Madeira walking holiday










Prices based on 2 adults sharing.
Single supplement available.
Mimimum age 14.
Description of Madeira walking holiday
This week-long walking holiday loops around the whole of Madeira, a volcanic island with some seriously scenic vistas. Although the grand cathedrals and near-tropical gardens of Funchal are your start and finish point, it’s really just a very scenic springboard into the mountains and valleys beyond.
There’s no doubt that the levadas are a highlight. These traditional stone irrigation channels double as footpaths through laurel forests, past abandoned mills and to waterfalls like the Caldeirao Verde. The Balcony Walk between the peaks of Pico Ruivo and Arieiro is a tightrope challenge – but worth it for the views deep into the valley below. You’ll also get the chance to hike the volcanic Sao Lourenco Peninsula, with the Atlantic Ocean bracing you on either side.
Best of all, this walking holiday to Madeira is a small group tour, so you’ll be in the hands of a guide who’ll know which village restaurant serves the best banana espada and where to rest your legs with a poncha sundowner.
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Reviews
11 Reviews of Madeira walking holiday
Reviewed on 27 Mar 2022 by Rowena Dark
Fantastic. Really beautiful country and stunning walks with fabulous scenery Read full reviewReviewed on 12 Sep 2021 by Josephine Glover
Great holiday. So good to get away. Amazing scenery inland but Funchal is really disappointing so we could have done with less time there. The Funchal hotel (do Carmo) was grim. Read full reviewReviewed on 01 Mar 2020 by Nancy Wiesenfeld
The most memorable part of the holiday was the balcony Walk and the first walk along the peninsula at the tip. Read full reviewReviewed on 18 Feb 2020 by Sunita Raj
Well organised trip. Good balance of activity and relaxation. Excellent tour guide. Read full reviewReviewed on 20 Oct 2019 by Eldad Rosenthal
The most memorable part of the holiday was the hiking trips in the mountains and along the Levadas. Read full reviewReviewed on 28 Mar 2019 by Anne Monks
Excellent. Felipe is an amazing guide; his love of the island and knowledge of its flora really enhanced the walks Read full reviewReviewed on 21 Feb 2019 by Sarah Withycombe
The whole holiday was amazing, our guide Filipe Gomes was brilliant, and probably the best guide I've had so far, loved and knew everything about his culture, history and plants of the island, and very enthusiastic... Read full reviewReviewed on 25 Aug 2018 by Denise Mahood
The walks were excellent. The hike to the top of the mountain was especially memorable. The lead as we're so interesting. Our guide, Philippe, was absolutely wonderful - better than excellent. Read full reviewReviewed on 07 Apr 2018 by Diana Greer
The highlight was getting to the top of Pico Ruivo (the highest peak in Madeira) above the cloud level. Read full reviewReviewed on 26 Apr 2014 by Anne-Marie Hesmondhalgh
...lots of variety...Extremely enjoyable holiday. One that I would recommend. Read full reviewReviewed on 25 Feb 2013 by Gabrielle Lorenz
The walks, particularly when the weather allowed us to view the spectacular scenery and the group of people we walked with were the best parts of the trip. Read full reviewResponsible Travel
Planet and people
Madeira is a magical island, and the best way to see it is by foot! Our one-week trip aims to offer travellers 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.
In addition to the above, we are continually looking for ways to improve and are proud to be ‘Responsible in everything we do’. Education is key and so all staff, Tour Leaders and partnering suppliers are trained in responsible and sustainable tourism. At our Head Office, we continually strive towards a sustainable and planet-friendly working environment, including having solar panels installed and a company commitment to reducing our plastic usage. As well as this, we have valuable and longstanding partnerships with UK charities Toilet Twinning and Send a Cow, plus many smaller initiatives and projects around the world. We’re members of UK travel industry bodies Tourism Concern and AITO because we believe it’s important to share our knowledge and experience, as well as learn from other operators.
As a company we support Cool Earth. Protecting rainforest is one of the most effective actions to tackle climate breakdown. Cool Earth work with indigenous communities empowering them to conserve their forest; keeping CO2 locked in.
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