Indulge in the ultimate Madeira experience with our two week holiday, a combination of our one week Eastern Madeira holiday and our one week Western Madeira holiday.
If you have a passion for walking, a strong affinity for heights, and haven't yet had the pleasure of experiencing the beauty of Madeira, then you're in for an unforgettable holiday.
The name "Madeira" in Portuguese means wood, aptly reflecting the island's lush forests that sprawl across the island. Madeira is the perfect walker’s island, with an extensive network of well maintained footpaths through very varied terrain. Renowned for its iconic levada footpaths, these trails run alongside water channels that cut through the island's rugged mountains, connecting the relatively wet northern half to the comparatively dry southern regions and supplying water to the island's most populated areas of Madeira.
As you journey along the coast, you'll be greeted by subtropical vegetation including banana palms and apple trees. On the terraced slopes, agapanthus and an array of vibrant flowers, including hydrangeas and bird of paradise plants add a burst of colour to the surroundings. Ascending higher, you'll encounter forests of laurisilva before the peaks pushing towards 2000m, offering panoramic views that stretch across the island and beyond to the Atlantic. Madeira has a comfortable all year-round climate, making it the ideal walkers paradise.
This two week holiday starts in the modern city of Funchal, with its dramatic mountainous lush green backdrop, an ideal centre for exploring Funchal and the more challenging walks of Madeira. Your second centre is the little visited village of Porto Moniz, in the far northwest, with its sheltered harbour where a mass of pointed reefs provide unique natural bathing pools. Walking here is different to other parts of the island, and the centre itself is stunning. Your final centre is the quiet little town of Ponta do Sol, nestled between two mountains in the south of the island and known as one of the sunniest points of Madeira.
Choosing the best walk is a delightful challenge. Will it be the high-level traverse between the island's two highest peaks, Pico Arieiro and Pico Ruivo? Perhaps the journey from Boca da Corrida, descending through the lush, eroded crater of an ancient volcano to Curral das Freiras, boasting spectacular views of the lofty peaks? Or maybe the high-level traverse from Boca do Risco along the North Coast, culminating in the seaside town of Porto da Cruz, where you can enjoy a refreshing drink on the beach? Madeira offers to many walking opportunities waiting to be explored.
Although our two week holiday is Grade 5, our walks from Funchal could also be described as Grade 6 due to some longer descents. Please see our Holiday Information Sheet for more details.
Our December holidays operate with a reversed itinerary, where you'll visit Porto Moniz first. Then travel to Ponta do Sol and end your holiday with 7 nights in Funchal. Please see our Holiday Information Sheet for these specific dates for more details.