Madeira, Portugal

Arrive into Funchal Airport and transfer to your hotel, set above the Atlantic or within historic gardens. Madeira’s character is immediate — palms, flowering terraces and sweeping sea views. The afternoon is left intentionally light, allowing the island’s slower rhythm to take hold.

Travel inland for a guided levada walk, following Madeira’s historic irrigation channels; narrow waterways built to carry mountain water to coastal farmland. These paths trace the island’s contours through laurel forest, shaded valleys and moss-lined ravines, a gentle way to experience Madeira’s interior.

Back in Funchal, time unfolds easily. Wander botanical gardens layered above the city, explore the old town, or simply linger at the hotel. At Reid’s Palace, afternoon tea remains one of Madeira’s defining rituals — served on the terrace above the Atlantic, unchanged in spirit for generations.

Set out into the Atlantic on a guided whale and dolphin watching experience. Madeira’s deep surrounding waters attract an extraordinary range of marine life, offering memorable encounters framed by open horizons.

On land, discover Madeira wine through a guided tasting, exploring the island’s distinctive fortified styles shaped by maritime trade, volcanic soils and long ageing. A leisurely lunch follows, allowing the experience to unfold naturally before an easy return to the hotel.

The final days are shaped by preference. For those who wish, we can arrange a sunrise hike with a picnic high above the island, watching light spill across the Atlantic. Alternatively, explore Madeira’s northern coast, where natural lava pools meet the open sea and volcanic rock frames the shoreline.

Time is also left intentionally free — to swim, read, wander the gardens once more, or simply sit with the view as the island slows around you.

Enjoy breakfast and a final moment of warmth before transferring to Funchal Airport for your onward journey.