20 independent reviews for Madeira walking vacation
Reviews for Madeira walking vacation
Tony Ripley review 25 Apr 2023
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
I cannot pick out a single thing as the whole trip was wonderful.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Just be prepared for some hills, up and down!3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes, the lunch was always bought from a local shop and the guide took us to some lovely local restaurants. The afternoons always included a visit of some sort to a local attraction.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Excellent and would recommend to anyone who enjoys walking in a beautiful country.Margaret Dent review 13 Mar 2023
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
The scenery and the other group members.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Expect beautiful places and enjoy.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Not really sure.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
ExcellentRosie Lorenz review 25 Jul 2023
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Swimming in a waterfall2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Comfy practical clothing3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
It benefited local businesses.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
We had a great time. The one thing we could have benefited from is fans or air con in our hotel rooms. There was a ceiling fan in Funchal but it would have been nice to have something to circulate the air in our other accomodationShauna Dickson review 23 Jul 2023
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
The views from Pico Arieiro and nearby lookout (1862 metres). It was spectacular.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
We enjoyed seeing so much of Madeira, as well as the walking mainly by levadas.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes. The guide was local and environmentally minded.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Very enjoyable, if challenging at timesjoy withers review 26 Mar 2023
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
The scenery2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Ensure that you're fit and up to how the trip is described. If you're not fit, you may spoil it for others.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes. We ate in different local restaurants and shown local products. Our guide was passionate about the environment and Madeira in itself4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Tim Hayman review 1 Mar 2023
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
The sheer beauty of the island. The incredible engineering of the levadas2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Depending on your age check that the hikes are within your abilities.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Everyday we bought our picnic locally and visited local restaurants. I am sure that tourist money help maintain the levadas and paths in good condition4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Fantastic experence,but tough.Lydia Charnock review 28 Dec 2022
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
The group, the walks and of course Filipe.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Go for it - you won’t know till you have tried it.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
I guess so. Made friends with the local people4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Amazing. BrilliantKathleen Bartholomew review 30 Oct 2022
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Hiking the lavadas, immersed in so much beauty there was little talking.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Don't forget your flashlight. Bring a fleece and raincoat.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes, because we hiked. What depressed me was the bottled water machine at the airport. All this wonderful water on the island and they sell bottled water which was a HUGE turnoff. 40% of there fresh water goes unused back to the ocean, while Madeira imports single use plastic bottles, UGH!!!!4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Great, will do it again! Never thought I could walk 24 miles in 3 days but with a group, I could easily. Amazing how comradery carries you. My luggage was stolen from the van when the driver went for a coffee, but a tourist found it and it was returned intact - and Filip was so responsive and supportive (Could have done without the driver's constant bemoaning and defense of himself). My roommate was almost 80 and is my new idol - hard to feel proud of yourself when she knocked it out effortlessly.Michael taverner review 19 Sep 2022
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Enjoying the dynamics of the group and the marvelous walking.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Push yourself.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Tourism is very important for this island, this type of vacation lessens environmental impact.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Excellent and Benny the walking guide was brilliant.Rosine Arnold review 5 Jun 2022
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
The discovery of the levada on Day 2.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Be physically prepared for some challenging walks and a variety of weather conditions.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes, it benefitted local people and supported conservation. Not sure it reduced environmental impacts.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
A great success, with lots of memorable times.Rowena Dark review 27 Mar 2022
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
The scenery2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Nothing to add3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Fantastic. Really beautiful country and stunning walks with fabulous sceneryJosephine Glover review 12 Sep 2021
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
The walks, especially Pico Areeiro to Pico Ruivo, way above the clouds.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
The walks are a lot more challenging than they sound.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
No4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Great vacation. So good to get away. Amazing scenery inland but Funchal is really disappointing so we could have done with less time there. The Funchal hotel (do Carmo) was grim.Nancy Wiesenfeld review 1 Mar 2020
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Balcony Walk and the first walk along the peninsula at the tip.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Be in shape.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes, we ate in local restaurants and stayed in small but nice hotels.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
ExcellentSunita Raj review 18 Feb 2020
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Walk to the highest point Pico Ruivo. Incredible views all the way But every day was a different kind of walk with totally different and breathtaking scenery The tour guide was incredibly knowledgeable, capable, empathic and attentive to the needs of the entire group.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Would be worth booking a couple of extra days in funchal, I definitely wasnt ready to go homeTorch needed to go through the tunnels. Longest is 800m.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
A few trips to local businesses. Stayed in smaller towns and ate at smaller more local restaurants.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Well organised trip. Good balance of activity and relaxation. Excellent tour guide.Eldad Rosenthal review 20 Oct 2019
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
The hiking trips in the mountains and along the Levadas2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
To extend the visit in Madeira beyond one week in order to see other places .3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Only partially .4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Very goodAnne Monks review 28 Mar 2019
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
The walks; particularly the first and last day2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
take layers and windproofs/waterproofs3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Benefited locals4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Excellent. Felipe is an amazing guide; his love of the island and knowledge of its flora really enhanced the walksSarah Withycombe review 21 Feb 2019
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
The whole vacation was amazing, our guide Filipe Gomes was brilliant, and probably the best guide I've had so far, loved and knew everything about his culture, history and plants of the island, and very enthusiastic to keep and preserve the natural beauty of the island and it's habitat. The views were amazing out of this world and walking to Pico de Ruivo, Madeira's highest point in the mountains, was magical with the clouds passing by. We were also lucky with a great group that gelled well together like a little family.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Have a good amount of fitness, especially for walking up hill as there is a lot of long steep climbs and steep steps. And good walking poles will help a lot.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes, Our guide and driver were from Madeira, both spoke good English, were very helpful as were all the staff at the hotels, and gave us all lots of tips of how to get around the island and what to look out for. For example good places to get our pack lunches, avoid paying tourist extras, keep the same water bottle and just re-fill saving on plastic. Filipe our guide does a lot of voluntary work re planting in the mountains and helping others, and is so enthusiastic about helping maderia keeping its natural beauty.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Had a fantastic time, made 11 new friends, was a little nervous at first as I haven't done a walking vacation for about 11+ yrs but im so glad I did it, it was out of this world, the other walkers (now friends), our guide (Filipe) and places we visited + all the little exras that Filipe did with us the whole experience was a 5* + Thank you!Denise Mahood review 25 Aug 2018
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
The walks were excellent. The hike to the top of the mountain was especially memorable. The lead as we're so interesting. Our guide, Philippe, was absolutely wonderful - better than excellent.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Be ready to enjoy the company of others, to enjoy the food and the beautiful environment.Yes3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes - we supported local businesses and were responsible visitors.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Excellent - 10/10Diana Greer review 7 Apr 2018
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Getting to the top of Pico Ruivo (the highest peak in Madeira) above the cloud level.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Walking poles are useful.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes. We ate at small local places and tried many foods grown, caught or produced locally.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
ExcellentAnne-Marie Hesmondhalgh review 26 Apr 2014
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Each day's hike showed a different landscape - lots of variety.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
It is classed as a moderate walking vacation but there are some aspects of it which are challenging so a good level of fitness is required.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
The English guide was extremely enthusiastic about Madeira and knew the island very well, but I feel that a local guide should have been used. All other staff were local.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Extremely enjoyable vacation. One that I would recommend.Holiday Reviews
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