Personalized trips to Portugal
for independent travelers

Our guided trip through Portugal was truly unforgettable. We traveled from Porto to the Douro Valley, Évora, Lagos in the Algarve, and finally Lisbon. Each destination offered something unique, from breathtaking landscapes and historic cities to charming villages and beautiful coastlines.

The hotels were all four- and five-star properties, each with its own character. Every hotel was comfortable, clean, and staffed by friendly, welcoming people. Our favorite was Quinta do Pego in the Douro Valley. The peaceful setting, surrounded by vineyards, and the spectacular views overlooking the Douro River made it an incredibly special place to stay. Our dinner here was exceptional!

One of the highlights of our trip was having lunch each day with our guide, Tiago. Rather than stopping at tourist restaurants, he introduced us to locally owned restaurants that reflected the true flavors of Portugal. Every meal became an opportunity to learn more about Portuguese cuisine, wines, traditions, and history.

One memorable stop was the beautiful hilltop village of Monsaraz in the Alentejo region, overlooking the Guadiana River. Another favorite was a small family-owned restaurant tucked away in the basement of an old building in Guimaraes. These are the kinds of places we never would have found on our own, and they became some of our favorite memories.

Walking through the historic streets of Porto and Lisbon was another highlight. We wandered along centuries-old cobblestone streets, explored magnificent churches, castles, and palaces, and enjoyed spectacular views of rivers, beaches, and the Atlantic Ocean. Everywhere we traveled, we gained a deeper appreciation for Portugal's rich history and culture.

The Portuguese people were incredibly warm, welcoming, and proud of their country. Their kindness made us feel at home throughout our journey.

This trip exceeded our expectations in every way. It was the perfect combination of history, culture, incredible food and wine, stunning scenery, and authentic local experiences. We returned home with wonderful memories and a genuine appreciation for Portugal. We would highly recommend this trip to anyone wanting to experience the true beauty and hospitality of Portugal.

Tiago was an exceptional guide—knowledgeable, patient, and passionate about sharing Portugal’s history, culture, and traditions. His thoughtful planning and genuine love for his country made this trip even more meaningful.

Hotel Reviews

MouraSuites Hotel

Largo da Porta de Moura, 7000-647 Évora, Portugal

Our stay at the MouraSuites Hotel in Évora was comfortable despite the small room size. The king-size bed was a positive surprise, and the room was cozy even though we didn't have much space to move around. Having a pool right outside our door added to the convenience, and the staff treated us wonderfully. While the room was a bit snug, it was typical for Europe, and the overall experience was pleasant.

Quinta do Pego

Tabuaco

Quinta do Pego was, without a doubt, one of the highlights of our trip. With only ten rooms, the hotel has an intimate, peaceful atmosphere that makes it feel like a private retreat in the heart of the Douro Valley. Our room was spacious, beautifully appointed, and exceptionally comfortable. The bed was one of the most comfortable we slept in during our travels, and the bathroom was equally roomy and well designed. Both breakfast and dinner were outstanding, but dinner was especially memorable. Enjoying an exceptional meal while overlooking the breathtaking Douro Valley, the vineyards, and the Douro River made for an unforgettable evening. The views from the dining room are simply spectacular. The large swimming pool was another favorite. Poolside service was effortless—just ring a bell, and within minutes a staff member would arrive to take your order and return promptly with drinks. It was a wonderful touch that made relaxing by the pool even more enjoyable. The combination of outstanding hospitality, exceptional food, luxurious accommodations, and breathtaking scenery made Quinta do Pego one of our favorite hotels in Portugal. We would gladly stay here again and highly recommend it to anyone visiting the Douro Valley.

Authenticity & Character

Outstanding staff, exceptional food, and breathtaking views!

Location

In the heart of Douro Valley this hotel had exceptional views.

Staff

The staff was attentive, friendly, and genuinely committed to providing excellent service. During our stay, there was a brief interruption in the water service. The staff responded immediately, working diligently until the issue was completely resolved. Their professionalism and dedication were truly appreciated..

Cleanliness & Comfort

From the beautifully manicured grounds to the immaculate interior, every detail of the hotel reflected exceptional care and attention.

Activity Reviews

Portuguese Cooking Lesson

Portugal

The Portuguese Cooking Lesson in Lisbon was a fantastic experience! The chef was incredibly friendly and organized. We participated in preparing a full meal and dessert, including a potato mix soup, roasted chicken, carrot salad, and a delightful meringue dessert. Although I wished we could have tried making the pastel de nata for dessert, the entire experience was enriching. We sat together around a big table, enjoying the delicious meal and getting to know the other participants. Adding wine and cheese tasting to the activity elevated the entire experience. It was fun, educational, and absolutely delicious.

Óbidos visit

Portugal

Our visit to the medieval town of Óbidos was one of the highlights of our trip. Walking through this beautifully preserved walled town felt like stepping back in time. One of the most memorable experiences was climbing the castle's ancient walls and narrow, rail-less staircases. Although only the bravest members of our group ventured around the walls, the panoramic views of the town and the surrounding countryside were well worth the climb. We enjoyed strolling the charming cobblestone streets, browsing the many unique shops, visiting beautiful churches.. Our favorite was Livraria de São Tiago, a remarkable 12th-century church that has been transformed into a bookstore. It was especially fitting since it shares the same name as our wonderful guide, Tiago! A must do when visiting Óbidos is sampling the town's famous Ginjinha drink. Ginjinha a delicious cherry liqueur they serve in a traditional small chocolate cup. It was a fun and uniquely Portuguese experience. Before leaving, we also admired the impressive 16th-century Aqueduto da Usseira, another reminder of Óbidos' rich history.

