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 
Food & Wine 
Heritage 
UNESCO Heritage Sites 
Expert Scholar
Program Itinerary
DAY 1
ON OUR WAY
Sat. Mar 21, 2026
- Depart the US.
Overnight: Flight
DAY 2
WELCOME TO THE CITY OF DISCOVERIES
Sun. Mar 22, 2026
- Arrive at Lisbon International Airport.
- Gather in the hotel lobby and meet your J² Expert Educator and your local guide who will accompany you on this journey.
- 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 pay tribute to 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.
- Transfer back to the hotel for check-in.
- Welcome dinner and overview of the group journey with your Expert Educator, including reviewing the itinerary, group themes, and the different narratives. Share group and personal goals.
Overnight: Lisbon, Portugal
Meals: Dinner
DAY 3
JEWISH LIFE IN LISBON
Mon. Mar 23, 2026
- 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.
- Meet with leaders of the Jewish community at the Shaaré Tikva Synagogue, which was the first synagogue to be built in Portugal after the late fifteenth century and learn more about the local Jewish community today.
- End the day with a traditional Fado Concert.
- Evening at leisure to explore Lisbon's rich food scene on own.
Overnight: Lisbon, Portugal
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 4
THE MAGIC OF SINTRA
Tue. Mar 24, 2026
- Depart for Sintra, the resort town of Portugal's 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.
- Visit the Pena Palace grounds and its surrounding Pena Park.
- Stop at Cabo da Roca: Overlooking the deep blue Atlantic Ocean, stand at the western-most point of mainland Portugal and continental Europe.
- Free time for lunch on own in the picturesque seaside town of Cascais.
- Return to Lisbon.
- Remainder of the afternoon at leisure.
Overnight: Lisbon, Portugal
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 5
JEWISH TOMAR AND THE TEMPLARS
Wed. Mar 25, 2026
- Check out of the hotel and depart Lisbon.
- Stop in the historic city of Tomar.
- Discover the famous and ancient Jewish synagogue dating back to the 15th century and Abraham Zacuto Luso-Hebrew Museum.
- Come together for a short musical service at the synagogue.
- Free time for lunch on own in Tomar.
- Visit the Convent of the Order of Christ, originally a Templar stronghold built in the 12th century and one of Portugal's most important historical and artistic monuments. The Convent is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Continue your drive to Belmonte.
- Check into the hotel, followed by dinner.
Overnight: Belmonte, Portugal
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 6
JEWISH HISTORY IN BELMONTE
Thu. Mar 26, 2026
- 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.
- Discover the synagogue in Belmonte, still active to this day and meet with local community members, descendants of the Anusims of Portugal.
- Spend time at the Jewish Museum, which showcases the history of the Belmonte Jewish community since the Middle Ages.
- Lunch at a Jewish-owned hotel.
- Depart Belmonte and drive to Porto.
- Arrive in Porto and check into the hotel.
- Evening at leisure.
Overnight: Porto, Portugal
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 7
PORTUGAL’S MEDIEVAL CAPITAL
Fri. Mar 27, 2026
- Visit the Kadoorie Mekor Haim Synagogue, the largest synagogue in the Iberian Peninsula.
- Enjoy a scenic stroll along the riverbanks of the picturesque Porto de Gaia riverbank, home of the most famous Port wine cellars.
- Continue with a ride on the teleferico and a walk across the iconic Dom Luís I Bridge, providing breathtaking panoramas of Porto’s skyline.
- Free time for lunch at a local market.
- 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.
- Return to the hotel to freshen up before Shabbat.
- Join Porto’s budding Reform Jewish community for a special musical Shabbat, followed by Shabbat dinner with leaders of the community.
Overnight: Porto, Portugal
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 8
THE CRADLE OF PORTUGAL
Sat. Mar 28, 2026
- 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.
- Participate in a ceramic workshop, including a taste of local port. Learn with local artisans about this important Portuguese heritage and paint Porto tiles yourself using traditional techniques.
- Ben Kodesh Lechol: Havdalah ceremony saying farewell to Shabbat.
- Festive farewell dinner at a local restaurant. Share thoughts and feelings from your journey.
Overnight: Porto, Portugal
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 9
UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN
Sun. Mar 29, 2026
- Check out of the hotel.
- Return flight to the US from Porto airport.
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
$4,950
Cost p/p in single room
$5,660
Lisbon: Lumen Hotel
- Nights: 3
- Room Category: Standard room
- Hotel Website
Belmonte: Convento de Belmonte
- Nights: 1
- Room Category: Deluxe room
- Hotel Website
Porto: Catalonia Porto Hotel
- Nights: 3
- Room Category: Standard room
- Hotel Website
What to expect
- 7 nights' accommodations.
- 7 days of touring with a J² Expert Educator and a local guide, in a luxury, climate controlled bus.
- Daily breakfast, 1 lunch & 4 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 airport transfers.
- Gratuities are excluded. For groups of 20 and more participants traveling to Portugal: We recommend the following guidelines for tipping (amounts are in US dollars): J² Expert Educator: $14 | Local Guide: $6 | Driver: $2. Amounts are per day per person.
- Early check-in & late check-out.
- 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 $1,000 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 120 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 120 or more days prior to departure incur the loss of the deposit. Cancelations made 119 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.
We have everything you need to know before you go. Check out our Instagram my_j2adventures for cool updates and interesting tidbits.
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