Spring on the Walkers’ Island of Madeira

with WalkWise International  Ltd

                       

Dates:              Saturday 6th May – Saturday 13th May 2006  (7 nights)

Place:              The Hotel Windsor, Funchal, Madeira

Price:              £525 inclusive of flights * (see footnote)

Included:         Flights from Gatwick,           

7 nights bed and breakfast, Arrival rooftop meal at the Hotel,

5 picnic lunches,

                        5 guided walks led by professional guides with two walks each day,

A harder and easier option to suit your needs better

Airport transfers on Madeira

Not Included:  5 days local transport.  Cost Euro 15 per walking day

                     5 evenings meals eating at pre-booked restaurants and enjoying the wonderful ambience of the city, typical Euro 15 per person. 

Wednesday     Your Free Day!

Slots:               38 in total (11 twins, 4 Doubles, 10 singles)

 

Overview:  
Following the huge success of our summer international walking programme to Austria, Switzerland and the Dolomites, WalkWise International have responded to numerous requests to provide a spring walking tour, this time visiting Madeira, ‘The Pearl of the Atlantic’.   Madeira is famed for its amazing variety of walking terrain with an extraordinarily dramatic coastline and towering sea cliffs. There are breathtaking gorges, deep ravines and a network of peaceful levadas that wander across the open moorlands up to the wild and rugged mountains in excess of 6,000ft. Lying 600 miles off the coast of Morocco it comes as a surprise to find exotic vegetation carpets the island. This is due to Madeira’s enviable climate, which is without unbearable heat, humidity or biting insects! Indeed in early May, with an average temperature of 22oC and semi-permanent sunshine, Madeira is an ideal walking destination.  

We will be staying in Funchal, the island’s historic capital and liveliest, most attractive town.  The town is dramatically sited overlooking the Atlantic in a natural amphitheatre surrounded by mountains.  The town is very Portuguese and very friendly; it has grand buildings, lush gardens, lots of local shops, bars and restaurants.  You can walk own to the palm-fringed seafront with the old port and marina or explore the atmospheric old town. The Portuguese lifestyle is most evident in the evening when the wine flows and everyone relaxes in the many bars and restaurants. With such a wealth of history and life, we will join the locals and on five evenings we will dine in local restaurants and sample a real taste of the island.  

The Hotel  
The Windsor hotel, and lies in a relatively quiet part of the centre of Funchal.    It is a modern hotel with en suite bedrooms that are well equipped with cable TV, phone, safe and fridge / bar.  The hotel has all the facilities you would expect including a swimming pool on the roof, terrace bar, restaurant, snack bar, and TV lounge. Its location, being just a few minutes walk into the centre of the endearing town, allows us to sample Funchal’s restaurants and nightlife and when its time to turn in you can easily wander back whenever you want. There are also many local attractions including numerous museums, cultural centres, historic buildings, theatres, churches, gardens, pubs and wine tasting halls!  

Impressive Walking:  
With an excellent climate and a wealth of terrain, we have thoroughly enjoyed compiling a superb walking programme.  It has been developed to give you a broad insight into Madeira’s beauty, culture and wonderful scenery.  So that you can appreciate its amazing diversity, every day we will visit a different part of the island.  As an introductory day, we’ll take it easy, wander along the peaceful levadas, visit some of the island’s old villages and drink in the expansive views across the coast to the Atlantic before descending by cable car to the town below.  On forthcoming days we will tootle along the rugged coastline possibly visiting the second highest and arguably most dramatic sea cliffs in the world.  Another must is the absolutely beautiful walk over the rugged mountain of Pico Grande and you cannot miss out a walk across the wild moorlands to Rabacal where there are lush, cool ravines and narrow, cascading waterfalls.  We will also climb the jagged mountain ridges where ‘The Balcony Walk’ finally leads up to the islands highest point; Pico Ruivo, at 6,109 feet above sea level.  

But remember with two walks to choose from every day, you can either take it easy, walking 7-9 miles with up to 1000ft of ascent, or push yourself a little, doing 10-13 miles with up to 3000ft ascent. There are also chances to curtail some routes by hopping on a bus or tarrying at a wayside Taverna if you want a break!  

Wednesday is a free day and there is so much to do you will be spoilt for choice.  There are optional excursions to all sorts of places.  There are numerous boat trips that reveal just exactly how dramatic the coast really is.  There are also island tours, lots of local shops and cafés, and you can round the day off by dining out this evening too!                                                                                                                                                                  

*This air holiday package is ATOL Protected by the Civil Aviation Authority. The package is operated by WalkWise International Ltd, ATOL 6208, for whom Spice UK Ltd is an authorised retail agent.

 The Hotel Windsor

http://www.madeira-island.com/hotels/Hotels_Grupo_Sousa_Madeira/Windsor_Hotel/  

or sample photographs of typical scenery that you will be able to walk through try

 http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/gids4walks/album  

or

http://www.madeira-tourist.com/pages/levada/page23.html

To go on this holiday you must be a member or guest of Spice UK Ltd  www.spiceuk.com