Immerse Yourself in the Best of Lisbon and Portugal Wine Country

At a Glance

Lisbon, Portugal
Sep 10 - Sep 18, 2025
8 Nights
Level: 3
We rate all trips on a 1 to 5 scale. A designation of 1 would be trips with the least amount of activity, such as our beach trips, where it's up to you if you'd like to be active. Our adventure trips (such as the Inca trail hike) are a 5. Most of our trips are rated 3, for people who don't mind a fair bit of walking.
13-15 Travelers

Starting At

$5,299

Deposit: $500

Home >Trip >Immerse Yourself in the Best of Lisbon and Portugal Wine Country

Trip Description

Beyond the Expected

We take a deep dive into Portuguese culture and history–with immersive experiences and personal connections to lovely local women. The high point of a trip that has lots of them is our stay at the 5-star, Relais and Chateaux Hotel at the Quinta Nova vineyard where we’ll join in the annual grape harvest.

This trip will take you on a sunset sail in the river beside Lisbon, to a woman-owned ceramic gallery where you can make your own tiles, to a cooking class with one of the city’s top female chefs, to champagne in a secret art gallery.

Interested? Watch our information session to meet your guide and learn more about the itinerary.  

NOTE: NextTribe members receive a $100 discount on price.  

We’ll move on to the coast–where we’ll meet some of NextTribe’s good friends–and then to the famous Douro Valley, winemaking region, where we’ll take over the entire Quita Nova hotel, which is situated in the middle of a 200-year-old vineyard and run by the famed Relias et Chateaux hospitality group.

During our luxurious stretch at Quinta Nova de Nossa Senhora do Carmo, when we’ll have the entire hotel for ourselves, we’ll travel by boat to charming towns and other vineyards. Plus, we’ll have plenty of time to relax by the pool or walk around the vineyard grounds.

 

5 Reasons We Love This Trip

  • A stunning stay. Nothing can quite prepare you for the beauty and serenity of Quinta Nova Hotel and Winery. Perched on a hill top with ridiculously expansive views over the Douro Valley, the hotel is comprised of buildings from the 1700s, when the winery was founded.
  • Experiences that take the trip to next-level fabulousness. A tile making workshop on a plaza in the Alfama neighborhood. A cooking class with lively, gregarious instructors. Grape harvest that allows us to get closer to our wine.
  • Great water. We’re out on boats in the vast Lisbon harbor and the majestic Douro River, with steep hills of vineyards rising up on either side.
  • Exceptional wine and food. We’ve decided that you can’t find a bad glass of wine in Portugal; it’s all scrumptious. And boy does this country know how to do seafood and the inventive restaurant at Quinta Nova hotel is seriously Michelen-star level.
  • Fun, fantastic locals. We spend time with lovely Portuguese women–Lilia, Ana, Elisabet, Nina, Lita and more. Fabulous connections that add another layer of meaning.

Meet Your Guide: Jeannie Edmunds

Jeannie Edmunds spent her honeymoon with husband #1 in Lisbon, Sintra, and southern Portugal. She loved Portugal so much that when she filmed her documentary about astronaut Buzz Aldrin, she chose a location there to shoot the beginning and end of the film, and she persuaded the Portuguese navy to take her crew up in a helicopter to shoot scenes for the closing credits. She had a Latin American band and once sang in the White House, but has always wanted to sing a Portuguese “fado.”

This trip would be worth the money even for a native Portuguese because it celebrates the culture, the history, the food and wine and the people of the country. We floated on riverboats which gives you a wide angle view of the port city. We walked on cobblestone streets, and ate in old parts of town. One day, we were taught how to paint tiles in a lovely little garden by two sweet sisters. The winery days made me feel like I was a millionaire. I didn’t know what to expect from this trip but it was my favorite trip to date and I’ve been on some amazing trips.

- Becky Rutland

Thanks to Jeannie Ralston and company for crafting a journey full of surprises and off-the-beaten-path adventures. What a special place, and how fortunate I was to share it with my wild, hilarious, and brilliant NT sisters.

