9 Day Portugal Photography Tour | Algarve Beaches & Lisbon

On day two, we'll begin our journey after breakfast towards the magnificent coastline of southern Portugal. Our destination will be the charming resort town of Vila Nova de Milfontes, situated on the Alentejo coastline between Lisbon and Algarve. This delightful coastal village features many opportunities for photography with its stunning white houses, orange rooftops and cobblestone streets. We'll spend some time exploring the alleyways before making our way to one of the most beautiful beaches in Portugal for a sunset session. Framed by the Atlantic Ocean, a litany of incredible patterns in the rocks at this beach will leave you breathless as you scramble to capture incredible reflections beneath the fading light. Once the sun has set, we'll head out for dinner before returning to our accommodation for some rest.

On day three, we'll rise early and make our way down south to Lagos, a busy coastal town in Algarve. The highlight of our journey will be a scenic tour of the Vicentine Coast Natural Park, one of Portugal's best kept secrets. The landscapes in this region are stunning, with sprawling views of the Atlantic Ocean made all the more fascinating by the abundance of flora and fauna that inhabit these surrounds. Along the way, we'll visit an abandoned fishing settlement perched high atop a cliff. The derelict buildings have weathered harsh conditions and storms over the years, making for an incredible contrast between nature and manmade substance. Once we reach the town of Lagos, we'll head to a restaurant for lunch, before making our way to a sweeping viewpoint from which we'll be able to take in the awe-inspiring group of rock formations known as Ponta da Piedade. Here, dramatic limestone rock pillars rise from the sea. We'll take our time capturing the scenery while exploring the caves, grottoes and sea arches that make this stretch of coastline so unique. Thereafter, we'll check in at our hotel near Carvoeiro, where there will be some time to rest and freshen up. In the late afternoon, we'll head out for a sunset session at Albandeira beach – a cove with glistening blue water that is well-known for its famous rock arch, the Arco de Albandeira.

We'll begin day four with an early sunrise shoot at Praia da Marinha, one of the most beautiful beaches in Algarve. This is where turquoise water meets cliffs of vibrant orange limestone, making for a number of stunning panoramic vistas for photography. We'll then head back to the hotel for breakfast, before embarking upon an exciting boat tour of the Benagil sea caves! Our expert boat drivers will take us deep into the caves of Algarve's coastline, as we uncover the treasures of these idyllic wonders of nature. From hidden caves to the well-known Algar de Benagil, there's no doubt we'll have a lot to keep us occupied on this impressive part of our journey. Afterwards, we'll have lunch at a traditional Portuguese restaurant, before heading back into Lisbon for a sunset shoot at the Adraga beach in Sintra. The stunning scenery here offers up a myriad of different compositions amidst golden sands and high cliffs, which we'll capture beneath the light of the setting sun.

We'll have a lazy morning on day five, with the chance to sleep in and rest. Ahead of us will be a relaxing day of photography in the charming medieval town of Óbidos, where traditional houses surround an ancient castle. The architectural and cultural highlights of this place offers many chances for street photography. We'll explore the historical town centre, surrounded by the castle's walls, in search of compositions before making our way to a restaurant for lunch. In the afternoon, we'll have a sunset shoot at the little-visited Santa Cruz beach. Our subject will be an enormous, tilted rock arch that rises from the sea and which stands steadfast as it is battered by the waves of the Atlantic Ocean. There'll be endless opportunities to practice long exposure photography as the sun sets upon the horizon.

We'll rise bright and early on our sixth day for a pre-sunrise shoot at the seaside town of Azenhas do Mar. Affectionately dubbed the 'Portuguese Cinque Terre', this village is known for its beautiful white houses built upon a tall cliff right by the side of the Atlantic Ocean. It makes for extraordinary scenes, particularly in the Blue Hour, with the lights of the village all aglow. Thereafter, we'll make our way back to the hotel for breakfast and a rest. In the afternoon, we'll have lunch at the village of Sintra, surrounded by pine-covered hills. These forests hide an extravagant mansion which we'll converge upon for photography and post-processing lessons on the top floor, with views of the gardens and mountains all around. Our sunset session this evening will be at Ursa beach, which features two incredible sea stacks, one of which is known as 'Rocha da Ursa' (bear rock). Though the route may be steep and winding, we'll take our time descending to the sand in order to ensure the safety of our group. Once you have set feet upon the shore, you'll no doubt be thankful for the effort as you photograph the last rays of sunlight warming these breathtaking rock formations.

On day seven, we'll have breakfast before making our way to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Quinta da Regaleira. Our morning will be spent exploring this majestic complex, with its romantic architecture spliced with dreamy invocations of nature. The estate features carvings of alchemical symbology, embodying the magic and mystery of a time long forgotten. Within this enigmatic palace, you'll have the opportunity to photograph an impressive spiral staircase that will no doubt make for an incredible addition to your portfolio. After we've captured all the enchantment of Quinta da Regaleira, we'll make our way to a restaurant for lunch. If there is time, then we may take a walk through the historical centre of Sintra or downtown in Lisbon. Our sunset shoot on this day will be at the Carrasqueira Palafite Pier, by the small fishing village of Carrasqueira. This is the perfect place to practice long exposure photography, as the picturesque pier stands on irregular wooden pillars, making for an interesting subject against the backdrop of the ocean. Once the sun has set, we'll have dinner at a local restaurant in Carrasqueira, before returning to Lisbon for the night.

This will be our final day of shooting and our main focus will be on the beautiful city of Lisbon. In the morning, we'll have a wonderful sunrise session at the Vasco da Gama cable bridge, with views of the Tagus river all around. This 17.2km long bridge makes for a stunning sight against the cool hues of the early morning light. We'll then return to the hotel for breakfast and a rest, before heading out again in the afternoon. The highlight of the day will be traversing the streets of Lisbon on a special Tuk-Tuk tour, which will take us straight to all of the best locations for photography in the steep streets of Alfama. Packed with cafes and shops selling local handicrafts, this district of Lisbon oozes with character and hides a plethora of fantastic opportunities for photography. For the tour, we'll have a local tourism guide, who will provide us with a wonderful synopsis of the history of Alfama as we concentrate on capturing images of the cobble-stoned streets. Among some of the buildings that we'll photograph are the Sé Cathedral, the majestic Lisbon Castle, the 17th century National Pantheon and Saint Anthony’s Church. Our Tuk-Tuk ride will end in the tranquil riverside town of Belém, just 4km from the city centre. There, we'll have the chance to savour famous Portuguese custard tarts during a quick stop for afternoon tea. From there, we'll have a sunset session at the iconic Torre de Belém (Belém Tower), a UNESCO World Heritage listed fortress on the mouth of the river Tagus. This striking monument makes for an extraordinary subject in the sunset light, standing steadfast as an ode to Portugal's Age of Discovery. In the evening, we'll make our way to a local restaurant for our final meal as a group. This will be the perfect opportunity to discuss all of the amazing experiences that we've had during the tour and to solidify friendships made over the past nine days.

This will be the last day of our adventure. After breakfast, you will be transferred back to Lisbon Portela Airport, where you'll be able to catch your flight home or onwards to your next destination – hopefully with a treasure trove of beautiful landscape images to remember a fantastic photo tour in Portugal!