Whether you have a sweet tooth to satisfy, are looking for the rush that goes with outdoor fun, or you simply want to spend time together making memories in a new place, then Portugal is the perfect destination for your family holiday.
Head out into the Douro valley where the adults can enjoy some of Portugal’s top wines, and the whole family can settle down for a picnic. A visit to Quinta de Sant’Ana, a small family-run winery, even offers you the chance to try your hand at tile painting, inspired by some of the beautiful works you’ll discover around the country.
And of course, an important part of any visit to Portugal is indulging in, and learning about, its cuisine. Whether you want to simply find a table at a variety of restaurants or cafes in the cities or out in the countryside, or you’re keen to roll up your sleeves and learn how to create some traditional favourites yourself – your taste buds will be tingling right the way through. Just imagine the feasts you’ll treat your family and friends to when you get home.
There are also plenty of opportunities for you and your family to get active. Take a bike ride through Porto and discover some of the city’s more beautiful gardens and urban parks, then head out onto the river and admire Porto’s old town as it slips past. Lisbon is an endlessly fascinating city and here you can wander between museums and old buildings on expertly led tours that are tailored to suit your family’s interests.
For sun seeking families the Algarve region is ideal. Spot dolphins playing in the waves, as well as how many turtles and orcas you can spot. Make the most of the rugged coastline and its fantastic surf spots by signing up for a lesson or two before hitting the waves. It doesn’t matter if it’s your first time on a board, or if you’re a seasoned professional – you’re in for a great time.
With families of our own and years of experience travelling through many corners of the globe, Amaco is ready to get to know your family and plan the perfect trip for you – from the youngest adventurer to the most seasoned traveller.
With International borders opening up it’s time to get together. Why not ‘Meet in the Middle’, a great option for friends and family from places like the UK, Europe, South Africa or the US, or for those close to home a destination away from home within Australia allows everyone to relax and share quality time without the distractions of home life. We’ve compiled some suggested itineraries below that allow an incredible holiday for all age groups! Use the itineraries to inspire your own bespoke family journey.
Having run conference tours for decades, we understand events and the logistics of group travel. We consider creating your bespoke family trip an event – creating a journey to fit your family exclusively and just like any event many elements need to come together seamlessly to create life long memories We have built a repertoire of carefully selected operators over years of experience and understand who will be able to maintain the high standard we expect of them. Whether you’d like to whisk away three generations to a private villa, share an adventure in the wilderness on an African safari or share the history or your ancestry on a sojourn to Europe, our worldwide expertise can assist to fulfill your dreams.
You’ll have peace of mind with uncompromising cleaning and hygiene practices which are already a feature of every Amaco tour, and this will not change whether you are travelling on one of our many organised conference tours or a carefully curator tour specifically for your family. If anything, we are more fastidious now and ensure that additional cleaning, sanitising, and hygiene practices have been implemented in all areas with particular emphasis on high touch points and hard surfaces for all our selected tours and hotel arrangements.
All our transportation and accommodation providers are fully compliant with government hygiene regulations. Sanitising stations will be available in all public areas and personal hygiene kits will also be provided where appropriate and we encourage participants to wear face masks.
Whether you’re travelling with babies, toddlers or teens, we’ve got you covered.
One of the greatest gifts we can give to our families is to explore the world together, visiting destinations that open our eyes to new experiences and help us to reconnect in a way that nothing else does. We are here to make your family getaways some of the most formative and memorable of your child’s life. We create programmes for aspiring scientists, botanists artists and historians – with travel, education has never been more fun. Travel experiences are some of the most enriching and educational a child can have outside of a classroom.
Just like our health professional conference tours , often we include little touches you may not realise are included. From private transfers and executive lounge access at selected terminals on mid and long haul flights to fast track immigration in certain destinations.
“Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment, until it becomes a memory”
Dr Seuss
Starts: Porto, Portugal
Ends: Lisbon, Portugal
Portugal’s temperate climate means that any time of year is relatively comfortable for a visit. Our recommendation is September and October are two of the best months to visit Portugal. The weather is still warm, and the temperatures are much more manageable for sightseeing or hiking. It’s also a wonderful time to visit many of Portugal’s wineries with the grape harvest in full swing. The beaches are also much quieter.
Conference Participant: $995 pp
Non-Conference Participant: $795 pp
From Porto:
After arriving at Porto airport, transfer to your hotel and settle in. Following check-in you are free to relax in your room or begin enjoying the area surrounding the hotel. Enjoy an early evening ride aboard a traditional Rabelo boat along the Douro river and take in your first Portuguese sunset. Fun for all ages to take in the marvel of this riverside city.
Overnight: Porto
Colourful eclectic Porto rises on staggered hills beside the Douro River where the river empties into the Atlantic. Begin the day with a tour of the historic old town, public art is everywhere and there are many stops along winding alleys and lookout points to keep everyone entertained. Visit a port wine cellar for a tour and tasting before lunch at a local restaurant. Return to your hotel to relax and spend the afternoon as you please.
The capital and entry point to the north, Porto (the Unvanquished City) is colourful and eclectic rising on staggered hills beside the Douro River where the river empties into other Atlantic. With the help of your local guide, explore the historic centre on foot and visit many of the city’s landmarks, such as the fascinating Sé Cathedral, the beautifully tiled train station of São Bento, and the Igreja de São Francisco with its lovely Gothic façade, full of sculptured figures and details, and its large rose window. You can also walk through the Ribeira, one of the most picturesque parts of Porto. In the afternoon, cross the Ponte D. Luís and learn more about the history and production of port wine, which has been associated with this city for many centuries. learn how Port wine came to be appreciated all over the world. It is said that its origins date back to a procedure they use to carry out to preserve the wine on those long maritime expeditions in the Age of Discovery.
Overnight: Porto
Optional activities for children and adults alike:
This morning travel to Coimbra, located on the Mondego River in central Portugal, for a guided tour of one of the oldest universities in the world. The University of Coimbra was actually founded in Lisbon in 1290 but relocated here in 1308. While walking through the campus, take note of the uniforms its students wear; they were the inspiration for the attire worn by Harry Potter and his classmates. Visit its 18th-century library, that is home to some 56,000 volumes, many of which date from the 16th to 18th centuries. After lunch in Coimbra, head to the town of Tomar, set within one of the most fertile regions on the Iberian Peninsula. One of Portugal’s historical jewels, the town was established inside the walls of the Convento de Cristo, a former Roman Catholic convent originally built as a stronghold of the Knights Templar in the late 12th century. On a guided tour of the Convento, explore the wonders inside this labyrinthine complex that includes the fortified Round Church, the “Bread” Cloister, the Refectory and more, and learn how the Convento and Tomar itself became especially important in the 15th century as a center of Portuguese overseas expansion under Henry the Navigator.
Overnight: Obidos
After breakfast spend the morning exploring on your own in the hilltop walled town of Obidos. Enjoy time to wander, exploring the cobbled streets that meander up to the ramparts, passing picturesque whitewashed houses charming with cascading bougainvillaea and painted doors of every colour. Kids will enjoy this living, breathing history lesson with the town’s medieval atmosphere. Enjoy a wine tasting and lunch at a privately owned estate in the Ribatejo wine region en route to Evora, a walled medieval town of whitewashed houses and wrought-iron balconies.
Overnight: Evora
Start your day with a walking tour of Evora’s historic centre, including its beautiful botanical gardens. The city’s history reaches back 2000 years and is considered a real city-museum and is a famous UNESCO world heritage site. Portuguese kings resided here during the country’s Golden Age, and you’ll see royal palaces rich in Manueline architecture as your local guide peels back Evora’s layers of history with stories children can engage with about its Roman roots, its Moorish influences, and its glory years in the Middle Ages as a seat of learning and the arts. Famous landmarks such as the Roman Temple, the Cathedral, the Giraldo Square and the São Francisco Church, which houses the unique Bone Chapel will be a living Portuguese history lesson. After lunch, return to your hotel and spend the rest of the day at your leisure or for something different, head to the surrounding megalithic monument the Cromeleque dos Almendres and marvel at its unique ambience.
