Sip and Savor Portugal
9 days across Porto, the Douro Valley, and Évora. Dinners in local homes. Wine with Francisco at his family's estate. Cooking in Sofia's kitchen. Access that comes from years of real friendships.
→ Évora
Imagine yourself…
Cooking in a local chef's home in Évora, sipping wine on family-owned vineyards in the Douro Valley, cork trekking in the Alentejo countryside, and dining with a family right in the heart of Porto.
From fine dining to family tables
Our personal relationships in Portugal with local chefs, guides, winemakers, and families open doors to experiences most travelers never have - a chef sharing the secrets behind local dishes, a winemaker walking you through the vineyards, or a warm invitation to dine with a family in their home in Porto. These connections turn every meal into a story, immersing you in Portugal’s rich culture and leaving you with memories you’ll cherish forever.
????? - ????
On night two, you're invited to dinner at their home — not a restaurant, their actual home. Traditional dishes, real conversation, the kind of evening you can't book anywhere.
Sofia & Joaquim - Evora
Home chefs and storytellers. You'll cook traditional Alentejo dishes in Sofia's kitchen, then eat together while she and Joaquim share stories of local life.
Jorge & Family - Porto
On night two, you're invited to dinner at their home — not a restaurant, their actual home. Traditional dishes, real conversation, the kind of evening you can't book anywhere.
????? - ????
On night two, you're invited to dinner at their home — not a restaurant, their actual home. Traditional dishes, real conversation, the kind of evening you can't book anywhere.
From the boats and the vines, all the way to the table.
Most food tours start at the plate. We start where the food does, and follow it the whole way.
The fields
Cork oak forests and Douro vines.
The makers
A port house still in Portuguese hands.
The hands
Sofia's kitchen, aprons on.
The history
Walking tour around the city.
The table
A farm-to-table dining room closed for us.
Be fully present. We’ve handled everything else.
✓ 4-5* Boutique Accommodations
✓ Airport meet and greet with private transfers
✓All ground transportation logistics
✓ All meals listed in the itinerary
✓ Wine tastings and select alcoholic beverages with most meals
✓ All activities, experiences, tours, and sightseeing
✓ All taxes and tips for all drivers, guides, restaurants, and more
✓ 24/7 Tour Host
Exclusions: mandatory travel insurance, transportation or airfare to/from Portugal, hotel incidentals, and premium alcoholic beverages.
Just 6 – 12 travelers — small enough to fit inside a family kitchen.
“Truly a life-changing experience. I've always had the travel bug, but after [traveling with TTLT} my standards are so much higher because I know how unique a trip can be. ”
Dana H.
“I loved not having to worry about one thing!!”
Jen B.
“…an amazing mix of interactive experiences, tours of significant building with incredible guides, dining in some of the smallest and best restaurants, and especially visits to small family businesses with amazing histories and stories.”
Kathleen H.
Nine days, three regions, a friend waiting in each.
Bem-vindo a Portugal
A private driver brings you from the airport to our hotel. In the afternoon we hit the streets with our local guides and friends Gustavo and Helena, exploring the Porto market for tonight’s ingredients. Dinner is home-cooked at Helena’s, on a balcony over the river with a glass of port in hand.
A fisherman's village and family table
Gustavo takes us to Lavra, the fishing village he grew up in, and we eat the freshest fish of your life — landed hours before. After free time back in Porto, we join Jorge and his family at their home for a traditional dinner.
Inside a port house that stayed Portuguese
A private tour and tasting at the Casa Ferreira port cellar — one of the last still Portuguese-owned and run, with a history worth the visit alone. The evening is yours.
Into the terraced valley
We drive into the Douro with our guide, stopping wherever the view demands it — vineyards, terraces, villages at the water’s edge. After lunch we climb the “Stairway to Heaven” in Lamego, then settle in at the hotel for dinner together.
Tasting with a descendant of Dona Antónia
An exclusive tasting at the Ferreira estate with Francisco, one of the last living descendants of Dona Antónia, over a light lunch. Then an 18th-century manor still lived in by the family, its cellars, and an olive oil and honey tasting.
Suckling pig, then a UNESCO city
We stop in Coimbra for roasted suckling pig — voted one of the seven gastronomic wonders of Portugal — then drive on to Évora, a UNESCO World Heritage Site we explore on foot before a tapas dinner.
Aprons on in Sofia’s kitchen
A morning at Sofia and Joaquim’s home. We roll up our sleeves and cook lunch together under Sofia’s guidance, then eat it while they tell us about growing up here. The afternoon is yours; the evening brings dinner and a traditional Cante Alentejano performance.
Cork forests and a restaurant closed for us
Our final full day is spent cork trekking through the oak forest, learning why cork matters so much here. Then a farewell dinner at a small farm-to-table restaurant open tonight for no one but us.
Até já
An optional group breakfast before we say goodbye, with a private transfer arranged to the Lisbon airport or train station.
Our itinerary is always evolving as we coordinate with our friends in Portugal around their schedules. Consider it a vivid preview of what travel with us feels like.
Let's start with a conversation.
There's no commitment in asking. Whether you're wondering about the group dynamic, the activity level, or exactly what happens on day 7 — we're here. We'll reply within 24 hours.
Frequently Asked
-
Travelers should be comfortable engaging in activities like walking tours (lasting up to 4 hours), walking over sometimes uneven terrain like cobblestone streets, climbing stairs, and standing for extended periods. This tour is appropriate for those who are comfortable with some longer and moderately active tour days. If you have any specific questions you’d like to discuss with the tour host, contact us!
-
There are only 6 - 12 travelers on this group trip. With fewer travelers, we can explore unique, off-the-beaten-path spaces that larger groups can't access, such as family-owned kitchens, bustling markets, and private homes.
This small size also fosters meaningful connections - whether it’s sharing stories over a meal with a local host or bonding with fellow travelers, our trips feel more personal.