- Laura Ross

Photos

Map

Sample Itinerary

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 10th

Welcome to Lisbon: Sunset Sail

Arrive at the Carmo Hotel,, in the vibrant Chiado district, an elegant and bohemian neighborhood that is frequently compared to Paris’ Montmartre district.

At sunset, we'll take in Lisbon's wonderful cityscape from the deck of a traditional Portuguese sailing ship. As we make our way along the broad Tagus River, we'll sip Portuguese wine and toast to the beginning of a new adventure.

THURSDAY, Sept. 11th

Tile Museum and Cooking Fun

Portugal is known for its remarkable azulejos (tiles) and the best place to see the most striking examples is the National Tile Museum, which is housed in a 16th Century convent.

After a lunch in a leafy courtyard, we'll have free time for exploring. Late afternoon, we'll head to the Lisbon Cooking Academy, where we'll learn the secrets of the Portuguese gastronomy from lively women instructors as we cook our own 3 course dinner. Wine is available during the class and with dinner.

Then it's off to a nearby restaurant for dinner.

FRIDAY, Sept. 12th

Tiles, Cooking and Art

We'll start the day wakling to the Alfama District, Lisbon's oldest and most historic neighborhoods. It is known for its narrow, steep, and winding cobblestone streets. You'll find multiple scenic viewpoints that give you a bird's eye view of nearby cathedrals, classic red roofs, and the Tagus River.

We'll then head to a tile making session at a shop called Ceramica, with the delightfull sisters Nina and Elizabet. We'll have the chance to make two or more tiles that will be fired and glazed before we leave Lisbon

After free time in the afternoon, we'll take in a short Fado show near our hotel. Fado is a type of Portuguese singing, traditionally associated with pubs and cafés, that is renowned for its expressive and melancholic character.

We'll finish our time in Lisbon with dinner at a cozy restaurant in the Chiado neighborhood.

SATURDAY, Sept. 13th

Up the Coast to Douro Valley

We'll leave Lisbon and drive north on the lovely coast road. We'll stop for lunch in the beach town of Costa Nova, famous for its "palheiros," striped-colored houses once used by fishermen to store their nets. Joining us for lunch at a classic Portuguese seafood restaurant will be some local women who have become friends to NextTribe.

After lunch we'll head to the Duoro Valley, a Unesco World Heritage site and the oldest demarcated wine region in the world. Grape harvest and wine production goes back 2,000 years.

We'll begin our stay at the remarkable Quinta Nova hotel.

SUNDAY, Sept. 14th

Wine Harvest

We'll spend the day in Quinta Nova's vineyard, which slopes dramatically to the Douro River, with a bucket and scissors helping with the grape harvest. Wear good shoes!

For our work, we'll be treated to harvest lunch and a wine tasting afterward, an experience that will be enhanced by the beautiful aromas of freshly squeezed fruit.

The afternoon is free for walking the trails on the vineyard, swimming in the pool or lolling on a lounge chair soaking in the tremendous view.

MONDAY, Sept. 15th

Boating the Douro to Pinhao

After breakfast, we'll be picked up on the pier below the hotel for a boat ride to the Douro Valley's most beautiful town--Pinhao. On the way, we'll glide along the clear water of the Douro River, past towering hills lined with grape plants belonging to other quintas in the valley.

In Pinhao, which is situated at the confluence of the Douro and Pinhão rivers, we'll have time to explore the small village, before heading to a lunch in town.

Free time after we return.

TUESDAY, Sept. 16th

On to Porto

After checking out of Quinta Nova late morning, we'll head to Porto.

Our afternoon in Porto will be relaxed, giving you time to familiarize yourself with the city.

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 17th

Exploring Porto

After a morning walking tour with a local friend, we'll have lunch in a small cafe on the banks of the Douro River.

In the afternoon, we'll take in the Livaria Lello, known as the most beautiful bookstore in the world.

THURSDAY, Sept. 18th

Farewell to our Friends in Portugal

Everyone on their own to catch flights out of Porto to the U.S. or other destinations.

Another possibility: the Camino de Santiago, which begins in Porto.

Logistics

Fly into Lisbon (LIS) and out of Porto (OPO).

