Madeira Itinerary

A guide to your trip

Quality Christian Holidays

With so much to do in Madeira, we've put together an outline programme to help set the scene for your holiday. There will be options for local explorations of the gardens, markets, sea front, group lunches, evening drinks and more throughout the week as well as more significant, bookable excursions. We’ll also be taking time for early morning rooftop prayers and evening times of teaching and worship.

There’s a lot to do, whether enjoying a spa treatment in the hotel, exploring central Madeira or spending time with others in the group over meal times. With all that’s going on, we’d recommend booking on to at least one or two excursions to see other parts of the island, more may be fun for the more adventureous but do remember to be on holiday!

The Itinerary

This schedule is an approximate itinerary which will be led by Jerry, your experienced Richmond Tour Leader as well as Ian and Jan, your Richmond Ministry Leaders. We hope that this itinerary captures your interest and allows you to take in key sites and the best that Madeira offers. It is however, by no means exhaustive and there is plenty of time for you to do your own thing at whatever pace you like, while also creating space for meaningful reflections and spiritual encounters to come away reinvigorated and inspired in your faith.

There are some consistents throughout the week that punctuate the programme

08:00 – Sunrise Prayers

18:30 – Ministry

19:30 – Dinner

Day 1

Monday

19:30 – Having arrived at the gorgeous Castanheiro Boutique Hotel in Funchal old town and got settled it, we’ll meet at for dinner with your hosts Jerry, Ian and Jan.

Day 2

Tuesday

09:30 – Welcome Meeting

10:45 – Orientation walk around Funchal to help get your bearings and explore some of the old town.

Day 3

Wednesday

08:30 – Today hosts a choice of two walks, both will require appropriate hiking boot/shoes and appropriate clothing

Option 1 – Easy, half day Levada Walk

Option 2 – Full Day Levada/Coast Walk

Day 4

Thursday

Week 1 (11 October) – All Day Island Tour
Explore the Island and the incredible, vast landscape. The trip also visits a gorgeous vineyard where you can stop and get some lunch

Week 2 (18 October) – All day trip to the Island of Porto Santo
This stunning trip leaves from Funchal port by boat and takes

Day 5

Friday

09:30 – Monte Gardens with an option for a ridfe on the famous Madeira Sledges!

14:00 – Dolphin/Whale Spotting Boat Trip – BOOKABLE £35
This is a brilliant opportunity to see the volcanic island from the sea and take in the impressive cliff faces coming straight up from the ocean. There might also be an opportunity to see whales, dolphins, sea turtles and an array of birds.

Day 6

Saturday

08:30 – Peak Walks (Hard)
Adventure to the highest peaks in Madeira which tower at over 1850m (500m higher than Ben Nevis!). This is as good as it gets! Heading up to the highest peaks above the clouds with astounding views and rock formations that seem to want to reach heaven like giant sculptures. The walk is around 10km but has huge elevation differences in that distance.

14:30 – Valley of the Nuns
This half day trip takes you by bus to the spectacular Valley of the Nuns

Day 7

Sunday

10:00 – Communion
Ian and Jan will lead us in a communion service

18:00 – Celebration Drinks on the Terrace
After a superb week together, let’s celebrate as the sun goes down on the rooftop terrace bar

Day 8

Monday

A sad but fond farewell as we go our seperate ways. No doubt the WhatsApp groups and swapping of phone numbers will be in full swing as we jump onto the transfer with friends, many of whom were strangers just days ago.

Day 4 - THURSDAY

This is a brilliant opportunity to see the volcanic island from the sea and take in the impressive cliff faces coming straight up from the ocean. There might also be an opportunity to see whales, dolphins, sea turtles and an array of birds.

Excursion - Catamaran Boat Trip

Join us on a Catamaran boat trip and enjoy the gorgeous scenery of the island from the sea. A gentle cruise around the waters, giving plenty of chances to see marine wildlife, you’ll want to have your camera for this one!

Half-day catamaran boat trip
Joining a wider company with other groups on a boat
Includes boat trip – travel on foot (approx 15 minutes) to the Marina
Departing after lunch, the tour will last approximately 3 hours
£30pp, secure your spot early as availability may be limited once you’re on holiday
What to pack: an extra layer, towel and swimmers just in case, shoes for walking on the boat deck, a rain jacket

Day 5 - Friday

Today you might choose to enjoy the hotel or explore Funchal’s side streets solo, with this evening’s Richmond celebration cocktails in mind! For those wanting to see more of the island today, we have a specially curated Island Tour – an all-day outing visiting the West of the island, with a chance to swim in the sea. As part of this tour we will be stopping at the family-owned vineyard, Quinta do Barbusano, for a tour of their vineyards with stunning views overlooking Sao Vicente, followed by a traditional lunch cooked by the owner with a glass of their own wine.

Excursion - Island Tour With Vineyard Tour and Lunch

Exploring the beautiful West coast, with incredible views and a Vineyard Tour, this promises to be one of the highlights of the holiday!

Full day Island Tour to locations all over western Madeira. Full itinerary to be released nearer the time
Private Richmond excursion
Includes transport from the hotel, a vineyard tour and traditional homecooked lunch with wine
Departing at 09:00, returning at 17:00
£65pp, minimum 8 guests with some availability to join once you’re on holiday
What to pack: good shoes for walking through the vineyards and cobbled harbours, swimwear and towels

Day 6 - SATURday

Today we’ll be taking you on a traditional Levada walk – these will differ over the two weeks for those keen walkers who are with us for both weeks! Our guide will take through impressive valleys and lead us along the waterways from the mountains downhill (hurrah!) towards the valley floor.

Excursion - Levada Walk

A luscious half-day walk ending at a local taverna with a viewpoint pit stop on the way home. Don’t miss this best of the island Levada experience with the skywalk on the home for some amazing views!

An easy to moderate Levada walk, 5km/3.1 miles, followed by a lunch stop in a local taverna
Private Richmond excursion
Includes a walking guide, transport to and from the hotel
Departing at 09:00, returning by 16:00
£35pp, minimum 8 guests with some availability to join once you’re on holiday
What to pack: hiking shoes or boots, extra layer, rain jacket, plenty of water, a few snacks for walking

Day 7 - Sunday

Take your time over breakfast, return to your favourite spot in Funchal and use this Sunday to really relax and reflect on your week. Maybe even head into the spa! We’ll look forward to rounding off the week with our final talk from our ministry leaders and a celebratory meeting after dinner.