Small in size but rich in history, extravagant architecture and spectacular landscapes, Portugal is one of Europe’s most rewarding destinations.
Your Wendy Wu Tours experience begins before you travel and we are there every step of the way until you return home. Our customers are our priority, and we will do all we can to ensure your holiday is one to remember.
This online Travel Guide provides you with practical advice and cultural information to help you prepare for your holiday. We are aware that this can seem like a lot of reading material, but we ask that you take some time to familiarise yourself with this information prior to departure and refer to the contents within throughout your travels.
Portugal’s overseas empire was one of the longest lived in history, spanning much of the globe for over 600 years. During that time the wealth of the world flowed through the country leaving a rich legacy of historical treasures from ornate palaces and grand cathedrals to grand merchants houses and imposing castles. Throw in a rich mix of history that stretches from roman ruins through medieval monasteries to Napoleonic battlefields and you have an intoxicating mix.
All these historical wonders are situated amongst some of the most delightful scenery you can imagine. Inland from the towering ocean cliffs and huge beaches bordering the Atlantic, the scenic variety is just astonishing ranging from sparkling rivers, bound by lush rolling terraces, to rugged mountain lakes and streams hidden away amongst ancient forests of cork, oak and pine. Whether you are sampling a fine vintage amidst lush vineyards, happening upon a picturesque village on a remote mountain trail or sailing along a lazy river, the natural beauty will be a lasting impression of your holiday to Portugal.
A typical day’s sightseeing may include the bustle and noise of a city street, sights and smells of a local market and interacting with the locals.
At Wendy Wu Tours, we are continually working with our suppliers to maintain and improve safety standards by seeking good practice in health and safety and we will do our best to ensure that your holiday is safe and trouble free. Part of the enjoyment of travelling abroad is experiencing a different way of life and cultures, but it may also mean experiencing different safety and hygiene standards than those we are used to at home. We want you to have an enjoyable holiday so we ask that you take extra care, use your common sense, as well as refer to notices and follow the advice from your National Escort/ Local Guides.
Although Portugal is a developed country, please note that health and safety standards overseas can differ from those we enjoy at home. However, all of our suppliers meet local and national safety standards as a minimum.
Tour Pace
Many of our tours are busy but that’s because we want to make sure you don’t miss a single thing. Packing your holiday full of special experiences means some early starts and long days, but you can be sure that you'll return home with many incredible memories!
Our tours are graded as moderate or active and the grading of the tours are shown on the tour page in our brochure or on our website and in the Tour Dossier.
Your Tour Dossier and Final Itinerary provides a straightforward description of the physical activities involved in each day’s sightseeing. If there are any particular challenges, from the length of time spent on your feet, the duration of drives, train journeys and flights, to the standard of remote accommodation for our more adventurous tours; they will be explained there.
Our National Escort/Local Guides always endeavour to provide the highest level of service and assistance, but they cannot be expected to cater for passengers who are not fit enough to complete the itinerary.
Have a positive attitude
Travelling to a new destination requires patience with crowds and potential delays. Post pandemic, the world is slowly but surely opening back up and as part of this transition, you may find hotel and restaurant service slower than usual, and difficulty conversing in English.
We urge our customers to embrace the new ‘normal’ and keep in mind all the rewards, as well as challenges, of travelling in a country with a history, culture, and attitude so unlike our own. A typical day of sightseeing will involve walking the city streets, where life is hectic, noisy, nonstop and at times overwhelming. Conversely in the countryside and rural townships, life moves at a quieter and slower pace.