Check in to your hotel in the charming village of Canico on Madeira's south coast - just a few kilometres from the island's airport to the east, and from Funchal to the west. Like many places on the island, Canico sits within a rugged volcanic landscape and there is plenty to see and do. Depending on the time of your arrival, you may wish to visit one of the nearby black pebbly beaches for a dip in the sea, or visit the Quinta Splendida Botanical Gardens, home to more than 1,000 plant species, many native to Madeira. There's also a pleasant promenade - perfect for an evening stroll beside the sea.

Your first cycling day begins with a short transfer inland to Camacha where your bikes will be waiting for you - saving your legs from around 500 metres of elevation gain. Camacha is famous for wicker weaving, with artisans creating all sorts of items such as baskets, furniture, animals, and more. The wicker is also used to make some of Madeira's most iconic items, including the sleds that are famously steered down the 2km-long toboggan run that is the steep, bendy road from Monte to Livramento, as well as the baskets used in harvesting the grapes for Madeira's famous fortified wine. Having collected your bike you'll have great views of the verdant countryside as you ride along a lovely undulating road up in the hills, eventually dropping down to the little fishing village of Porto da Cruz on the island's east coast, your home for tonight. You may wish to spend some time on its black sandy beach, or take a swim in the fantastic bathing complex with its two pools, sun terrace, and restaurant - perfect for relaxing after your ride. Alternatively, you may delve straight into the local culture with a visit to one of the island's last remaining sugar mills, Engenhos do Norte, where sugar has been produced since 1927. Madeira has long been a significant centre for sugar production, and in 1500 was the largest sugar exporter in the world. Here you can see the old 1920s machinery still used in the production process. The sugar cane is used to make brandy and rum too, and you might fancy nipping next door to the Casa do Rum where you can sample them and the popular local drink, 'poncha', which is made from sugar cane liquor, honey, and freshly squeezed orange juice. Well-deserved after your first day on the bike!

Madeira's north coast is home to some of the island's most spectacular scenery, with rugged mountains, lush Laurisilva forests, steep cliffs, and expansive seas strikingly juxtaposed. A short transfer is provided to avoid starting with a long, steep ascent on the bike. With happy legs, you'll be dropped off in Santana, famous for its brightly painted triangular wooden dwellings with sloping thatched roofs, known as 'casas de colmo'. These lovingly restored farm labourers' houses bear testimony to the local natural resources, and are very photogenic. From Santana you will ride west, along a beautiful road with pretty villages and spectacular coastal panoramas along the way. The route twists and turns through the landscape and there's a fair bit of up and down - an e-bike might be your best friend so you can put more effort into simply enjoying the ride and the views, and less into the pedalling! Here you're immersed in fertile agricultural vistas where the villagers grow sugar cane, vegetables, and sweet-smelling fruits including grapes used in the production of wine. At the viewpoint just before you reach Arco de Sao Jorge you'll often find farmers selling tropical fruit - a refreshing snack before you continue on your way. If you love flowers you might like to stop off at the rose garden - Roseiral da Quinta do Arco, open April through November - one of the largest in the world with over 1,500 species of roses, and another delight for the senses. Soon you'll arrive back at the coast, at Ponta Delgada - 'a slender tip of land, vanishing into the sea', as described in the 16th century by historian and priest Gaspar Frutuoso. Leaving Ponta Delgada you'll skirt the edge of the sea on your way to your home for the night in pretty Sao Vicente. This little seaside town is nestled between high cliffs, facing out towards a lively sea that is a magnet surfers and body boarders. If you prefer something less extreme, we recommend taking an atmospheric stroll along the lovely long coastal promenade or relaxing at the beach and, if people are out riding the waves, allowing yourself to be captivated by them. There are several good restaurants here serving fresh authentic dishes, some with great views of the steep verdant hillsides nearby.

You will be picked up after breakfast again today and transferred to the centre of the island, where you will begin your ride at around 1,000 metres above sea level. If it is clear, you will have expansive views to both the north and south coasts - be sure to take a moment to enjoy this stunning panorama before setting off on your bike! You'll head off in a westerly direction with cows and sheep grazing alongside your route as you ride through deep green countryside. Climbing steadily for around 10km on the high plateau of Paul da Serra, you'll pedal through some of Madeira's renowned UNESCO-protected Laurisilva forest. It is then a steady descent to the coast on an amazing ridge-top road with fantastic views on all sides as you cruise down to your home for tonight, Porto Moniz, on the island's northwest tip. The village is known for its saltwater bathing pools, formed by lava flows millennia ago, and today filled with crystal-clear waters from the natural ingress of the sea. This is a popular place to swim for both locals and visitors, and makes a great place to relax the limbs after a day on the bike.

Cycling straight from the hotel today, the road climbs steadily for the first 12km with increasingly impressive views of the west coast. You'll cycle through fragrant forests and small villages and no doubt be stopping often, as around every bend there's another spectacular view over the sea below and another great photo opportunity. Madeira's westernmost point is at Ponta do Pargo, with its prominent red and white lighthouse, and here you'll turn south, following minor roads that twist and turn above a steep coastal escarpment. There are several places, such as at Lombada dos Marinheiros, where the coastal views are really spectacular. You'll spend the night at the lively village of Calheta, which has a colourful yacht harbour and a beach filled with sand imported from Morocco. This former centre of sugar cane production has become a popular place for locals to meet.

Hopping on your bike, you once again follow minor roads that meander above the coastline, neither straight nor level for long, as you head towards the island's capital, Funchal. After 16km, you'll be back beside the sea as you approach Ribeira Brava, once the intersection of trading routes between the north coast and Funchal, today an important agricultural area where many typical Madeiran products are grown. After this you will head steadily uphill and away from the coast for around 12km to reach the clifftop at Cabo Girao, one of Madeira's most dramatic viewpoints. Here, a transparent platform 580 metres above the sea allows you to look down to a thin strip of farmed land at the water's edge - an intriguing stop for those with a head for heights. A long descent will bring you back to the sea and onwards to your accommodation in the centre of Funchal, the island's colourful and vibrant capital city.

We have included a bike-free day to allow you to experience some of Funchal's other attractions, along with a return ticket for the cable car that links the city with the charming hillside suburb of Monte, some 500 metres above. Monte is a great place to do some exploring - wonderful for a simple stroll, and you can visit the church of Nossa Senhora do Monte or lose yourself in a plethora of colours and textures at the Monte Palace tropical gardens. Another attraction is the famous Monte Toboggan Run, where the adventurous can get whisked back to the city in a large wicker sled, steered by two 'carreiros' wearing traditional white uniforms and straw hats. Another breath-taking yet rather more serene option is to take a walk alongside one of the 'levadas', Madeira's famous irrigation channels. You'll learn that Madeira is a lot of fun without a bike, too!

Enjoy a relaxed breakfast and perhaps a final stroll around town if you are making your onward journey today. However, there is so much to do in and around Funchal, you might like to add an additional night or two here. We can arrange this for you - please ask our Sales Team for more information.