Madeira walking holiday
| country: | Portugal |
| location: | Madeira |
| trip type: | Moderate walking holidays |
| departures: | 2009: 30 Aug 2010: 7 Feb, 14 Feb, 28 Feb, 7 Mar, 28 Mar, 4 Apr, 11 Apr, 25 Apr, 2 May, 23 May |
| price: | From £695 - £875 (8 days) including flights from UK, from £349 - £399 excluding flights. Single room option £95. |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
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the amazing things you'll be doing
The volcanic island of Madeira has provided shelter for transatlantic travellers since 1420, when they first found this land so fertile and lush that even tropical fruit such as bananas and passionfruit grew willingly.
It's easy to understand the island's attraction; wild flowers, forests, the azure ocean and craggy mountains add drama to the panoramic views.
Our short trip spends time outdoors, walking some of the best trails all over the island & seeing vineyards, waterfalls, lush valleys and beaches.
Dramatic Northern Coast
Starting in the east, we plan a walk on the Sao Lourenço peninsula along a spectacular cliff path. We'll see many vineyards, and perhaps later try the famous Madeira wine. From Santana village we take a path winding through forests above the coast from Pico das Pedras to Ilha. Then it's a dramatic drive along the northern coast to the rock pools of Porto Moniz. The road is squeezed between the Atlantic and the mountains, with waterfalls tumbling over the cliffs, and the occasional wave breaking over it!
Traditional Levadas
Next we head for Madeira's southern slopes and begin our explorations of the levadas - an ingenious open irrigation system originally built by the first settlers to water their sugar and banana plantations. The levadas follow the natural contours of the the land, and we trail these silvery channels on the high moors where goats roam among the gorse and bilberries. Based at Ribeira Brava our next walk takes us down from the island's highest pass and reveals a remarkable panorama of towering peaks and lush valleys.
Rocky Peaks & Funchal
On our final day of walking, we crown the week with the spectacular 'balcony walk' up to Pico Ruivo - Madeira's highest peak (1862m). We then head to Funchal where there ís time to explore the harbour and tree-lined avenues, or visit the botanical gardens at Monte. Alternatively, you can take a boat to Porto Santo with it's sandy beaches or do any one of several local walks.
It's easy to understand the island's attraction; wild flowers, forests, the azure ocean and craggy mountains add drama to the panoramic views.
Our short trip spends time outdoors, walking some of the best trails all over the island & seeing vineyards, waterfalls, lush valleys and beaches.
Dramatic Northern Coast
Starting in the east, we plan a walk on the Sao Lourenço peninsula along a spectacular cliff path. We'll see many vineyards, and perhaps later try the famous Madeira wine. From Santana village we take a path winding through forests above the coast from Pico das Pedras to Ilha. Then it's a dramatic drive along the northern coast to the rock pools of Porto Moniz. The road is squeezed between the Atlantic and the mountains, with waterfalls tumbling over the cliffs, and the occasional wave breaking over it!
Traditional Levadas
Next we head for Madeira's southern slopes and begin our explorations of the levadas - an ingenious open irrigation system originally built by the first settlers to water their sugar and banana plantations. The levadas follow the natural contours of the the land, and we trail these silvery channels on the high moors where goats roam among the gorse and bilberries. Based at Ribeira Brava our next walk takes us down from the island's highest pass and reveals a remarkable panorama of towering peaks and lush valleys.
Rocky Peaks & Funchal
On our final day of walking, we crown the week with the spectacular 'balcony walk' up to Pico Ruivo - Madeira's highest peak (1862m). We then head to Funchal where there ís time to explore the harbour and tree-lined avenues, or visit the botanical gardens at Monte. Alternatively, you can take a boat to Porto Santo with it's sandy beaches or do any one of several local walks.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Fly London/Funchal |
| Day 2: | Walk on Sao Lourenço peninsula (4hrs); drive Santana |
| Day 3: | Walk Pico das Pedras-Ilha (5hrs); drive to Porto Moniz |
| Day 4: | Drive to Cristo Rei; walk Rabacal Levadas to Florencas(5hrs); drive Ribeira Brava |
| Day 5: | Walk from Encumeada to Boca da Corrida (6hrs); return Ribeira Brava. |
| Day 6: | Balcony walk (3-4 hrs); drive to Funchal. |
| Day 7: | In Funchal; optional Madeira Wine lodge tour, botanical gardens, Reid's Hotel; visit markets or the island of Porto Santo |
| Day 8: | Fly London. |
travellers' tales
Excellent... Just the views on the walks were amazing. Also the company of the other members of the groups was fantastic and the tour leader was excellent. (more)
small group adventure holiday
Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travellers (depending on the trip, operator and how many others are booked on the trip) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends its good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting new people as well as seeing new places. award winner
This tourism business won an Award in our 2008 Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards - organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Daily Telegraph, World Travel Market, Geographical Magazine, of the Royal Geographical Society and BBC World News.Since 2004, the Awards has recognised individuals, companies and organisations in travel making a big commitment to the culture and economies of local communities and helping to conserve biodiversity.
how this holiday makes a difference
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Madeira is a magical island, and the best way to see it is by foot! Our one-week trip aims to offer travelers the opportunity to get to know the lie of the land, without joining a bus-based package tour.
We use a local operator, family-run hotels and local restaurants that serve fine traditional cuisine (try the fantastic Madeira Wine and Madeira Cake!), which means that the money our groups bring remains within these small communities. Here, the rural island culture continues much as it has for centuries, and we spend as much time as possible out and about walking and learning more about this island's natural environment. As well as the above, we support a variety of charities and projects worldwide which support vulnerable communities and habitats including Friends of Conservation, Hope Worldwide and Send A Cow. We are also actively engaged with UK travel industry bodies which promote best practice in responsible tourism, such as Tourism Concern, The Travel Foundation and AITO. Our commitment to responsible tourism is not limited to our overseas operation and we have measures to ensure our UK office operates according to our responsible tourism policy. Carbon offsets for all flights booked with us are included in the tour cost. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |