Walk in the Beauty of the Azores
June 3 to 10, 2025
Join us as we walk the green hills of the Azores
June 3 to 10, 2024
The Azores are a group of nine Portuguese volcanic islands that lie midway across the Atlantic. The scenery is green, lush and striking. The ocean is all around.
And the walking is fantastic.
The largest island is São Miguel which is where we stay. The shoreline sports both cliffs and beaches. The interior is hilly, with the highest point rising to 3600 feet. The island is not large, measuring 40 miles long and 9 miles wide, but there are over 20 major hiking trails for us to choose from, ranging from 3 to 5 hours each. Some hug the coast. Others visit waterfalls or circumnavigate the island’s many lakes that fill its volcanic craters. Other trails head up to the hill tops to enjoy the views over the island and out to sea.
We will stay in Ponta Delgada, a town of some 70,000 people and capital of the Azores, and head out hiking each day from there.
The walking
This is a walking trip, so naturally we will walk. Each day, after breakfast, we will head out with our local guide. The trails are easy to medium in difficulty and will typically last 3 to 5 hours.
May is prime walking and hiking season for the Azores. While the temperatures remain fairly constant throughout the year on the Azores, May is one of the months with the least rainfall. While the weather is fast to change on Sao Miguel, we can expect average daytime temperatures in the upper sixties in May, which is ideal for hiking.
Some walks will be circular in nature, where we return to our starting point on a loop trail. Other walks are point-to-point in nature, with transportation provided to the starting point and from the finish. Weather will affect the condition of our trails, but May is one of the driest months in the Azores and the trains should be in relatively good shape.
On one of our days, we’ll plan to climb to the higher portions of the island, but on most days, our climbs will be minimal.
Dates: June 3 to 10, 2025
Cost: $3950
Maximum group size: 12
Other Things to Do on the Azores
The island of São Miguel has only recently found its way onto tourist itineraries, but its history is a long one. Vikings are believed to have settled on the islands 1,300 years ago, although the islands may have been inhabited earlier than this. The Portuguese arrived in the 14th century and the islands remain part of Portugal today.
Walking and hiking is obviously a major attraction in the Azores, but it isn’t all that there is to do. Think hot springs, since the islands are volcanic in origin. Think beaches, as the coastline is long. There is whale watching and dolphins.
The food scene is dominated by seafood, given the cool Atlantic waters all around. The islands themselves are agricultural in nature, offering locally raised meats and excellent cheeses. There is also a pineapple plantation and two tea plantations. There is even coffee grown there, not to mention a bit of wine.
Trip Details
(Click + to expand)
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June 3 to 10, 2025 (7 nights - 8 Days)
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Total cost of the tour: $3950
Supplement for single occupancy: $525
Deposit required to reserve a place on the tour: $350
(Places in the tour are limited to 12 and are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. We recommend that you reserve your place early!)Payment schedule
$350 deposit. The deposit is refundable through January 31, 2025.
$1800 initial payment (Due January 31, 2025)
$1800 final payment (Due April 1, 2025)
All payments are refundable if we need to cancel the trip due to government restrictions or unsafe travel conditions.
** Earn a $300 discount when you bring or refer a friend.
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Pickup and drop-off at designated airport
Guided exploration of the island of Sao Miguel
7 nights lodging
7 dinners and breakfasts, with appropriate amounts of beer or local wine
Local hiking guides
Local transportation by van and driver
What’s not included:
Airfare & Travel Insurance
Lunches
Admission to some museums and local sites and other misc. costs.
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Lodging will be at hotels in the capital city of Ponta Delgada. Each room, either single or double, has its own private bathroom.
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Traditional Azorean breakfasts will be taken at your hotel each morning.
Lunch will be taken on your own or on the trail.
Dinners will be at restaurants throughout the island.
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If you would like to extend your trip, you may like to visit some of the other islands that make up the Azores. Connections are also good if you would like to visit Lisbon or Porto, or other places in Europe.
We are happy to offer advice on how best to extend your trip, if you like.
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Your deposit is non-refundable after January 15th, 2024, unless of course the trip is canceled for any reason by Travel Fever Tours. Natural disasters, political instability or low enrollment would form the basis for canceling a trip. After that date, payments are nonrefundable.
You will be contacted once the trip reaches minimum enrollment so that you can proceed with purchase of your flights and make other travel arrangements. In all cases, review of enrollment numbers will not take place any later than the date of the First Installment payment.
