Pico do Arieiro Camp
Camping
Day 1
Madeira — light - 6 Days (Funchal, Monte, Pico do Arieiro, Pico Ruivo & Rabacal)
Six days of walking on a volcanic island. The same walks self-guided using the public buses, which reach most trailheads but not all.
Old Mule Routes
Runs this trip
Trekking
Six days of walking on a volcanic island
Group Tour
Join a fixed-date departure with other travellers
Top Highlights
Funchal old townThe Monte toboggans are wicker sleds on greased runners, steered by two men on foot. Pico do ArieiroThe PR1 crosses a knife ridge with cut tunnels and several hundred steps, usually above the cloud layer. 25 FontesLevadas are irrigation channels cut across the island from the wet north to the dry south, with maintenance paths beside them — about…
Itinerary
The Monte toboggans are wicker sleds on greased runners, steered by two men on foot. They started as transport in the 1850s and never stopped.
Funchal, MonteHow the day runs
- 1 hrsTransfer into the city
- 0 hrs3:00 PM — the cable car up to Monte
- MealsDinner
- AccommodationPico do Arieiro Camp
Included Activities
- Airport transfer
- Hotel night
- Monte cable car
Optional Activities
- The wicker toboggan down from Monte, steered by two men in straw hats
LANDMARKS Funchal old town Monte Palace gardens Toboggan run Start point Funchal, Madeira Airport (FNC), Portugal 00:00 - 23:59The PR1 crosses a knife ridge with cut tunnels and several hundred steps, usually above the cloud layer. Head torches are needed for the tunnels.
Pico do Arieiro, Pico RuivoHow the day runs
- 1 hrs5:30 AM — up for sunrise above the cloud
- 5 hrs7:00 AM — the PR1 ridge, tunnels and stairs
- MealsBreakfast
- AccommodationRabacal Camp
Included Activities
- Guided ridge walk with head torches
- Transfer at both ends
- Hotel night
LANDMARKS Pico do Arieiro Pico Ruivo Ninho da Manta Rock tunnels Levadas are irrigation channels cut across the island from the wet north to the dry south, with maintenance paths beside them — about two thousand kilometres of them.
RabacalHow the day runs
- 2 hrs8:30 AM — up to the laurel forest
- 4 hrs10:00 AM — the 25 Fontes and Risco levada walks
- MealsBreakfast
- AccommodationFunchal Camp
Included Activities
- Rabacal shuttle
- Guided levada walk
- Hotel night
LANDMARKS 25 Fontes Risco waterfall Laurisilva forest The pools at Porto Moniz are natural lava basins that fill and flush with the tide.
Funchal, Porto MonizHow the day runs
- 2 hrs9:00 AM — over the island to the north-west
- 12:00 PM — the lava rock pools, filled by the Atlantic
- MealsBreakfast, Dinner
- AccommodationFunchal Camp
Included Activities
- Pool entry
- Transport
- Guesthouse night on the north coast
LANDMARKS Porto Moniz pools Seixal Old ER101 coast road The eastern tip gets almost no rain and looks like a different island — bare red and ochre rock, with the Atlantic on both sides.
Funchal, Ponta de Sao LourencoHow the day runs
- 1 hrs8:30 AM — east to the peninsula
- 4 hrs9:30 AM — the 8 km out-and-back
- MealsBreakfast
- AccommodationFunchal Camp
Included Activities
- Guided walk
- Hotel night in Funchal
LANDMARKS Ponta de Sao Lourenco Casa do Sardinha Volcanic cliffs Madeira airport has one of the shortest and most exposed runways in Europe, built out on pillars over the sea. Landings are occasionally diverted.
FunchalHow the day runs
- 9:00 AM — the Mercado dos Lavradores and the old town doors
- 1 hrs1:00 PM — to the airport
- MealsBreakfast
- AccommodationNot included — onward travel
Included Activities
- Airport drop
LANDMARKS Mercado dos Lavradores Painted doors of Rua de Santa Maria
- Day 1Airport transfer
- Day 1Hotel night
- Day 1Monte cable car
- Day 1The wicker toboggan down from Monte, steered by two men in straw hatsCosts extra
- Day 2Guided ridge walk with head torches
- Day 2Transfer at both ends
- Day 3Rabacal shuttle
- Day 3Guided levada walk
- Day 4Pool entry
- Day 4Transport
- Day 4Guesthouse night on the north coast
- Day 5Guided walk
- Day 5Hotel night in Funchal
- Day 6Airport drop
- Day 1 · 1 nightPico do Arieiro Camp
- Day 2 · 1 nightRabacal Camp
- Day 3 · 3 nightsFunchal Camp
- Day 1Funchal to FunchalTransfer into the city
- Day 2Funchal to Pico do Arieiro5:30 AM — up for sunrise above the cloud
- Day 3Funchal to Rabacal8:30 AM — up to the laurel forest
- Day 4Funchal to Porto Moniz9:00 AM — over the island to the north-west
- Day 5Funchal to Ponta de Sao Lourenco8:30 AM — east to the peninsula
- Day 6Funchal to Funchal1:00 PM — to the airport
Where you'll stay
All accommodations are subject to change
Rabacal Camp
Camping
Day 2
Funchal Camp
Camping
Days 3–5
What you'll eat
5 breakfasts and 2 dinners across 6 days, at camp. It opens with dinner on day 1 and closes with breakfast on day 6.
- DinnerServed on days 1, 4
- BreakfastServed on days 2–6
7 meal services named in the itinerary. Vegetarian and vegan covered; Jain, gluten-free and allergies on notice at booking
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Customer reviews
Overall rating
4.5/5
Based on 11 reviews
Review summary
Food4.4/5
Guide4.5/5
Itinerary3.7/5
Transport4.1/5
Accommodation4.2/5
Tour operator4.3/5
Sort by:Recommended
3
S
Sneha Kulkarni – Ahmedabad2026-06-13 · Verified booking
Pace was set for the fastest people in the group and it made the middle days hard. Crew were professional without being stiff about it.
Reply from Old Mule Routes
Thanks for writing this up. We've passed your note to the team.
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3
M
Manav Sethi – Nagpur2026-06-13 · Verified booking
Pace was set for the fastest people in the group and it made the middle days hard. The team read the group well and adjusted without making a thing of it.
Reply from Old Mule Routes
Thank you for travelling with us — glad the route worked out.
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4
A
Ananya Gupta – Pune2026-06-13 · Verified booking
Did this over 6 days and it was the best walking I've done in years.
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5
C
Carla Mendes – Lisbon2026-06-13 · Verified booking
Well organised from the pickup onwards. The daily distances were honest about what they'd be. Solid operator.
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4
M
Manav Sethi – Delhi2026-06-13 · Verified booking
Did this over 6 days and it was the best walking I've done in years. Worth every rupee.
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5
R
Rohit Verma – Lucknow2026-06-13 · Verified booking
The route is beautiful and the pacing was sensible — nobody was rushed on the climb. Simple food, well made, and enough of it. Good value for what's included.
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5
D
Daniel Okafor – Auckland2025-02-02 · Verified booking
Madeira in the right season is something else, and the team knew exactly where to camp. Tents were warmer than expected and the camp was set up before we arrived. Would send friends their way.
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5
P
Priya Nair – Kochi2025-02-02 · Verified booking
Madeira in the right season is something else, and the team knew exactly where to camp. Camp was pitched and the kitchen going by the time we walked in each evening. Worth every rupee.
Reply from Old Mule Routes
Appreciate the honest feedback; we're looking at the pacing on that section.
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Questions people ask
One other operator runs this trail. See all 2 side by side →