Before the trip, we will gather for a Zoom meet and greet, and you will also get a schedule of everyone's flights. That way you can see if another traveler is on your flight so you can share a taxi with from the airport.

We ask everyone going on the trip to download WhatsApp (LINK: https://www.whatsapp.com/download/). We use it for communication before and during our trip so we can keep track of flight delays, meetup times, etc. We also ask that everyone have an international data roaming plan so that you can get messages and use GPS while out exploring.

We believe in being as eco-friendly as possible, so we don't hand out printed itineraries. We use this app to give you important updates during the trip, so it is essential. You can always delete it later if you want to.

If you'd like to extend your stay before or after, or if you have questions, please direct them to Marcy Mitchell, our travel manager, travel@NextTribe.com.

What's Included

  • 8 nights Accommodations

3 in Lisbon, 3 at Quinta Nova in the Douro Valley and 2 in Porto.

  • 8 Dinners
  • 7 Lunches
  • Daily breakfasts
  • Lisbon cooking class
  • Entrance to Tile Museum in Lisbon
  • Tile making workshop
  • Fado performance
  • Sunset boat ride in Lisbon harbor
  • Grape harvest and wine tasting experience
  • Boat ride down Douro River
  • Guided walking tour in Porto
  • Entrance to Livraria Lello
  • Wine at dinners, except at Quinta Nova
  • Transportation
  • NextTribe guide with you all the way

What's Not Included

  • Airfare
  • Airport transfers
  • Alcohol other than wine at dinners and lunches
  • Wine at meals during Quinta Nova stay
  • Tips

Gratuities to local guides, drivers, maids and hotel staff, travel insurance, round trip airfare, passport and visa fees, personal items such as phone calls, laundry, baggage fees and items not expressly listed as included.

Additional Add-Ons

Hotels

Lisboa Carmo Hotel

Lisboa

Quinta Nova

Gouvães do Douro

NH Collection Porto Batalha

Porto

Our travelers love us (yay!)

Colleen M., California

What I love about the NextTribe trips is that there is so much camaraderie of other women that are like you, and then the fabulous things that the organizers puts together to give you that viewpoint, it’s awesome.

Courtney M., Texas

What I love about NextTribe trips is that you get the experience from an insider’s perspective—someone that has ties to the community and focused on building relationships from the start. I’ve been on a trip with another women’s travel group that dropped a guide in, not personally knowing anything about the locale, traditions, or culture. She was there to make sure you showed up on time, got on the bus, etc. With NextTribe, you feel like you’re having a personalized experience with your best girlfriends.

Donna B., Washington

I didn't know anyone going on the trip but that didn't stop me from signing up. I have learned that some of my life's greatest adventures have come from taking a risk and jumping in feet first. So glad I did with NextTribe! I may not have known anybody at the start, but now I feel like I know everybody.

Connie B., Pennsylvania

I love to meet and interact with strong, mature women from across the country as we learn together.

Leslie M., Georgia

I always come by myself on NextTribe trips because I like to meet super fun and interesting women. We're always doing fun and interesting things in great cities that you couldn't do on your own because you wouldn't know the people or places or the insiders.

Teresa S., Kentucky

NextTribe fills the need I have to travel with older interesting women who are curious about the world and want to share the journey.

We write articles about all our trips. Read about these special experiences.

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$5,299

Did you know we have easy payment plans for our trips, interest free? Think of this as a layaway plan to feed your soul.

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What to Expect Traveling with NextTribe

You’ll be embraced by a tribe of travelers, starting with smart, fun women who lead our trips. We even have a code of community for both travelers and guides.

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Terms & Conditions

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Travel Insurance – Do You Need it?

Short answer: Yes! We strongly suggest you buy trip insurance to protect your investment in the trip.

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Frequently asked questions

What’s different about your trips?

We curate trips specifically for curious, engaged women over 45. You’re pretty well assured that your fellow travelers will be a lot like you–since you’ve all responded to the idea of “aging boldly.”. That means built-in compatibility in your small group, including the woman who is leading the adventure.. In addition to specializing in group travel for people who don’t normally like group travel, we also pride ourselves on creating experiences that allow you to interact with local women or get deeper into the culture than you would if you planned the trip yourself.

