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What’s new?
be inspired
why gil travel
Middle East
Western Europe
Eastern Europe
Latin America
Asia/ South Pacific/ Africa
North America
Oceana
From $7,995
OVERVIEW
In collaboration with Jewish Heritage Travel we are excited to offer this tour of Portugal.
From the Golden Age of Spanish and Portuguese Jewry to the present, the Sephardic community has played a vital role in contributing to Jewish and Western culture. Forming an integral part of medieval Iberia, the Jews of Portugal experienced periods of great creativity, as well as tragedy, until their fateful forced conversion and expulsion in 1497.
This trip to Portugal will bring to life the culture, heritage, and tradition of the Jews of the Iberian Peninsula as we immerse ourselves in the rich culture, vibrancy, and creativity of Sephardic Jewry. Along the way, we will see Portugal’s stunning scenery, historic sites, and Jewish landmarks and synagogues.
Beginning in cosmopolitan, thriving Lisbon, with its recently re-established Jewish community, our travels will include the town of Belmonte—a crypto-Jewish enclave, hidden from world Jewry for centuries until rediscovered in the 20th century—and the cities of Coimbra and Porto, as well as many small villages and towns.
During this extraordinary journey into Jewish heritage, culture, and tradition of this important country on the Iberian Peninsula, we stay at exceptionally situated luxury hotels and experience the expertise of accompanying scholar Rabbi Chaim Seidler-Feller through presentations and ongoing conversations throughout.
Departures
Duration
Highlights
Notes
Activity Level
Tailor Made
Itinerary
Program Cost: $7,995* includes:
11 nights’ accommodations at deluxe hotels
Full breakfast daily; 2 lunches; 6 dinners
All group transportation via deluxe air-conditioned coach
All lectures, guided tours, museums and site entrance fees
*Per person, double occupancy; single supplement: $2,995. Fees not included: gratuities: $275; museum membership for nonmembers.
Travel note – May: Arrive on Monday, May 4, 2026 in Lisbon (LIS) and depart on Friday May 15, 2026 from Porto (OPO).
Travel note – Oct: Arrive on Monday, October 12, 2026 in Lisbon (LIS) and depart on Friday October 23, 2026 from Porto (OPO).
Each of our scholars are outstanding experts in their fields and play an active role in helping us design our journeys as well as accompanying us as we travel.
Chaim Seidler-Feller recently celebrated his 40th year of working with students and faculty as the executive director of the Hillel Center for Jewish Life at UCLA. Currently director emeritus, he also serves as director of the Hartman Fellowship for Campus Professionals. An ordained rabbi, he also completed a master’s degree in rabbinic literature. Chaim has been a lecturer in the Departments of Sociology and Near Eastern Languages and Cultures at UCLA and in the Department of Theological Studies at Loyola Marymount University. He is also a faculty member of the Shalom Hartman Institute, North America, and of the Wexner Heritage Foundation and was rabbinic consultant to Barbra Streisand during the making of the film Yentl. The International Hillel Center has granted Chaim the Hillel Professional Recognition Award “for blending the love of Jewish tradition with the modern intellectual approach of the university.”
Lucy Rapoport, trip leader, has guided and accompanied many previous Jewish heritage tours, all to great acclaim. Born and schooled in England before moving to Italy as a young adult, Lucy is fluent in Italian, German, French, and Spanish and has been a tour manager for over twenty years. Specializing in Europe, she has accompanied previous Jewish groups to such places as Lithuania, Krakow, Prague, Berlin, Croatia, Spain, Romania, Serbia, France, northern and southern Italy, and Sicily. With Lucy’s attention to detail, knowledge of history, and considerable expertise in guiding groups, participants will be well served on this trip.
Check in at the 5-star deluxe Portobay Liberdade Hotel, a stone’s throw from Avenida da Liberdade, the most elegant avenue in the heart of Lisbon’s city center. Rest and relax from your journey.
Gather for an opening presentation by our scholar followed by an orientation, introductions, and a welcome dinner in the hotel restaurant.
Meals: dinner
Accommodations: Portobay Liberdade Hotel
We start with an introductory panoramic tour of Lisbon with a stop in the area of Belém and the Jerónimos Monastery. A prominent example of the Portuguese late Gothic Manueline style of architecture in Lisbon, the Monastery and nearby tower of Belém are both classified as UNESCO World Heritage sites. Return to the downtown area for lunch on our own.
In the afternoon, we take a guided tour of the National Tile Museum, dedicated to five centuries of Portuguese decorative ceramic tiles (azulejos). The highlight of the museum is a 75-foot long, blue-and-white composition of Lisbon’s cityscape created in 1738.
The early evening features a presentation by our scholar.
Meals: breakfast
Accommodations: Portobay Liberdade Hotel
Our day begins with a visit to the Shaaré Tikvah Synagogue synagogue, designed to be indistinguishable from the street as it was built when it was forbidden for any faith or religion other than the Catholic Church to be openly visible. We continue to the National Archive to view original documents from the Inquisition.
After a break for lunch on our own, we take a guided tour of the Gulbenkian Museum, a fascinating, eclectic, and unique collection assembled by Calouste Gulbenkian. Its wide-ranging contents include Egyptian, Greco-Roman, Islamic, and Oriental art, as well as European paintings.
Meals: breakfast
Accommodations: Portobay Liberdade Hotel
Today we begin with an excursion to the magnificent village of Sintra, with time to visit the Town Palace and explore its historical village center. From Sintra, we drive to the coast, where we have lunch in one of the famous fish restaurants by the beach of Guincho. After lunch, we make a visit to the Chabad Portugal community center located in Cascais. Then return to the hotel in the late afternoon.
This evening, for those who sign up in advance, attend an evening Fado show with dinner. Fado is a traditional genre of Portuguese music deemed a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage that is characterized by soulful tunes and lyrics, typically accompanied by guitar.
Meals: breakfast, lunch
Accommodations: Portobay Liberdade Hotel
This morning we drive to the charming and picturesque town of Obidos, with its whitewashed houses, cobblestoned streets, and little-known Jewish history. We take a walking tour with our specialist local guide before free time for lunch and returning to Lisbon.
Enjoy an early evening presentation by our scholar. After the presentation we have the opportunity to walk to the Shaaré Tikvà synagogue for Friday night services followed by Shabbat dinner with Lisbon’s Jewish community.
Meals: breakfast, dinner
Accommodations: Portobay Liberdade Hotel
This morning is free to attend services on your own, enjoy the hotel amenities, and/or visit sites of personal interest in Lisbon.
In the afternoon, an optional tour of the Medeiros e Almeida Museum is offered, an important private decorative arts museum, located a few minutes’ walk from our hotel.
Enjoy an early evening presentation by our scholar followed by dinner on our own.
Meals: breakfast
Accommodations: Portobay Liberdade Hotel
Depart the hotel for Tomar, where we visit the Museu Luso-Hebraico Abraão Zacuto and Portuguese-Hebrew Museum, housed in a synagogue originally built in 1430, followed by a walking tour of the former Jewish quarter.
After leaving Tomar and a stop for lunch on our own, we continue on to Belmonte, a small town in the Beira district of Portugal, where the community of Belmonte Jews, or “Marranos,” survived in secrecy for hundreds of years by hiding all external signs of their faith. Here we will visit the Belmonte synagogue and tour the Jewish Museum with our expert local guide. Founded in 2015, it is the first museum that portrays the history of the Jewish people of Portugal and the decisive role they played in Portuguese culture, art, literature, and trade.
This evening, we have dinner and spend the night at the Pousada Convento Belmonte, housed in an old Franciscan convent from the 13th century.
Meals: breakfast, dinner
Accommodations: Pousada Convento Belmonte
Today we head to Vilar Formoso, whose border position provided a strategic gateway to refugees fleeing the Nazi regime. Its recently-opened small museum commemorates both them and Aristides Sousa Mendes, the Portuguese Consul in Bordeaux responsible for issuing visas enabling many families to escape from France to neutral Portugal.
After lunch, we visit the medieval town of Trancoso, one of the most important towns in Portugal during the Middle Ages because of its strategic location, which was essential to retain Portugal’s independence as well as its borders. The town was strongly influenced by its ancient Jewish presence. We will tour the town and visit the Isaac Cardoso Jewish Interpretation Center, a place for culture and debate that teaches the ancient legacy that Beira Jewish communities left behind.
Dinner at the hotel this evening.
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodations: Pousada Convento Belmonte
We depart Belmonte this morning for Coimbra, once the capital of the Portuguese nation, where kings were born and later entombed. Upon arrival, we take part in a short walking tour.
This afternoon, we visit Coimbra’s small Jewish heritage museum located on Inquisition Square, and the world-renowned Coimbra University. Established in 1290, it is Portugal’s oldest university.
Check in to the Quinta das Lágrimas hotel, famed for its gardens. Dinner is included at the hotel.
Meals: breakfast, dinner
Accommodations: Quinta das Lágrimas
This morning, before departure, we attend a presentation by our scholar. We then head north towards Porto, breaking for lunch along the way. In Porto, we check in to the centrally located 5-star Maison Albar Le Monumental, within easy walking distance of shops and restaurants. This afternoon we will visit the elaborately decorated Palacio da Bolsa, home to the Porto Chamber of Commerce.
