Madeira - The Pearl of the Atlantic
Madeira - The Pearl of the Atlantic
Madeira - The Pearl of the Atlantic
8 Days Starting and ending in Funchal, Portugal
Visiting: United Kingdom, Funchal, Eira do Serrado, Monte
Tour operator:
Tour code:
SPMA
Specialist Group:
Singles Solo
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Physical rating:
Low, Leisurely Touring
Age range:
18-99
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians, Vegans, Please make us aware of any specific dietary requests
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Madeira is a gem of a destination, affectionately known as the Pearl of the Atlantic. Discover the delightful capital Funchal and admire breathtaking scenery as you explore the mountains, valleys, villages and coasts that make up this delightful island.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Uk - Funchal
Location: United Kingdom, Funchal
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Pestana Casino Park
Meals Included: Dinner, D
Today, you fly to Funchal and transfer to our hotel on arrival. Get to know your travelling companions better when we meet for a welcome drink this evening.
Day 2 : Funchal
Location: Funchal
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Pestana Casino Park
Meals Included: Breakfast, B
Today we'll enjoy a sightseeing tour of Funchal. We'll begin by visiting a busy market, where you'll have time to browse the colourful stalls selling flowers, fruit, vegetables and fish. Next, we'll head just outside Funchal to the Botanical Gardens and admire more than 2,000 different plants split into distinct areas. After leaving the Botanical Gardens, we'll visit an embroidery shop before calling at a Madeira wine lodge. Here, we will enjoy a tasting of four important Madeira wine castes, Malvazia, Verdelho, Boal and Sercial, accompanied by one of Madeira’s oldest delicacies, bolo de mel de cana, a delicious cake full of spice, sugar, honey and nuts.
Day 3 : Funchal - At Leisure
Location: Funchal
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Pestana Casino Park
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner, BD
Today is free for you to enjoy at your leisure, or perhaps you'll join our optional levada walk. There's a whole network of levadas – water channels – on the island, which provide a spectacular array of walking paths. Enjoy a leisurely walk through the emerald-green Paradise Valley, with captivating views of pretty villages, and enjoy the abundant flora and patchwork landscape. Please ensure you bring suitable walking attire for this day.
Day 4 : East Island Tour
Location: Funchal
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Pestana Casino Park
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, BL
Today we head up the hills of the island to admire spectacular views from Pico do Arieiro, the thirdhighest peak on the island, before calling at the trout hatchery in Ribeiro Frio. We’ll enjoy lunch at Santana, a pretty village where you will be able to see the unique, thatched triangular houses, typical of the region. After lunch we’ll make our way back to Funchal along the stunning north coast. The view from Portela is simply breathtaking and we’ll also pass Machico, the island’s first capital.
Day 5 : Eira Do Serrado & Monte
Location: Eira do Serrado, Monte
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Pestana Casino Park
Meals Included: Breakfast, B
After breakfast this morning we'll visit Pico dos Barcelos, a viewpoint offering spectacular views of Funchal. We'll then wind our way up the mountain to Eira do Serrado, a stunningly beautiful place surrounded by mountains and overlooking the remote village of Curral das Freiras, or Nuns Valley. From here, our journey continues to the delightful hamlet of Monte, home to the beautiful Church of Our Lady of Monte and the tranquil Parque Municipal do Monte.
Day 6 : Funchal - At Leisure
Location: Funchal
Accommodation: Hotel, Hotel
Accommodation Name: Pestana Casino Park
Meals Included: Breakfast, Breakfast, B
Enjoy another day at leisure or join our optional tour of Madeira's west coast. We’ll see the fishing village of Câmara de Lobos and head to Cabo Girao. This is the second-highest sea cliff in the world, and we’ll take in thrilling views from a suspended glass platform known as the skywalk. We’ll also visit Porto Moniz, then continue to Paúl da Serra, before descending into the Laurisilva Forest valleys.
Day 7 : Funchal - At Leisure
Location: Funchal
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Pestana Casino Park
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner, BD
Spend the day at leisure, or why not join an optional whale and dolphin-spotting cruise. This evening we’ll gather together for farewell drinks.
Day 8 : Funchal - Uk
Location: Funchal, United Kingdom
Meals Included: Breakfast, B
After breakfast we’ll transfer to the airport for our flight back to the UK.
What's Included
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Accommodation
5-star hotel -
Return flights from London
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A guaranteed twin or double room of your own
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Overseas transfers, other transportation & porterage
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Just You Holiday Director as your host & Specialist Local Guide
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11 included meals: 7 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 3 dinners including a welcome drink & farewell drink
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7 nights in a 5-star hotel
What's Not Included
Accommodation
- Pestana Casino Park
- Come and meet one of the cultural icons of Madeira, the sophisticated Pestana Casino Park, designed by the great master of world architecture Oscar Niemeyer. Very concerned with the integration of the hotel in the Funchal Bay area - and the fabulous garden-island - it is an amazing space, full of curves and symbolism, which makes your stay in Madeira absolutely unforgettable. From here you can see the gardens, the sea, the mountains, the very nature that inspired the master, who endeavored to take the natural curves of Brazil to the world. Let yourself sleep in, have a wonderful breakfast in the panoramic restaurant and find your lounger by the pool and bar. Need tranquility? The garden has hidden nooks waiting for you where you can relax. But if you are feeling particularly adventurous, there is direct access to the Casino, with its lively game room and its shows, releasing the most fortunate side of your personality.
Optional Excursions
- Levada walk
- West coast tour
Excursions Included
- Funchal city tour including the Botanical Gardens & a Madeira Wine lodge
- East of the island tour
- Monte & Eira do Serrado
Please note: Thanks to your feedback we know you want to explore more at your own pace. That’s why from 2019 we’re including 3 dinners, so you can experience eating out.
Check out our Q&As
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes
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Will there be an escort accompanying this tour?
Yes
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Are airport transfers included in this tour?
Yes, overseas transfers, other transportation & porterage
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Is there any free time to explore places during the tour?
As detailed in the itinerary
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Will I know the names and details of all the accommodation before I depart?
Yes
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Are children permitted to take part in the tour?
No
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Are flights included in this tour?
Yes
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Is there a supplement for solo travellers?
No and your own room is guaranteed!
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Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?
All the people in your group will be solo travellers and will share your sense of adventure and passion for travel. There’s usually a good mix of ages too, so you’ll meet a variety of solo travellers who have more, or in some cases less, life experience. We find the overall mix of people really adds to the whole experience and there are certainly plenty of l
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Am I contributing to any charity by booking the tour?
A few years ago we set up Just You Cares, a programme that gives back to some of the places we love. We have always believed in taking care of the communities we visit, and have taken the time to really get to know the local people and understand the challenges they face. Some of our holidays give our Customers the chance to see how the money from their trips has been spent.
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
At Just You, we are committed to operating our business operations responsibly, with integrity and always act ethically in all our business dealings and relationships. We are committed to implementing and enforcing effective systems and controls to ensure slavery and human trafficking does not take place in our own business or in any of our supply chains
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
If we can accommodate a change in date - we will always do our best to help you. Just pick up the phone and ask one of our friendly advisors - just make sure you have your booking number to hand.
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes, and all of our accommodation providers will be working to the very highest standards of hygiene – you already always enjoy a private room of your own on all of our trips, all of our partners will be guided by local government operational standards of hygiene and the new protocols we have issued to them.
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Will I eat alone?
We find there’s always a social element to dining, so you’ll never eat alone, unless you want to! Every holiday includes a welcome get-together, all breakfasts and many other meals. When a meal is not included we find travellers meet and dine together.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
No, given the nature of our holidays, it is not possible to join the tour once it has departed.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Just You has been operating solo holidays for more than 15 years.
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Am I guaranteed a room of my own?
Of course, you’ll always have a twin or double room all to yourself. It’s great to have that space to relax and reflect at the end of the day. In some hotels you can also pay a little extra to upgrade for more space or a lovely sea view.
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What is the typical age range on a Just You holiday?
Typically, our customers are solo travellers in their 40s, 50s and 60s, but it’s quite possible you could meet 20-year-olds or 70-year-olds (or anyone in between)... After all, age is just a number!
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
We have received the World Travel and Tourism Councils (WTTC) Safe Travels stamp, which recognises businesses and destinations worldwide that have adopted a new set of global protocols to support the return of 'Safe Travel' around the world. The 'Safe Travels' stamp provides you, with assurance and peace of mind that we have implemented enhanced health and hygiene prprotocols on all holidays.
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Once you book, you will receive a confirmation invoice within 7 days, prior to departure, we will send you further information to help prepare for your trip.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Just You is exclusively for solo travellers, every tour includes a twin or double room of your own, with no single supplement.
Reviews of this Operator
Book with Confidence
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Low Deposit
Just You requires a minimum deposit of 20% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 84 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of just you charges.
Up to 75 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 74 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 42 days before tour starts: Forfeit 75% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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Book with Confidence
When you book your holiday with Just You, you can have complete peace of mind. Your money is 100% protected through our Independent Trust Fund, any money you pay to us is held by them & governed by 3rd?party trustees. It is also a condition of our ATOL license and is regularly monitored by the Civil Aviation Authority. We don’t receive any money until after you’ve come back from your holiday – so your money is 100% protected no matter what. If you have any questions you can speak to one of our friendly and knowledgeable holiday advisors.