easy
8 hours
Suitable for most fitness levels; involves moderate walking and short boat ride.
Step into Portugal’s Templar past with Lisbon on Wheels. Tour the 12th-century castles, cruise the Tagus River to Almourol’s fortress, and savor local wines and cuisine on this unforgettable day trip.
Starting at €350 per Adult | 8 Hour Private Tour
Embark on an unforgettable journey through the heart of Templar history! Explore the majestic 12th-century Templar Castle and the serene Almourol Castle, savor exquisite wines at Herdade dos Templários, and enjoy a delicious local lunch. This immersive experience combines breathtaking views, rich culture, and delightful culinary treats.
8 hours
Learn the secrets of the Templars and enjoy a unique wine tasting in this fabulous region rich in history!
Highlights
Departure & Return Location
Departure Time
Included
Excluded
Bright and early out of Lisbon, taking the eastbound highway, following the wide Tagus up-stream river line, with its banks spotted by livestock, pastureland and family farms aged but ageless. A general aspect of grassy, marshy wet soil, evergreen, even in the middle of Winter. Estremadura and Ribatejo at their most. At Vila Franca de Xira we veer North, now with olive groves insterspersed with wild pine, more livestock, vineyards, sunflower farms and cork oaks lining both sides of the freeway, right up to the turn-off onto the national two-lane blacktop leading to Tomar, the renowned Templar town. The first order of business, naturally, will be to visit the iconic, world famous 12th century Templar Castle and the Convent, a historic heavyweight, and its typical escarpment walls and rectangular keep. You’ll be hit by the sheer imponent silence of the Convent’s main Cloister, where the Gothic Middle Ages were turned into the Manueline ornate nationalism and the cosmopolitanism of Renaissance. The Convent’s Chapter House is something to behold, and you may recognize it, together with the main Cloister, from the 2018 release,Terry Gilliam movie “The Man Who Killed D. Quixote”, where pivotal scenes were shot. On to Herdade dos Templários (Templars’ Wine Estate), for a guided stroll through the vineyards and winery and a sampling of five wines combined with local cheeses and bread, all artisanal. A mood setter for lunch, which will be in a restaurant whose patronage is almost totally local. A simple, though not simplistic, homecooked meal, washed down with whatever your palate demands of you for the case. Local wine comes to mind, though. Happily fed, we set forth to Almourol, a 12th Century Templar Castle, erected on a granite outcropping islet in the middle of the Tagus River by the Order’s Master D. Gualdim Pais, almost at arm’s length from the left bank, in the village of Tancos, famous for its military Barracks and Armoury. The access is by small boat, quite exciting and quaint. The return to Lisbon will be leisurely and rife with commentary, questions and answers conjecture and fact flying back and forth, a bit of take home history just acquired.
We suggest bringing comfortable clothing, sunglasses, a hat and your camera
Castles and vineyards involve walking on uneven stone and gravel paths—sturdy shoes will keep you steady.
Capture distant castle vistas from the boat and fine details inside medieval cloisters with a good zoom lens.
Layered clothing helps adapt to temperature shifts between sunny vineyards and shaded castle interiors.
Pack water and a hat—Portuguese summers can be hot, especially during outdoor portions of the tour.
Tomar’s Templar Castle was a center for the Order of the Knights Templar and later the Order of Christ, pivotal in Portugal’s maritime era.
The vineyards and surrounding natural areas benefit from sustainable agriculture practices preserving soil and river ecosystems.
To navigate historic castle grounds and vineyard trails safely and comfortably.
Protect against sun during vineyard strolls and river boat rides.
spring|summer|fall specific
Adjust to temperature changes between warm outdoor areas and shaded interiors.
spring|fall|winter specific
Stay hydrated during the tour, especially in warm weather.