WALKING IN MADEIRA

8 days from GBP749 to GBP879 including flights
Tripcode: TSD

Countries Visited: Portugal

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Our Clients’ Reviews

Average Review Rating: from 27 reviews.

marilyn willwohl

WALKING IN MADEIRA

Written January 2012
A most enjoyable walking holiday on a very beautiful island. The holiday was enhanced by good weather and an excellent group of like minded people.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Standing above the clouds on Pico Ruivo and watching them tumble over peaks and ridges.

Enjoying a cold drink after successfully completing in beautiful weather the most strenuous walk of the week.

Watching the firework display from the roof of our hotel on New Years Eve.
What did you think of your group leader?
Andre was a good and most able leader on the walks. He was very concerned for our well being and safety. He knew the routes very well and shared his local knowledge and knowledge of flora with us. Andre came across as kind and considerate. He was very friendly and easy to get along with. His skills as a leader overall need to be developed. He could improve by giving daily information to the group, making sure that when he did everyone heard it.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
If you read other reviews, people’s views on the level of difficult vary, understandably as everyone’s ability varies. The following might be helpful, nb mileages are approximate. Walk 1 Ponta De San Lourenco, 5-6 miles manmade path several short ascents and descents. Walk 2, Levada Machico 9 miles almost all on level concrete path by Levada, one ascent and descent to cliffs on north coast. Walk 3, Caldera Verde 8 miles mainly on the level by Levada, with a slippery descent, steep in places at the end. Walk 4, Pico Ruivo 7½ miles, many ascents and descents lots of steps. Walk 5, Boca da Corida, 8 miles mostly uphill. I would say the walks were done at a steady pace with only a few stops.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Madeira is a beautiful island and if you enjoy walking this is one way to see a small part of the island. Four of the five walks go to areas with different terrain and vistas, so each one varies considerably from the other. Funchal is interesting with enough to see and do and makes for a good place to end the trip. It's old town has lots of street art and a good choice of restaurants. The hotel Exodus uses is in a very central position. If you go at New Year as I did you get a fantastic 360 degree view of one of the best firework displays in the world from the hotel roof.
Caryl Gregory

WALKING IN MADEIRA

Written November 2011
The walking was not too difficult. The hotels were not the best but were adequate. The group was really great
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Walking from the hotel Encumeada into the mountains.
What did you think of your group leader?
He was very knowlegable about local history and geography
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
One of the hotels did not bath plugs so might want to take your own
Is there anything else you would like to add?
It was a lovely holiday.
Anne Chivers

WALKING IN MADEIRA

Written September 2011
The walks were verging on the most difficult. Some group members needed a lot of help which meant that other members were left to walk most of the walk without the leader. A bit more information about the terrain would help people decide if it is suitable. It would be nice if you could highlight the number of changes of accommodation as don't like too many moves.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Friday spent in Funchal
What did you think of your group leader?
Bruno was funny, experienced, knowledgable and helpful. He had a lot of responsibility looking after people who hadn't ever walked in the moutains before.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Please read the details of the walks carefully and decide if it is suitable for you. Remember to take into consideration the temperatures. Don't forget to take a fruit knife as you nearly always take a pack lunch. If you don't like changing accommodation every other day read the details carefully.
Caroline Campbell

WALKING IN MADEIRA

Written September 2011
A very enjoyable week's holiday and a good way to see Madeira. I enjoyed the variety of the scenery and the walking as well as sampling various Madeiran wines with dinner over the course of the week.
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What did you think of your group leader?
Bruno is a very experienced group leader and did a good job of looking after us. There was a wide range of walking experience in our group but he managed this very well.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
My walking poles wouldn't fit in my suitcase but they would have been useful for the descents which are quite steep in places.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Of the 7 nights, you spend 2 nights in the same hotel except for one night, the Wednesday, which is good. I was pleasantly surprised by the accommodation. The only minor disappointment was the buffet on the Wednesday evening. However, the company of my fellow walkers was a great distraction!
Anne West

