Program is tentative and subject to change. Connect with our Customer Care Team by calling: (888) 230-6008 Mon.-Thur. from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET).
YOUR journey
J² crafts journeys of inspiration, education, and Jewish connections to Israel and worldwide. We are guided by a simple but powerful concept: No two trips are the same; each experience should be personal, meaningful, and backed by superb service. Travel is not just about the places you visit, but the connections you make along the way.
Art & Culture 
Expert Scholar 
Food & Wine 
Heritage 
UNESCO Heritage Sites
Program Itinerary
DAY 1
ON OUR WAY
Sun. Oct 19, 2025
- Depart the US.
Overnight: Flight
DAY 2
WELCOME TO PORTO
Mon. Oct 20, 2025
- Arrive at Porto International Airport and transfer to your hotel.
- Check into the hotel. (Rooms available from 3:00 p.m.)
- Meet your J² Expert Educator and your local guide who will accompany you on this journey.
- Visit the Kadoorie Mekor Haim Synagogue, the largest synagogue in the Iberian Peninsula. We'll learn about the Jewish heritage in Sepharad Portugal, the Jews of the Middle Ages and the terrible times of the Inquisition, the new Christians of the modern era, and the 20th-century Jewish Renaissance.
- Start your exploration of Porto with a scenic stroll along the riverbanks, beginning at the vibrant Cais da Ribeira and crossing over to the picturesque Porto de Gaia riverbank. Enjoy a traditional rabello boat tour, offering stunning views of the city’s historic architecture and charming waterfront.
- Romanesque to Romanticism: View the main sites of the city, including: Avenida dos Aliados, Clérigos Tower, which is known as the symbol of the city, São Bento railway station, decorated with 20,000 tiles depicting the history of Portugal, and the Ribeira neighborhood near the riverfront, which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Welcome dinner at a restaurant, with tasting of local port.
Overnight: Porto, Portugal
Meals: Dinner
DAY 3
THE CRADLE OF PORTUGAL
Tue. Oct 21, 2025
- Drive to Guimaraes, the birthplace of Portugal.
- For a panoramic view, ride the Teleférico de Guimarães cable car. Soar above rooftops, church spires, and terracotta tiles. As you descend, the town unfolds—a mosaic of past and present.
- Wander through Largo da Oliveira, a charming plaza adorned with traditional houses. The centerpiece? A majestic olive tree, symbolizing endurance and resilience.
- Free time for lunch on own.
- Ascend to the Guimaraes Castle, perched atop a hill. Its brooding silhouette tells tales of knights, battles, and medieval intrigue. From the ramparts, gaze across the landscape—the same view that once inspired Portugal’s founder-king, Afonso Henriques.
- Return to Porto.
- Meeting with a guest speaker to discuss Jewish life in Porto today.
- Have fun together in a cooking workshop, making and tasting Portuguese specialties with a sweet ending.
Overnight: Porto, Portugal
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 4
THE ENCHANTED VALLEY
Wed. Oct 22, 2025
- Check out of the hotel.
- Depart Porto for the Douro Valley, known primarily for port, a sweet wine that has been produced here for two thousand years. The Douro Alto was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001.
- Visit a local vineyard and enjoy lunch with wine tasting.
- Enjoy the scenic town of Pinhão, where you'll board a private traditional rabelo boat for a river cruise. As you glide through the Douro Valley, you'll be surrounded by terraced hillsides, home to vineyards that produce world-renowned port wines like Cockburns, Taylors, and Sandeman. Sail upstream toward the Tua River's mouth, passing vineyards, terraces, charming villages, and historic 18th and 19th-century wine estates along the way.
- Continue to the picturesque town of Lamego for a short visit.
- Drive to Belmonte.
- Check into the hotel, followed by dinner.
Overnight: Belmonte, Portugal
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 5
JEWISH HISTORY IN BELMONTE
Thu. Oct 23, 2025
- Check out of the hotel.
- Explore the Castle of Belmonte, where you can learn about the town's broader history, including its Jewish heritage. The castle offers panoramic views of the surrounding area.
- Walk through the historic Jewish Quarter. Observe the narrow streets and traditional houses, and see the sites where Jews lived and practiced their faith in secret.
- Spend time at the Jewish Museum, which showcases the history of the Belmonte Jewish community since the Middle Ages.
- Discover the synagogue in Belmonte, still active to this day and meet with local community members, descendants of the Anusims of Portugal.
- Lunch at a local restaurant.
- Depart Belmonte and drive to Lisbon.
- Arrive in Lisbon and check into the hotel.
- Enjoy the hustle and bustle of the lively Time Out Market. Free time for dinner on own at the market.
Overnight: Lisbon, Portugal
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 6
THE MAGIC OF SINTRA
Fri. Oct 24, 2025
- Meet with Ambassador Oren Rozenblat of Israel to discuss the bilateral relationship between Israel and Portugal, with a focus on diplomatic, cultural, and regional security issues.
- Depart the hotel for a visit to the Pena Palace grounds and its surrounding Pena Park.
- Excursion to the city of Sintra, the resort town of Portugal kings, perched high in the mountains. The town’s picturesque romantic monuments and mountainous vistas serve as the backdrop for unparalleled architectural and natural beauty.
- Lunch on own and free time to explore the seaside town of Cascais.
- Depart Cascais and stop at Cabo da Roca. Overlooking the deep blue of the Atlantic Ocean, stand at the western-most extent of mainland Portugal and continental Europe.
- Return to Lisbon with time to freshen up before Shabbat.
- Shabbat service at the Shaaré Tikva Synagogue. This was the first synagogue to be built in Portugal since the late fifteenth century.
- Shabbat dinner at a local restaurant.
Overnight: Lisbon, Portugal
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 7
CITY OF DISCOVERIES
Sat. Oct 25, 2025
- Explore the Belem district of Lisbon, located on the River Tagus, from where many of the great Portuguese explorers embarked on their momentous voyages.
- Stop at the Monument to the Discoveries to explore the Portuguese Age of Discovery in the 15th and 16th centuries.
- Pass by the impressive Jerónimos Monastery and learn about the story behind its impressive walls.
- Taste Lisbon's most famed pastry, Pasteis de Belem, whose exact recipe remains a secret to this day.
- Lunch on own.
- Enjoy a tour of the center of Lisbon, including Rossio Square, Baixa (the downtown area), and Praça do Comércio.
- Take a journey through the Alfama Quarter including the site of the Lisbon massacre of 1506. Explore the steep winding alleys, hidden landmark churches, and breathtaking views of the Tagus River—all while hearing about the tension between tradition and modernity.
- Return to the hotel.
- Come together to mark the end of Shabbat with a communal havdalah ceremony.
- What We’ve Seen and Felt While Exploring Portugal: Closing conversation at the hotel.
- Enjoy a farewell dinner at a restaurant.
Overnight: Lisbon, Portugal
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 8
UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN
Sun. Oct 26, 2025
- Check out of the hotel.
- Return flight to the US.
Meals: Breakfast
RATES & LODGING
Protect yourself from fraud by being cautious and vigilant when it comes to online theft. It is crucial to note that J² adventures will never send an email requesting you to transfer funds to a new account or to redirect a payment. We will never alter our account number or issue additional payment requests without first personally speaking to you and properly identifying ourselves. If you feel uncertain about any communication (scammers often impersonate legitimate companies via e-mail or by calling), halt and contact us directly through our toll-free number listed on our website to discuss any necessary payments. Refrain from responding to suspicious emails or clicking on links or attachments unless you are completely certain of their legitimacy. By following these guidelines and staying vigilant, you can significantly reduce your risk of becoming a victim of fraud.
participants
20+
Cost p/p in double room
$5,998
Cost p/p in single room
$7,418
* or similar hotels Registration closed
Porto: Sheraton Porto Hotel & Spa
- Nights: 2
- Hotel Website
Belmonte: Puralã - Wool Valley Hotel & SPA
- Nights: 1
- Hotel Website
Lisbon: Olissippo Lapa Palace
- Nights: 3
- Hotel Website
What to expect
- 6 nights' accommodations.