Where do you go?

We have a wide range of weekend jaunts here in the U.S. for those who want a quick getaway. We also love taking women to Mexico, where founder Jeannie Ralston used to live. We’re always talking about pushing boundaries, and we’re doing that in the geographic sense too. For those with more time, we offer trips all over Europe, to India, Vietnam, Peru (for a hike on the inca Trail to Machu Picchu). Soon, our travelers will be getting passport stamps in even more countries on six continents. Be saving those frequent flier miles!

What do you mean by transformational travel?

NextTribe is affiliated with the Transformational Travel Council, an international group of travel professionals dedicated to making the world a better place, one trip and one traveler at a time. We recognize that travelers, especially post-pandemic, are looking for more than just a date and a destination. They can shop for that anywhere online. Our community honors the intention behind a traveler’s investment in a trip. Our travelers want to have fun (we do too!) and to travel with a sense of purpose and belonging. That’s why we go to great lengths to provide ways for women to self-select by reading the articles in our magazine and the content of our website. If you like what you see, you’re likely to be a NextTribe traveler, and we look forward to seeing you on a trip soon!

What if I travel solo?

If you really prefer to book your travel yourself and go it alone, we applaud you. That’s brave and bold and we would never try to talk you out of it. But our trips are designed so that even a woman who’s used to traveling alone, or someone shy about meeting new people, will feel comfortable in our group. Our trip leaders are there to “read the room” and make sure everyone feels included and respected.

What if I don’t like group travel?

We don’t either! Not the way most groups do it. If you feel like doing what the group is doing, great! Join us for dinner or just some of the activities. All the benefits of solo travel and the comfort of being with a group. Our groups are small (normally around 12 to 14 women) and in most situations, you are free to opt out of an activity. We figure you’re grown-ass women who know what’s best for you.

What’s the price range of your trips?

We are committed to providing what we call “affordable-luxury” travel. Don’t expect
the Four Seasons, but who wants to stay in a gilded bubble anyhow? We always look for good value and offer wonderful hotels and memorable experiences that won’t break the bank and will get you closer to how locals live. Our prices depend on the length of the
trip and the destination. We offer domestic trips for under $2,000 for a shared room, which we encourage. If you don’t have a roommate we will match you with someone. Sometimes this has resulted in lasting friendships with new travel buddies., Some of
our longer trips–two weeks in India or Vietnam, for example–will cost between
$4,800 and $6,000.

What’s included in the price?

Our trips cover most everything you’ll need to dive into a destination. Hotels and most meals, plus special experiences such as hands-on classes and sessions with local artists, writers or entrepreneurs are almost always included, but each trip is different so please be sure to read The Experience and the itinerary. We occasionally have an add-on for an extra price, but those are clearly designated. What’s not covered as a rule are airfare, alcohol and tips.

Do you have payment plans?

We sure do. It’s easy to pay for our trips by setting up automatic credit card charges at regular intervals, interest free. Think of it as the layaway plan to feed your soul.

How do I get trip discounts?

Our NextTribe members get a discount on every trip. Plus, members are the first to hear about new trips and receive upgrades on rooms if they’re available. Check out our three different membership levels here.

What’s the average age of women on the trips?

We welcome all women over 45, but most of our travelers are in the 50 to 65 age range. More important than age is the spirit of the traveler–her curiosity about the world, and her eagerness to embrace new opportunities. We’ve found women of any age with those qualities fit in well with our groups.

What’s the activity level of the trips?

Most of our trips are geared for active travelers who like to walk–a rating of 3 on our 1-5 rating scale. Here are some examples of how we rate. A designation of 1 would be our beach trips, where it’s up to you if you’d like to stroll down the beach, or play in the waves or walk around the small town. Trips where we have dedicated transportation for much of the time (such as India) are a 2; Paris is a 3 because we believe the best way to appreciate a city is to view it on foot. San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, is a 4, because you’ll be walking up some hills (at 6,000 feet altitude) and occasionally on cobblestone sidewalks. Our Inca trail trip is a 5, as are our more adventurous outdoor trips.

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