Funchal Tours in Fall

This was our first trip with Explore! My wife and I found it to be a very enjoyable and rewarding experience. The itinerary gave us a chance to see a lot of Madeira and the hikes we went on were interesting and allowed us to experience different terrains and conditions! (Rain in the north and lush forest, sunshine in the south and dry paths). We also got to sample many of the regional dishes and beverages (poncha!) as well as visit some iconic sites on Madeira e.g. the western lighthouse, rumours factory. Our guide, Felipe, was excellent and very knowledgeable and helpful. Easy to talk to and we appreciated how well he took care of the group. Felipe also had some great suggestions for restaurants and things to do on our free time. One of which led to us going whale watching and having a whale go right under our boat! Such a great experience! Overall this walking tour was a terrific experience. It did challenge me to get out of my comfort zone (the 'Stairway to Heaven' walk !) but I'm glad I did it! I'd recommend this tour to anyone who likes hiking and has a good level of fitness (the terrain can be a challenge). You even get to meet many lovely people with similar interests. Walking Madeira with Explore! will live long in the memory.

The entire trip was wonderful and well planned out . The hotel was bad as it was being renovated so no hot water for showers and banging all day

Awesome and amazing tour! Our tour leader - Phillipe was incredible! He was personable, knowledgeable, and efficient in every aspect of his job as Tour leader! This is the best way to see Madeira - on foot, walking through amazing landscapes!

Fabulous, relaxing walking holiday - a great variety of habitats - different scenery and flora everyday, enhanced by the enthusiasm for nature of our guide Joao. Local bars for Poncha, a variety of swimming spots, great food and friendly hotels.... topped only by the wonderful group of people sharing the experience with me. Joao was a perfect guide - organised, polite, humorous, and knowledgeable - he made the trip - thank you so much x

The only improvement I would suggest is more detail about the daily walks in terms of degree of difficulty and more specifics on ascent and descent. Also more clarity on what parts of the trail, can be avoided. On the day 1 walk, there is a reference to a spot that is close to a sharp drop in the trail with no guardrail. The trip notes say this can be avoided. In fact, the only way to avoid this spot is to not join the walk at all.

My holiday in Madeira was nothing short of exhilarating. The atmosphere was exciting and vibrant, making every moment memorable. I thoroughly enjoyed walking around the island, discovering its hidden gems and stunning landscapes. The diverse trails and breathtaking views made each walk an adventure. The blend of nature, culture, and the warm hospitality of the locals truly made my trip unforgettable. 🌿🌺