Our guide Benny was everything I have come to expect from an Explore Guide. Genuine, enthusiastic, interested and interesting. All questions were answered; about our itinerary, the island, our hotels, recommendations for restaurants, food (including allergies/intolerances), drinks, customs, flora and fauna. Benny's knowledge of his homeland is encyclopaedic. I had been to Madeira many times before, and of course the island has changed, whilst maintaining it's essential qualities that I have long treasured. For my husband David, it was his very first visit. Luckily for me, he fell in love with the place too, and we are already trying to fit in a return visit asap.
I was suffering from injuries to both achilles tendons and had thought I would be unable to take part in any of the walks, but decided we would still go on the holiday anyway and make the very best of things. I rang the Explore office about a week beforehand to fill them in and asked them to pass on the information to our guide. I was delighted to find at our initial meeting that Benny had indeed been advised about our situation. Having discussed things with Benny, we gave it a go, and loved the walks that we did. We had a few days off to allow recovery on the days between the walks we did. The walks were stunning in terms of locations. The terrain was very varied, the variety of flora and fauna was better than expected, given the time of year.
The three hotels in which we stayed were in excellent locations, they were spotlessly clean, the staff were very friendly and helpful. The last hotel, in Funchal was a little "tired" but the staff have explained that this year they are undergoing an extensive program of refurbishment to the public areas and to the rooms. Again, I stress, we had NO complaints. We actually stayed there a few additional days after the end of the tour, and thoroughly enjoyed our stay.
I would not hesitate to recommend our guide Benny, this tour, and Explore Holidays in general. Five star ratings from us both!
Walking tours
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Lodge
Age Range
16-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Funchal, Santana, Porto da Cruz
Funchal, Santana, Porto da Cruz, Faja Do Penedo, Rabaçal, Pico, Madeira
23% OFF TODAY
This deal is valid for limited time. Book now to reserve your seats.
We had wonderful trip with private tour guide Carlos. He is very professional, very knowledgeable and funny. He understood my husband's passion for photography, our interests of history and culture, our love for great food.
Thank you, Carlos
Cultural, religious and historic sites
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Resort
Age Range
1-80 yrs
Operated in
english, portuguese, spanish
Destinations
Lisbon, Sintra, Porto, Coimbra
Lisbon, Sintra, Porto, Coimbra, Aveiro, Douro Valley, Tomar
Very friendly guide and he took care of us in best possible way. Time table was good, and took care of that everyone was able to follow the guidance. Great itinerary overall, thanks Destination Services Portugal!
Art and architecture
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Lodge, Resort
Age Range
6-99 yrs
Operated in
english, portuguese, spanish, french
Destinations
Lisbon, Fátima, Lagos, Porto, Ur
Lisbon, Fátima, Lagos, Porto, Urgeiriça, Evora
22% OFF TODAY
This deal is valid for limited time. Book now to reserve your seats.
We enjoyed every aspect of our holiday. The accommodation was very comfortable, Christina was a wonderful host. The walking was outstanding, with great views over the Pinhao and Douro valleys.
Walking tours
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
18-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Porto, Douro Valley, Northern Po
Porto, Douro Valley, Northern Portugal, Sabrosa, Vilarinho, Fermentoes, Pinhao
TOUR BUS DRIVER
Augusto was fantastic. Very cautious and extremely good. Very personable.
LOCAL FAMILY LUNCH
A local family in Ronda hosted a lunch and it was a wonderful experience. The family was very hospitable. Food was excellent. Spoke English very well.
TOUR HOST
Claudia did a wonderful job. Made a real effort to provide a lot of information and insight throughout the trip. Very attentive to all members of the tour ensuring safety and enjoyment.
We had an awesome tour of the entire island, visiting volcanoes, hot springs, gardens, plantations, and beautiful, quaint towns. Our guide had deep knowdledge and background of S_o Miguel, being a lifelong resident. He is also funny and entertaining, so we had a great time both days. Would definitely recommend!
Active and outdoor
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
6-99 yrs
Operated in
english, portuguese
Destinations
Ponta delgada, Ribeira Grande
Ponta delgada, Ribeira Grande
22% OFF TODAY
This deal is valid for limited time. Book now to reserve your seats.
We enjoyed every aspect of our holiday. The accommodation was very comfortable, Christina was a wonderful host. The walking was outstanding, with great views over the Pinhao and Douro valleys.