The Portugal Journey
A balanced, unhurried journey across historic cities, landscape, ocean and Portuguese culture, with particular attention to the history of the western reach of al-Andalus and the Islamic presence in Lisbon and Sintra.
Photos: lumoplank (CC0) · Alvesgaspar (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Pedro Ribeiro Simões from Lisboa, Portugal (CC BY 2.0) · Ray Swi-hymn (CC BY-SA 2.0) · Juanje Orío from Logroño, España (Europa) (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Lisbon Photoshoots (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Dale Cruse - 10M views from San Francisco, CA, USA (CC BY 4.0) · Holger Uwe Schmitt (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Michael Gaylard from Horsham, UK (CC BY 2.0)
The trip at a glance
Base cities
- Porto3 nights
- Funchal2 nights
- Lisbon4 nights
Dates
20 November 2026
Dates shown in Riyadh time
Arrival and departure
Arrival: OPO
Departure: LIS
Meals
Breakfast daily at the hotel, with the welcome dinner in Porto and the farewell dinner in Lisbon included for every traveller. The selected-tables programme — seven meals at fine restaurants — is optional and added at a separate price.
About this journey
Three destinations in one country
Porto with its river, its bridges and its cellars. Madeira with its green mountains and its ocean. Lisbon with its hills and its Andalusian history. Between them two short internal flights, with no days lost to the road.
1 · A history no one tells
Portugal was the western reach of al-Andalus. Lisbon was al-Ushbuna, the castle at Sintra was built by Muslims in the tenth century, and the lanes of Alfama still carry the plan of the Andalusian city and its Arabic name. Arab travellers know this history in Spanish Andalusia and do not know that it continues into Portugal. On this journey we visit the archaeological core of the Islamic citadel in São Jorge Castle, the Alfama quarter and the remains of the Islamic wall, the Mouraria quarter tied to the history of Muslims in the city, and the Moorish Castle at Sintra with the remains of the Islamic quarter uncovered inside it — with a historical account built on the sources, not on the signage at the monuments.
2 · An easy rhythm that does not exhaust
Most programmes cram six visits into a day and leave the traveller exhausted by the third night. We work the other way: tours begin at 10:00 within the base city · lunch by 2:00 pm at the latest · open time every day for rest, shopping or cafés · three nights in Porto and four in Lisbon — a settled stay, not packing every night.
3 · The island of Madeira
Not an added stop but the heart of the journey. Green mountains falling straight into the ocean, and a mild November while the rest of Europe cools. A cable car climbing to the tropical gardens of Monte, a fishing village below the cliff, and a glass platform hundreds of metres above the ocean at Cabo Girão.
4 · Nazaré in its season
On the ninth day we stand at the north beach in Nazaré — home of the highest waves ever recorded. November is the peak of the giant-wave season: a sight visible in only a handful of months in the year.
5 · The selected-tables programme — optional
Not meals but a social and cultural programme running alongside the journey. Fine restaurants we choose ourselves for the quality of the food, the character of the room, its local feeling and its ability to host the group in privacy, with menus agreed in advance to suit our guests. Each table includes starters, a main course, dessert and coffee, and becomes a space for conversation and for trading the day's impressions. Seven tables for 1,420 SAR — around 200 SAR each — added to the price for those who wish. The welcome dinner in Porto and the farewell dinner in Lisbon are included for everyone without exception: those two gatherings are where the group begins and ends.
6 · What other programmes do not include
A printed trip booklet with the programme, maps, distances and pages on the history of Portugal and the western reach of al-Andalus · a welcome bag of practical travel items handed over on arrival · an emergency hotline running for every day of the journey · a tour manager with the group from reception to farewell · a guest-services and information host in addition to the official local guides · a group chat and a digital programme that puts the day's schedule on your phone.
Weather in November
Porto is mild and damp, Madeira is the gentlest of the three, and Lisbon is temperate. Bring layers, a light coat and comfortable walking shoes.
Level of effort
The Coimbra, Alfama and Sintra days involve uphill walking, narrow lanes and steps. Tell us of any mobility difficulty when you register and we will arrange comfortable alternatives.
Prayer and food
The locations of mosques and prayer rooms and the prayer times are in the trip booklet, and the programme's restaurants accommodate halal, seafood and vegetarian options — and we tell you plainly what is halal and what is not; we do not claim a certification we do not hold.
Insurance
Not included, and strongly recommended. It is best that it cover cancellation, medical cases and baggage.
Prices
Per person
| Category | Double room | Single room |
|---|---|---|
| 5-star category | SAR 11,000 | SAR 13,200 |
| 4-star category | SAR 8,000 | SAR 9,400 |
- Includes luggage carried from the lobby to the rooms, and a request for priority early check-in or late check-out.
- Accommodation in selected four-star hotels.
Highlights
- Islamic Lisbon — São Jorge Castle, Alfama and Mouraria
- The Moorish Castle at Sintra and the Islamic quarter uncovered inside it
- The island of Madeira: the Monte cable car, Cabo Girão and Câmara de Lobos
- Porto, the Douro and a river cruise between the bridges
- Coimbra, its historic university and the Joanina Library
- Nazaré at the peak of the giant-wave season
- Two internal flights included — no days lost to the road
- Only three base cities in ten days
What's Included
- 9 nights in the chosen hotel category
- Breakfast daily
- The two internal flights and a checked bag
- All transfers by premium touring coach
- Reception at Porto airport and farewell at Lisbon airport
- Welcome dinner and farewell dinner
- A tour manager with the group throughout
- A guest-services and information host
- Official local tour guides
- Tickets for every visit listed
- Audio headsets for group commentary
- Water during tours
- The printed trip booklet
- The welcome bag and travel gifts
- A hotline for contact and emergencies
- A private group chat and a daily digital programme
What's Not Included
- International flights
- The visa and its fees
- Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
- The selected-tables programme unless added
- Personal expenses, the minibar and room service
- Any service not listed
Day-by-Day Itinerary
- 1
Arrival in Porto
PortoReception at Porto airport and transfer to the hotel. The rest of the day is open for rest after the flight. Welcome dinner with the group.
Dinner - 2
Porto and the Douro · a river cruise between the bridges
Porto · Vila Nova de GaiaA tour of Porto and the Douro, and a river cruise between the city's bridges. Then Vila Nova de Gaia on the opposite bank with its cellars.
Breakfast - 3
Coimbra, its historic university and the Joanina Library
CoimbraA day trip to Coimbra: the historic university, the Joanina Library and the old town, with reference to its Andalusian period. Return to Porto.
Breakfast - 4
On to Madeira · Funchal in the evening
Funchal · MadeiraThe internal flight from Porto to Madeira. Then Funchal in the evening — the old town and the seafront.
Breakfast - 5
The Monte cable car and its gardens · Câmara de Lobos · Cabo Girão
Monte · Câmara de Lobos · Cabo GirãoThe cable car up to the tropical gardens of Monte, then Câmara de Lobos — the fishing village below the cliff — and the glass platform at Cabo Girão, hundreds of metres above the ocean.
Breakfast - 6
On to Lisbon and its introductory tour
LisbonThe internal flight from Madeira to Lisbon. Then the introductory tour of the city, including the Mouraria quarter, tied to the history of Muslims in Lisbon.
Breakfast - 7
Islamic Lisbon — São Jorge Castle and Alfama · then Belém
Lisbon · Alfama · BelémThe archaeological core of the Islamic citadel inside São Jorge Castle, the lanes of Alfama and the remains of the Islamic wall — the Lisbon that was al-Ushbuna. Then Belém in the afternoon.
Breakfast - 8
Sintra and the Moorish Castle · the Pena Palace · Cabo da Roca · Cascais
Sintra · Cabo da Roca · CascaisThe Moorish Castle at Sintra, built by Muslims in the tenth century, and the remains of the Islamic quarter uncovered inside it. Then the Pena Palace, Cabo da Roca at the westernmost point of the continent, and Cascais on the ocean.
Breakfast - 9
Walled Óbidos · Nazaré in its giant-wave season
Óbidos · NazaréWalled Óbidos and its lanes inside the ramparts. Then the north beach at Nazaré — home of the highest waves ever recorded, and November is the peak of the season. Farewell dinner.
BreakfastDinner - 10
Departure from Lisbon
LisbonBreakfast at the hotel and farewell at Lisbon airport.
Breakfast
Travel Information
Duration
10 days / 9 nights
Destination
Portugal
Destinations
- Porto, Portugal(3 nights)
- Funchal, Portugal(2 nights)
- Lisbon, Portugal(4 nights)
Flights
Not included
Difficulty
Moderate
Available Dates
Requirements
Visa
Required
The journey requires a valid visa for those who need one. Begin the process as soon as your booking is confirmed — appointments can take weeks in peak season. We provide the booking letter, the programme and the hotel confirmations your file needs. We strongly recommend travel insurance that covers a visa refusal.
Terms & Conditions
The journey includes two internal flights — Porto to Madeira and Madeira to Lisbon — with a checked bag for each traveller. The selected-tables programme is optional and must be requested before departure, not during the trip.