Renowned as the 'Floating Garden', Portuguese Madeira combines outstanding natural wonders with a welcome as warm as its climate.
Funchal is the island's principal port, seat of government and main trade centre. Bars and cafes spill out onto flower-strewn streets, and shops and stores vie for your attention. Wander the open-air market, enjoy a flutter in the famous casino and don't miss the world-renowned Botanical Gardens.
These smaller villages provide a perfect base for relaxing holidays, with small selections of shops, bars and restaurants, stunning views of the Atlantic and pleasant countryside surroundings. Regular bus services - and in some cases hotel shuttle buses - connect the outlying hotels with the main town.
Outward travel from your selected airport to Madeira, and onward transfer to your hotel.
Spend the day relaxing at the hotel or exploring the surrounding area. Our Tour Manager will be happy to suggest places to visit and things to do.
On today's optional excursion, we tour Funchal's famous Mercado dos Lavodores produce market, and sample Madeira wine in Adegas de Sao Francisco, the town's oldest wine-tasting establishment. Afterwards, we drive to the Botanical Gardens to see their outstanding collection of sub-tropical and tropical plants and flowers.
Passing Camara de Lobos, a favourite painting location of Churchill, today's optional excursion climbs the world's second highest cliff to Cabo Girao. We'll take lunch (payable locally) in Porto Moniz, overlooking the celebrated rock swimming pools, before continuing to Sao Vicente and then over Encumeda Pass to see the spectacular panoramas of the island.
A fascinating network of irrigation channels (levadas) criss-crosses Madeira, carrying water to the vineyards and farms of the south. The channel maintenance paths provide the ready-made walking trails we'll use for the 'easy'-rated, seven-kilometre walk from Caminho do Pico do Infante to Rochao (duration approximately two and a half hours) that is today's optional excursion.
Enjoy a popular and fun optional excursion to Pico dos Barcelos, for the finest view of Funchal, and then on to Eira do Serrado with its spectacular view of Curral das Freiras (Nuns' Valley). In Monte we'll visit the beautiful church and take the famous wickerwork toboggan ride down to Livramento.
Spend today relaxing, then join us for an optional dinner at a typical Madeirense restaurant. A glass of 'Madeira', the traditional espetada - tender, marinated beef grilled and served with mixed salad, potatoes and hot country bread - and entertainment from traditional folk-dancers all add up to a wonderful atmosphere.
Transfer back to the airport for check-in and your flight home.
If you would like to book this offer, please call: 01624 661234.
You can also extended your stay at a supplement please fill out our online enquiry form by clicking here.
| MADEIRA DIRECT FROM ISLE OF MAN |
PRICE |
| 15 October 2008 |
£569.00 |
What The Packages Includes
- Return flights from Ronaldsway to Madeira
- Return airport-to-hotel transfers
- Seven nights' bed and breakfast accommodation at your chosen hotel
- The services of a Tour Manager
- Government taxes and service charges
Single rooms are available for a supplement
“Off the coast of Africa, in the blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean, lies one of the world's most beautiful islands. Sun-blessed and sub-tropical, it's home to a vibrant and varied array of exotic and colourful flora, and is a perfectly relaxing, captivating holiday haven.”
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