Azores. Whales, Mantas, and Volcanoes

14 days / 12 nights

Aug 1–14, 2026

10 people + tour leader

Children from 14 years

Comfort ★★★★

4★ Hotels

from {formatPrice(tour.price, cur)}

per person

What awaits you

A journey to the Azores Islands — diving in the heart of the Atlantic Ocean, volcanic landscapes, and whale watching.

🐋

Whale Watching

23 whale species around the islands — sperm whales, blue whales, humpbacks, orcas

🦈

Diving with Sharks

Blue sharks and mako sharks at baited points in the open ocean

🌋

Volcanic Landscapes

Craters, lava tubes, hot springs, and lakes in volcanic calderas

🤿

Underwater Arches and Fissures

Stunning underwater volcanic formations, black corals, mantas

🏝

Three Islands

Faial, Pico, and São Miguel — each with its own character

🍷

Wine and Gastronomy

UNESCO vineyards on Pico, tea factories, pineapple greenhouses

🌿

Nature Parks

Terra Nostra Park, Sete Cidades lakes, Furnas valley

👨‍✈️

Professional Guidance

Tour Leader Club tour leader + Russian-speaking guide on the islands

Day-by-Day Programme

We fly to Lisbon the evening before. Upon arrival, we head to the hotel, and right after check-in we set off on a sightseeing tour. The viewpoint of Edward VII Park, Rossio Square — the heart of the old city. The famous Commerce Square — the most beautiful square in Lisbon and one of the most impressive in all of Europe. The Belém district: Jerónimos Monastery (UNESCO), where Vasco da Gama is buried. The Monument to the Discoveries and Belém Tower — the symbol of Lisbon. We'll cross the 25 de Abril Bridge and visit the Christ the King statue in Almada.

Breakfast, check-out, and flight to Faial Island. A Russian-speaking guide will meet us at the airport, followed by hotel check-in. An evening walking tour of Horta — richly decorated churches, the marina promenade with yachtsmen's paintings from around the world — a colorful "carpet" of hundreds of drawings. Peter Cafe Sport — the unofficial club for yachtsmen crossing the Atlantic. The famous gin and tonic.

Hotel Do Canal 4★

Morning — a boat trip for whale and dolphin watching. In the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, around 23 whale species can be found: sperm whales, blue and humpback whales, striped dolphins, and possibly orcas and beaked whales. Then a sightseeing tour: Ponta Espalamaca headland with views of Horta, the Caldeira crater, the Capelinhos volcano — the 1957 eruption changed the island's geography, and the lighthouse "sank" into lava. An interactive museum of volcanic activity.

Hotel Do Canal 4★

First dive off the Azores Islands coast. The underwater world differs from the tropics — crystal-clear water and stunning landscape dives: arches, fissures, wells, caverns — dramatic underwater volcanic formations. Dense schools of fish, many octopuses, groves of black coral, grey triggerfish, groupers, manta rays, and diverse nudibranchs.

Hotel Do Canal 4★

A full day at Princess Alice Bank — one of the best dive sites in the Azores, 45 miles offshore. The summit of an underwater mountain at about 30 meters depth. Crystal-clear water, dense schools of barracuda, plenty of tuna. Above the bank, numerous schools of Atlantic mobulas constantly hover — large, manta-sized, but bright yellow on their backs.

Hotel Do Canal 4★

Diving with sharks! The blue shark (Prionace glauca) — one of the fastest fish in the ocean. Small but very agile and entertaining. Dive centers bait them at specific points. Sometimes a mako shark also appears. A shallow dive from a boat in the middle of the ocean, descending along a line to the bait. Experienced guides will brief you on proper behavior around sharks.

Hotel Do Canal 4★

Ferry to Pico Island (30 min). Aldeia da Fonte 4★ hotel — in the least populated part of the island, essentially in the forest, on the ocean shore. Small basalt villas in traditional Azorean style. Private swimming area and a natural bay.

Aldeia da Fonte 4★

Sightseeing tour of Pico. UNESCO vineyards — unique walls made of volcanic stone. Mountain road to the village of Lajes: whaling museum, delicate artifacts made from sperm whale teeth and bones. Wine museum — the island's winemaking history, wines made for the Russian tsar. The Cachorro viewpoint with ocean views and lava pools.

Aldeia da Fonte 4★

On the way to the airport — descent into the Gruta das Torres lava tube. An unusual lava cave over 5 km long, with 450 m open to visitors. Flight to São Miguel island, hotel check-in, evening rest.

Marina Atlantico 4★

Excursion to the Furnas valley of post-volcanic phenomena. Santa Iria viewpoint — panorama of the northern coast. Gorreana tea factory — the only place in Western Europe where tea is grown. Ice cream tasting with tea flavors. Pico do Ferro viewpoint. Furnas Lake with hot springs. The famous Cozido — a stew slow-cooked for 6 hours underground. Terra Nostra Park — a pool with iron-rich thermal water. The fumarole valley — over 20 types of mineral waters.

Marina Atlantico 4★

Pineapple greenhouses — the only place in the world where pineapples are commercially grown in greenhouses. Pineapple liqueur tasting. The Royal View — the Blue and Green Lakes, one of the seven natural wonders of Portugal. Sete Cidades valley: St. Nicholas church, São Jorge cheese pastries, a walk along the lake shore. The Água de Pau mountain ridge, Lagoa do Fogo at 900 m elevation — a nature reserve with endemic plants.

Marina Atlantico 4★

Breakfast, check-out, flight to Lisbon. Overnight at a hotel. Optional — an evening stroll through the city. The next day — flight to Moscow.

Tour Leader

Alexey Tishchenko

PADI Instructor since 2001 · TDI/DSAT · Underwater photographer

Accommodation

Hotel Do Canal 4★ (Faial Island) — a boutique hotel on the main street of Horta. Inspired by the island's history: Faial is a maritime waypoint between Europe and the American continent. The hotel becomes a haven for those crossing the North Atlantic.

Aldeia da Fonte 4★ (Pico Island) — six houses of volcanic stone on cliffs facing the Atlantic Ocean, amid lush gardens. Dolphin and whale watching, views of Mount Pico.

Marina Atlantico 4★ (São Miguel Island) — vibrant modern decor inspired by nautical themes. Views of the marina and the Atlantic Ocean. Volcanic thermal pools, Azorean cuisine.

AcoresLisboa 4★ (Lisbon) — centrally located on Plaza de España. Quick access to the historic center, the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum. A 5-hectare urban park.

Recommended Flights

Moscow — Istanbul — Lisbon
Turkish Airlines flight TK412 departing at 00:35 on August 2 from Vnukovo Airport (VKO), arriving in Istanbul at 04:45 the same day.

Turkish Airlines flight TK1755 departing at 06:50 on August 2 from Istanbul Airport (IST), arriving in Lisbon at 09:55 the same day.

Lisbon — Istanbul — Moscow
Turkish Airlines flight TK1756 departing at 10:55 on August 14 from Lisbon Airport (LIS), arriving in Istanbul at 17:45 the same day.

Turkish Airlines flight TK411 departing at 19:15 on August 14 from Istanbul Airport (IST), arriving in Moscow at 23:05 the same day.

If you are flying from other cities or via different routes and flights, you need to be in Lisbon no later than August 2 to join the program. Plan your return flight from Lisbon no earlier than August 14.

Programme Cost

Price per person in 1/2 DBL — 3520 EUR

Diving program in the Azores (5 dives + shark watching) €930

City tax on São Miguel €2/night per person

Single room supplement €1,020

What's included

Domestic flights Lisbon — Faial, Pico — São Miguel — Lisbon

Accommodation in program hotels, 12 nights

Meals — breakfasts

All transfers per program

Sightseeing tour in Lisbon

Island excursions on Faial, Pico, and São Miguel with a guide

All entrance fees per program

Ferry tickets Faial — Pico

3 lunches

Assistance with finding and booking flights

Equipment recommendations

Tour Leader Club tour leader participation

24/7 manager support throughout

Not included

Flights to Lisbon and back

Diving program in the Azores (5 dives + shark watching) €930

Additional diving equipment

Additional excursion program in Lisbon — price TBC

Entrance fees on Lisbon excursions

City tax on São Miguel €2/night per person

Single room supplement €1,020

Visa expenses

Meals not included in the program

Medical insurance

Additional excursions

Individual transfers

Gratuities for service staff

Souvenirs and other personal expenses

Required Gear

Clothing and Protection

• Hat
• Sunglasses
• Light summer clothing
• Hoodie or light cotton sweater
• Swimwear

Sun and Health Protection

• Sunscreen
• Personal first-aid kit

Diving Equipment

• 3–5 mm wetsuit
• Regulator with octopus
• Buoyancy compensator (integrated weight system recommended)
• Mask, fins
• Dive computer
• Signal buoy, reef hook, gloves
• Dive certifications, Log Book

Electronics

• Camera, batteries, memory cards

from 3520 EUR / person

★ 4.9

14 days / 12 nights · Aug 1–14, 2026

August 2026

ПнВтСрЧтПтСбВс

. . . . . 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 . . . . . .

Start En route Finish

We'll get back to you within 24 hours

Booking managers

Kristina Usina

+7 (919) 108-88-02 kristina@tourleader.club

Azores. Whales, Mantas, and Volcanoes

What awaits you

Day-by-Day Programme

Tour Leader

Accommodation

Recommended Flights

Programme Cost

What's included

Not included

Required Gear

Location

Questions

Telegram Channel — TourLeader Club

Other Journeys

Egypt

Sipadan

Galapagos

Azores. Whales, Mantas, and Volcanoes

What awaits you

Day-by-Day Programme

Tour Leader

Accommodation

Recommended Flights

Programme Cost

What's included

Not included

Required Gear

Location

Questions

Ask a Question

Book Now

Telegram Channel — TourLeader Club

Other Journeys

Egypt

Sipadan

Galapagos