Madeira Flower Festival Tour

Madeira Flower Festival

Every spring, when Madeira’s magnificent flora is at its most resplendent, the island’s capital comes alive with the colours and scents of its beautiful flowers. Streets and shop windows are filled with decorations and people gather to enjoy the carnival of traditional music groups that accompany vivid parades in celebration of peace and hope. On our Madeira holiday, we combine time to absorb the revelry with excursions to explore this wonderful island, from the botanical gardens in Funchal to the fantastic views over forest-clad mountains that cover Madeira’s heartland.

What’s Included:

• 15 meals
• Transport from the UK
• Accommodation (7 nights in a hotel)
• Travel in destination by coach
• 8 excursions and visits
• 7 nights in Madeira
• 15 meals: 7 breakfasts (days 2-8) 1 lunch (day 5) 7 dinners (days 1-7)
• Porterage services included
• Portable audio headset system on excursions
• VIP door-to-door travel service
• Services of a Tour Manager

Tour Highlights:

• 8 excursions & visits
• Funchal city tour, including an embroidery factory, Botanical Gardens and wine tasting
• Full-day Island tour
• Excursion to Eira do Serrado and Monte
• Experience the Children's Parade and Flower Festival Parade

Day 1: UK - Funchal

Titan’s VIP door-to-door travel service collects you from home for your flight to Madeira. On arrival, we transfer to our hotel for check in. Take some time to enjoy the spectacular views from the clifftop position.

Day 2: Funchal

We’ll take some time to really get to know Funchal today on a guided tour this morning. We’ll start at the market, where we’ll wander past the display of exotic flowers, freshly caught fish and vibrant, succulent fruits. We’ll visit an embroidery factory for a chance to see the materials being prepared - you’ll even have the chance to purchase some of the handmade products as a special souvenir. In the Botanical Gardens, we’ll admire some of the Madeira’s most exotic plant species. A sprawling 80,000 square metres, the gardens are packed with the exotic flora that the city is famous for. Huge cacti, flowers bursting in showers of colours and weird-and-wonderful shrubs and trees jostle for your attention. We’ll end our tour at a winery, where you have the chance to sample some of the local wines. The rest of the day is at leisure to enjoy as you please.

Day 3: Funchal

Timeless Funchal is a web of cobbled streets next to the bustle of modern city life. With a balmy year-round temperature, the streets are awash with the vivid pinks, yellows and oranges of the floral displays. But during the flower festival, even more so. We dive into the festivities today with the first procession taking place this morning - the Children’s Parade. Thousands of children gather in colourful costumes to parade through the streets, carrying a single flower to symbolise peace and hope for themselves and future generations. The ‘Wall of Hope’, at the Municipio Square, turns into an abundance of colour as the children ceremoniously lay their offerings - a wonderful way to begin the festival.

Day 4: Funchal

Today the streets are once again filled with music and soft floral scents for the main floral procession. The Flower Festival Parade is one of the most striking and eagerly anticipated events of the entire festival. Watch on in wonder at beautiful, impressive creations float along the planned route through the city to the sound of festival music. Folklore groups in native costume weave among the crowd, bringing an air of fun to the whole city. As well as the main parade, the festival brings an abundance of events. Watch concerts of classic and modern music, watch exhibitions, dance shows and indulge in the local street food.

Day 5: Island Tour

Enjoy a full day exploring Madeira’s western sights, passing through the pretty fishing town of Camara de Lobos. We see Ribeira Brava, one of the island’s first parishes and drive through the mountains via the Encumeada pass, where incredible views of both the south and north coasts can be admired. We stop for lunch at São Vicente, a popular seaside village set at the mouth of a beautiful valley. A small chapel stands at the inlet, where Saintt Vicente is said to have appeared. Our final stop is the charming Pousada dos Vinhaticos, surrounded by a gorgeous, rolling green landscape.

Day 6: Funchal

Today is free for you to spend as you wish. Take an optional excursion or return to the city’s centre to stroll along its narrow cobbled streets with interesting old buildings, take a cable car to Monte, where wealthy Portuguese and foreign aristocratic families have built their homes, and 18th-century Monte Palace sits amongst wonderful tropical gardens, or discover the local countryside - there are numerous trails to follow for varying capabilities and distances.

Day 7: Eira do Serrado - Monte

This morning we travel to Eira do Serrado, nestled in the steep volcanic mountains, high above dramatic valleys decorated with chestnut trees. Burrowed between the mountains, the Valley of the Nuns, you will spot an isolated village, once only accessible by foot (or donkey). Far inland, this was a place of refuge from the pirates who frequently attacked Madeira. We’ll travel on to visit Our Lady of Monte Church. The most important pilgrimage site in Madeira contains the austere tomb of Charles I of Hasburg and adored statue of Our Lady of Monte. This afternoon is at leisure for you to enjoy as you please.

Day 8: Funchal - UK

We transfer to the airport for our return flight to the UK. Upon arrival your Titan vehicle will be waiting for the journey home.