• Hiking between sea and mountains on the east coast of the island
  • Hiking between sea and mountains on the east coast of the island
  • Hiking between sea and mountains on the east coast of the island
  • Hiking between sea and mountains on the east coast of the island
  • Hiking between sea and mountains on the east coast of the island
  • Hiking between sea and mountains on the east coast of the island
  • Hiking between sea and mountains on the east coast of the island
  • Hiking between sea and mountains on the east coast of the island
  • Hiking between sea and mountains on the east coast of the island
  • Hiking between sea and mountains on the east coast of the island
  • Hiking between sea and mountains on the east coast of the island
  • Hiking between sea and mountains on the east coast of the island
Ascension à Madère
Madeira

Hiking between sea and mountains on the east coast of the island

4,7/5 (27 reviews)
Réf : BMAD8X

In summary

  • Sports
    Hiking / Trekking
  • Duration
    8 days
  • Level
    Confirmed

    Levels

    Hiking / Trekking
    Beginner
    For those wishing to walk for up to 3 hours with minimal elevation gain (max. 300m) along roads, tracks, trails, or rolling terrain. Suitable for everyone.
    Intermediate
    For those wishing to hike for 4 to 5 hours a day, covering an elevation gain of around 600m on trails. You hike occasionally and are in good physical condition.
    Confirmed
    For those wishing to hike for up to 6 hours a day and/or cover an elevation gain of 600 to 800 meters, both on and off-trail. High-altitude sections are possible. You engage in a sporting activity once a week, hike regularly, and are in very good physical condition.
    Advanced
    For those wishing to undertake multi-day hikes involving over 6 hours of walking and an elevation gain of 700 to 1,200 meters, off-trail or over rugged terrain. High-altitude sections are possible. You engage in endurance sports several times a week, hike regularly, and are in excellent physical condition.
    Expert
    For those who want a challenging hike of 7 to 8 hours per day with over 1200 meters of elevation gain off-trail or on rough terrain. High-altitude sections. You have been practicing high-intensity endurance sports several times a week for several years, and you are training for this event.
  • Destination
    Portugal / Madeira
  • Age
    From 16 - 90 years
  • CO₂-Emissions
    103.41 kg CO2
  • Type of stay
    This group trip is perfect for travelers who want to experience a sporting adventure with other enthusiasts and be guided.
    Type of stay
    In a group
  • Languages
    🇵🇹
    Portuguese

In a few words

Discover the natural wonders of Madeira on a multi-day hike through lush vegetation and volcanic landscapes sculpted by time. Between spectacular cliffs, coastal paths, and deep valleys , this trip promises an authentic immersion into the soul of the island.

Your adventure begins with a scenic hike from Machico to Porto da Cruz, along a balcony trail offering breathtaking ocean views. You then continue along the Levada do Furado , an iconic irrigation channel winding through the laurel forest. Next, you head towards the Picos de Europa mountains, where a 360° panorama reveals the island's grandeur.

A change of scenery awaits in the Boaventura Valley, a haven of unspoiled nature, where you'll hike along the ridge trail overlooking the ocean and mountains. Then, descend towards Encumeada , before reaching Funchal via the breathtaking Cabo Girão viewpoint , the second highest sea cliff in Europe.

Your stay concludes with free time in Funchal , an opportunity to stroll through its colorful streets before departure. A journey between land and sea, ideal for lovers of hiking and breathtaking scenery!

The highlights

  • A journey between sea and mountains with few transfers
  • Crossing the Picos and hiking through exceptional subtropical vegetation
  • The quality of the accommodations
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Photos

Ascension à Madère
Chemin en bord de mer à Madère
Marché de Funchal, Madère
Hors des sentiers classiques à Madère
Vue aérienne des chemins de Madère
La plage de sable de Porto Santo

