THE ADVENTURE COLLECTIVE® · Independent discovery and booking for outdoor travel
Follow a high plateau into one of Madeira’s best-preserved laurel forests on this full-day 11.5 km walk from Paul da Serra to Fanal. Expect shifting weather, ancient trees, and sweeping valley views.
Follow a high plateau into one of Madeira’s best-preserved laurel forests on this full-day 11.5 km walk from Paul da Serra to Fanal. Expect shifting weather, ancient trees, and sweeping valley views.
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Book directly with Lido Tours for the best rates and real-time scheduling.
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Operated by Lido Tours · Fanal, Madeira
You set off from Paul da Serra under a wide Atlantic sky, boots crunching on the plateau’s coarse grass as wind tugs at your jacket and the day opens toward the west. The path drops and rises, wind-shaped moor giving way to fern and the dark, dripping heart of Madeira’s laurel forest. By afternoon the trees of Fanal stand like ancient architects, trunks bent and braided by fog and time.
moderate.
6–8 hours.
Suitable for walkers with regular fitness; you should be comfortable with sustained uphill/downhill sections and uneven terrain.
The route is about 11–12 km (7.15 miles) with mixed terrain: plateau tracks, gravel paths and forest singletrack with roots and occasional rocky sections.
No—participants must bring their own picnic and water; the operator explicitly asks you to carry lunch.
Moderate fitness is required; regular walkers comfortable with 4–6 hours of sustained walking and some elevation change will be fine.
If the operator cancels for poor weather you’ll be offered an alternative date or full refund; be prepared for rapid weather changes yourself.
The walk follows old levada paths and shepherd routes across Paul da Serra; the Laurissilva forests here are remnants of a once-wider subtropical wood that shaped local livelihoods.
Laurissilva is a protected, UNESCO-recognized habitat; stick to paths to avoid trampling sensitive understorey and follow leave-no-trace practices to protect endemic species.
Lido Tours operates guided outdoor trips and adventures with an emphasis on safety, stewardship, and memorable experiences.
Book with Lido Tours
Book directly with Lido Tours for the best rates and real-time scheduling.
Reserve Now