Quality of Experience

Our experience was amazing and what made our experience was the friendly and enjoyable people we met along our travels, the beautiful views of Portugal the wine country hills and valleys, the cobblestone streets, ancient buildings, churches and castles. The history and gastronomy of Portugal. And just experiencing the things we don’t have where we live and being able to experience the things that existed centuries ago and today in Portugal. We got to experience a lot of Portugal from Porto to Douro to evora, Algarves and Lisbon and we look forward to returning to Portugal again!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We were fortunate to have several guides during our trip, and every one of them was exceptional. Our first guide, Manuel, took us on a walking tour of Porto on our first full day in Portugal. He was friendly, engaging, and shared the city's history while showing us many of Porto's most beautiful sights. What we appreciated most was how thoughtful he was. As we walked through the city, he pointed out landmarks that would help us find our way back to our hotel later. Knowing we had a tile-painting class that evening, he also made a point of showing us exactly where it was located during our tour. Those small gestures made us feel comfortable and confident exploring Porto on our own. Every guide we met throughout our journey was knowledgeable, personable, and passionate about sharing Portugal's history and culture. Our main guide, Tiago, traveled with us for nine days, and by the end of the trip, he truly felt like family. His knowledge of Portugal's history, architecture, gastronomy, wine, and local traditions was remarkable, and he shared it in a way that was both fascinating and easy to understand. More than anything, Tiago's warmth, sense of humor, and genuine care for our group made this trip extraordinary. He introduced us to wonderful local restaurants, hidden gems, and experiences we never would have discovered on our own. He made us feel less like tourists and more like friends experiencing his beautiful country alongside him. Tiago is truly one of a kind. His passion for Portugal and his dedication to creating an unforgettable experience made this trip more special than we could have imagined. We left Portugal not only with incredible memories but also feeling that we had gained a lifelong friend.

Transport

Transportation throughout our trip was excellent. We traveled in a spacious, comfortable van that provided plenty of room for the four of us and made even the longer drives enjoyable. We were continually amazed by Tiago's driving skills. He expertly navigated the narrow streets of Portugal's historic towns and cities and somehow managed to park the large van in places we would have thought impossible. When parking wasn't nearby, he would conveniently drop us off at our destination and then pick us up afterward, making every excursion easy and stress-free. His thoughtfulness and attention to detail made us feel like VIPs throughout our journey. We never had to worry about transportation or logistics, allowing us to simply relax and enjoy the beauty of Portugal.

The Kim Kim Team which included Giorgia and Bea were extremely attentive to our requests and accommodated all of the changes to our itinerary during the planning phases. The travel App was an amazing resource that we have not used in the past and would recommend this for all future travels.

Our transfers and drivers were excellent and gave us five star treatment from airport pickups to traveling to Porto. Our driver, Nuno, who drove us to Porto allowed for a quick stop to Fatima, which we were grateful for. Our guide, Nuno, who drove us to Sintra was extremely intelligent and humorous. Our guide to Duoro Valley, Alfons, was quite knowledgeable and gave us an incredible experience in the Valley. That ranks as one of our favorite tours. Our arrival to Madeira was smooth and we loved our guide, Nuno, for the island Jeep expedition.

Out of the 4 hotel accommodations, only one disappointed. The Editory Garden in Porto was not up to our expectations. We did not like the location. If we had done our research on the city, we would have preferred to have stayed at a 5 star resort along the river where the city is alive. In addition, the rooms were small and the overall lobby and restaurant was sub-par. The staff was also rude. For example, our guide gave us a bottle of wine and we decided to enjoy it one afternoon. We also ordered two beers for the men in our family. The staff then charged us 7 Euros for an empty glass for me to drink my wine! We were annoyed and irritated for that charge and their lack of hospitality.

We also would have liked the travel agency to book our return flight from Madeira to Lisbon. I ended up booking it myself and the website was difficult to navigate and I had to pay extra Euros for our baggage. Since our flight to Madeira was booked by your agency, I was surprised that we had to do the return flight.

Overall, our family trip celebrating our children's graduation from college was a memorable and beautiful experience that we will cherish for a lifetime.

The guides were all great throughout our excursions in Portugal. Sailing, winery tour, food tour all great. The whale watch was nice although most people got seasick and knocked around a little due to high waves but we saw two whales and several dolphins. The two hotels in Lisbon and Porto were fine. The Santa Barbara Eco resort on Sao Miguel is highly recommended.

Hotel Reviews

Exe Almada Porto

Porto

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Lisboa Plaza

Lisbon

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Santa Bárbara Eco Beach Resort

São Miguel

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Furnas Lake Kayaking

Portugal

It was canceled due to fog.

Snorkeling at Vila Franca do Campo

Portugal

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Whale-Watching in the Azores

Portugal

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Day Trip to the Douro Valley with Visit to Wineries, Lunch, and Rabelo Boat River Cruise

Portugal

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Food Tour

Porto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff