Portugal's Madeira Walking & Hiking Tour
6 days
5 nights
Activity Levels 2-4
Premiere Hotels
Portugal's Madeira Walking & Hiking Tour
6 days
5 nights
Activity Levels 2-4
Premiere Hotels
2025: Mar-Dec
Epic Trails & Ancient Forests on the Atlantic's Garden Isle
With mountain ridges soaring up from the azure sea, waterfalls cascading down sky-high cliffs and the world’s largest surviving laurel forest, Madeira has more than earned its title as the Pearl of the Atlantic. Take it all in as you hike trails bordered by ferns and orchids, visit terra cotta-roofed fishing villages and lounge on sun-drenched beaches. Like the wine, life here is sweet.
Highlights
- Traverse the island via a 600-year-old system of levadas—aqueducts that crisscross its emerald mountains and carry water to its lower lands
- Partake in an array of food-centric experiences including a tour of a banana plantation, a local wine tasting and a Michelin-starred dinner
- Watch sperm whales breach and bottlenose dolphins play as you take to the seas like an ancient Portuguese explorer
- Discover Madeira's seafaring history in its capital city, Funchal, and drive east to admire tropical plants at Palheiro Gardens
Start/EndFunchal
* Start/End locations may vary. Do not book flights until your trip details are confirmed.
Itinerary
Days 1-2
Start your journey with lunch in the village of Camacha, the center of Madeira’s thriving wicker industry • Follow a section of levadas past ponds, leafy ferns and majestic oak trees • Venture to the rugged Ponta de São Lourenço, a stretch of remarkable basalt coastline that sharply contrasts with the island’s lush interior • Summit Pico do Facho for breathtaking panoramic views of valleys, mountains and the nearby Desertas Islands • Wander through roses and camellia trees in the colorful Palheiro Gardens.
Nights 1-2
High up in the hills above Funchal, this tranquil hotel—originally built in 1804—has kept its old-world charm and is filled with antiques, fresh flowers and floral patterns inspired by its proximity to the lovely Palheiro Estate and Gardens. A Relais & Châteaux member. (pool, spa)
Day 3
Hike through the lush valley of Sao Vicente • Get to know some of Madeira’s endemic flora and fauna • Trace levadas past mountain faces streaked with waterfalls • Experience Calheta, a town built upon one of Madeira’s prettiest white-sand beaches.
Night 3
Converted from an old sugar mill, this sleek hotel has been redesigned with modern decor and rooms boasting floor-to-ceiling windows looking out on the Atlantic and surrounding green mountains. (pool, spa)
Days 4-6
Admire crystal-clear waters as you search for dolphins, turtles and whales on a boating excursion • Learn about banana trees on a guided tour of an organic banana farm, only accessible by boat or cable car • Savor a variety of farm-fresh Madeiran dishes and wines for lunch • Explore the island's highest peaks, ascending nearly 6,000 feet to gaze at privileged views of the surrounding mountain ridges • Dine on Michelin-starred cuisine after watching a spectacular sunset • Walk Funchal's cobblestoned streets and take a cable car up to Monte for aerial views of the city.
Nights 4-5
With iconic baby-pink walls, this palatial structure built onto the clifftops near Funchal has been an island mainstay for the past 100 years. Though modernized, it still enjoys a roaring 20s flair. (pool, spa)
What's Included
See moreStraight Talk
We want to make sure you're on the trip that's right for you. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.
Hotels
World-Class Hotels
Our hand-selected Premiere hotels offer exceptional hospitality and experiences as special as the regions we explore.
Hotels may vary based on departure. Any variations will be displayed when selecting a departure under Dates & Prices.
Nights 1-2
Premiere Hotel
High up in the hills above Funchal, this tranquil hotel—originally built in 1804—has kept its old-world charm and is filled with antiques, fresh flowers and floral patterns inspired by its proximity to the lovely Palheiro Estate and Gardens. A Relais & Châteaux member. (pool, spa)
Night 3
Premiere Hotel
Converted from an old sugar mill, this sleek hotel has been redesigned with modern decor and rooms boasting floor-to-ceiling windows looking out on the Atlantic and surrounding green mountains. (pool, spa)
Nights 4-5
Premiere Hotel
With iconic baby-pink walls, this palatial structure built onto the clifftops near Funchal has been an island mainstay for the past 100 years. Though modernized, it still enjoys a roaring 20s flair. (pool, spa)
Gallery
Dates & Prices
Dates & Prices
Click on dates for pricing, itinerary variations (if any) and to book your trip. Price is per person, double occupancy in USD.
Please Select a Group Size
Group size is required to show per-person pricing. Your group size can be approximate and can change.
