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What was the highlight or most memorable moment of your tour?
Madeira is such a beautiful sub-tropical island all year round - the Levadas are lush and give breath taking views from the mountains to the sea. The group bonded well and we relaxed, joked and ate wonderful food and the local rum drink called 'Poncha'. We even got to swim in the sea on the last day after seeing dolphins from a boat; the hotels had pools we could swim in and one had a jacuzzi and another a sauna - I would thoroughly recommend this trip to all who enjoy walking.
How was your Explore Tour Leader?
Skye is great fun and very well organised - so you can relax knowing everything is taken care of down to the last details.
What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?
Make sure your walking fitness is quite good although you dont need to be an athlete - Skye monitored our fitness levels to start with and helped those who were not so confident.
Do you have anything else to add?
Cant wait for my next trip!
I write to thank you most sincerely for your helpful and flexible attitude over the matter of my wife, Katie's, broken ankle sustained a few weeks before our departure. By allowing our trip to Madeira to go ahead in spite of her injury you enabled us to enjoy yet another excellent Explore holiday. I dare say that not many travel companies would have been so accommodating and your customer-centred attitude was a refreshing change to the legal risk-averse approach which so often rules these days
Read moreAlthough Katie was obviously unable to join our walkers during the day, she thoroughly enjoyed the fuss made of her by the minibus drivers who were kindness itself, and was able to see much of the island. We naturally tried to make sure that we didn't increase the administrative burden on our guide 'Skye' McDonald, but she insisted on making sure that everything went without a hitch.
As to Skye, I can only say that although she had only just arrived on the island (we were her first group) she had certainly done her homework and had the whole week firmly in hand. She is a natural leader and has the knack of mixing that quality with a friendliness and attention to detail that gained everyone's confidence and respect from Day 1. In fact a typical Explore tour guide.
Many thanks from us both
Varied scenery on the walks - from rainforest to orchard, mountain to hillside. A great trip to appreciate the different aspects of Madeira. Don't expect to lose any weight, as the food is excellent. Cake & coffee after a walk is apparently a tradition of Madeira! Plenty for the meat lovers, as well as the fish eaters.
If you don't like heights, at least two of the walks may not be for you, but the views are stunning if can do this. Don't forget the bug spray, and apply it even when you think there aren't any there! As always with these holidays, it's the group that makes it, and Explore always seem to manage to pull it off! The group experience was a highlight for me, but also getting a glorious second place was the tobogan ride from Monte back into Funchal on the free day (ignore the taxis and buses - it is a less than 20 minute walk back to the hotel from the end point), as well as the last day walk, which really had me believing in the need for gloves (which I had originally laughed at on reading the trip notes). Quiet at night. Not one for partygoers, unless you are prepared to make your own entertainment as we did! (TM -18th September 2011)
