Madeira, Portugal
Europe | Fall 2026[ OVERVIEW ]Explore Madeira’s dramatic island landscapes on a longevity-focused Journey.
Experience an island of remarkable diversity, Madeira blends dramatic mountains, coastal landscapes, and lush forests into one compact destination. Known for its year-round mild climate and renowned walking routes, it offers a unique balance of movement, nature, and restoration within Europe.
Journey Details
Upcoming Dates
September 26 - October 3
October 17 - October 24
October 24 - October 31
6 nights / 8 days
2 bookend travel days
6 nights in Madeira
Journey Duration
$6,800 per person
*Single occupancy available for $1,200 more
*Room upgrade available for additional cost
Pricing
Beginner, Intermediate, & Advance
This Journey is designed for Singles, Couples, and Families with kids ages 12 and older.
Activity Level
What if travel supported how you live, not just where you go?
Travel Overview
DAY 1
Overnight Flight to Madeira
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Your Journey begins as you depart the United States on an overnight flight bound for Madeira, stepping into a week filled with movement, connection, and renewal.
DAY 2
Arrival in Funchal: Exploration & Acclimation
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Arrival into Funchal offers one of Europe’s most scenic approaches, where the island’s cliffs, harbor, and hillside homes unfold along the coastline. After transferring to the five-star Savoy Palace, one of Madeira’s most distinguished luxury hotels, you’ll settle into your balcony room with the North Atlantic Ocean stretching below. We begin acclimating to a new time zone with a relaxed guided walk through Funchal’s historic streets to restore circulation while we experience natural light and establish our daily rhythm.
The evening welcome dinner features thoughtfully prepared, nutrient-dense local cuisine curated by Dr. Jessica Chen to fuel the week ahead, setting the tone for an extraordinary experience across the island.
DAY 3
Eastern Madeira: Ridgelines & Atlantic Perspective
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The eastern edge of Madeira reveals a more rugged side of the island, where volcanic ridgelines rise above the Atlantic. Today you choose your level of challenge. A moderately demanding coastal hike builds endurance and stability across dramatic terrain before continuing by a private Zodiac boat along the cliffs to a seaside village. Alternatively, a gentler scenic hike emphasizes steady movement and breath awareness while immersing you in Madeira’s natural beauty.
DAY 4
Funchal & the Laurel Forest: Culture & Rhythm
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The day begins in the heart of the capital, where its streets, local markets, and harbor views reveal the island’s layered history and daily life. Guided exploration offers insight into Madeira’s traditions, architecture, and agricultural roots before the afternoon shifts into nature. Just outside the city, a levada hike winds through lush laurel forest along historic irrigation channels carved into the mountainside. The steady rhythm of the trail encourages natural conversation and unhurried movement, balancing cultural immersion with time in the landscape that defines the island.
DAY 5
West Madeira: Vineyards & Volcanic Waters
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The western coastline of Madeira unfolds with energy and drama as the most remote location on the island. Traveling together across this striking landscape, we arrive at a local vineyard where Madeira traditions come into focus. A thoughtfully prepared farm-to-table lunch highlights high-quality regional ingredients sourced directly from the surrounding land, reflecting the deep connection between soil, sea, and table. Later, the volcanic natural pools of Porto Moniz offer time to swim, float, or simply pause beside Atlantic-fed waters shaped by ancient lava flows.
DAY 6
Elevation or Restoration
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High above the island, Madeira reveals itself through two distinct options you can choose from. One path follows the PR1 trail between Pico do Arieiro and Pico Ruivo, tracing dramatic ridgelines, carved stairways, and narrow mountain pathways along the island’s volcanic spine, with sweeping views stretching toward the Atlantic. The other offers a gentler experience in the botanical gardens above Funchal, where terraced landscapes, rare plant life, and panoramic overlooks provide a slower yet equally beautiful perspective from above.
DAY 7
Atlantic Morning & Celebration
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The island reveals itself differently from the water. A private catamaran carries you along Madeira’s southern coastline, where steep cliffs meet open Atlantic and dolphins and whales are often seen moving through nutrient-rich waters. There is time to swim in the clear blue sea, relax on deck, or simply take in the scale of the island from a new vantage point.
In the evening, the Journey concludes with a BLU-inspired Celebration Dinner featuring locally sourced cuisine that reflects the balance and quality experienced throughout the week.
DAY 8
Farewell & Departure
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After breakfast, enjoy a final morning at your own pace, perhaps strolling through Funchal’s charming streets, lingering over coffee with terrace views, or taking in one last panoramic overlook before heading to the airport.
Depart Madeira carrying renewed energy, strengthened relationships, and the sense that this island’s story and your own continues beyond a single week.
WHERE YOU’LL STAY
Savoy Palace
Located in Funchal City, Savoy Palace stands as one of Madeira’s most distinguished luxury hotels. Part of The Leading Hotels of the World, it offers sweeping ocean and city views, thoughtfully designed spaces, and an atmosphere that invites you to slow down and restore after active days.
Your expansive 442-square-foot Superior Ocean View Room, complete with a private balcony suspended above the Atlantic, becomes your own retreat for six unforgettable nights.
More Information
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What’s Included
All Breakfasts, 5 Lunches, and 5 Dinners
Nourishing Snacks During Activities
Private Ground Transportation
6 Nights at Five-Star Hotel
7 Days of Activities
Expert Local Guides for All Activities
Our Attentive On-Site Journey Team
All Gratuities
1 pre- or post-trip IV or mild hyperbaric oxygen therapy session at BLU by ThriveWell™
What’s Not Included
Flights to & from Madeira
One lunch & one dinner are on your own
Other expenses of a personal nature such as snacks and souvenirs
Our Journeys are limited to 16 participants so that we can provide a personalized group experience.
What makes BLU Better?
Travel isn’t just about seeing new places; it’s about returning transformed. Our travelers don’t check destinations off a list. They invest in experiences that align with their health goals, values, and vision for the future.
Each Journey is carefully designed to blend the following evidence-based longevity practices into the overall experience:
PERSONAL
Purpose + Priorities + PlanWe create space for guided reflections, visioning exercises, and thoughtful moments that help you clarify what matters most. Along the way, travelers are invited to pause, reflect, and consider how they want to carry more vitality and purpose into everyday life. These personal insights often become meaningful anchors long after the Journey ends.
COMMUNITY
Engagement + Encouragement + EmpowermentConnection is central to longevity. From the moment you join a Journey, you become part of a supportive community. We build connection during our time together through shared meals, meaningful conversations, and custom activities.
PHYSICAL
Sleep + Steps + StrengthEach Journey is rooted in movement. Options such as guided hikes, cycling routes, kayaking excursions, yoga sessions, and other adventures are woven into every itinerary. These experiences build strength, energy, and resilience while allowing you to explore breathtaking landscapes in a deeply embodied way.
NUTRITIONAL
Mostly Plant Based + Real Whole Foods + Stop Before FullFood is essential to both fuel and cultural connection. We design each Journey with plant-forward, locally sourced cuisine that reflects the region’s culinary heritage and aligns with longevity principles. Meals are intentionally paced, communal, and nourishing.
SPIRITUAL
Meditation + Mindfulness + MotivationRestorative practices like guided meditation, prayer, gratitude journaling, moments of silence, or gentle mindfulness are integrated throughout each Journey. These practices offer space to pause, reflect, and connect to something larger.
