TRAX Where the Atlantic Meets the Edge
Some places you go to rest. Madeira we go to feel alive.
Over eight days and seven nights we cross mountains and forests, surf Atlantic waves, rappel into wild canyons, dive into the world beneath the surface and sail out to the island of Porto Santo. Every morning a new adventure. Every evening back to a five-star hotel, an indulgent spa, chef dinners and private culinary experiences. And exactly when we think we have hit the peak, Madeira raises the bar again. This is not a trip to Madeira. This is the TRAX way of experiencing it.
* All activities described in the itinerary are subject to suitable weather, sea, terrain and safety conditions, as well as the approval of the professional operators on site. TRAX reserves the right to modify, postpone, replace or cancel any activity, at its sole discretion and without prior notice, whenever conditions do not permit its safe execution. No refund, credit or compensation shall be due for any activity that is not performed, in whole or in part, for any of the aforementioned reasons.
* The operation of the expedition is conditional upon reaching a minimum number of participants, as determined by TRAX at its sole discretion. TRAX reserves the right to postpone or cancel the expedition if the minimum number of participants is not reached. In such case, the amounts paid by the participant shall be refunded in full, and no further credit or compensation of any kind shall be due.
8 days. One at a time.
Landing Inside the Dream
Private transfer from the airport, five-star check-in and a festive welcome dinner with the group.
We land in Madeira and immediately feel we have arrived somewhere else. Green mountains rise straight out of the ocean, dramatic cliffs frame the coastline and the Atlantic air fills the lungs.
The local TRAX crew is waiting at the airport. From there a private transfer takes us to an indulgent five-star hotel with a pool, spa and access to the sea.
After check-in there is time to relax, refresh and realise that the week we dreamed about starts now.
In the evening we meet for a festive opening dinner. We get to know the group, raise a first glass and taste what the journey has in store. The first night is calm. We should rest, because tomorrow Madeira changes gear.
Pedalling Into the Wild
Mountain biking through forest trails, a local cider tasting, then a private 4x4 expedition across the east of the island.
We wake up facing the ocean, have breakfast and head to the eastern side of the island. The morning starts on mountain bikes: green trails, slopes, viewpoints and small villages, with the landscape changing at almost every turn.
At the end of the ride we stop for a local cider tasting with regional snacks. Heart rates drop, we laugh about the climbs and raise a first glass to a day that already feels unforgettable.
But the day is far from over. After a short break we switch to 4x4 vehicles for a private jeep expedition across eastern Madeira: mountain tracks, remote areas and viewpoints no tourist bus will ever reach.
In the evening we return to the hotel, shower and swap trail clothes for evening wear. We close the day with a private gastronomic experience: a chef, refined local produce, good wine and a TRAX atmosphere that is only starting to heat up.
Into the Canyon
A six-hour level-2 canyoning descent, then a 1.6 km zipline and a giant swing 250 m above the Atlantic.
Today we do not settle for looking at nature. We step straight inside it. After breakfast we head west for a level-2 canyoning experience. Wetsuits, helmets and harnesses on, and down into a hidden world of waterfalls, natural pools, rock walls and volcanic channels.
We rappel beside running water, jump into clear pools, climb, swim and move through one of the wildest routes Madeira has to offer. This is not a short attraction. It is a full adventure of about six hours, where every turn reveals the next challenge.
If conditions and operations allow, we continue to the north coast for something hard to put into words: a 1.6 km zipline reaching speeds of up to 110 km/h, hundreds of metres above the ocean. And for anyone still hungry, a giant swing hanging some 250 metres above the Atlantic.
In the evening we head to a private local dinner in a secluded restaurant. An intimate place, real Madeiran food and a group that has already been through far more than three days usually allow.
Escaping to Porto Santo
First-class ferry to Porto Santo, then two parallel adventures: a fast RIB boat around the island and buggies across its wild side.
This morning we leave the island. We drive to the harbour and board first class on the ferry to Porto Santo. As the Madeiran coast recedes, we enjoy a light breakfast, stretch out and watch the open ocean.
On arrival we split into two groups and set off on two completely different adventures at the same time. One group boards a fast RIB boat for a sea journey around the island, between bays, caves, cliffs and beaches that are hard to reach from land. Wind in the face, the boat cutting through the swell, Porto Santo revealed from an angle most visitors never see.
At the same time the second group takes buggies and discovers the wild side of the island: dirt tracks, open landscapes, viewpoints and hidden corners far from the usual routes. After the first round the groups swap, so everyone experiences both the power of the ocean on the fast boat and the terrain of Porto Santo behind the wheel of a buggy.
Later we stop for a quality meal and leave time to enjoy the beach and the island's special atmosphere before boarding the ferry back to Madeira. Dinner is arranged around the sailing times, either on board or as a private experience once we are back. A day of sea and terrain, speed and scenery, and two very different adventures on one unforgettable island.
The World Beneath the Ocean
Diving for certified divers and a guided discovery dive for beginners, then a free afternoon of pool, spa and massage.
