About this trip
Eight days walking Madeira's coastline, mountains and levada paths, based around the turn of the year. This is a small volcanic island with an outsized landscape, and the pace is built around daily guided walks rather than sightseeing from a bus.
Days take you along cliff tops to Ponta de São Lourenco, past waterfalls, and through the levadas, the old irrigation channels that thread across the island. Evenings are for local wine and small towns, with the trip timed to catch Funchal's New Year celebrations and fireworks.
You're walking most days in a small group with a guide, so this suits people who want to be active and outdoors rather than based in one spot sightseeing.
What you'll do
- Walk the levada paths alongside Madeira's historic irrigation channels
- Take on the Balcony Walk between the peaks of Arieiro and Ruivo
- Follow the cliff-top trail to Ponta de São Lourenco
- Explore Funchal's gardens, historic centre and farmers' market
- See in the New Year with Funchal's fireworks display
- Pass waterfalls and local villages on route, stopping for Madeiran wine
- Fully guided throughout with private rooms, not a shared dorm setup
- Daily walking is the core of the trip, so a reasonable level of fitness helps
- Timed around New Year, so expect festive events and celebrations woven into the itinerary
Worth it if you value excellent guiding and varied walking in stunning landscapes. Think twice if you need guaranteed hotel quality or seamless airport logistics.
- Guides (Joao, Filipe, Filip) consistently praised as knowledgeable, patient, safety-focused and native to Madeira.
- Good balance of varied walks, physical challenge, and downtime; landscapes described as beautiful with waterfalls and views.
- Hotel do Carmo underwent extensive construction causing loud noise throughout the day for multiple guests.
- Airport transfers included but poorly communicated; guests waited over an hour for other arrivals without prior warning.
Distilled from real traveller reviews on TourRadar — we don't edit out the bad bits.
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Getting there
Opens Trip.com, pre-filled — one-way so you can book your return whenever. Prices & booking shown there.
Where to stay
A night before your tour in Santana · 25 Dec – 26 Dec
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