ICAN Presents: Exploring Portuguese Ceramics October 20–29, 2025
**Registration opens Friday, March 14, at 9AM EDT**
Join ICAN and your fellow ceramic artists to explore the cities, countryside, coastal regions, rolling hills of wine country throughout Portugal. This trip will immerse participants in the rich world of Portuguese ceramics, blending traditional and
contemporary techniques, visiting renowned workshops, and engaging in hands-on activities while discovering Portugal’s cultural and historical heritage.
This trip offers a unique opportunity for ceramics enthusiasts to delve into Portugal’s rich ceramic traditions. The blend of cultural tours, hands-on workshops, and the scenic beauty of Portugal promises an unforgettable experience for
all participants. The tour begins in Lisbon and travels to the Silver Coast, on to the countryside and the eastern regions of Portugal, and finally back to Lisbon. Our group will stop in Lisbon, Caldas da Rainha, Vila Viçosa, Vila de Frades
Beja, and Vila Nova de Milfontes. In each location, we will discover the local cultural, including its history, contemporary life, food, wine, geography, and of course, ceramics! The map to the right shows the grand tour we will take together, all
with our knowledgeable local guides, David and Irene, from Clay Kitchen Portugal.
Tour Highlights:
Walking tour of “hidden” Lisbon including the historical heart of the city with a visit to Feira da Ladra (fair), Praça do Comércio, Baixa (downtown), and the Alfama district
National Tile Museum (Museu Nacional do Azulejo) with guide
Bordallo Pinheiro Factory and Museum with guide
CENCAL ceramic center; tour and workshop
Ceramics Museum of Caldas da Rainha and town tile murals
Évora’s Chapel of Bones and the Heritage & Ceramic museum
Non-Potter (friends and partners of the potters) activities occurring during the clay workshops: Caldas da Rainha Parque D. Carlos I, Caldas Market, Batalha Monastery visit; Vila Nova de Milfontes hiking on the Fishermen’s Trail or cycling
on Rota Vicentina trails, boat tour in Vila Nova de Milfontes, Sines with old town, castle, and museum visits; cooking lesson at Tres Marias.
Lodging:
Lisbon, 2 nights: Pensão Londres
Caldas da Rainha, 1 night: Sana Silver Coast
Vila Viçosa, 1 night: A Pousada hotel
Vila de Frades, 1 night:
Beja, 1 night: Pousada Convento de Beja
Vila Nova de Milfontes, 3 nights: Três Marias
Included in the Registration:
A small, friendly group of up to 20 guests
English-speaking tour leader and venue guides
Curated itinerary focused on ceramic arts and Portuguese culture
Ground transportation while in Portugal
Accommodations in 6 select hotels
Hands-on ceramic workshops and materials
All tours and admissions covering group sightseeing events
Meals: 9 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 5 group dinners. Some lunches will be in a group setting, but not covered by the tour price.
Not Included in the Registration:
Air flights to and from Portugal (arrive and depart in Lisbon)
Airport transfers (recommendations will be given)
4 lunches and 5 dinners
Travel and health insurance (not mandatory but highly recommended)
Personal expenses and personal purchases
Shipping expenses (including any purchased items and/or ceramics you make)
Pre and post-tour accommodations (Note: all pre- and post-tour accommodations must be made on your own. Neither ICAN nor Clay Kitchen Portugal can provide additional travel services beyond what is included in the main tour.)
Tour rates cover your lodging, local ground transportation, tour activities, and some meals. Rates do not cover airfare, travel insurance, hotel incidentals, airport shuttles, and some meals. See the official itinerary for details. All rates in US dollars
One-Time Payment (Pay in Full):
Double Room (per-person occupancy): $5,999
Single Room + Single Supplement: $6,450 (only 4 single rooms available)
IMPORTANT NOTE: The One-Time Payment (Pay in Full) option will incur a non-refundable $250 administration fee should you decide to cancel on or before July 20, 2025. No Refund after July 20, 2025. This means that should you cancel
your participation before the cancellation deadline, we will retain $250 from your original payment. Please see our cancellation terms below.
