- self-guided hotel-to-hotel walking, luggage transported
- dramatic scenery and breathtaking views
- thrilling walks alongside the levadas
- walk through rare laurisilva (laurel forests)
On an island that is famed for its rich plant life and striking landscapes, Madeira’s northern and eastern coastlines are particularly luxuriant and dramatic, with deep ravines that plunge down towards the Atlantic. Walk high above the sea through swathes of 'laurisilva', a relict of the Tertiary period that shelters many endemic species, and contour the terraced mountain slopes on paths overlooked by elegant quintas and tiny farmsteads. With such impressive and varied scenery, the views are astonishing at every turn, and walking here is undeniably thrilling.
Madeira's levadas have long been considered one of the world's great walking pleasures. Covering more than 1,200 miles, these narrow waterways link the wetter north to the dry south, every yard mirrored by shaded paths.
Nicholas Roe, Daily Mail, September 2010
One of Madeira's unique characteristics is the extensive network of flower-lined levadas (channels) which crisscross the mountainsides, some of them still carrying water from one side of the island to the other. No two levadas (and hence no two days of walking) are the same and, with these as your guide, you can put away your map and appreciate the views and the flowers – agapanthus, lilies and bird of paradise – to the full.