Best Algarve Tours & Trips

The Best of Portugal Tour offered visitors the chance to experience a wonderful variety of historical and cultural sites around Portugal. Monasteries and churches, castles, palaces and fortresses, fishing villages and sun-soaked beach towns, wineries and restaurants... it was a great collection of places to see and explore. Trafalgar curated a wonderful list of sights, experiences and tastes. Accommodations were well selected at each location along the way... comfortable and in great, central locations that allowed tour members to explore these beautiful cities in free time. The itinerary was well-balanced...we saw so much of this lovely country. Travel days included regular stops in lovely towns, markets, monuments, historical sites en route to the main destinations. A balanced mix of 'drive & see' with opportunities to walk, taste and explore places along the way. Travellers in this group had a range of ages, physical abilities and fitness levels. Some days, touring through historical sites did involve more walking (steps/stairs at some sites and, at times, hilly walks through some villages and towns.) Some people might have found the walking at some locations/ events to be a challenge. Good footwear is also a MUST. Optional experiences allowed guests enrichment of additional locations and dining. These also served to allow guests to "pace to their needs and abilities". Opting out of a side trip might reduce walking (take a break/ rest) or allow those with dietary preferences to "choose their own adventure" in local restaurants. For some, opting out might also allow more explore time at some locations where there is so much to see but limited time. Have your phone charged and GPS ready for self-exploring (a back up battery is recommended!) Insight into the history, cultural relevance of sights, and day to day living of the Portuguese people was provided through our skilled guide, Emma Wilson. He was able to speak to the regions of Portugal, history, important industry, food, football and family lifestyles. Emma Wilson was also well versed in the botanical side of Portugal, which I truly enjoyed...cork trees (and industry), blossoming Lisbon jacaranda trees, the amazing fragrances of the citrus tea trees in Viseu and visit to the Mateus Estate gardens were lovely experiences. He is also an expert guide to the pastries of Portugal! His advice to not miss the optional visit to Monserraz should be taken seriously. So beautiful! Further, specialist guides provided wonderful perspectives into sights such as Batalha (spectacular!!!), Sintra and Evora. These guides have extensive knowledge of history, art, literature, architecture, and viewpoints of past ages ... walking these locations with a guide provides such a rich experience and perspective. This was my first experience travelling in a tour group. I loved the simplicity of booking the curated tour, then sitting back and enjoying the trip. As a solo traveller, the tour group also offered social opportunities and security. I made friends along the way and thoroughly enjoyed my fellow travellers from many countries and cultural backgrounds. I would definitely consider another tour with Trafalgar! I will quite certainly return to Portugal!

Colourful country

I had a good trip and enjoyed the itinerary and free time in each place, but it wasn't up.to the standard of the other g trips i have done. Our guide was amazing and extremely knowledgable and enthusiastic.