Meals: breakfast
Accommodations: Maison Albar Le Monumental
Today’s half-day tour of Porto includes a visit to the old Jewish quarter and the original 12th-century city of Porto, with its narrow winding streets. We also plan to visit the Kadoorie Synagogue and the adjacent small Jewish museum.
The afternoon is free to enjoy at your leisure.
We end the day with a farewell dinner.
Meals: breakfast, dinner
Accommodations: Maison Albar Le Monumental
Individual departures to the airport for flights home.
Meals: breakfast
Payment Reserve your space with a nonrefundable deposit of $1,000 per person. Final balance is due 120 days prior to departure.
Membership Participation on these tours is a benefit for active members of JHT museum partners. During the registration process, you will be asked about your membership status with your affiliated museum. If you are not a current member, you will have a chance to activate your membership.
Participation Tour sizes are limited to 28 participants unless otherwise noted. Trips entail considerable walking including over uneven terrain. Participants need to be in good health, be able to keep up with the group, be able to experience group and cultural differences with grace. Please let us know if you have any physical conditions that may require special attention while on tour.
Cancellations All cancellations must be received by Gil Travel in writing. Cancellations received 120 days or more prior to departure: full refund less nonrefundable deposits, per person; 119–90 days prior to departure: 50% refund per person after nonrefundable deposits. 89–0 days before departure: no refund.
Trip Cancellation Insurance Gil Travel Travel strongly urges all participants to purchase travel insurance for coverage of losses necessitated by having to cancel due to illness or accident. For your convenience, we are providing a link to RoamRight, which many past participants have used. When purchasing insurance, please consider the plans carefully to familiarize yourself with what is covered. In this context, do take note that most insurance companies generally will waive exclusion for preexisting conditions only if your application is received by them within 14 days from the date of your program registration. If you have a preexisting medical condition and are interested in taking trip insurance, you should do so either with Roamright or through your own insurance agent within 14 days of registration.
Changes All rights are reserved by Gil Travel and Jewish Heritage Travel to make scholar substitutions and/or to modify the itinerary (including hotels) as needed. Every reasonable effort will be made to operate the program as planned; however, should unforeseen world events and conditions require the itinerary to be altered, Jewish Heritage Travel reserves the right to do so for the safety and best interest of the group. Any extra expenses incurred in this situation are the responsibility of the participant.
Disclaimer of Responsibility By registering for this program, participant specifically waives any and all claims of action against Gil Travel or the Museum of Jewish Heritage and the Jewish Heritage Travel office and their respective staffs for damages, loss, injury, accident, or death incurred by any person in connection with this tour. Gil Travel, The Museum of Jewish Heritage and the Jewish Heritage Travel office and their respective staffs assume no responsibility or liability in connection with the service of any train, vessel, carriage, aircraft, or other conveyance that may be used wholly or in part in the performance of their duty to the passengers. Neither will Gil Travel, the Museum of Jewish Heritage or the Jewish Heritage Travel office or their staffs be responsible for any injury, death, loss, accident, delay, or irregularity through neglect or default of any company or person engaged in carrying out the purposes for which tickets, vouchers, or coupons are issued. No responsibility is accepted for losses or expenses due to sickness, viruses, weather, strikes, wars, and other causes. In the event it becomes necessary or advisable for any reason whatsoever to alter the itinerary or arrangements, including hotels or scholars, such alterations may be made without penalty. All rights reserved to require any participant to withdraw from the tour at his/her own expense when such an action is determined by the tour staff to be in the best interest of the participant’s health and safety and that of the group in general. Prices subject to change. Cost in effect at time of registration will be honored.
Are Kosher meals available?
While we do not offer Kosher food, we offer fish and/or vegetarian options at every meal included in the trip.
How many people will be on the trip?
On average about 24 people.
What is the age group?
55+
What is the makeup of the participants?
A good mix of singles and couples.
How fit do I need to be? How much walking is there?
You should be able to walk about two miles in a day, though not all at once. Please see the itinerary of the trip(s) you are interested in to get a sense of the schedule for each day. When there is free time, some choose to stay active, others to rest.
If you prefer more activity, many of the hotels we stay in have pools and fitness facilities, and some of our trips do offer the opportunity for more physical activity.
Are the trips accessible for people with canes, walkers, or wheelchairs?
People who use a cane to aid their walking have found our trips accessible. You still need to be able to walk about two miles in a day, though not all at once. Unfortunately, accessibility can be limited in the places we travel, making it too difficult for people in wheelchairs or walkers to participate in our trips.
Is the trip Shabbat Observant?
We normally have a Shabbat dinner together be it at a hotel or restaurant and sometimes at a synagogue. We do not have programming on Saturday other than perhaps a meeting with the scholar. In some destinations we offer walking tours on Saturday. You can refer to the itinerary of your chosen trip for specifics.
When does the program actually begin?
The Itinerary and Program Details section of the trip you are interested in will indicate when to plan to arrive and depart, as well as when the program begins and ends. Every trip includes a welcome session to get oriented and meet each other, the guides, and scholars and a farewell event to celebrate, reflect, and say good-bye to our fellow travelers.
Are airport transfers included?
Airport transfers are not included. Taxis, and often other transportation options, are available from all airports.
Are meals included?
The Itinerary of the trip you are interested in will indicate which meals are included on each day. For meals on your own, suggestions are available from the concierge at the hotels we are staying in. We encourage you to explore the diversity of local and international cuisines in the places we visit.
Are the trips only for Jewish people?
While the majority of our travelers are Jewish, our trips are for anyone interested in exploring the Jewish heritage of the destinations we take you to.
I’d like to explore my genealogy at one of the places you are going to. Is that possible?
Our trips are not designed for genealogical research. If you want to undertake genealogical work, it is necessary to do this on your own and would be best to plan for an extra few days before or after one of our trips.
How much free time will I have?
Please see the itinerary of the trip(s) you are interested in for information on when free time is scheduled for exploring on your own, resting in your room, engaging in conversation with new friends, etc.
Is there Wi-Fi everywhere?
While WiFi is available in most of the world, there are regions or locations where it is not as accessible. Most of the hotels we stay at offer free WiFi.
What Museum Memberships Qualify?
Museum of Jewish Heritage New York: $54
Holocaust Museum LA: $100
Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center – Nassau County: $54
Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History: $54
*Membership # will need to be provided upon registration
Accommodation
This is a five-star hotel in Lisbon belonging to the PortoBay Group. Situated in Rua Rosa Araújo, next to Avenida da Liberdade, the most elegant avenue right in the city centre.
The Pousada Convento Belmonte is a hotel that is situated on a hillside of the Serra da Esperança (Mountain of Hope), just over 1 km from the town of Belmonte (birthplace of Pedro Álvares Cabral). Emerging from the renovation of the ruins of the old Nossa Senhora da Esperança (Our Lady of Hope) Convent, on an eighteenth century chapel and probably also over remains of ancient pagan places of worship. The Pousada totally preserves the historical heritage of the convent (classified in 1986 as a property of public interest), including the amphitheatre architecture, among the pine forests of Serra da Esperança (Mountain of Hope), and a breath-taking view of the Cova da Beira and Serra da Estrela. In this architecture project a chapel and an old vestry were recuperated, which have been transformed into a lounge and bar.A stay in this stunning recluse means losing yourself in a deep tranquil silence which is only broken by the cheerful chirping of the birds. The Pousada Convento Belmonte has a spacious terraced pool and a Jacuzzi. The guests can take advantage of horse treks fishing or walks around the area.All of the Belmonte’s rooms have balconies some with a view of the Serra da Estrela Natural Reserve. Decorated in relaxing tones with antique furniture, iron wrought beds and stone finishes of the region. The famous restaurant of the Pousada is inspired by its typical regional cuisine obtaining the secrets hidden within the mountains to be able to offer an array of dishes full of flavour and magic. Under the command of Chef Valdir Lubave, this restaurant gains a higher notoriety every day be it for the wonderful view of the mountain or for the cuisine specialities, no one is capable of staying indifferent towards one of the most beautiful restaurants of a Pousada in Portugal. Discover Belmonte and take yourself on a journey through Mountains and Land.
This historic luxury hotel in the heart of Porto features elegant, beautifully decorated rooms with 1930s-inspired decor for a refined yet cozy ambiance. Guests are invited to enjoy exceptional gourmet meals at the hotel’s restaurants, indulge in treatments at the luxurious Grand Bleu spa, and take time to relax in the library, filled with old books and a sense of elegance.
Quinta das Lágrimas is a member of the “Small Luxury Hotels of the World” and a retreat of peace and tranquillity set within an 18th-century palace surrounded by 10 acres of lush gardens in Coimbra. Located a short walk from Coimbra’s medieval center. The hotel offers two restaurants, an outdoor swimming pool, a heated indoor swimming pool, and a spa with a fitness center, Turkish bath, and steam room.
*Star rating standards vary from country to country.
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