- 6 days of touring with a J² Expert Educator and a local guide, in a luxury, climate controlled bus.
- Gratuities to your J² Expert Educator, local guide, and driver.
- All arrival transfers at the Porto airport.
- Daily breakfast, 2 lunches & 5 dinners.
- The J² adventures App available on the App Store & on Google Play (active 30 days before your departure and throughout your trip).
- Water on the bus.
- Porterage at the hotels.
- All site entrance fees & program fees as per your final program.
- Credit card fees.
- Flights to & from Portugal.
- Individual departure transfers to Lisbon airport.
- COVID related expenses, including tests.
- Evening transportation when dinner is not included.
- Amendments to the program: In the event that any sites, programs or meals etc. are added to the program, an additional fee may be required.
- Personal extras: Items of personal nature such as laundry, wines, mineral water, beverages, coffee, tea, food other than the table d’hotel menu, passport and visa fees, insurance, and foreign port taxes, unless otherwise specified.
- US and foreign airport taxes, Q fuel surcharge and border taxes when applicable.
- Please review our terms & conditions (T&C’s) or request that we send you our full T&C’s. Until you do that, here is the small print, and other stuff you may want to know:
- Validity | All prices quoted are based on exchange rates as of the proposal date and are subject to change without notice. Rates are per person and are based on shared twin room occupancy.
- How to Make a Reservation | The quickest way to make a reservation is to register online or contact us by email. We accept VISA, MasterCard, and American Express credit cards. A non-refundable deposit of $1,500 is required in order to complete the registration process.
- For any assistance with this registration process or other trip-related queries, please email Customer Care: [email protected].
- Payments | The balance of your payment is due 130 days before your trip begins, or as specified in your invoice. You will receive an email reminder 2 weeks before this date. Various payment options are available as follows:
- Credit card | We accept Visa, Mastercard and American Express. Please check with your credit card provider regarding international processing fees. We are unable to process payments of over $1,000 over the phone. Please submit payment online via a credit card or by wiring funds via your bank.
- Domestic bank wire transfer | Payment should be wired in the same currency that is listed on your invoice. Please add the name of your group or invoice number as a reference and forward a copy of the transfer receipt by email. The bank transfer should clearly state the beneficiary’s name on the wire transfer.
- J² Adventures reserves the right to automatically cancel your reservation on that date and it may be subject to reconfirmation should the final payment not be received.
- Cancelation Policy | All cancelations need to be made in writing. The cancelation fee depends on the date when we receive written notification of your request to cancel your booking. Please note that the deposit is non-refundable.
- Cancelation fees | Cancelations made 130 or more days prior to departure incur the loss of the deposit. Cancelations made 129 to 46 days prior to departure incur the loss of 50% of the full trip cost. Cancelations made 45 days or less prior to the departure incur the loss of 100% of the full trip cost.
- Cancelation fees may also include: Hotel or supplier cancelation fees. J² Adventures reserves the right to adjust its terms of payment, including cancelation policies and initial deposits.
- Protect yourself from fraud by being cautious and vigilant when it comes to online theft. It is crucial to note that J² adventures will never send an email requesting you to transfer funds to a new account or to redirect a payment. We will never alter our account number or issue additional payment requests without first personally speaking to you and properly identifying ourselves. If you feel uncertain about any communication (scammers often impersonate legitimate companies via e-mail or by calling), halt and contact us directly through our toll-free number listed on our website to discuss any necessary payments. Refrain from responding to suspicious emails or clicking on links or attachments unless you are completely certain of their legitimacy. By following these guidelines and staying vigilant, you can significantly reduce your risk of becoming a victim of fraud.
- Please click here to view our full terms (T&C's). These T&C's apply to all reservations created within J2 Adventures.
DISCOVER NEW WORLDS.
JOURNEYS.
A family vacation to Israel. An adventure of a lifetime traveling with friends to Morocco. A trip to Poland or Portugal with your community. What do these trips have in common? No matter where you go, you will come back with a fresh perspective and appreciation of the place you visited as well as a heightened awareness of your identity as part of the global Jewish community.
Stuff.
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