- Madeira Walking Routes
- Walking Madeira's Levadas with Funchal Stay
Explore the 'Garden Island' of Madeira as you follow its unique Levadas, a network of irrigation channels that wind through lush forests and dramatic mountains. Immerse yourself in vivid floral blooms and verdant greenery as you embark on four spectacular trails, enjoying panoramic views, whitewashed villages and a walking tour of charming Funchal.
Enjoy an extended stay relaxing on Madeira at your choice of hotel in Funchal's Lido area.
Dinner
Depart on your scheduled flight to Madeira. On arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel with the remainder of the day at leisure. Later tonight, celebrate the start of your tour as you join your group for a welcome dinner and drink in the hotel restaurant.
Breakfast & Lunch
The magnificent stretch of the Levada do Norte sets today's walking course. The Levada is one of the largest on Madeira, running almost entirely across its length. Its location in southern Madeira allows hikers to soak in the year-round sunshine of this part of the island. Your starting point at the lofty cliffs of Cabo Girao provides panoramic ocean views from the very beginning of the trail before your path winds into a forested area. Observation points along the way offer glimpses of fields, carefully tilled plantations and the rooftops of the Camara de Lobos and Campanario villages below.
Average 4-5 hours of walking with breaks, covering 9km. Includes Picnic Lunch.
Breakfast & Lunch
Funchal's best-loved Levada, Levada Ribeiro Frio, offers a peaceful and leisurely walk alongside a flowing irrigation canal. As you follow the trail, enjoy diverse sights ranging from spectacular gardens and blooming wild hydrangea to trout ponds and farms. Keep an eye out for trout darting through the water as you enjoy the natural heritage and unspoiled tranquillity.
Average 4-5 hours of walking with breaks, covering 11km. Includes Picnic Lunch.
Breakfast
The city of Funchal provides a fascinating mix of history and coastal charm. The older section of the town boasts long-standing monuments dotted along its cobbled streets while its lively seaside promenade offers sun-soaked lidos, beaches and cafes. A guided walking tour of the city centre takes you past the local theatre, the vivid blooms of the Municipal Garden, the age-old cathedral and the statue of Largo do Chafariz. Stop to explore the bustling central market, where stalls are laden with colourful, fresh produce then visit a nearby embroidery factory and browse through skilfully stitched homeware. Explore the city further with an afternoon at leisure.
Average 3 hours of walking with breaks, covering 4km
Breakfast & Lunch
Explore the immense Paul da Serra plateau on today's slightly more challenging walk along the Vereda do Fanal trail. The relative flatness of the plateau allows for far-reaching vistas, with several points along the way revealing views over the valley and even the ocean on clear days. Your route ascends and descends through lush vegetation, ending in the forest of Fanal which lies in a small volcanic crater. Enjoy some time to relax and soak in your wooded surroundings before returning to your hotel.
Average 4-5 hours of walking with breaks, covering 10km. Includes Picnic Lunch.
Breakfast & Lunch
Today's route leads to Vereda da Ponta de Sao Lourenco, situated on the very eastern point of the island. Marvel at fabulous seascapes and the contrast between the serenity of the southern coastline and the rough waters of the north. Discover unique fauna and flora and the curious rock formations which are a result of the island's volcanic origin. After walking a few miles, your path descends to the water's edge where you can enjoy the quiet and freshness of the turquoise seas, with time to swim and sunbathe.
Average 4 hours of walking with breaks, covering 8km. Includes Picnic Lunch.
Breakfast
Today is free for you to relax, explore Funchal further or set out further afield to visit one of the charming villages nearby.
This time is at leisure. Giving you the chance to relax and explore a little further and enjoy the hotel facilities.
Following breakfast, transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK.
Use discount code TOUR200 at the checkout to save £200 per person on selected tours departing in September 2026 and October 2026
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The order of walks may vary according to local conditions or for operational purposes. Your local mountain guide will inform you of any changes. Some road construction and/or weather conditions may lengthen the driving times and change in itineraries. Our intention is to adhere to the day-to-day itinerary as printed; however, order of walks may vary according to local conditions.
If booking more than 12 weeks before departure a deposit of £295.00pp will need to be paid at the time of booking with the full amount payable at 12 weeks prior to departure. The deposit applies to adults and children. If you are within 12 weeks of travel then the full balance of the holiday will be payable.
A visa is not required for your trip to Portugal. Further advice should be sought from the applicable tourist authority for other nationalities and for general queries. We strongly advise you check your destinations' Tourist Board or Embassy for the most up-to-date guidelines regarding passport validity.
It is your responsibility to check your passport validity. To enter Madeira your passport must: have a ‘date of issue’ less than 10 years before the date you arrive and have an ‘expiry date’ at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave. Sources of information include; https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice
Please note your final documentation will be sent to you approximately 21 days before departure. Check in baggage is included with your flight. Weight restrictions will be finalised on your final documentation. Should you wish to take additional luggage you will need to pay extra at check-in. Check-in should be at least 3 hours before departure. If you wish to arrange Airport car parking or accommodation at preferential rates, we recommend you book this in advance with Holiday Extras on 0333 188 0407, quoting HX313.