Sport

Level

Hiking / Trekking

Confirmed

Levels

Hiking / Trekking
Beginner
For those wishing to walk for up to 3 hours with minimal elevation gain (max. 300m) along roads, tracks, trails, or rolling terrain. Suitable for everyone.
Intermediate
For those wishing to hike for 4 to 5 hours a day, covering an elevation gain of around 600m on trails. You hike occasionally and are in good physical condition.
Confirmed
For those wishing to hike for up to 6 hours a day and/or cover an elevation gain of 600 to 800 meters, both on and off-trail. High-altitude sections are possible. You engage in a sporting activity once a week, hike regularly, and are in very good physical condition.
Advanced
For those wishing to undertake multi-day hikes involving over 6 hours of walking and an elevation gain of 700 to 1,200 meters, off-trail or over rugged terrain. High-altitude sections are possible. You engage in endurance sports several times a week, hike regularly, and are in excellent physical condition.
Expert
For those who want a challenging hike of 7 to 8 hours per day with over 1200 meters of elevation gain off-trail or on rough terrain. High-altitude sections. You have been practicing high-intensity endurance sports several times a week for several years, and you are training for this event.
For those wishing to hike for up to 6 hours a day and/or cover an elevation gain of 600 to 800 meters, both on and off-trail. High-altitude sections are possible. You engage in a sporting activity once a week, hike regularly, and are in very good physical condition.

In figures

Hiking

  • Average duration/day: 5h
  • Average distance/day: 12 km
  • Average daily elevation gain: 564 m
  • Average daily descent: 639 m

Management

During this stay, a supervisor will be present to guide and assist you.
Band : 1 supervisor for 5 to 15 people
Languages ​​spoken:
🇵🇹
Portuguese
Guide accompagnateur

A French-speaking Madeiran guide, or more rarely a French one, will be present from the morning of day 2 until the afternoon of day 7. They will be there every day, leaving you at the end of the day and meeting you again in the morning.

In all cases, he was chosen for his field experience, his specific knowledge of a geographical area, the culture associated with it, and for his passion for showcasing the country.

Program

Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Day 8
  • map

    Arrival in Madeira

    • Activity Hiking
    • Duration of the activity 4h
    • Distance 6 km
    • Positive elevation gain 500 m
    • Negative elevation 500 m
    • Accommodation 4-star hotel
    • Breakfast not included
    • Lunch not included
    • Dinner not included

    Individual arrival at Funchal airport, located in the municipality of Santa Cruz. Independent transfer and check-in to your accommodation in Santa Cruz or Machico.

    If your flight arrives early enough, you can explore the São Lourenço peninsula (self-guided hike; expect to pay around €50 for a round-trip taxi from Machico or Santa Cruz // €100 from São Roque do Faial). It's located at the northeastern tip of the island. A lovely trail allows you to appreciate a very dry, almost lunar landscape and offers stunning views of the ocean, and with a bit of luck, Porto Santo.

    In case of late arrival, go directly to the accommodation.

    Day 1

Note

Depending on weather and operational conditions, the guide may modify this itinerary for your safety and that of the group.

Accommodation

During this stay, you will sleep in several different accommodations.

Access

Departure
Machico
Day 1
End of stay
Machico
Day 8

Transfer on your own on Day 1 to the hotel for the first night. Meet your guide at 8:00 AM at the hotel reception on Day 2. Departure on Day 8 after breakfast.

Airport-hotel transfers are included if you booked your flights with us.

Go to the starting point

Access by plane
The nearest airport isAéroport de Funchal
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Price details

The price includes

  1. Accommodation for 7 nights in hotels and residences (based on a standard double room)
  2. Breakfasts from Day 2 to Day 8
  3. Picnic lunches from Day 2 to Day 7
  4. Dinners from Day 2 to Day 5
  5. The trip will be supervised by a tour guide from the morning of day 2 to the afternoon of day 7.
  6. Transfers by minibus according to the program
  7. Luggage transfers according to the program

The price does not include

  1. International flights Paris / Funchal round trip
  2. Air taxes
  3. Airport-hotel-airport transfers (if you did not book your flights with us)
  4. Meals listed as "not included"
  5. Drinks
  6. Entrance fees to sites and museums, including the Cabo Girao viewpoint (€2 per visit)
  7. Tips for the local staff (at your discretion)

Options

You will be able to select these options when booking.
  1. Flight booking + Airport transfers : CHF90.25 / person
  2. Airport transfer Funchal / Hotel Santa Cruz for 1 to 7 people : CHF33.25 / unit
  3. Transfer from Funchal hotel to Funchal airport for 1 to 7 people : CHF61.75 / unit
  4. Single room supplement : CHF237.50 / person
  5. Additional night in Machico/Santa Cruz in a single room : CHF76.00 / person
  6. Additional night in Machico/Santa Cruz in a double room : CHF47.50 / person
  7. Additional night in Funchal in a single room : CHF104.50 / person
  8. Additional night in Funchal in a double room : CHF57.00 / person
  9. Whale watching excursion : CHF71.25 / person
  10. Flex fare and insurance

Practical information

Specific formalities
Equipment

They traveled with us

Discover the authentic experiences of our travelers
4,7/5
(27 reviews)
At Decathlon, the reviews are reliable.
Reviews displayed in reverse chronological order
L

Lisa

september 2026
Translated from French
The organization was quite good, the guide was very friendly, knowledgeable about the island and its flora, and fluent in French. The accommodations were more than adequate. The downsides were a few frankly bad meals and the lack of strenuous activity; two out of five hikes had less than 500 meters of elevation gain, including one day where we only hiked for two hours. But overall, a very good trip!
Published on 15/09/2026
DT
Decathlon Travel's response
Translated from French

Good morning,

Thank you so much for your detailed feedback! We're delighted that the guide's passion and the quality of the accommodations were a hit, but we definitely understand your comments about the meals and the two outings that were a little too easy in terms of elevation gain. We'll be discussing this with our local team right away to adjust the level of activity and the food on the menu. We look forward to taking you on a more challenging route next time!

From a sporting perspective, the Decathlon Travel team

E

Evelyne

september 2025
Translated from French
I recommend this trip. The scenery is magnificent, and we took some less-traveled trails. It was very educational. The mattress at the Sao Roque residence was very uncomfortable, but the staff was friendly and we ate well.
Published on 22/09/2025
S

Serge

august 2025
Translated from French
A dream destination. However, the Decathlon program wasn't up-to-date with the local agency's and was sorely lacking in detail... and luckily, once you're there, as Roberto would say, you throw it all away 😉 A top-notch guide and organization. A small group of six who didn't know each other on the morning of departure and parted ways, not without emotion, after six days. Our guide, Roberto, adapted well... even if we were a bit unruly, and we appreciated his thoughtful touches at lunchtime. In short, a dream vacation, sporty but quite accessible for people with a reasonable fitness level. Not much elevation gain per day, but some steep climbs. The only downside was the last night in a not-so-great hotel, whereas the previous ones had always been decent, even if a bit typical.
  • Serge
Published on 29/08/2025
DT
Decathlon Travel's response
Translated from French

Good morning,


Thank you so much for your feedback! We are delighted that you had such a wonderful sporting and friendly experience, especially thanks to Roberto's guidance.

We have taken note of your comments regarding the program delay and the inconsistent quality of the last accommodation. These points have been addressed in order to improve the clarity and quality of the stay.


The Decathlon Travel team

They traveled with us

Discover the authentic experiences of our travelers
4,7/5
(27 reviews)
At Decathlon, the reviews are reliable.
Reviews displayed in reverse chronological order
L

Lisa

september 2026
Translated from French
The organization was quite good, the guide was very friendly, knowledgeable about the island and its flora, and fluent in French. The accommodations were more than adequate. The downsides were a few frankly bad meals and the lack of strenuous activity; two out of five hikes had less than 500 meters of elevation gain, including one day where we only hiked for two hours. But overall, a very good trip!
Published on 15/09/2026
DT
Decathlon Travel's response
Translated from French

Good morning,

Thank you so much for your detailed feedback! We're delighted that the guide's passion and the quality of the accommodations were a hit, but we definitely understand your comments about the meals and the two outings that were a little too easy in terms of elevation gain. We'll be discussing this with our local team right away to adjust the level of activity and the food on the menu. We look forward to taking you on a more challenging route next time!

