Sep 27, 2024
Stunning! - The hike was stunning and the female guide was really lovely too. Great walk through the forest. Was as nice to have lunch within Fanal forest / park itself.
Review provided by Viator
Apr 5, 2024
Scenic Trail to Fanal Forest - This trail was great, we wanted to see Fanal Forest and we had another tour cancelled due to some bad weather around the time. We found this one with some space still and was still running.
The full trail is a bit less common compared to others like 25 Fontes, it's quite a muddy trail that's rocky going through forests and bushes some elevation and decline throughout but not on the most stable paths. Unfortunately we had some wet foggy weather which meant some of the lookout points you couldn't see anything but also meant we got the foggy ominous look at the Fanal Forest.
Our guide was amazing, she kept a good pace to make sure we stayed on time for the tour and had good conversations with her throughout. Be mindful of the pace as it was fine for us and we were always at the front but due to the trail some other people fell behind quite often and had to wait for them further along.
Review provided by Viator
Mar 12, 2024
Fantastic guide - I can't comment too much on the actual walk as I became unwell and could only complete about a third of it. I wanted to comment however on how excellent and supportive both the guide Sarah and our driver was and I would be very happy to book with Lido Tours again.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Dec 30, 2023
Lido walks are the best - This is our 3rd year in Madeira for Christmas and the 3rd year we've used Lido tours. In previous years we've used other companies as well, but Lido has proved to provide the best experience. Sara our guide speaks perfect English amongst many others. The walks are well managed and the most convenient way to see the best of Madeira. The Fanal walk is something quite different to some other walks on offer. We had no intention of using any other company other than Lido tours this year and were not disappointed.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nov 12, 2023
Best tour guide we had. - The best tour guide we ever had. And we’ve been on many tours over the years. She was a credit to your company and herself. So knowledgeable, enthusiastic. Excellent. I’m terrible with names so i uploaded a photo with the tour guide in it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nov 11, 2023
A really great experience! - This was a really great experience. It is well paced and, the views are spectacular. Sarah, the guide, is exceptional. Effortlessly hosting an eclectic group of tourists, speaking Spanish, German and English interchangeably! Sophisticated and really generous in the way she shared knowledge of the area, the Island and relevant folk lore.
There are physical challenges with the hike, it is steep in places and the steps can be slippy but, with a reasonable level of fitness, it is manageable.
There wasn’t mist the day we visited, instead we experienced a full day of clear skies and glorious sunshine which offered with it the most amazing backdrop of scenery. Very much worth visiting and, when next in Madeira we will be sure to use this tour company again.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sep 10, 2023
Beautiful walk - The trip was great. I recommend it to everyone that wants to connect with the nature and surroundings of Madeira. It is a easy to medium difficulty for someone who usually does not exercise. Beautiful views to see. The tour wad well organized and the tour guide was nice and kind. I recommend this tour.
Review provided by Viator
Sep 2, 2023
Wonderful hike in perfect... - Wonderful hike in perfect weather giving us great views at the start and the misty experience in the Fanal forest. Sara was a wonderful guide giving us a lot of useful information. We also got 40 min at the end in the Fanal forest to explore on our own.
Review provided by Viator
Jan 27, 2024
Amazing views - I did this walk with Sunrise Tours. It should be graded difficult not moderate. The walk is at a high altitude with a number of ascents/descents and steps. Some people in our group did not have adequate footwear, and one person had to drop out as he did not have the fitness level for the walk.
I agree with other reviews that not enough time is given to explore the Forest at Fanal.
That said, it is a great walk with amazing views.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sep 13, 2023
Not enough time in Fanal Forest - Our tour guide was amazing however I wouldn’t recommend this walk to anyone who wants to view Fanal Forest. You do a walk through some nature (around 8km) with lovely views, however this is essentially what the trip is. Also, this walk is a lot of walking up and down steps that are unstable so I wouldn’t recommend for anyone who may struggle with this aspect. About halfway through you end up back on a road with another 4km walk ahead to Fanal Forest. When you arrive you have 1 hour to eat something and walk around Fanal Forest (there isnt a time or place to eat on the walk up to the forest). This is nowhere near enough time to spend there unfortunately. I believe the tour would be better if they took you to the road midway through, had the 4km walk to Fanal then were able to spend more time exploring the area. I would like to emphasise again, our tour guide was lovely and very knowledgeable. However, I would recommend a different tour company for viewing Fanal Forest.
Review provided by Tripadvisor