Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Brazil – Salvador de Bahia – Trancoso – Rio de Janeiro
100% customisable for you
Passports at the ready: it’s time for your authentic Brazilian adventure. Head to the airport in good time to make the most of the lounge, before hopping on your first flight. The travel time to Salvador de Bahia is around 14 hours, with connections in either Europe or Brazil.
Once you land, you’ll be privately transferred to your home for the next three nights. Check in, drop your bags and relax, whether you’d rather refresh with a dip in the pool or sip your first sundowner overlooking the city.
Today’s all about exploring Salvador’s Lower City with a private guide. First up is the Itapagipe Peninsula, home to lively neighbourhoods and the famous Feira de Sao Joaquim, the city's largest market. As you wander the stalls, passing tropical fruits, fragrant spices and authentic handicrafts, your guide will show you all the best spots.
Next, swap markets for monasteries as you head to the Church of our Lord of Bonfim, one of Salvador’s most famous Catholic churches and the site of an important yearly festival. Finally, visit the Fort of Monseratte at the entrance to the bay before finishing the tour in Pedra Furada, a pretty fishing town known for its fantastic restaurants and sweeping bay views.
Today, dive even deeper into the city’s past with a tour of the historic centre. Alongside a private guide, visit Brazil's first Portuguese square, Praca Thome de Souza, which offers beautiful views over the Bay of All Saints. While you’re here, visit the iconic white Rio Branco Palace, marvelling at its impressive facades and Belle Epoque-inspired interiors.
The rest of the day is yours for the taking. For an insight into Salvador’s Catholic and Afro-Brazilian history, take a trip to one of its beautiful churches, or attend a local Candomble ceremony – a traditional ritual of food, dance and music, presented to deities.
Sightseeing is hungry work, but don’t worry: there’ll be plenty of opportunities to stop and refuel. Our clued-up Concierge can tell you the tastiest spots to tuck into local favourites, like acarajes (bean and shrimp fritters). Once your stomach is lined, it’s the perfect time to try cachaca, a potent sugarcane alcohol so popular it was named Brazil’s national spirit.
If that wasn’t quite enough exploring for you, we can also arrange for you to discover Salvador by night with a local guide.
Today, you’re swapping the bright lights of the city for sand and sun at the beach. After a private transfer to the airport, board your quick one-hour flight to Porto Seguro; from here, you’ll be whisked down the coast on a scenic hour-and-a-half drive to the pristine town of Trancoso.
Once you’ve settled into your home for the next three nights, spend the rest of the day relaxing or, if you fancy a little action and adventure before the sun sets, enjoying a guided kayaking session along the scenic Trancoso River. Come evening, tuck into a delicious dinner at the hotel or stroll along the beach to discover the buzzing local options.
For the next two days, you’ll be waking up in paradise and enjoying a slower pace of life, whether you’d rather stroll along the beach, investigate the town or simply soak up the sun on a lounger.
On the first day, we’ve arranged for you to head out on a private horse riding excursion. Once you’re in the saddle, explore the swathes of sandy beaches at your own pace (or, rather, your horse's pace) – a wonderful way to see the seascapes and soak up the tranquillity of the area.
Spend your remaining time as you please. Join an impromptu game of football with the locals outside the old white church, pop your mask on and snorkel with tropical fish along the coral reefs, choose a sunbathing spot on the sand or escape the heat of the day with a siesta. Come evening, sip caipirinhas as you watch the sun go down or dance the traditional Brazilian forro late into the night.
After one last swim, you’ll be privately transferred to Porto Seguro Airport to catch your hour-and-a-half flight to Rio de Janeiro, the country’s capital. When you land, you’ll be whisked off to your next hotel.
The rest of the day is yours to relax; take a dip in the pool, get stuck into your holiday read or soak up the stunning views.
Rise and shine: today is all about discovering Santa Teresa with a local. This arty neighbourhood’s bohemian charm goes way back: while Portuguese nobility used to live here, they left for Brasilia in the 60s when it became the capital, making way for composers, writers and painters to settle in. Think terraces shaped by banana trees, cobbled streets and decadent European mansions, peppered with artists’ studios – your guide will show you the most creative spots.
The rest of the day is yours to spend as you please – consult our handy Dossier for our list of hotspots and hidden gems.
Rio’s iconic Sugarloaf Mountain rises majestically from the sea, towering 1,300ft above the city, and today, you’re going right to the top. Accessed by two cable cars, the journey is just as impressive as the destination – peer down at the winding coastline as you travel higher and higher up the peak. From the top, the panoramic views could well be a painting: the shimmering blue bay, golden sand and verdant trees are simply stunning. If you’d rather discover this legendary peak in more detail, we can arrange for an expert guide to accompany you.
The rest of the days is yours for the taking, whether you’d rather sink into a sun lounger or explore more of the city. Fancy something a little more active? Head out on a guided tour of Rio’s beaches by bike, gliding past the postcard-perfect sandy stretches of Copacabana and Ipanema.
Today, we’ve got you tickets to see Christ the Redeemer, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and the enduring symbol of Brazil. The immense statue of Christ sits atop the granite peak of Mount Corcovado, and you’ll reach the top via a scenic train journey that winds through the lush Tijuca Forest. First unveiled in 1931 after nearly a decade of construction, the status itself rises a whopping 125ft into the sky – and while it might already sound impressive, it’s hard to picture the sheer scale until you’re standing in its shadow.
The rest of the day is yours to explore Rio. In Leblon, you can pause for a chilled Amazonian fruit juice in a shaded garden; in Lapa, you’ll find vintage treasures and some of the city’s best churrasco (meat skewers) and feijoada (slow-cooked black bean stew). Culture vultures can delight in Rio’s icons, from Maracana Stadium to the striking cone of the Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Sebastian, while sun-worshippers can stock up on bikinis at BumBum or unwind on Ipanema’s golden sands.
It’s time to wave goodbye to beautiful Brazil today as you’re privately transferred to the airport for an overnight flight home. The flight will take around 11-and-a-half hours, and you’ll land back in the UK the following morning with a camera roll full of new memories.
Everything in this itinerary is entirely customisable, down to the smallest details. Here are some more suggestions of what could be included
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
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Our team of destination experts will get to know you and your unique requirements for your holiday
We work with you to build an ultra-personalised holiday itinerary with your choice of accommodation, experiences and activities
All of our holidays include little extras designed to make a big difference to your trip, from fast-tracking you through airport check-in and security to our network of local Concierges
