Adventure & Yoga Holiday in Madeira: Surfing, Canyoning & Hiking

Madeira is a small Portuguese island with big mountains. Most of it is protected forest, crisscrossed by levadas and trails that run along cliffs, through tunnels, and up to volcanic peaks. This retreat is designed around getting out into those landscapes with a guide, then coming back to the comfort of a Funchal hotel. The daily rhythm is simple: breakfast at the hotel, a transfer to wherever you're going that day, a four or five hour activity, then an afternoon yoga session to stretch out whatever you just used.

Day two is the hiking day. You transfer up to Rabaçal, a trailhead on the island's central plateau, and walk the 25 Fountains and Risco waterfalls route — about 12 kilometres on flat levada paths with a couple of hundred metres of elevation. It's one of Madeira's classic walks, through dense laurel forest that's part of a UNESCO World Heritage site. Day three is canyoning: you get geared up and descend a gorge, abseiling down rock faces, sliding down natural chutes, and jumping into cold pools. It's more thrilling than technical, and the guides from Go Trail Madeira are certified and local.

Day four is surfing. You drive to the north coast, where the Atlantic swells hit exposed beaches, and take a morning lesson with instructors who work with beginners. The waves there are more consistent than the calmer south shore. The afternoon is free — you can rest, wander Funchal, or book one of the optional extras like a mountain bike tour, paragliding, or a second surf session. The week also includes three yoga sessions total (not one every day) and a 30-minute Thai & Ayurvedic massage, which happens on day five, the recovery day. Day six is just breakfast and the airport transfer home.

The lead yoga teacher is Frederica, who started practicing Ashtanga Vinyasa in Lisbon in 2014 while working as a lawyer. She eventually quit law to teach full time. The guides on the trail days are the Go Trail Madeira team — people who run and hike these mountains year-round and adjust the route to the group's pace.

What's included

- 5 nights accommodation at the Dorisol Mimosa hotel (private single or twin room) - Airport pickup and drop-off at Funchal Airport (FNC) - Daily breakfast at the hotel - 3 relaxing yoga sessions (one at sunrise) - 1 x 30-minute Thai & Ayurvedic Yoga Massage - 1 surf lesson on the north coast with certified instructors - 1 canyoning tour (abseiling, slides, jumps) - 1 guided hiking tour on the 25 Fountains & Risco route - Shuttle transfers to and from all trails and activities - Activity insurance for all included excursions - The company of certified, experienced local mountain guides

What's not included

- Flights to Madeira - Travel insurance - Visa fees (if applicable) - Lunches and dinners - Any extra treatments or activities not listed (scuba diving, paragliding, extra surf lessons, etc.) - Personal expenses