WALKING IN MADEIRA

Written September 2011
This trip was more than I was hoping for as I was a complete novice at walking holidays. Fantastic way to see such interesting places, people, wildlife and geology.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
As a complete novice at walking holidays, I amazed myself by the fifth day when I climbed Pico Ruivo (1,862 mts high). I stood on a mountain surrounded by clouds and "up with the Gods". Fantastic moment for me.
What did you think of your group leader?
My Guide was called Andre. It was just me and him for the whole 7 days. What a mind of knowledge that young man has. I learnt Maderian history, geology, fauna, wildlife, customs, politics, and bad jokes!! I really hope Exodus continues to use his services.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Just go for it! Even if you're a solo traveller and walking novice like me, you have to start somewhere and why not try walking the levadas in Maderia.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
The only down side of the trip was the quality of the holiday accommodation for day 1 and 2. The hotel Ecumeada is a little outdated and needs a bit of tlc.
Make sure you do take a mac as the weather can change at a moments notice, but even on a cloudy day the views from the mountains or levadas are pretty spectacular.
Funchal is a very interesting town, but be sure to follow Maderian's who take you off the main streets into tiny little classic alleys, with hidden treasures of artwork, fantastic architecture, food and hospitality.
I have only praise for the whole experience and Andre my guide is an absolute genius!
Helen Watkins

WALKING IN MADEIRA

Written June 2011
Madeira is a beautiful island, with a profusion of wonderful plant life and we had the benefit of a Madeiran leader who was passionate about his home country. The walks were probably on the A/B grade, rather than B, being a little short and not as strenuous as expected following a grade B holiday the previous year (unless I was just fitter!)
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Walking along the levada, albeit on a rainy day, was a definite highlight. The feat of engineering, creating the irrigation channels and paths on the side of near-vertical mountain slopes, was impressive. Add to that the abundant and lush greenery and it was a visual feast.

The farmers' market in Funchal was another stunning visual feast - the sight of the produce and also the fine architecture. We were offered tasters of six different kinds of passion fruit.
What did you think of your group leader?
Bruno was an enthusiastic and careful leader, so we all felt well cared for and included in the group. He obviously loves his work.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Be prepared for a variety of weather - as the trek notes say, mountains really do make their own weather.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Three slight quibbles.
On the first day, our leader misread the bus timetable, so we arrivedhalf an hour late for the start of the walk. We had to rush back early to catch the 2pm bus as there was no other one until 5pm. It would have been better if a minbus or other private transport had been used, thus allowing greater flexiblilty and a more relaxing time on the beach and walk.
First, the trek notes have not been adequately updated to show the adaptations necessary following the storms in 2010. It is not now possible safely to walk from Encumeada on the fifth day, so an extra minibus trip is required. The walk is still lovely, but may not be what walkers were expecting. The leader explained this to us, and we understood and are not aggrieved, but it should not have been left up to him to do this.
The hotel at Encumeada has possibly the best views, rooms and breakfast, but the supper (buffet) was extremely poor and there is no alternative place to eat.
Michael Dantas

WALKING IN MADEIRA

Written June 2011
Definitely recommended for anyone thinking of a walking holiday in Madeira. The trip covers all the things to do and experience to come away with a good insight into Madeira.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
All the activities and walks were enjoyable and covered something necessary for the Madeira experience.
What did you think of your group leader?
The group leader was a local who was passionate about Madeira and had an in depth and insiders knowledge of where to go and what to do and see on the island, which he was happy to share with us. This was invaluable for all the walks and activities we did which he also planned and organized very effectively.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
The two guesthouses in Encumeada and Santana are in wonderful (though isolated) locations and full of character. This tour would succeed with a group of between 6 and 10, (we had 8), any more and it could be unwieldly. The levada and coastal path walks offer a lot of spectacular views and photo opportunities. The paths can be quite narrow so take care. Make sure you try some poncha (rum, honey and juice cocktail) and don`t miss a walk around the old town of Funchal and a visit to the central market. Watch out for nun pirates in the interior :-) (we did not come across any, this could be a myth)