Pay-Over-Time (Payment Plan):
Double Room (per-person occupancy): $6,249
Single Room + Single Supplement: $6,600 (only 4 single rooms available)
IMPORTANT NOTE: The Pay-Over-Time / Payment Plan option requires a non-refundable $500 deposit due at the time of registration. No Refund after July 20, 2025. No Refund after July 20, 2025. This means that
should you cancel your participation before the cancellation deadline, we will retain $500 from any payments you made to us. Please see our cancellation terms below.
Payments will be automatically deducted per the following payment schedule:
Pay-Over-Time (Payment Plan Schedule):
Non-Refundable Deposit $500 — Non-Refundable/Due at the time of Registration
2nd Payment 50% of total fee — Due May 20,
2025
Final Payment Remainder of Balance —
Due July 20, 2025
Participants who elect to take part in the Pay-Over-Time option will be sent a receipt for each interim payment and for the final payment.
Tour rates DO cover your lodging, local ground transportation, tour activities, and some meals.
Tour rates do NOT cover airfare, travel and health insurance, hotel incidentals, and some meals. See the official itinerary for details. All rates are in US dollars.
Registration Process and Terms: 1. Questions and Payment: To ask a question about the tour or to make a payment to register, contact the ICAN Manager, Holly Goring, directly.
2. Confirmation: Once we successfully process your initial payment, your space on the tour is officially reserved. You will also receive an email confirming your spot with a receipt.
3. Required Documentation: After your reservation has been confirmed, you will need to provide the following documents to the ICAN Manager in order for you to participate in the tour: a) A completed Registration Form (provided by
us)
b) A completed Emergency Contact Form (provided by us) c) A completed Liability Waiver (provided by us)
4. Airline Tickets: Once we’ve registered your spot on the tour, we advise that you do not book flights or other services until the tour has filled the minimum number of required participants and the tour is confirmed by the ICAN manager.
If we do not achieve the minimum number of participants, we will not be able to organize the tour and your payment(s) will be refunded in full. However, once the tour has met that minimum requirement, you will be notified by email and will be encouraged
to book your flights at that time.
5. The ICAN member discount only applies to products in the Ceramic Arts Network Shop and cannot be applied to this international tour.
6. All registered guests must be 21 years or older.
7. ICAN does not provide travel or health insurance to registered guests. However, it is highly recommended.
Cancellation Policy: 1. Tour Cancellation and Refunds: In the unlikely event that the tour is canceled due to low enrollment or other reasons beyond our control, all tour-related deposits and payments made previously by you
will be refunded back to you.
2. Personal Cancellation and Refunds: If for some reason you register for the tour and later determine you will not be able to participate, you must notify the ICAN Manager in writing. Any payments made up to that point will be refunded through
July 20, 2025. No Refunds after July 20, 2025. Notification of your cancellation after the deadline will result in a forfeiture of any payments made to that point. Note that this clause does apply to any deposits or admin fees made.
3. There is no refund for arriving late or leaving the trip early.
Communication Leading Up to Departure:
Once registered, tour participants will receive regular communication from the ICAN Manager with details about the event. All you’ll have to do is relax and enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime trip! We hope you can join us!
To ask questions, or reserve a spot, contact the ICAN manager directly:
ICAN Presents:
Exploring Portuguese Ceramics
October 20–29, 2025
**Registration opens Friday, March 14, at 9AM EDT**
Join ICAN and your fellow ceramic artists to explore the cities, countryside, coastal regions, rolling hills of wine country throughout Portugal. This trip will immerse participants in the rich world of Portuguese ceramics, blending traditional and contemporary techniques, visiting renowned workshops, and engaging in hands-on activities while discovering Portugal’s cultural and historical heritage.
This trip offers a unique opportunity for ceramics enthusiasts to delve into Portugal’s rich ceramic traditions. The blend of cultural tours, hands-on workshops, and the scenic beauty of Portugal promises an unforgettable experience for all participants. The tour begins in Lisbon and travels to the Silver Coast, on to the countryside and the eastern regions of Portugal, and finally back to Lisbon. Our group will stop in Lisbon, Caldas da Rainha, Vila Viçosa, Vila de Frades Beja, and Vila Nova de Milfontes. In each location, we will discover the local cultural, including its history, contemporary life, food, wine, geography, and of course, ceramics! The map to the right shows the grand tour we will take together, all with our knowledgeable local guides, David and Irene, from Clay Kitchen Portugal.
