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DURATION 5 nights ANNUAL LEAVE
2 days off work GROUP SIZE
Up to 12 people ACCOMMODATION
Hostel · Wild camping |
LOCATION Portugal DATE
Sep 2025 MEETING POINT
London Gatwick Airport |
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ACTIVITIES & CERTIFIED GUIDES
All itinerary activities with local, expert, English-speaking guides HOTEL
5 nights in comfortable, locally-run hotels MEALS
All breakfasts, 4 packed lunches and 2 dinners – plus a traditional wine tasting 1 Training Hikes In The 6 Week Build-up to the Trip
• 1x Day Hike into Brecon Beacons, Wales |
TRANSFERS
Two set airport transfers and everything in between EQUIPMENT
All your canyoning gear SMALL LIKE-MINDED GROUPS
Solo-friendly by design, join our small n’ sociable groups of up to 10 like-minded, active and outdoorsy people Discounted Online Training Program
10% discount on our 12-week Hike Online Training Programme |
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Flights and Travel insurance
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Some meals as described below
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Personal expenses
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Visas where required
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ItineraryDAY 1
Touch down in Madeira – the 'island of eternal spring'
Catch your first glimpse of the subtropical Madeiran archipelago from the plane, then meet your host and transfer to your hotel in Funchal, the island's vibrant capital. Framed by a dramatic backdrop of lush, cloud-tipped mountains on the island's south coast, the city unfolds over a series of steep hills and terraces, overlooking the Atlantic. There's quite a lot to explore in Funchal, including a colourful local market, exotic gardens, historic alleys, and an epic toboggan ride – so if you have some extra time to hand, it's a great spot to extend your stay and explore. Tonight, your guide will take you somewhere local to taste some delicious food and tell you all about the epic adventure ahead. DAY 2
Explore the central mountains
Kick off your island adventure with a superb hike through Madeira's wild, mountainous interior. Setting off from Bica da Cana viewpoint at 1600m, you'll gradually descend the stunning PR17 trail along levadas (the island's unique irrigation channels), hiking through verdant, high-altitude vegetation – including the native UNESCO-protected Laurisilva forests. Trek through tunnels and duck underneath a couple of cascades to reach your final destination in Encumeada, where you can soak in the views over Ribeira Brava and the towering peaks of the Cordillera Central. Your home for the next two nights is an ocean-front hotel in quaint Sao Vicente – a gem of a village on the island's wild northern coast – and tonight, you'll taste some of Madeira's traditional wines paired with cheese. Cheers! DAY 3
Canyoning and wild waterfalls
Dotted with hidden lagoons, cascading falls and ancient laurel forests, Madeira is truly a canyoning paradise. Get ready for a soaking today as you head to Ribeira do Lajeado for an exhilarating adventure in these 'Jurassic World' surroundings. Begin by hiking along the Levada do Alecrim through the dense Laurisilva forest, then continue by scrambling, jumping, sliding and abseiling (up to 25m) your way across the network of trails, river systems and secluded natural pools, alongside your expert canyoning guide. Look over the Vento and Risco waterfalls in the distance, then hike back, grab some lunch and head back to your hotel in Sao Vincente. DAY 4
Coastal hike to the natural pools at Porto Moniz
Take a short transfer to Achadas da Cruz, the most westerly point of Madeira, then descend down to the traditional village of Fajá da Quebrada Nova via a steep 2km trail, or via an equally vertical cable car ride. Whichever you choose, the coastal views will be truly mesmerising. Once home to an agricultural community, many of the old traditional buildings are now abandoned, giving the place a nostalgic charm. Continue hiking along the beach and then along the Vereda de Tristao River to Porto Moniz. Reward your efforts with a refreshing swim in the incredible tidal pools, then transfer to your final base – the coastal town of Machico. DAY 5
Spot dolphins and hike a coastal trail in Ponta de São Lourenço
Get ready for an epic day as you head out to explore the sea around Madeira's eastern tip. Ponta de São Lourenço is a peninsula of volcanic origin, where a semi-arid climate and exposure to northern winds cause the vegetation to be unusually low and absent of trees – a stark contrast with the rest of the island. Join a local marine biologist aboard a high-speed boat, keeping your eyes peeled for the abundant marine life: sightings of common and bottlenose dolphins, as well as loggerhead turtles, are common, and sometimes sperm whales. After lunch, you'll hike along the coastal trails of this incredible nature reserve, stopping for a swim along the way. Back in Machico, enjoy a final meal with your fellow adventurers and guide, then get some rest ahead of an early rise for your final day of adventure tomorrow. DAY 6
Sunrise views above the clouds
You can't leave Madeira without witnessing the dazzling views from its highest point – Pico Ruivo (1862m). This morning you'll rise early – before dawn – for a short but incredibly rewarding hike that will take you to the roof of the island. Head torch on, you'll set off along the cobbled trail towards the peak. The view at the top will leave you speechless as you contemplate the golden sun rising above the clouds, with incredible views on the mountain ridge and far into the valley towards the ocean (weather permitting!). If you're leaving today, your host will then drive you back to the airport in time for your flight back home. Boa viagem! |
Food and AccommodationWHAT IS THE FOOD LIKE?
Savour the delights of Madeira's cuisine with fresh produce and a wide variety of regional dishes. Most days, breakfasts will be continental style – consisting of bread, butter, local jams, fruit, pastries, cheese, ham, tea, coffee and juices. For lunch, expect freshly prepared lunch boxes with delicious sandwiches, cake and fruit. Evening meals are included on Days 1 and 5, and on the remaining evenings you can choose from several authentic local restaurants recommended by your host, where you can feast on local dishes such as traditional espetadas (beef skewers), grilled fish, fresh seafood, garlic bread or hearty, homemade soups. Vegetarian diets can be accommodated, although veggie or vegan diets are not common in rural Madeira so meal options can be repetitive. Other dietary requirements are mostly possible to cater for – please let your host know any requirements upon booking. WHAT IS THE ACCOMMODATION LIKE?
