vide / Marvão Drive to Marvão through Castelo de Vide. Have lunch in Castelo de Vide and stroll along this village’s picturesque squares and streets. Do not miss the Jewish quarter. Arrive at Marvão in the afternoon. Overnight in Pousada de Marvão.

Complete Rest And Relaxation At Pousadas - Day 9 Marvão / Constância / Queluz In case you didn’t have the opportunity to visit Marvão, we suggest you do it first before setting off.Then, drive through the Parque Natural de São Mamede and climb up to the Miradouro do Pico. At an altitude of 1025m, it is the highest point south of the River Tejo and provides an exceptional view of the Alentejo landscape.Drive back to Queluz. We suggest you stop at Constância, whose whitewashed houses have a yellow painted frame, which gives the small place a unique and colourful distinctive tone. From Constância you can also have a look at Almourol Castle. This outstanding building, perched on top of an immense rock emerging from the river Tejo, seems like a scene from a fairy tale.Arrive at Queluz. Overnight in Pousada de Queluz.

Complete Rest And Relaxation At Pousadas - Day 10 Departure If your flight is only in the afternoon spend your morning at the eastern part of Lisboa. Parque das Nações (the Park of Nations) hosts a wide variety of facilities, including cable car, a train station and a pleasant shopping centre in addition to extensive cultural and commercial zones.

The ones described or similar

In AVEIRO €€€Pousada da Ria
In MARVÃO €€€Pousada de Marvão
In QUELUZ €€€Pousada de Queluz
In PARQUE NACIONAL DA PENEDA-GERÊS €€€Pousada de São Bento
In PINHÃO (DOURO VALLEY) €€€Pousada de Alijó
In PARQUE NATURAL DA SERRA DA ESTRELA €€€Pousada de São Lourenço

€€€ Deluxe(Primera): Mostly first-class hotels, where travellers will receive utmost impeccable services with personal care (5 star hotels, very charming 4*, Pousada, very charming small rural accommodation) are applied for this grade. However, there may be some combination of first-class accommodations and hand-picked moderate accommodations in towns that do not have first class hotels. It is the perfect choice for those who wish value for money services.

RENT A CAR (Per Car)      LOW SEASON    HIGH SEASON (1 Apr - 31 Oct)

ECONOMY NO AC                   €80                      €295
KIA PICANTO or similar

ECONOMY AC                         €220                    €363
VW POLO 1.2 or similar

COMPACT                               €275                     €427
FORD FOCUS or similar

STATION WAGON                  €312                     €439
OPEL ASTRA 1.4 or similar

VAN 7 PAX                              €624                     €939
FORD GALAXY or similar

AUTOMATIC                           €441                     €545
OPEL ASTRA 1.4 or similar

PREMIUM                               €1010                   €1063
MERCEDES C220