Tour Highlights:
Lodging:
Included in the Registration:
Not Included in the Registration:
Review Full Portugal Itinerary
Tour Rates and Payment Options:
Tour rates cover your lodging, local ground transportation, tour activities, and some meals. Rates do not cover airfare, travel insurance, hotel incidentals, airport shuttles, and some meals. See the official itinerary for details. All rates in US dollars
One-Time Payment (Pay in Full):
IMPORTANT NOTE: The One-Time Payment (Pay in Full) option will incur a non-refundable $250 administration fee should you decide to cancel on or before July 20, 2025. No Refund after July 20, 2025. This means that should you cancel your participation before the cancellation deadline, we will retain $250 from your original payment. Please see our cancellation terms below.
Pay-Over-Time (Payment Plan):
IMPORTANT NOTE: The Pay-Over-Time / Payment Plan option requires a non-refundable $500 deposit due at the time of registration. No Refund after July 20, 2025. No Refund after July 20, 2025. This means that should you cancel your participation before the cancellation deadline, we will retain $500 from any payments you made to us. Please see our cancellation terms below.
Payments will be automatically deducted per the following payment schedule:
Pay-Over-Time (Payment Plan Schedule):
Participants who elect to take part in the Pay-Over-Time option will be sent a receipt for each interim payment and for the final payment.
Tour rates do NOT cover airfare, travel and health insurance, hotel incidentals, and some meals. See the official itinerary for details. All rates are in US dollars.
Registration Process and Terms:
1. Questions and Payment:
To ask a question about the tour or to make a payment to register, contact the ICAN Manager, Holly Goring, directly.
ICAN Manager
Email: hgoring@ceramics.org
Direct Tel.: 1-614-895-4213 (M-F, 9am–4pm EST)
2. Confirmation:
Once we successfully process your initial payment, your space on the tour is officially reserved. You will also receive an email confirming your spot with a receipt.
3. Required Documentation:
After your reservation has been confirmed, you will need to provide the following documents to the ICAN Manager in order for you to participate in the tour:
a) A completed Registration Form (provided by us)
b) A completed Emergency Contact Form (provided by us)
c) A completed Liability Waiver (provided by us)
4. Airline Tickets:
Once we’ve registered your spot on the tour, we advise that you do not book flights or other services until the tour has filled the minimum number of required participants and the tour is confirmed by the ICAN manager. If we do not achieve the minimum number of participants, we will not be able to organize the tour and your payment(s) will be refunded in full. However, once the tour has met that minimum requirement, you will be notified by email and will be encouraged to book your flights at that time.
5. The ICAN member discount only applies to products in the Ceramic Arts Network Shop and cannot be applied to this international tour.
6. All registered guests must be 21 years or older.
7. ICAN does not provide travel or health insurance to registered guests. However, it is highly recommended.
Cancellation Policy:
1. Tour Cancellation and Refunds: In the unlikely event that the tour is canceled due to low enrollment or other reasons beyond our control, all tour-related deposits and payments made previously by you will be refunded back to you.
If for some reason you register for the tour and later determine you will not be able to participate, you must notify the ICAN Manager in writing. Any payments made up to that point will be refunded through July 20, 2025. No Refunds after July 20, 2025. Notification of your cancellation after the deadline will result in a forfeiture of any payments made to that point. Note that this clause does apply to any deposits or admin fees made.
3. There is no refund for arriving late or leaving the trip early.
Communication Leading Up to Departure:
Once registered, tour participants will receive regular communication from the ICAN Manager with details about the event. All you’ll have to do is relax and enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime trip! We hope you can join us!
To ask questions, or reserve a spot, contact the ICAN manager directly:
ICAN Manager
Email: hgoring@ceramics.org
"This tour was an inspirational highlight of my life. I can't wait to go on anther one!" —2018 ICAN Tour participant.
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