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The Azores

Europe's westernmost frontier

The Azores, some 800 miles west of mainland Portugal, remain one of Europe’s most impressive and least-discovered outposts. This extraordinary archipelago has historically formed a vital link between the Old and New Worlds, with a distinctive history and culture. The fusion of vivid green landscapes (the result of the humid climate) and haunting volcanic scenery lends them a unique feel, and culturally, too, the mix is fascinating - striking Baroque churches built by the pioneers, bustling ports, great religious festivals… Choose to explore São Miguel on a week-long holiday, or visit São Miguel, São Jorge, Faial and Pico as part of a 14-night itinerary. Walking is the best way to discover their volcanic landscapes and lush vegetation, which includes pockets of ancient laurisilva forest, tropical plants, hydrangeas and cedars. To fully show you the great scenic variety, we suggest walks in different corners of the islands, all accessed using your hire car in the case of São Miguel, or taxis on the other islands.

Whatever you opt for, you have a week on São Miguel, which is the largest and most varied of the islands, making it a great introduction to the Azores with its crater lakes, hot springs and mist-shrouded peaks. North-west of São Miguel, the most picturesque island, São Jorge, is characterised by its fajas (fertile plains by the sea framed by steep slopes and planted with crops and fruit trees) and by the chain of mountains that runs the entire length of the island. Further west still, Faial may be one of the smallest islands, but is one of the best known because its harbour, Horta, has traditionally been a port of call for ships crossing the Atlantic. Beyond the handsome port is an equally beautiful island, with windmills, a varied coastline and hedges of blue hydrangeas. So different are the east and west sides, however, that they could be two different islands. Finally, Pico earns its name from its distinctive mountain whose summit, at 2,351 metres, is one of the highest in the Atlantic. Beneath it are densely wooded lava flows and groves of cedars and laurels.

7-night version featuring São Miguel island only

Nights: 7
Grade: 2
Terrain: coast, meadows, mountains
Hotels: one manor house
Meals: breakfast each day, plus 4 picnics. We do not include dinner as we suggest that you make the most of your hire car and sample a variety of restaurants (pay locally)
Climate: temperate

Dolphins

Lake Fogo

Hot springs

Horta, Faial

Pico

São Jorge's coastline

Hotel: Solar do Lalém (manor house), Maia. Dating back to the 17th century, this attractive manor house set on the edge of the quiet coastal village of Maia has been lovingly renovated to create a high-quality country house hotel. There are just ten bedrooms, each decorated individually and furnished with handsome period pieces, plus attractive gardens, a bar, a large lounge-cum-library and an outdoor swimming pool. Your helpful hosts, Gerd and Gabriele, reserve the larger rooms for you and make you feel like welcome house guests.

Given that one day will be taken up by the half-day whale-watching trip included in our arrangements, we suggest five walks for your week on the island:

Walk 1: an easy walk that begins on the alluvial plain of Faial da Terra, then rises through the Sanguinho river valley to reach the waterfall of Salto do Prego. In summer, the displays of flowers are fantastic, with acacias, banksias and yellow ginger lilies lining the trail. To return to your car, you start by retracing your steps, then pick up a different path that takes in the abandoned village of Sanguinho. (5km, 2hrs. Drive from hotel to starting point: 30mins)

Walk 2: starting at the spa town of Furnas, this walk circles a low-level crater lake. Easy underfoot, your path winds through open meadows and mixed woodland with tree ferns, passing bubbling hot springs, and ending at the beautiful botanical gardens at Furnas, which we recommend you visit (pay locally) so as to gain an excellent introduction to the archipelago's flora. (11km, 4hrs. Drive from hotel to starting point: 30mins)

Walk 3: the target of this circular walk is the 'fire lake' of Fogo (so named because the eruption in 1563 that formed the crater which it occupies caused a bright glow visible for miles). You approach the lake from the south coast, ascending a river valley in which azaleas and rice paper trees thrive. Enjoy the wonderful views of the lake’s azure-green waters, set in a dramatic crater that is now a breeding ground for hundreds of gulls, before descending to your car. (16km, 5hrs)

Walk 4: this is a linear walk that explores the south coast around the fishing village of Ribeira Quente, leading you across several gullies that have been carved into the coastal cliffs. You return by the same route. (10km, 4hrs. Drive from hotel to starting point: 50mins)

Walk 5: this walk reveals the famous crater lakes of Sete Cidades, leading around the rim of the crater, from which you are rewarded with views of the lakes and numerous volcanic cones with the sea beyond, and later through a cedar forest. (12km, 4hrs. Drive from hotel to starting point: 1hr)

Whale- and dolphin-watching trip: the Azores are set in one of the world’s most important areas for marine mammals. Your half-day excursion departs from the island's capital, Ponta Delgada, and explores the waters off the south coast in search of sperm whales, pilot whales, dolphins and turtles. We normally book this for your third day so as to give you the opportunity to repeat the boat trip free of charge if no mammals are spotted first time around.

