08 May 2027
Twin share
Book by 16 Oct
Single from £2,654
Escorted tour
Walking in the Azores: Pico, Sao Jorge & Faial – 8 Days
Volcanoes, vineyards and sea cliffs on Pico, Sao Jorge and Faial, in a group of up to sixteen.
8 days
From £2,266
Tour overview
This 8-day walking holiday explores three of the central Azores islands on foot, travelling between them by ferry. A tour leader walks with the group, which numbers between five and sixteen. You stay seven nights in three- and four-star hotels, with breakfast daily, six picnic lunches and a group dinner.
On Pico you walk from the central highlands to the coast on the old donkey trail, with the option of climbing Mount Pico, Portugal's highest peak, and follow the UNESCO-listed vineyards of Criacao Velha, with an optional whale-watching trip.
Read more
A ferry takes you to Sao Jorge for coastal walks to the fajas, flat lands at the foot of towering cliffs. On Faial, the Blue Island, you walk from Capelo to the Capelinhos volcano and around the rim of the great Caldeira crater, ending in Horta.
The physical rating is medium. This trip suits walkers who want dramatic volcanic scenery and Atlantic island life.
Trip highlights
-
The Caminho dos Burros (Day 2)
-
The Criacao Velha vineyards (Day 3)
-
Optional whale watching (Day 3)
-
The fajas of Sao Jorge (Days 4–5)
-
The Capelinhos volcano (Day 6)
-
The Caldeira crater (Day 7)
Your route
12 stops from Madalena to Horta
- Madalena Days 1–3
- Prainha Forest Park Day 2
- Candelária Day 3
- Fajã dos Vimes Day 4
- São Jorge Days 4–5
- Serra do Topo Day 5
- Fajã dos Cubres Day 5
- Capelo Day 6
- Capelinhos Day 6
- Horta Days 6–7
- Caldeira do Faial Day 7
- Horta Day 8
Why choose this tour
Three islands in one week. Picnic lunches on every walking day.
Best suited to
- Walkers
- Nature lovers
- Solo travellers
- Whale-watching fans
Day-by-day itinerary
8 days from Madalena, Pico, Azores to Horta, Faial, Azores
-
Day 1 · Madalena Pico
A welcome dinner.
- Hotel
- Hotel Caravelas
- Meals
- Dinner
-
Day 2 · Caminho dos Burros, Mount Pico Pico
Highlands to coast.
- Hotel
- Hotel Caravelas
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
-
Day 3 · Criacao Velha Pico
UNESCO vineyards.
- Hotel
- Hotel Caravelas
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
-
Day 4 · Faja dos Vimes Sao Jorge
Ferry and coastal walk.
- Hotel
- Hotel Sao Jorge Garden
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
-
Day 5 · Serra do Topo, Faja dos Cubres Sao Jorge
Cliffs and fajas.
- Hotel
- Hotel Sao Jorge Garden
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
-
Day 6 · Capelo, Capelinhos Faial
A young volcano.
- Hotel
- Hotel Faial Garden
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
-
Day 7 · Caldeira Faial
The great crater.
- Hotel
- Hotel Faial Garden
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
-
Day 8 · Horta Horta
The trip ends.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Where you stay
- Pico (3 nights) Hotel Caravelas
- Sao Jorge (2 nights) Hotel Sao Jorge Garden
- Faial (2 nights) Hotel Faial Garden
Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.
What's included
Included
- Accommodation 7 nights in hotels
- Meals 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 1 dinner
- Inter-island ferries and island transport
- Six days of guided walking
- Group airport transfers
- Optional Mount Pico climb available
- Tour leader throughout
Not included
- Flights
- Meals not included 6 dinners
- Six dinners
- Optional whale watching
- Travel insurance and personal spending
This trip might not be for you if…
Honest disclaimer — please read
- You want beach time
- You want most dinners included
- You dislike ferries
- You want flights included — they are not
Good to know
Meals by day
Breakfast: Days 2–8 · Lunch: Days 2–7 · Dinner: Day 1
FCDO advice
UK FCDO travel advice for Portugal
In pictures
Departures & prices
From £2,266 per person, twin share, tour only. 4 upcoming departures. Single travellers from £2,654 (single supplement from £388).
Offer Reduced prices on selected dates, shown with the regular price crossed out. Book by 16 Oct.
12 Jun 2027
Twin share
Book by 16 Oct
Single from £2,929
03 Jul 2027
Twin share
Book by 16 Oct
Single from £2,726
04 Sept 2027
Twin share
Book by 16 Oct
Single from £2,730
Frequently asked questions
How do I book this tour?
Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.
What financial protection do I get?
Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.
Do I need a visa for Portugal?
No, UK citizens can visit Portugal visa-free for short stays, though the EU Entry/Exit System applies at the border.
How hard are the walks?
Moderate walks of several hours a day on varied terrain; the Mount Pico climb is optional and harder.
How do you travel between islands?
By public ferry, from about one hour to two and a half hours.
Are airport transfers included?
Yes, group transfers from Pico Airport and to Horta Airport.
Can I have my own room?
A single supplement is available on request.
How many people travel together?
Between five and sixteen travellers, with a tour leader.
Can you tailor the trip?
Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.
What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?
If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.
ATOL protected
100% financially protected in a Trust bank account
PTS 6035
4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option
Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.
If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.
Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary