What to expect

Santana

Santana

Natural beauty & rural culture

Seixal

Seixal

Natural pools & black sand beaches

Funchal

Funchal

Markets, wine tasting & scenic rides

Monte

Monte

Lush gardens & historic landmarks

About this trip...

Join Solos as we head to Madeira, a Portuguese archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean and known for its stunning landscapes, lush green mountains, and vibrant culture. Starting in Funchal's charming old town and pristine squares, we head above the city to Monte to explore its gardens, waterfalls and breathtaking views. Covering the east and the west side of the island, join your fellow solo travellers to discover dramatic landscapes, picturesque villages and stunning scenery on this incredible guided group tour of Madeira.
Activity Level: Activity Level Rating
What's this?

What's included

  • Return flights & transfers
  • Room for sole use
  • Half board and three lunches
  • City tour of Funchal
  • Full day excursion discovering Western Madeira
  • Visit the garden in Monte
  • Full day excursion discovering Eastern Madeira
  • Witness the spectacular scenery of Eira do Serrado
  • Accompanying Solos Tour Leader
  • Fully financially protected

What's extra:

City tax is currently 2,00 euros per pax/night, paid locally.

Itinerary

  • Arrival day
  • Funchal
  • Western Madeira
  • Monte
  • Eastern Madeira
  • Free day
  • Eira do Serrado
  • Return home

What you'll be doing

Day One: Arrive into Madeira

Day One: Arrive into Madeira

Today we arrive into Funchal, the capital of Madeira, and transfer to our hotel. We gather later today for a welcome drink and dinner. 

  • Dinner included
Day Two: Funchal

Day Two: Funchal

This morning we will be exploring Funchal. The bustling port city has kept its authentic character which we will witness as we wander past baroque churches, picturesque squares and colonial houses. Mercado dos Lavradores, a vibrant market with fresh produce, flowers, and local crafts. We visit an embroidery workplace and experience a Madeira Wine tasting. 
 
This afternoon we will have free time to explore further. A popular attraction is the Funchal Cable Car, a scenic ride offering panoramic views over the city and coastline.
 
  • Breakfast & dinner included
Day Three: Western Madeira

Day Three: Western Madeira

We have a full day of exploring the western side of this fascinating island where we can expect breathtaking landscapes. We start the day visiting Câmara de Lobos - a picturesque fishing village just west of Funchal, Madeira. It's famous for its colourful fishing boats, stunning coastal views, and connection to Winston Churchill, who once painted its landscape. From here we head to Cabo Girão, one of Europe's highest sea cliffs, with a glass-floored viewpoint. We will take the Encumeada, a stunning mountain pass, to the beautiful coastal village of Sexial, known for its dramatic landscapes, natural pools, and black sand beach. It’s a quieter, more authentic alternative to the busier areas of the island. Our next stop will be Porto Moniz, famous for its natural volcanic pools, rugged scenery and breathtaking ocean views.

 
After lunch, we continue onwards to the largest and highest plateau on the island, Paul da Serra then to Madalena do Mar, a charming seaside village on Madeira’s southwest coast, known for its banana plantations. We will return to Funchal for dinner.
 
  • Breakfast, lunch & dinner included

Day Four: Monte

Day Four: Monte

Today we head above Funchal to the beautiful hillside parish above Funchal, known for its lush gardens, historic landmarks, and the famous Monte Toboggan Ride. It’s one of Madeira’s most iconic spots, offering sensational views. We visit the Monte Palace Tropical Garden - a breathtaking garden with exotic plants, waterfalls, koi ponds, and stunning tile art. We will also pay a visit to Nossa Senhora do Monte Church, a beautiful church where Emperor Charles I of Austria is buried. Those who wish to choose, can descend back down to Funchal by the famous toboggan (paid locally). 

 
This afternoon we have free time to relax or explore further. 
 
  • Breakfast, lunch & dinner included

Day Five: Eastern Madeira

Day Five: Eastern Madeira

We have another full day exploring today as we begin the day at one of the island's highest points, Pico do Arieiro, standing at 1,818 meters offering breathtaking views, dramatic landscapes. We head onto Ribeiro Frio for the starting point of the popular Levada dos Balcões walk, offering incredible panoramic views of the valley, forests, and mountains. It’s a relatively short and easy hike, perfect for all levels. We will drive to the stunning rock formation of Penha de Águia and have lunch at Santana, known for its traditional thatched houses and stunning natural landscapes. It offers visitors a glimpse of Madeira’s rural culture. 

 
Making our way back to Funchal, we will stop at Porto da Cruz Sugar Cane Rum Distillery. Porto da Cruz is known for its traditional rum distillery and we will get to try some of the Rum too. On the way back, we will also enjoy a visit to the Cristo Rei monument. 
 