Exploring by car: there are numerous options for exploring by car. Some of the most rewarding areas to visit are the western volcano and its lakes, the tea plantations on the north coast, and the more remote far eastern end of the island.

> Prices

14-night version featuring São Miguel, São Jorge & Faial

Nights: 14
Grade: 2
Terrain: coast, meadows, mountains
Hotels: one manor house; one country house; one 4-star hotel
Meals on São Miguel: breakfast each day, plus 4 picnics. We do not include dinner as we suggest that you make the most of your hire car and sample a variety of restaurants (pay locally)
Meals on São Jorge: breakfast each day, plus 4 picnics (pay locally for dinner)
Meals on Faial: breakfast each day (pay locally for dinner)
Climate: temperate

São Miguel: as on the 7-night version, you stay at the Solar do Lalém and can enjoy our five suggested walks, plus a whale-watching trip.

You then take a 1-hour internal flight to São Jorge, where you stay 4 nights.

São Jorge hotel: Casa do Antonio (2*), Velas. Situated in the centre of the island's capital, this is a friendly hotel just 50 metres from the sea. It is worth upgrading to a Tower Room for views across the ocean towards Pico.

We offer the following four walks, of which you will have time for three. All of them start with a taxi ride (included), and the taxi driver will collect you from your hotel at 9.30 each morning, at which point you can decide which walk to do that day (he will be happy to offer advice as to the best option as regards the weather) and arrange a time to be picked up at the end of the walk where necessary.

Walk 1: this gentle walk begins at the pretty forest park of Sete Fontes on the island's north-western tip. Your path meanders through green pastures, affording views of the neighbouring island of Graciosa, to reach a ruined lighthouse. You return by a more southerly route, with views of Faial and Pico dominating the horizon. (10km, 3.5hrs)

Walk 2: this beautiful route descends along a partly cobbled trail through a lush valley, passing a hidden waterfall and rock pools near an abandoned hamlet to reach the coast at the Faja de Santo Cristo, with its idyllic church and lagoon. After pausing to study the reflections on the water, you continue on your way along the coastal path, crossing fertile lava platforms and passing scattered settlements. (9km, 3.5hrs)

Walk 3: an easy track leads onto the ridge that runs the full length of the island. You follow this westwards, accompanied by views to the island's westernmost tip and along both the southern and northern coasts to the other islands of the archipelago, before descending into Velas. (12km, 4.5hrs)

Walk 4: while walk 3 explores the western part of the island's spine, this walk leads in an easterly direction along the central ridge. Trails descend to the picturesque coastal hamlet of Faja do Ouvidor, from where you pass alongside a chain of volcanic peaks before descending through pastures to the sea and the volcanic coastal plain. (16km, 6hrs)

After 4 nights on São Jorge, you catch the ferry to Faial (pay locally), where you spend 3 nights.

Faial hotel: Pousada Santa Cruz (4*), Horta. Converted from part of a 16th-century fortress and still encircled by ramparts, this is a high-quality hotel with magnificent views of the neighbouring island of Pico. You can choose to dine at the hotel itself or in one of the restaurants in the town or around the colourful harbour (pay locally in both cases). The hotel boasts a swimming pool and we include sea-facing rooms.

Walk 1: this walk reveals scenery unlike any other explored on this holiday. Take a taxi to the starting point (40mins - pay locally) then ascend and descend, first through farmland, then through jungle-like woodland. The vegetation becomes gradually less dense until eventually you are walking across a barren, lunar landscape. These haunting volcanic badlands were formed in the eruption of 1957/58 which increased the size of the island, with the result that the lighthouse that once stood on the western tip is now considerably inland. The walk to your collection point (pay locally for the taxi back to Horta) hugs the coastline. (15km, 4hrs)

Walk 2: we suggest you spend your final day on the island of Pico, reached by ferry (30mins - pay locally), so that you can enjoy an undemanding walk on the lower slopes of the conical peak which has served as a backdrop to many of your walks during the last week. Admire the sea views as you walk along flower-edged lanes. (10km, 3.5hrs)

Other information: if you would like to see the brochure page, you can download this (and the pages for any other holidays you are interested in) by using our brochure creation system.

Similar holidays: Waterways & Flowers of Madeira (grade 2), The Treasures of Eastern Sicily (grades 1, 2 & 3)

Prices & travel 2008:

Recommended destination airport: arrival São Miguel; departure São Miguel for 7-night holiday,
Horta for 14-night holiday
Latest flight arrival time: flexible (drive to hotel is 1h)
Earliest flight departure time: flexible (drive to airport on São Miguel is 1h; on Faial 0h15)
*Included travel, 7-night holiday: 7 days’ category C car hire
*Included travel, 14-night holiday: 7 days’ category C car hire, domestic flight São Miguel to São Jorge, transfers from airport & to port on São Jorge
Book your flights through us and we'll find the best route, times and price to suit you
Start: any day

Extra night prices 2008 (extra nights can be booked at any hotel):

> Notes on prices

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