Overnight: Evora
Depart Evora and head for Portugal’s colourful capital city of Lisbon. Upon arrival check in to your hotel and enjoy a guided walking and food tasting tour of the Alfama and Mouraria districts with your local guide. In the afternoon enjoy a guided tour of the Belem district, a visit to the Monument to the Discoveries, and Jeronimos Monastery, where Vasco da Gama and Portugal’s kings are buried.
Overnight: Lisbon
It’s time to discover the marvellous, picturesque town of Sintra! Set in the mountains, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and considered to be one of the most charming and beautiful places in Portugal. Your local guide will take you to this magical city in the most comfortable way and will show you all the secrets and monuments. From the Sintra Nacional Palace, with its two distinctive chimneys, to the Pena Palace, right at the top, the small town of Sintra has many stunning places to be discovered and secrets to be unveiled. And the local confectionary is also fantastic! After some free time to explore as you wish in Sintra, meander through picturesque landscapes to the beach town of Cascais on the Portuguese Riviera for a walking tour and free time to explore. Return to Lisbon late afternoon.
Overnight: Lisbon
Today take a guided walking tour around the Portuguese capital. Accompanied by a guide, walk through the Baixa Pombalina, in the direction of the traditional neighbourhoods, which have so many tales to tell. Here you will find some of the oldest and quaintest shops in Lisbon where you can pick up some souvenirs from Portugal. Walk up the hill for a great family photo shot and enjoy the incredible views from the majestic castle, the Castelo de São Jorge. Stop off for a final Portuguese custard tart before heading back to the hotel. The afternoon is at your leisure before a sunset cruise on the Targus River and final family dinner in Portugal.
Overnight: Lisbon
Time for your last Portuguese breakfast, check out of your hotel and transfer to the airport. Have a safe journey home and we hope to see you again soon!
Finding the right accommodation for families can sometimes be a challenge. We have first hand knowledge of family friendly hotels catering for families big and small, offering hotels with interconnecting rooms, suites or villa type accommodation. We’re here to offer peace of mind knowing your family will have the space, privacy and security you need to enjoy your time away together.
We’re here to ensure the needs of family members of all ages and sizes are met.
We also have in depth knowledge of carefully vetted home rentals for small to large extended families. who would like a more private and intimate experience with a more self catering style.
Given everything that has happened in the travel industry of late – you’re correct to be vigilant about where you spend your travel dollar.
Amaco is not only a member of AFTA, the Australian Federation of Travel Agents but we are also ATAS Travel Accredited – our latest compliance audit being completed in June 2021. This means we have met strict industry financial, operational, and management standards and criteria. Only the best industry agents achieve this accreditation meaning that you can travel with us knowing that you’re in safe and very capable hands.
With almost 30 years of experience in planning and running conferences, we understand that participants often want to add additional travel destinations and adventures either before or after the all-inclusive packages we provide.
Other operators might discourage you from doing this. Sometimes, it’s because of the added complexity it creates and at other times they’ll try to talk you out of it simply because they don’t have capable or experienced consultants with the breadth and depth of the consultants we employ.
We encourage all participants to make the most of the time away. This might mean departing earlier than the rest of the group and visiting other destinations before meeting up with the main group at the conference or staying on at the conclusion and doing some additional travel.
Either way – our consultants are perfectly positioned to assist you with making these arrangements and will do all the hard work for you – seamlessly combining your personalised itinerary with the group program.
One of the greatest gifts we can give to our families is to explore the world together; visiting destinations that open our eyes to new experiences and help us to reconnect in a way that nothing else does.
What better way to reconnect than a multi-generational holiday, discovering new experiences together. Whether it be grandparents, aunts, uncles or cousins travelling with extended family can be a truly rewarding experience. A time to bond over new experiences together building a lifetime of memories together, the greatest gift of all.
With a finite supply of time available to us, it’s important to spend what little we do have in the right way. Discover enchanting lands, where family bonding is of the essence. Immersed in local cultures, learn new skills and embark together on wonderfully unique encounters that will excite, enrich and educate.
Our worldwide network, dedicated team of experts and wealth of knowledge is second to none, allowing us to open up your mind and take your breath away with awe-inspiring possibilities and new personal experiences that surprise, enlighten and transcend all expectations.
“Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment, until it becomes a memory”
Dr Seuss