Ribeira Brava volcanoes 4-day trail running, Madeira
The island of Madeira is a unique destination for trail running. Join Thibault, mountain leader and trail running expert, and explore the volcanoes around Ribeira Brava on this 4-day trail running tour.
4 Days
All year
High
Intermediate
Description
Madeira is a Portuguese island located in the Atlantic Ocean. Ribeira Brava is a beautiful town on the southern coast of the island. This will be our starting point for an amazing 4-day (and 4-night) trail running tour in a volcanic area. I’ll be guiding you together with a local guide.
The first day will be dedicated to get to know each other and the environment, and then we will have three full days for trail running. I have planned different trails for each day, with different difficulty levels. You can see more details in the itinerary below but, just to get your imagination going, these itineraries include:
– Waterfalls and tunnels
– The central massif
– Sisters valley
Three days of trails between volcanic paths, waterfalls and stony ascents. You will reach summits and discover Madeira to the rhythm of your running.
Known for its volcanic scenery, the center of Madeira is a succession of small mountain-volcanoes (the highest summit is at 1800m). Literally meaning ‘Island of the Woods’, Madeira offers you as many single forest tracks as ridges. This will provide a real mountain running experience. The island also enjoys pleasant weather throughout the year.
Want to join me on this exciting trail running adventure? Then please request to book this trip, as I would love to guide you running around the amazing natural environment of this Portuguese island.
Trail running is my passion, and some of the other programs I offer are in Engreux, Les Hautes Fagnes and Bouillon in Belgium. Check them out if you want options in my country!
Price includes
- Accommodation included
- Guiding fee
- Transport during the trip
- Transportation start and back
- Flight to the start
Price details
- The price includes flights from Brussels to Madeira. The price might be different if you come from somewhere else.
- The price doesn't include the food besides the breakfasts, the personal expenses, the tips and your personal insurance (health and repatriation).
Meeting point
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival
Meeting at the Brussels airport or in Funchal directly. Flight Brussels – Funchal with stopover at Lisbon. Transfer to Ribeira Brava by bus (50min). Arrival at the Encumeada hotel around 12:30PM.
The hotel is located at the Encumeada pass, from where many hiking paths start. It marks the north-south division of the Madeira island.
We will discover the environment and prepare the equipment.
Day 2: Trail 1
Breakfast at the hotel. We will meet the local guide.
Today we start the Trail 1 “Waterfalls and tunnels”, 17km, 600m D+.
We start slowly, and will progress along the Levadas. It is a spectacular itinerary.
The day is not very technical on paved and dirt trails. It will be a great warming up day.
return to the hotel in the late morning. Afternoon off.
Day 3: Trail 2
Breakfast at the hotel, and we leave for the Trail 2 “The central massif”, 27km, 1500m D+.
Leaving from Boca da Corrida, today we will go higher, on a more technical ground, with stronger emotions. We will reach Nun’s Valley.
Throughout the itinerary we see peaks, plateaus, ridges.
Your poles will be important. We will be trail running during 6 hours.
Afternoon off.
Day 4: Trail 3
Breakfast at the hotel, and we leave for the Trail 3 “Sisters Valley”, 23km, 1900m D+.
This will be the last trail. It starts very intensely with 1 kilometer vertical. The reward? A wonderful valley. Then we continue to ascend, and the trail ends with a very technical descent, part of the famous MIUT (Madeira island ultra-trail).
Today it will be very important to control your rhythm and energy.
Day 5: Departure
Breakfast at the hotel, bus transfer to Funchal airport, flight back to Brussels or to your country.
Details
More info
Price:
- group of 8: 1100€ per person
- group of 11: 1000€ per person
- group of 15: 900€ per person
A local guide will also join us.
Level:
- Btrail index: 40-50%, proper experience in mountain hiking
- 15KM 300D+
- Running rhythm: 5.45-5.15 min/km, between 300 and 1000 D+
Equipment: hydratation backpack, at least 1.5L backup water, tights, shorts, t-shirt, underwear and trail socks, technical underwear, thermal long sleeved top, sports sunglasses, head cover, thin gloves, 2 pairs of trail shoes apt for the terrain, headlamp, tissues, replacement laces, trail sticks, clothing and shoes for before an after running, toiletries, earplugs, cash, individual pharmacy.
About the guide
Thibault
4.5
(6)
Mountain Leader
Passionate about trail running, the outdoors and everything that nature provides to us, I got certified as a mountain leader by the Club Alpin Belge. I also work as a school teacher and devote my free time to my artistic pursuits.
Maps are another of my big passions. I collect them and spend hours looking at them and searching for the best itineraries in the Alps, the Andes, the Carpathians...and then I take you to explore them, running or walking.
My mission is to share with you the happiness that a high altitude lake can provide, the comfort that one can find in a rustic mountain hut and the excitement of walking along a mountain ridge. Looking forward to meeting you!
Languages
French | English
What people are saying about Explore-Share
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4.8
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