From a sporting perspective, the Decathlon Travel team

E

Evelyne

september 2025
Translated from French
I recommend this trip. The scenery is magnificent, and we took some less-traveled trails. It was very educational. The mattress at the Sao Roque residence was very uncomfortable, but the staff was friendly and we ate well.
Published on 22/09/2025
S

Serge

august 2025
Translated from French
A dream destination. However, the Decathlon program wasn't up-to-date with the local agency's and was sorely lacking in detail... and luckily, once you're there, as Roberto would say, you throw it all away 😉 A top-notch guide and organization. A small group of six who didn't know each other on the morning of departure and parted ways, not without emotion, after six days. Our guide, Roberto, adapted well... even if we were a bit unruly, and we appreciated his thoughtful touches at lunchtime. In short, a dream vacation, sporty but quite accessible for people with a reasonable fitness level. Not much elevation gain per day, but some steep climbs. The only downside was the last night in a not-so-great hotel, whereas the previous ones had always been decent, even if a bit typical.
  • Serge
Published on 29/08/2025
DT
Decathlon Travel's response
Translated from French

Good morning,


Thank you so much for your feedback! We are delighted that you had such a wonderful sporting and friendly experience, especially thanks to Roberto's guidance.

We have taken note of your comments regarding the program delay and the inconsistent quality of the last accommodation. These points have been addressed in order to improve the clarity and quality of the stay.


The Decathlon Travel team

G

Gwladys

july 2025
Translated from French
The trip to Madeira was incredible, with a top-notch local agency in terms of logistics and organization, a fantastic guide Honorio, a great group, wonderful encounters, and the discovery of a magnificent island. A minor drawback was the information provided by Decathlon Travel; the mileage for the hikes was incorrect (15km/day on average).
Published on 29/07/2025
DT
Decathlon Travel's response
Translated from French

Hello Gwladys,


Thank you for your positive feedback on your trip to Madeira. We are delighted that the organization, the guide Honorio, and the group atmosphere allowed you to have a wonderful experience.

We have taken note of your comment regarding the hiking distances. The stages indicated on our information sheet are an average estimate, but we will verify them with our partner to better reflect the reality on the ground.

Looking forward to accompanying you on a future adventure.


The Decathlon Travel team

M

Magali

july 2025
Translated from French
We had a fantastic stay in Madeira. The hikes and scenery were magnificent. Our guide, Honorio, was fabulous; we discovered breathtaking trails and views. He adapted the program to the weather (as we had a few days of fog). His knowledge of botany and history, along with his humor, enriched our stay throughout. Furthermore, we were a group of eight, and the connection within the group was immediate. It was a truly wonderful holiday, both in terms of the physical activity and the camaraderie. However, the program needs some revision. It states a maximum of 8 or 10 km, whereas we averaged 15 km every day, sometimes with elevation gains of 600 or 800 meters. Nevertheless, the pace of the hikes was leisurely, making it perfectly manageable.
Published on 28/07/2025
D

Didier

may 2025
Translated from French
We appreciated the professionalism of our guide Roberto, his daily attention to everyone, his very clear explanations in French, and the varied lunches he prepared himself. Thank you for this wonderful week of hiking on the island of Madeira.
  • Didier
Published on 27/05/2025
S

Sebastien

april 2025
Translated from French
The meeting time wasn't the same for everyone, including the guide, who arrived 30 minutes after us. Tickets for Pico Ruiso weren't booked in advance, so there was a 30-minute wait in the parking lot. No beach time on the first day... the itinerary was different. But at the end of the trip, I was completely satisfied despite these minor inconveniences.
  • Sebastien
Published on 27/04/2025
D

Damien

october 2024
Published on 21/10/2024
B

Bertrand

august 2024
Published on 28/08/2024
I

ISABELLE

july 2024
Published on 31/07/2024
The Paulin team
Decathlon Travel Partner

The Paulin team

4.4/5 (2842 reviews) • 821 stays
For over 30 years, our local partner has been designing adventure walking trips around the world. Specializing in small-group treks, they cater to both casual hikers and seasoned trekkers seeking unspoiled natural environments and a return to the essentials. Their key strength? They own their own agencies in over 30 countries, guaranteeing complete trip creation from start to finish, without intermediaries. This direct, on-the-ground expertise ensures memorable active experiences and total freedom amidst breathtaking landscapes.
Discover their team and their trips
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