  • Breakfast, lunch & dinner included

Day Six: Free Day

Day Six: Free Day

After a busy few days exploring, today we have a free day to spend as we wish. We can relax around the hotel, walk along the seafront or Funchal is close to some of the most famous levada trails on the island, such as the Levada do Rei and Levada dos Tornos, offering incredible hikes through the island's beautiful landscapes for those who want to hit the trails.


  • Breakfast & dinner included 

Day Seven: Eira do Serrado

Day Seven: Eira do Serrado

Today we head back into the mountains of Madeira. We take a unique winding road to an altitude of 1049m in Eira do Serrado located in the central mountains of Madeira, offering some of the most dramatic landscapes on the island. From the viewpoint, we can see the picturesque Curral das Freiras village nestled in the valley below, surrounded by the towering peaks of the central mountains. The sight is especially breathtaking on clear days, with lush green slopes and dramatic cliffs. The small village of Curral das Freiras (Valley of the Nuns), was historically a place of refuge for nuns fleeing from pirate attacks.


  • Breakfast & dinner included

Day Eight: Return home

Day Eight: Return home

We gather one final time for breakfast before making our way back to Funchal Airport for our flight home. 


  • Breakfast included

Accommodation

Vila Baleira Funchal Four-star

The hotel is located in the heart of Funchal's Lido area with many restaurants, bars and shops in the area, just a 30 minute walk into the city centre.
The hotel has an outdoor and indoor swimming pool, sun terrace, a bar, a restaurant, a gym and views of the Atlantic Ocean.
Each rooms have air conditioning, a private bathroom, a hairdryer, a TV, a mini bar and free WiFi.

Dates & Prices

Departure Return Nights Price from Other Info Regional flights
16 Mar 2026 23 Mar 2026 7
£2299
Limited space available Please call for regional flights
5 Oct 2026 12 Oct 2026 7
£2489
  Please call for regional flights

Essential Information

Transfer time
Transfer time from Funchal Airport to the hotel is approximately 25 minutes.
Dress Code
The dress code for during the day is casual. It can be windy and temperature might drop when at altitude so a light windproof jacket might be useful. In the evenings the dress code is smart casual. Comfortable shoes for walking and sightseeing are recommended.
Gratuities
There is often confusion on the question of gratuities, since it frequently depends on the type of holiday, location and, of course, your attitude towards tipping, as to what is normally expected. To give you a rough idea, we have given appropriate guidance below. The Tour Leader will be on hand to offer advice or suggestions if required but gratuities are offered entirely at the sole discretion of the individual. We suggest a group collection at the beginning of your holiday to cover drivers, guides, porters and hotel staff of approximately €25. Your Tour Leader will collect this on your behalf and distribute it accordingly, thus relieving you of the burden of who, when and how much to tip.
Passport, Visa & Entry Requirement

To enter Portugal or Madeira your passport must meet 2 requirements. It must be:

less than 10 years old on the day you enter (check the ‘date of issue’)
valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave (check the ‘expiry date’)
Check both the issue date and the expiry date in your passport. If you renewed your passport early, extra months may have been added to its expiry date. This could affect the requirement for your passport to be less than 10 years old.

A visa is not required by holders of passports endorsed “British Citizen” for stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Please note that stays in other EU countries counts towards this 90 day period.

It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct visa, a valid passport and any other travel documents for your holiday. All information provided relates to British citizens who hold or are entitled to apply for a British passport. For the most up-to-date visa information please visit; Portugal Foreign Advice

If you are not a British citizen and do not hold a British passport, you must make your own enquiries as to the applicable requirements.

Health requirements

Compulsory vaccinations: None.

All clients are responsible for acquainting themselves with up to date health information of the countries being visited and where necessary take the required precautions. We recommend that you check with your doctor prior to departure as this information can change. You can also visit the travel health website for more information; Travel Health Portugal

Important information
A reasonable level of fitness/mobility is required as we include plenty of sightseeing/travelling. Itinerary is subject to change according to traffic, weather conditions and other unforeseen circumstances beyond control.

Rated as Excellent (4.8/5) by our customers

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First Class

I’d highly recommend Solos to people looking to travel on their own with a group of like minded people.
-David F

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Fabulous experience

Solos are extremely organised and provide fantastic holidays for people on their own. The tour leaders are of a very high standard and are extremely caring with the guests.
-Carole

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Don't Delay any Longer!

This was my first Solos holiday and it hugely exceeded my expectations. Lovely, lovely people made the holiday so special.....it will stay with me for always
-L Heaton

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Well worth going

I’ve recently returned from my first Solos holiday and had a fantastic time. I can honestly say that I enjoyed every minute, and the memories will last a lifetime.
-Patricia B

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