What is this Azores and mainland Portugal tour like?
Image of azores 3 island and mainland Portugal tour
This 11-day private tour combines six nights in the Azores with four nights in Lisbon. Explore Faial, visit Pico by ferry and discover the volcanic landscapes of São Miguel before continuing to Lisbon, Sintra, Fátima, the central coast and Évora.
Private sightseeing is arranged in both the Azores and mainland Portugal, together with hotels, breakfast, transfers and the listed island transportation. The program can normally begin on any weekday, subject to flight, ferry and hotel availability.
Itinerary at a Glance
Day 1 — Faial Island — Arrival in Horta
Day 2 — Faial Island — Private half-day tour
Day 3 — Pico Island — Private full-day excursion
Day 4 — Faial to São Miguel
Day 5 — São Miguel — Private Furnas tour
Day 6 — São Miguel — Private Sete Cidades and Lagoa do Fogo tour
Day 7 — São Miguel to Lisbon
Day 8 — Sintra, Cabo da Roca, Cascais and Estoril
Day 9 — Fátima, Batalha, Nazaré and Óbidos
Day 10 — Évora and the Alentejo
Day 11 — Lisbon — Departure
Is this package right for you?
This 11-day combination tour is designed for travelers who want the Azores and mainland Portugal arranged in one itinerary. It includes private sightseeing in the Azores, organized inter-island transportation and a Lisbon base for excursions to central Portugal.
The program is fully private. Travelers should be comfortable managing airport and ferry transfers, changing hotels and walking on historic streets, steps and uneven surfaces during sightseeing.
This is a multi-stop itinerary rather than a slow-paced single-base vacation. Weather, airline schedules and mainland operating days require flexibility, and the sequence may change without reducing the principal included services.
Day-by-day itinerary
Flight and ferry schedules, weather and mainland tour operating days may change the order of destinations or activities. The descriptions below show the planned itinerary.
Day 1 — Faial Island — Arrival in Horta
Arrive on Faial and transfer privately to your hotel in Horta for a three-night stay. The remainder of the day is free to explore the marina and waterfront.
Day 2 — Faial Island — Private half-day tour
Explore Faial with a private driver-guide. Planned highlights include the Caldeira, Capelinhos volcanic landscape, Praia do Almoxarife and viewpoints toward Pico, subject to weather and local access.
Day 3 — Pico Island — Private full-day excursion
Transfer to Horta harbor and cross by ferry to Pico. Meet your private driver-guide for an island tour that may include the UNESCO-listed vineyard landscape, whaling heritage and traditional coastal villages before returning to Faial.
Day 4 — Faial to São Miguel
Transfer to Faial Airport and fly to São Miguel. On arrival, transfer privately to your Ponta Delgada hotel for a three-night stay.
Day 5 — São Miguel — Private Furnas tour
Travel through the island toward Furnas to experience geothermal landscapes, fumaroles and the Furnas Lake area. The precise route and admissions follow the confirmed program.
Day 6 — São Miguel — Private Sete Cidades and Lagoa do Fogo tour
Discover two of São Miguel’s signature crater-lake regions with a private driver-guide. Weather may determine whether Sete Cidades or Lagoa do Fogo is visited first.
Day 7 — São Miguel to Lisbon
Transfer to the airport for the included flight to Lisbon. On arrival, transfer to your hotel and begin the mainland portion of the program.
Day 8 — Sintra, Cabo da Roca, Cascais and Estoril
Explore Sintra and Portugal’s Atlantic coast. The planned route continues to Cabo da Roca, Cascais and Estoril before returning to Lisbon.
Day 9 — Fátima, Batalha, Nazaré and Óbidos
Travel through central Portugal to Fátima, Batalha, Nazaré and the medieval town of Óbidos. Included admissions and stops follow the confirmed tour description.
Day 10 — Évora and the Alentejo
Visit UNESCO-listed Évora and explore the historic center, with possible stops including the Roman Temple, cathedral area and Chapel of Bones. Return to Lisbon after the tour.
Day 11 — Lisbon — Departure
After breakfast, transfer to Lisbon Airport for your onward flight.
What's included
Please note
This is a fully private program in both the Azores and mainland Portugal.
Inter-island flights, ferry schedules, weather and local operating conditions may change the order of islands or activities.
Included
10 nights' accommodation: 6 nights in the Azores and 4 nights in Lisbon
Daily buffet breakfast
Azores accommodations on Faial and São Miguel, with a guided day trip to Pico
Private airport, hotel and harbor transfers in the Azores as described
Private guided sightseeing in the Azores by car or minivan with an English-speaking driver-guide
Inter-island transportation: Faial to São Miguel and São Miguel to Lisbon
Round-trip passenger ferry tickets between Faial and Pico
Four-star or similar hotel accommodation in Lisbon
Lisbon airport transfers
One half-day Lisbon tour and three full-day private tours to Sintra and Cascais, Fátima and the central coast, and Évora
Transportation and guide services for scheduled mainland tours as described
Applicable hotel service charges, excluding municipal tourist taxes payable locally
Not included
International flights to or from Portugal or the Azores; ask us to include airfare in your quotation
Municipal tourist taxes payable directly at hotel check-in
Meals other than daily breakfast and any meal not specifically listed as included
Admission fees unless specifically described as included
Porterage, optional activities and personal expenses
Day Tour duration
Full-day tours: 7–8 hours
Half-day tours: 3–4 hours
Exact duration for individual tour stops varies.
Optional entrance fees
Entrance fees may be up to 17 Euro per person, subject to change.
Entrance fees are not included unless specifically stated in the itinerary.
Meals
Lunches and dinners are not included, allowing you to choose local restaurants along the route.
Tour format
Azores services are arranged privately. Mainland sightseeing is private. Confirmed meeting points, pickup times, included admissions and the operating sequence will appear on your travel documents.
Transportation
Inter-island transportation is included as listed, but international airfare is separate. Flight and ferry schedules are subject to change, and the itinerary may be adjusted around confirmed services.
Dates & rates
Understanding the rates
Hotel Package Category
Available hotel categories vary by package. The categories below are the ones currently offered for this itinerary.
Superior
Higher-end 4-star hotels, sometimes including 5-star properties
Enhanced comfort, location, or services
Ideal for a more refined experience
Exact hotels and star ratings vary by itinerary, travel dates, and availability.
Hotel Notes
Each package has a hotel summary description. For detailed information, please visit the hotel's official webpage online.
For specific hotel or ocean-view room preference, please notify us when filing your booking form. Additional charges may apply.
Room Rate Type
Solo = Person traveling alone
Single = Person staying in a single room and sharing tour services with others in travel party
Note: Hotels shown are for reference only. We reserve the right to change hotels based on availability, group size or other factors. Should an alternate hotel be required, it will be of the same or a better rating.
Superior Hotels
Lisbon - Hotel Turim Saldanha
TURIM Saldanha Hotel is in Lisbon's Saldanha district, close to metro stops and Eduardo VII Park. On a vacation combining mainland Portugal with the Azores, it serves as a city stop rather than an island resort: travelers can explore Lisbon before or after their Azores itinerary. The location and transport connections are the practical reasons to choose it, with a restaurant and bar available at the hotel.
Angra do Heroísmo - Pousada Castelo de S. Sebastiao
Pousada Castelo de S. Sebastião is set within a historic coastal fortress in Angra do Heroísmo on Terceira. It offers a markedly different stay from a standard city hotel, with sea-facing surroundings and views toward Monte Brasil from some accommodations. Guests have access to the property's pools and restaurant between visits to Angra's UNESCO-listed historic center and other parts of Terceira. Sea views and private terraces depend on the room booked.
Horta - Pousada Forte da Horta
Pousada Forte da Horta gives a stay on Faial a memorable setting: a historic fortress overlooking Horta Bay and Pico Island. The building's history and waterfront outlook distinguish it from a conventional town hotel. Guests can spend time in Horta between island excursions and return to the on-site restaurant or pool. Marina-facing rooms are available in some categories, but specific views depend on the room assigned.
Ponta Delgada - Vila Gale Collection S. Miguel
Vila Galé Collection S. Miguel occupies a restored historic building in central Ponta Delgada on São Miguel. The city location suits travelers who want time to explore Ponta Delgada independently as well as join excursions around the island. The hotel’s pools, dining and wellness facilities also provide options for quieter time between excursions.
Booking & policies
Booking Your Trip
While prices are shown in USA dollars, we can also charge in Euros at the prevailing currency conversion daily rate.
Early booking is advised. Availability of accommodations and inter-island flight is limited especially in summer months.
If hotels named in itinerary are not available at time of booking, alternate similar same rating properties will be confirmed, and subject to new quote.
Order of islands visited may need to be altered due to flight schedule changes.
Unless otherwise indicated, sightseeing tours are by private car with English speaking driver. Other languages are available upon request.
Quotations with different hotels have a non refundable deposit of $50. Deposit will be credited towards final booking price.
Booking Your Trip With Air
International airfare for this package is additional to price shown on Rates table. Departure cities are limited to those serviced by SATA International (Azores Airlines).
If you want a quote for airfare to be included make sure to check yes when prompted during the booking/reservation request process.
Booking Conditions
A non-refundable, non-transferable deposit of $350 per person is required to book and hold both land and air for you.
Final payment is due 50 days before departure.
Option to pay full price up front is available.
Cancellation Policy - Land Portion
Full-payment minus the $350 deposit per person is refunded if canceled up to 50 days prior departure.
75% of full-payment paid per person if refunded if cancelled 49-39 days prior departure.
50% of full-payment paid per person is refunded if canceled 38-31 days prior departure.
No refunds if canceled less than 30 days prior departure.
Cancellation Policy - Airfare
Airfare cancellation terms and conditions are those of the Airlines company and will be provided to you before ticket is booked.
Refund Fees
On any payments made via a bank credit card, a 3.9% bank credit card assessed fee will be subtracted from any refunded payment, including deposits refunded due to services requested not available for date of booking.
I Want To Book. What Do I Do Next?
Click on the Request pricing button to send your reservation request.
No payment will be collected at this time.
Our travel Associate will contact you via email to answer any questions and book your Package.
If you don't plan to book at this time please click here to contact us with any questions or concerns about your trip or your holiday.
Booking Changes
A fee of $35 per person, per transaction, will be charged
for any revision or alteration made to a reservation after the booking
is confirmed.
If the change increases the value of the booking, the $35
per person fee will be waived.
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend you purchase travel/cancellation
insurance.
Common questions about this package
Are the Azores tours private?
Yes. The scheduled Azores sightseeing is arranged privately with a driver-guide. The mainland tour format depends on the package version selected.
Are inter-island flights and the Pico ferry included?
Yes. The inter-island transportation listed in the itinerary is included. International airfare to and from Portugal or the Azores is not included unless added to your quotation.
Are the islands and mainland stops always visited in this order?
Not necessarily. Airline and ferry schedules, weather and mainland tour operating days may require the program to begin in Lisbon or the Azores or to use a different sequence.
Are entrance fees included?
Only admissions expressly identified in your confirmed itinerary are included. Other monument, museum, park, lake and garden admissions are paid locally.
Are lunches and dinners included?
Daily breakfast is included. Other meals are included only when specifically stated in the confirmed program.
What hotel category is used?
The package uses the hotel category shown in your quotation, generally four-star or similar accommodation. Named hotels are subject to availability and may be replaced with a comparable property.
Can international airfare be added?
Yes. Ask for international airfare when requesting your quotation. Availability and fares are confirmed before tickets are issued.
Can the itinerary be customized?
Changes may be possible before booking, particularly for the fully private versions. Revised routing, hotels or services may change the price.
The people behind your Azores vacation
Planning support from Azores travel specialists
Our travel team helps travelers plan island combinations, hotel choices, inter-island connections and local arrangements. Ask us how this itinerary can be adapted to your travel dates and preferences.
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To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional
Always active
Required for the website to work properly and cannot be switched off.
Preferences
Allows the website to remember choices and settings that improve your experience.
Statistics
Helps us understand how visitors use our website so we can improve its performance and content.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
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