FUNCHAL
Spend your first night at a comfortable hotel in Funchal, Madeira's capital. You'll usually stay at the central 3-star Hotel do Carmo, featuring modern rooms, a 1960s-style bar with a snooker table and a lovely rooftop terrace with a swimming pool, boasting great views over the Atlantic Ocean and mountains. Departures on the 18th November and 16th December 2023 will be accommodated at the 4-star Hotel Turim Santa Maria whilst on the 20th April and 4th May 2024 you'll stay at the 4-star Enotel Magnolia. Your host will always confirm all the final accommodation details with you in a pre-departure message a few weeks prior to travelling. 
SAO VINCENTE
You'll spend two nights at a new property on Madeira's wild northern coast, in the quaint ocean-front village of Sao Vincente. The Mediterraneo Hotel features comfortable rooms, an outdoor pool with a bar and sea views, as well as a spa tub. 
MACHICO OR SANTA CRUZ For the final two nights of the trip you'll stay at Hotel Dom Pedro in the coastal town of Machico. For departures in 2025, groups will be staying in the coastal town of Santa Cruz, in the Santa Cruz Village Hotel. UPGRADES Due to the limited capacity and availability of the hotels where you'll be staying, private room upgrades are not available for this trip. All rooms will be booked on a twin-share basis (or double, for couples). KITLIST
WHAT'S INCLUDED?
WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING? BAGS
OTHER
CLOTHES
INCLUDED MEALS
DIFFICULTY RATING
This trip has been rated as Moderate The activities on this trip can be done without any previous experience – you'll have expert guides to show you the ropes and help you navigate the canyoning. Although each day is not overly strenuous, you'll be fairly active for a few hours so the trip is best enjoyed if you have a decent level of fitness and agility, and if you enjoy the outdoors with some moments of adventure and adrenaline. The hikes are up and down paths of moderate difficulty with some occasional steep, loose sections as well as some exposed paths. The sweeping views and lush wilderness of Madeira will reward every effort! Canyoning will involve sections of hiking, scrambling, abseiling, optional jumps, sliding and swimming. Full gear and tuition will be provided, all you need is a basic fitness level. You should, however, be comfortable in the water and not be overly afraid of heights, as there is a 25m rappelling section to tackle. WHAT WILL I NEED TO CARRY? You'll need to have a larger bag suitable for all your belongings which will be transported for you, and then a small rucksack to carry personal items during each day of activity. WEATHER
Madeira enjoys a subtropical climate with hot summers and mild winters, usually with sunshine throughout most of the year. Whilst the south of the island and coast are usually sunnier, colder temperatures, fog, or low clouds can be expected in the interior of the island and at higher altitudes, so it's important to come equipped for all weather conditions year-round (see our kit list for more information). In the winter months (between December and March), temperatures hover just under 20° C, mild enough to swim in the sea or a heated outdoor pool, though there's a slightly higher possibility of rain. The weather in the mountains can be pretty unpredictable, with rain and cold temperatures a possibility at any time of the year – especially at higher altitudes (above 1500m). The best you can do is to be prepared for anything and come equipped with layers of clothing, sunscreen and waterproofs. Your host will be monitoring the weather conditions during the course of the trip and will suggest alternative, safer hiking routes should the weather get particularly bad. The dolphin-watching tour is, of course, dependent on favourable sea conditions – should this get cancelled, your host will replace it with an alternative activity. Canyoning usually takes place at Ribeira do Lajeado, however the exact location will be dependent on water levels which will be checked beforehand by the local guides. If conditions in Lajeado are not optimum, your guides will take you to an alternative canyon on the island. OPTIONAL EXTRAS
PRE/POST TRIP ACCOMMODATION Additional Night in Funchal Twin/Double Room / Payable Before Departure / £125 Additional Night in Funchal Single Room / Payable Before Departure / £116 TRANSFERS Private arrival transfer Funchal Airport - Funchal Hotel (1-4 pax) / Payable Before Departure / £54 GETTING THERE
Starts Funchal Hotel 17:00 Ends Funchal Airport (FNC) 10:00 Transfers If you are flying into Funchal on Day 1, please ensure your flight lands by 17:00 in order to meet your host and the rest of the group in time for the initial briefing and dinner. There is one set arrival transfer included – this is usually at 17:00, however, your host will confirm the exact time and logistics ahead of your arrival. If you arrive early, or later, it's easy to make your own way to the start hotel in Funchal either by public bus (30mins, €3-5), or by taxi (20 minutes, approx. €15-20). On some departure dates it may be that an alternative start hotel is being used in Funchal. Your host will inform you if there are any adjustments, and will always confirm all the final details with you in a pre-departure message a few weeks prior to travelling. At the end of your trip, you will be dropped at the airport, usually at around 10:00. We recommend booking a flight that departs after 12:00 to ensure you have enough time to join the final sunrise hike. If you are extending your trip and wish to be dropped off in Funchal city centre instead of the airport on Day 6, you can request this with your local host – there may be a small fee to pay, depending on the number of fellow travellers who share this service. Once you have booked your flights, please provide your host with this information. Travel options There are regular flights to Funchal from major airports across the UK and Europe. If you choose to arrive early, there are regular buses across the island that you can use to explore. Our local host has a wealth of information about accommodation and activities – please don't hesitate to contact them for advice before planning your experience. |
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Shameless Plug - This adventure is supported and put together by the very able and brilliant Joanne. For all your holiday and travel needs, please give Joanne a shout https://www.thetraveldirectors.co.uk/joanne-scurr/ |
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