Madeira Jivamukti Yoga and Hike Portugal Jivamukti Yoga & hiking on the green pearl of the Atlantic

Included in the trip

• Round-trip flights from Stockholm Arlanda to Funchal, including taxes and checked baggage
• Airport–hotel transfers, round-trip
• Seven nights in a double room at a four-star hotel
• Breakfast buffet
• One lunch at the hotel
• Six dinners at the hotel (drinks not included)
• All yoga classes according to the program
• Three guided hikes
• Transport to and from the hikes
• One entrance ticket to the spa area
• Climate compensation through Vi-skogen

Additional costs

• Single room supplement (double room for single use): SEK 3 500
• Tips, if applicable

Transfer Time: Approximately 15 minutes from Funchal Airport to the hotel.

What level of fitness is required for this trip?

The yoga is suitable for all levels and will be adapted to the group. For the hikes, a good basic fitness level and stability are required, as well as experience with longer walks and higher altitudes. Some trails are narrow and bordered by steep slopes, so vertigo may make parts of the hike more challenging.

I’m travelling with a friend, but we’re at different levels. Can we still go together?

Absolutely! It doesn’t matter if you are at different levels, as long as both of you can manage the hike. For yoga, everyone participates according to their own abilities.

What should I bring?

Bring yoga and hiking clothing, as well as your yoga mat. For the hikes, you’ll need well-worn- hiking shoes or boots that cover the ankle (required), preferably double wool socks to reduce the risk of blisters, comfortable pants and shorts, and layers for the upper body. Hiking poles are recommended. Also bring a wind/rain jacket, sun protection, sunglasses, and a hat to handle changing weather. A small backpack, water bottle, and possibly a small snack and some cash for coffee stops are also useful. Also bring bathing suits and dinner clothes. A more sufficient list will be sent out closer to the trip. 

Preliminary Program

During the week, each day is designed to weave together yoga, hiking, rest and shared experiences. Every morning begins with a yoga class, followed by a nourishing breakfast.

Three days are dedicated to hiking in Madeira’s spectacular surroundings. The island offers a mix of easier and more challenging trails, with dramatic landscapes and unique natural experiences. Reaching the island’s highest peak, Pico Ruivo at 1,862 meters, is a truly memorable experience.

We use minibuses to reach the trailheads, with transfer times ranging from approximately 30 minutes to one hour. The exact hikes will be announced on-site and adapted to weather conditions. For all hikes, we bring a picnic lunch. There are bakeries and supermarkets near the hotel for those who wish to prepare their own, or the hotel can provide a picnic.

On non-hiking days, there is an opportunity to deepen your yoga practice through workshops, strength and mobility classes, and time for rest, excursions, or exploring the surroundings at your own pace.

After hikes, we gather for restorative yoga and meditation—a moment to ground the body and integrate the day’s experiences.

One day includes lunch at the hotel, provided as a voucher upon check-in to be used at your convenience during the week.

Preliminary Daily Schedule

Day 1 – Arriving on the Path | Theme: Be Here Now

• 13:45 – Arrival in Funchal
  Transfer to hotel and check-in
• 17:30 – Jivamukti Open Light Class (90 min)
• 19:30 – Group dinner
• 20:45 – Satsang: Introduction to the theme, chanting, and setting a shared intention for the week

Day 2 – The First Step | Theme: Every Journey Begins with a Single Step

• 07:30 – Jivamukti Open Class & Meditation
• 09:00 – Breakfast
• 11:00 – Full-day hike with local guide
• 16:30 – Yin / Restore & Renew
• 17:45 – Free time
• 19:30 – Group dinner

Day 3 – Meeting the Edge | Theme: Through Darkness into Light

• 07:30 – Jivamukti Open Class
• 09:00 – Breakfast
• 11:00 – Mobility & Strength for Yoga
• Lunch and free time
• 16:30 – Handstand Workshop
• 19:30 – Group dinner

Day 4 – Seeing the Path | Theme: A Shift in Perception

• 07:30 – Jivamukti Open Class
• 09:00 – Breakfast
• 11:00 – Full-day hike
• 16:30 – Yin / Restore & Renew
• 17:45 – Free time
• 19:30 – Group dinner
• 20:45 – Satsang and chanting