We strongly recommend that you and all members of your party are suitably insured as soon as you book your holiday. It is a condition of booking that you must have suitable travel insurance. It is important that you purchase travel insurance that suitably covers your participation in whatever activities you may undertake at the time that you make your booking. To assist you with this, we have arranged travel insurance in partnership with Holiday Extras, including up to a 20% discount, which is given to all Mercury Holidays customers. To arrange your insurance with Holiday Extras, please visit https://www.mercuryholidays.co.uk/info/insurance for more details. Please ensure you provide us with the name of your insurer, policy number and their 24 hour emergency contact number as soon as possible. Mercury Holidays will not be liable for any costs incurred by you due to your failure to take out suitable travel insurance from the date of booking.
It is your responsibility to check any health and vaccination requirements applicable to your booked arrangements. We can only provide general information about this. Health and hygiene facilities and disease risks vary from country to country. You should take health advice about your own needs as early as possible and in good time before your departure. Sources of information include; www.fco.gov.uk, www.travelhealthpro.org.uk, www.hpa.org.uk, your General Practitioner or a specialist clinic.
During this walking holiday, walks will average 4-5 hours daily. Walks are through plain, level areas with some ascents and descents through countryside and forests. Other walks explore valleys and rugged coastal tracks. This holiday requires a reasonable level of fitness. If you are in any doubt as to the tours suitability, please speak to your GP as soon as possible as this is a physical holiday.
The currency in Madeira is the Euro. We recommend that you exchange your currency before you leave the UK. We recommend that you exchange your currency before you leave the UK. It is important that you budget carefully and ensure you have the right form of currency before you arrive in the country. Cash machines will also be available throughout the tour to withdraw money in your local currency.
As normal practice you may be asked for your credit card details on check-in at the hotel in order to cover any extras incurred during your stay. If you do not have a credit card, you may be asked for a cash deposit. MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted in hotels as well as American Express.
You will need to take some extra money with you to cover any meals where these are not mentioned on your itinerary and personal purchases, such as souvenirs, drinks and snacks. Approximately £200-£300 per person should be sufficient for the duration of your tour. Tipping is at your discretion; However, we would recommend approximately 2-3 Euros per day. Tips are accepted in the local currency, however, it is asked that if you do not tip in the local currency that you only pay with notes, as coins cannot be exchanged.
The minimum number of travellers in your group will be 10 and the maximum will be 19. In the unlikely event that there are fewer than 10 passengers booked on your tour date, you may be asked to change to a different date. A full refund will be made available to you should this alternative not be suitable.
There is no minimum number of travellers for this extension however the main tour passenger numbers will apply for the main part of the tour. If in the unlikely event there are less than the required number of people booked on your main tour date then you may be asked to change to a different date. A full refund will be made available to you should this alternative not be suitable.
This is a fully escorted tour, meaning that you will be met on arrival by your local assistant who you can contact for the duration of your trip. You will also be joined by a local mountain guide and backmarker during your walks, ensuring that you have first-hand knowledge at all times. Should the tour not meet minimum numbers, then it will be operated with 1 mountain guide only. Private Tour If you have booked a private tour then you will be accompanied by a Driver Guide or a Driver and Local Guides. These will be available to you during all scheduled sightseeing.
Your stay in Funchal is not escorted by a tour guide. Your time here will be free to do as you wish. All internal transfers are included.
Your accommodation is selected for convenience, location, comfort or character, and can range from business hotels to leisure hotels. Hotel accommodation is generally rated as local three to four-star standard, but please note there is no international classification system for hotels, and differences in facilities and quality do exist compared to what you might expect in the UK. All group tours hotels have private bathroom facilities and air-conditioning, where needed. Rest assured that all accommodation used by Mercury Holidays is regularly inspected by our staff and partners to ensure that standards meet your needs.
Breakfast is always western style and served in the hotel each morning.
A picnic lunch is included on selected days of your tour. Please refer to your itinerary for details of when this is included.
It is not recommended to drink the tap water, even in developed countries water may contain unfamiliar elements that can cause upset stomachs. In less developed countries water is not filtered in the same way.
Please contact Customer Experience for questions about other dietary requirements or allergy information
On your arrival into Funchal you will be met by a representative from our local agent, Windsor Travel, holding a sign displaying: “Mercury Holidays”. The Mercury Holidays/ Windsor Travel representative will show you to your transfer vehicle. Your local guide will be on hand during the walks should you have any queries.
If you need to contact your local assistant during your stay the details are:
Windsor Travel: Contact numbers: 00 351 291 700 600, 00 351 913 755 568
Email: carolinaoliveira@windsortravel.ws or catarinagautier@windsortravel.ws
Emergency contact information: Please find below the emergency contact details for Windsor Travel: 00 351 291 700 600, 00 351 913 755 568