FASP Alumni Discover Portugal
Calling all Forty Acres Scholars alumni! In celebration of ten years of FASP travel to Portugal for a sun-soaked, culture-rich adventure. Over ten days, traveling from Lisbon to Porto, you'll explore iconic coastlines and cobblestone pathways, delving into the heart of Portuguese traditions. Along the way get ready to embrace the laid-back spirit of surf culture in Peniche and the Algarve. This trip has been especially designed for FASP alumni to make unforgettable memories, with gorgeous Portugal as your backdrop.
Keep scrolling for trip details, itinerary, fine print and more.
Ready to sign up? Email travel@texasexes.org with your questions and booking details!
ITINERARY
US Departure: JUNE 20, 2025
Day 1: JUNE 21, 2025
Welcome to Lisbon. On arrival, you have one group transfer to your hotel that departs the airport at 2:00 PM. The rest of the day is free. Pastel and azulejo-clad façades line Lisbon’s narrow streets which ramble across and over its seven hills from St. George Castle to the Tagus River. Gaze over the Portuguese capital’s terracotta rooftops, soaking up its small-town atmosphere before kicking off your adventure later this evening. Tonight explore this gastronomic capital through taste as you sample some delicacies and the Lisbon speciality: green wine, or maybe go for a glass of port in the Bairro Alto and watch the sunset. Stay: VIP Gran Lisboa or similar, Meal: Dinner
Day 2: JUNE 22, 2025
Take an orientation in Lisbon’s ‘museum district’. See the Jerónimos Monastery, Belém Tower and the best places to taste a pastel de nata. Get to grips with Portugal’s coastal capital. See all the sights, including Castelo de São Jorge, the Praca do Comércio, Rossio Sqaure and Praça da Figueira. Stay: VIP Gran Lisboa or similar, Meal: Breakfast
Day 3: JUNE 23, 2025 See ya, Lisbon. We’ll never forget your culinary and cultural charms. En-route to Porto we’ve got a few special stopovers, such as the sacred place of miracles: Fátima. Said to be the site where the Virgin Mary appeared to peasant children, Fátima attracts 6 million people a year. Today there are two ginormous basilicas to mark the site. The lively city of Coimbra is bursting at the seams with historical monuments. It’s home to Portugal’s oldest university, and when we stop for lunch on your own, we’ll fall in love with the old stone walls and tumbling terraces of pastel-colored buildings. And welcome to Porto. Famous for port wine, baroque architecture and a UNESCO-Listed historic center, you’ll feel right at home in this colorful city ... and tonight you’re free to check it out however you like. Stay: Star Inn Porto or similar, Meal: Breakfast
Day 4: JUNE 24, 2025
Today is yours to explore Porto’s many wonders with your new Contiki crew. Need some inspo? Why not visit the Harry Potter Library, or one of the city’s multiple famous wine cellars (additional cost applies)? Magic awaits, whatever you do. Stay: Star Inn Porto or similar, Meal: Breakfast
Day 5: JUNE 25, 2025 We’re saying ‘Tchau’ to Porto today. After breakfast we’re taking the coach towards Santa Cruz. On the way Aveiro–a mini-Venice–is a gorgeous town built on canals. Embark on a traditional boat tour to cruise the winding canals, admiring the colorful houses and learning about the area’s history. Another stop for lunch, another stunning historic old town to enjoy it in. Obidos will charm us with its whitewashed houses and ruddy blooms of flowers. Arriving on the surf shore of Peniche, we’ll settle into our modern hotel dedicated to surfing, with whitewashed walls, colorful rugs & wall murals, right in front of Alfarroba beach. Complete with indoor & outdoor swimming pools, a bar, Green Key sustainability award status and connections with a local surf school, this is the perfect place to base ourselves whether you’re looking to kick back or hit the waves. Stay: Star Inn Peniche or similar, Meal: Breakfast
Day 6: JUNE 26, 2025 Peniche is famous for its supreme surf beach–Praia dos Supertubos–with a tubular wave that makes it one of the locations of choice for big time international surf event Rip Curl Pro. The shallow slope combined with the north wind and ocean currents together create a tall, perfectly hollow wave for surfing and bodyboarding. But it’s not all about the professionals - here you’ll find ideal surfing conditions for all abilities, and so many beaches that overcrowding never becomes a problem. Stay: Star Inn Peniche or similar, Meal: Breakfast
Day 7: JUNE 27, 2025 Peniche - you’ve been a dream. It’s time to drag ourselves away this morning as we head to The Algarve. Another trip to the past as we head inside the 14th century walls of Evora, home to grandiose medieval cathedrals, roman baths and a spectacular town square. After wondering the cobbled streets we’ll head on towards the Algarve. This picture-perfect port-side part of Portugal retains Evora’s quaint cobbled lanes but adds a whole bunch of stunning beaches. Stay: Hotel Vila Gale Tavira or similar, Meal: Breakfast
Day 8: JUNE 28, 2025 Today is yours to enjoy the Algarve. Play golf, eat, take a boat trip, swim, soak up some rays or enjoy some water sports. The choice is yours in this sun-drenched playground. Stay: Hotel Vila Gale Tavira or similar, Meal: Breakfast
Day 9: JUNE 29, 2025 After breakfast, we have a short drive from the Algarve back to Lisbon today. Thanks for the good times! Welcome to the UNESCO town of Sintra. This fairytale town features turreted palaces and castle ruins–a dream. Next we head to the coastal town of Cascais, known for its stunning beaches and tasty seafood. Stroll along the marina or opt in for an experience hosted by local residents (additional cost applies). This tour showcases the culture of a neighborhood shaking off old perceptions by creating an urban art gallery unlike anywhere in the world. Grab your new pals for a farewell feast (additional cost applies)–the perfect chance to reflect on how much we’ve fallen in love with Portugal, and say our goodbyes. Stay: VIP Gran Lisboa or similar, Meal: Breakfast
Day 10: JUNE 30, 2025 Portugal, it’s been emotional. Your delicious food, rich culture, paradisaical coastlines and glittering waters will stay in our memories forever. But we’ll be back soon enough. Your group transfer arrives at the Lisbon airport at 7:00 AM. Meal: Breakfast
Trip FAQ's
- Per person pricing assumes double occupancy and does not include airfare.
- Single occupancy rooms available on request.
- If you would like assistance with airfare, the trip's tour operator Contiki is happy to help.
- Group transfers from airport to hotel are included. Private transfers can be arranged, at an additional cost.
- Gratuities for your trip director, driver and local guides not included.
- Non-refundable $200 deposit is due in order to hold your space.
- Final payment due no later than April 17, 2025.
- This trip is only available to graduates–and their guests–of the Forty Acres Scholars Program.
- Maximum trip size is 24.