Day 5 – Walking Together | Theme: Community

• 07:30 – Jivamukti Open Class
• 09:00 – Breakfast
• 10:30 – Workshop: Simple Principles of Flying – Self-Leadership in Action
• 13:00 – Lunch and free afternoon. Option to explore Funchal at your own pace. The city center is easily accessible by bus or taxi. Highlights include the charming old town, CR7 Museum near the marina, the Monte cable car with panoramic views of the valley, and the Monte Tropical Garden. Several companies also offer boat trips.
• Dinner on your own at the hotel or in Funchal (not included)

Day 6 – Finding the Way | Theme: Conscious Navigation

• 07:30 – Jivamukti Open Class
•  09:00 – Breakfast
• 11:00 – Full-day hike
• 16:30 – Yin / Restore & Renew
• 17:45 – Free time
• 19:30 – Group dinner

Day 7 – Honouring the Journey | Theme: Gratitude and Reflection

• 07:30 – Jivamukti Open Class
• 09:00 – Breakfast
• 11:00 – Mobility & Strength
• 12:00 – Lunch and free time
• 17:00 – Yin / Restore & Renew
• 18:15 – Free time
• 19:30 – Farewell group dinner
• 20:45 – Satsang: Chanting, reflection and closing

Day 8 – The Path Continues | Theme: Practice Beyond the Mat

• 07:30 – Jivamukti Open Class
• 09:00 – Breakfast
• Check-out and transfer to the airport

The program is preliminary and may be subject to change.

Example Hikes

Ponta de São Lourenço
Ponta de São Lourenço, the easternmost point of the island, is named after the ship João Gonçalves Zarco used to discover Madeira. The landscape is open with sparse vegetation, and you might spot the unique ice plant and even a hovering kestrel. The trail winds along steep sea cliffs on one side and dramatic geological formations in shades of yellow, red, brown, and black on the other. From the highest point at the tip of the peninsula, the views are stunning. Swimming is possible if the weather permits.

• Hiking time: 3h 45min
• Elevation change: ±200 m
• Distance: 7 km + 1 km

Levada Walk in Laurisilva Forest
Madeira’s natural diversity is astonishing. One of the island’s most important landscapes is the Laurisilva forest on the northern side. Here, we follow a levada—a historic water channel transporting water to the southern coast and Funchal. The trail runs along the border between cultivated land and dramatic, untouched nature. Hike through dense laurel forest with endemic mosses growing on cliff walls.

• Hiking time: 4h
• Elevation change: ±100 m
• Distance: 11 km

Pico Ruivo
The panorama from Madeira’s highest peak is spectacular! On a clear day, you can see almost the entire island, all the way to the Paul da Serra plateau in the east. Today’s hike follows a well-maintained stone trail, not a levada. Despite the altitude and undulating terrain, the hike is not technically difficult. At these heights, the landscape feels almost alpine.

• Hiking time: 4h
• Elevation change: +200 m / -200 m
• Distance: 7 km

Alternative Pico Ruivo Route

• Hiking time: 4h
• Elevation change: +400 m / -500 m
• Distance: 9 km

Paul da Serra Plateau
Located on the western part of the island, Paul da Serra offers open and relatively flat terrain for Madeira. We follow a trail along the northern part of the plateau, walking soft, undulating paths through high blueberry bushes and centuries-old bay trees. The views stretch over Madeira’s northern coast and the endemic Laurisilva forest. Bright yellow flowering broom bushes add color to the green surroundings, and spotting a cow along the way is not uncommon.

• Hiking time: 4½ h
• Elevation change: +200 m / -500 m
• Distance: 12 km

Levada Walk on the South Coast
The levadas on Madeira’s southern coast have a completely different character. We hike through agricultural landscapes along one of the island’s oldest levadas. With the most sunshine, the southern coast has the majority of Madeira’s terraces and cultivated plots. Many exotic crops are still grown here, from bananas and sugarcane to passionfruit, avocado, and sweet potato. The levada winds along the mountainside, through acacia and eucalyptus forests, eventually opening to sea views.

• Hiking time: 4½ h
• Elevation change: ±100 m
• Distance: approx. 10 km