After conquering the mountains, canyons and coastline, it is time to discover what hides beneath the surface. The group splits by experience: certified divers dive according to their qualification and experience, while anyone who has never dived can try a professional discovery dive with certified instructors.
We descend into Madeira's clear water and discover volcanic rock, underwater formations and colourful marine life. Above us the island is dramatic and rugged. Below the surface everything is quiet, deep and almost hypnotic.
We schedule the dive at this point of the journey to keep a safety margin of more than 48 hours before the flight home.
After the dive we return to the hotel for free time: pool, massage, spa or simply a glass of wine facing the ocean. In the evening a quality dinner and an early night. Tomorrow we are back in the water, at a completely different pace.
Chasing Dolphins
A private dolphin-watching sail, then kayaks, jet skis, snorkelling and SUP with a catamaran as our floating base.
The whole day belongs to the Atlantic. In the morning we set out on a private sail in search of dolphins, and if the ocean is generous we may even meet whales. There is no fixed route and no stage. We head into the open water and let nature lead.
After the sail we stop for lunch and continue to the bays of south-east Madeira. We take kayaks and paddle along the coastline, between cliffs, caves and hidden corners reachable only from the sea. Later we can add rounds of jet skis, snorkelling and SUP, with a support catamaran serving as our base for food, drinks and rest between activities.
It is a day where everyone chooses their own pace. You can paddle, swim and go wild, or simply stop for a moment on deck, look at the group and the view, and realise we are in the middle of a rare experience.
In the evening we return to the hotel for a gourmet dinner and a night of indulgence. Enjoy every quiet moment. Tomorrow is the peak.
From the Waves to the Sky
A private surf lesson, a tandem paraglide over the coast and the iconic TRAX closing party on a private catamaran.
We open the last full day on Madeira's south-west coast. Wetsuits on, boards in hand, into the Atlantic for a private surf lesson. We learn to read the waves, time the take-off and stand up on the right one. Experienced surfers get more challenging conditions; first-timers get close coaching.
Out of the water, we swap boards for wings. We take off on a tandem paraglide over the south-west coast. Below us unfold cliffs, villages, mountains and the ocean. After a week of crossing Madeira on land and water, we get to see all of it from above.
Towards sunset we return to the hotel, get ready for the evening and head to the harbour. A private catamaran is waiting, prepared for the iconic TRAX closing party. We sail along the coastline as the sun drops into the ocean. On deck: music, drinks, food prepared especially for us by a private chef, and moments we do not want to end.
We dance, raise a glass and watch the last light disappear over the horizon. Seven days ago we were a collection of people setting out on a journey. Now we are a group that has been through mountains, canyons, waves, depths and skies together. Which is exactly why a TRAX farewell night is never really a farewell.
Going Home. At Least in Body
Last breakfast facing the ocean, a few final hours of pool and spa, then a private transfer to the airport.
We wake up to our last morning in Madeira. Breakfast facing the ocean and a few more hours of pool, spa or rest, depending on flight times. After check-out a private transfer takes us to the airport.
We go home with photos, videos and memories, but mostly with that rare feeling that comes after doing something truly big.
Because TRAX does not take people on another holiday. We create journeys that remind us how far we can go, how strongly we can feel, and how much bigger life becomes when we dare to truly live it.
Every stop on the map.
Luxury hotels in breathtaking locations.
Opened in 2019 on Avenida do Infante, the Savoy Palace is the flagship of the Savoy Signature group and the boldest silhouette on the Funchal skyline — a 5★ resort of 352 rooms and suites, art-deco lines and Madeiran craft details, a few minutes' walk from the old town and with direct access to the ocean bathing complex on the seafront.
Laurea Spa spreads over roughly 3,000 m² across two floors: indoor pool, saunas, steam rooms, sensory showers, a large gym and a full treatment menu — massage, hydrotherapy and facials. Exactly the recovery you want after canyoning, diving and a day of surf.
Most rooms face the Atlantic and the bay of Funchal. On the rooftop, the Galáxia Skyfood restaurant and Skybar look out over the ocean on one side and the amphitheatre of city lights on the other — the best sunset seat on the island.
- Rooftop pool & Skybar with Atlantic views
- Laurea Spa (~3,000 m²), indoor pool, saunas & gym
- Galáxia Skyfood rooftop fine dining + several bars & restaurants
- Direct access to the seafront ocean bathing complex
- 352 rooms & suites, most with ocean-view balconies
- Walking distance to Funchal old town & marina
- 7 nights at the Savoy Palace 5★ in Funchal, with pools, Laurea Spa and ocean access
- All activities: MTB, 4x4, canyoning, zipline, RIB & buggies, diving, dolphin sail, kayak, jet ski, SUP, surf, paraglide
- First-class ferry to Porto Santo and back
- All private transfers, including airport
- Chef dinners, private culinary experiences and daily breakfast
- Private catamaran closing party
- Two TRAX trip leaders and a local crew on the ground
- Photo, video & drone production
- Full-coverage adventure insurance
- International flights to/from FNC
- Personal expenses & minibar
- Optional activities
- Visa fees (if applicable)