Here at Exodus we thrive on feedback from our customers. It's the only way we can ensure our trips continue to be the best they can be. So, for the real tales, twists and turns of the trip you're interested in, look no further than the reviews from our previous travellers. Any feedback collected (Good or bad) from Exodus clients is posted straight onto our website - totally unedited. Read more...
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The high mountain walks with fantastic views.
Walking the Levadas.
Exploring Funchal.
What did you think of your group leader?
Our leader was very helpful - nothing was too much trouble. He explained everything very well in English and had a good sense of humour. He made the trip very memorable with his knowledge of the island and made the safety of the group important.
He also showed flexibility when due to bad weather conditions we were unable to do one of the mountain walks and found another walk along a levada which was very enjoyable.
We would recommend him to future groups.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Do this trip - it is well worth it.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Madeira is a beautiful island. The scenery is wonderful and there is a great variety of plants and flowers. The people are friendly and helpful and language doesn't seem to be a problem.
The accomodation is good and the food very palatable though not totally geared up to vegetarians.
We don't usually visit a place twice but would consider returning to Madeira.
Had a fantastic trip. Very well organised. Excellent company (8 in our group). Transferred with the luggage to Funchal - Andre arranged it all with no problems.Visited Monte garden and Botanic garden by cable car.
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Walk 1 Ponta de Sao Lourenco - fantastic views, hot sunny and breezy, lizards great entertainment back in time for swim in the pool.
Walk 2 lovely, exciting edge of cliff walk, different flora/fauna to Porta da Cruz. Lovely hotel.
Walk 3 Levada do Caldeiro Verde - really pretty but busy.
Walk 4 not so nice - fog and cold and staircase to Endumeada, a long hard day - glad I did it. Tunnels amazing.
Walk 5 I opted out of the last walk as it was foggy and wet and I thought I would hold everyone else up.
What did you think of your group leader?
Excellent local guide - Andre Pontes who had a great sense of humour and "eyes in the back of his head". I felt very safe with him and valued his experience of the walks and knowledge of the plant life. Hotels very good, food wonderful. Heated pool lovely.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Really enjoyed all the hotels, the food and the expert guidance of the photographer Sue Bishop who was a fountain of knowledge, very patient and helped me enormously with my photography. Beautiful scenery and flowers.
10 out of 10 - for all and I would/have recommendeded Exodus to anyone.
Michael Britton
WALKING IN MADEIRA
Written
Exactly what was described. Great variety of comfortable walks to all the places you would want to go in a week with a knowledgeable and practical guide.
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
On the first walking day we went out on the Sao Lourenco peninsular. The weather was at its best and the volcanic landscape and the wild Atlantic added up to a breathtaking experience.
What did you think of your group leader?
Andre was knowledgeable and passionate about his island. He was patient and adaptive changing the itinerary when the weather intervened and spoilt the original plans.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
It can rain in April (and presumably at other times) so be prepared for cold mountain tops and wet weather. All the nice wine from the supermarkets came with real corks so take a corkscrew!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
You won 't have a lot of time to take photos on the walks so set to auto and fire away and sort out the rubbish later. The levadas are fantastic works of engineering and the tunnels on the walk to the waterfall are low so don't bash your head. Admire all the empty motorways linking the island's small villages by tunnel and viaduct. Enjoy your Euro Billions at work!
This was my second time doing this trip, and this was just a good as the first one. A fantastic variety of scenery on the walks - no two days were at all the same. We had everything from gentle walks along levadas in lush countryside, to fabulous cliff-side paths with fantastic views, to higher and more challenging walks through the mountains. The hotels were equally varied in character, but all of them comfortable and good.
Andre was a very committed and knowledgeable guide who knew the walking routes like the back of his hand, and clearly cared very much that each member of the group should have a great experience.
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Watching the sunrise at the top of the mountain
The variety of the landscape in different walks
Feeling of peace and tranquility high in the mountains
Spectacular coastal views
What did you think of your group leader?
Our leader Andre was very knowlegeable about his country, flora and fauna. He was attentive to all members of the group and we all enjoyed friendly banter and encouragement when things got tough! He was aware of the groups safety at all times. We could not have a better guide.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Some spectacular walks in the mountains - I personally felt on top of the world but this trip is not for you if you suffer from vertigo or are afraid of heights. A reasonable level of fitness is also required as some days were quite tough - I found coming downhill the most difficult
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Standing above the clouds on Pico Ruivo and watching them tumble over peaks and ridges.
Enjoying a cold drink after successfully completing in beautiful weather the most strenuous walk of the week.
Watching the firework display from the roof of our hotel on New Years Eve.
What did you think of your group leader?
Andre was a good and most able leader on the walks. He was very concerned for our well being and safety. He knew the routes very well and shared his local knowledge and knowledge of flora with us. Andre came across as kind and considerate. He was very friendly and easy to get along with. His skills as a leader overall need to be developed. He could improve by giving daily information to the group, making sure that when he did everyone heard it.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
If you read other reviews, people’s views on the level of difficult vary, understandably as everyone’s ability varies. The following might be helpful, nb mileages are approximate. Walk 1 Ponta De San Lourenco, 5-6 miles manmade path several short ascents and descents. Walk 2, Levada Machico 9 miles almost all on level concrete path by Levada, one ascent and descent to cliffs on north coast. Walk 3, Caldera Verde 8 miles mainly on the level by Levada, with a slippery descent, steep in places at the end. Walk 4, Pico Ruivo 7½ miles, many ascents and descents lots of steps. Walk 5, Boca da Corida, 8 miles mostly uphill. I would say the walks were done at a steady pace with only a few stops.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Madeira is a beautiful island and if you enjoy walking this is one way to see a small part of the island. Four of the five walks go to areas with different terrain and vistas, so each one varies considerably from the other. Funchal is interesting with enough to see and do and makes for a good place to end the trip. It's old town has lots of street art and a good choice of restaurants. The hotel Exodus uses is in a very central position. If you go at New Year as I did you get a fantastic 360 degree view of one of the best firework displays in the world from the hotel roof.
December was certainly not the best month to go to Madeira. Unfortunately, I had only looked up the temperatures at the coast and totally forgot that we will be on higher altitude. Thus, I was cold a lot. I felt it was an okay holiday. I guess, being in my thirties, it will not feature in my top list of destinations to go to: the landscape is nice but there is not much else (certainly in another month, the flora is more spectacular and probably makes everything even nicer). I did not like the food very much and our accommodation was okay but in parts (for the circumstances - December) too cold (heating and water-wise) for my liking.The walks were not very difficult. But then, I am used to walking up and down mountains. We had members in the group though, who were struggling and maybe there should be some more information given on the trip description as to how many steps to climb or descend, how many hours of walking etc.All in all, a good week away and hey, the fireworks on New Year's Eve were fantastic and so was the group!
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Walk along the coastline to Cais do Sardinho
Lovely group
Finally good food in the last restaurant we went to as a group in Funchal
What did you think of your group leader?
He was very much into walking. However, it would have been nice if he had spent a bit more time to form a group like organising a dinner on the first evening when everyone had just arrived and we were all left alone to meet only the next morning. Or for going for a coffee or a meal somewhere.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Please mind that in the mountains, temperatures may go from really hot to really cold.
from 33 reviews.
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