The Wooden Horse of Tr …entino
28.03.2024The spectacular, mountainous Italian region of Trentino is home to an impressive new statue, the Haflinger di Strembo. The new...
With a year-round mild, subtropical climate, the archipelago of nine volcanic islands makes for a stunning location for any walking enthusiast, with dramatic views, hot springs and trails of varying lengths and levels of difficulty to explore.
And, with two new direct flights** launching in 2020, the Azores will become more accessible than ever before with direct access to both São Miguel and Terceira from London. You can also island-hop with ease via inter-island flights.
Celebrating its 50-year anniversary in 2020, travel specialist Sunvil discovered the Azores in 1990 and, since then, has been a leading promoter of responsible tourism to one of the least-known paradises in Europe.
Alongside its long-standing local partner in the Azores, Melo Travel, Sunvil has picked its top trails to dust off those walking boots for this winter…
Why go? “It is such a pleasure to walk on Santa Maria. You hardly see anybody, so you get a sense of relaxation, peace and serenity. The walk has a bit of everything, starting on the highest point of the island, going through Azorean forest, passing by the red desert and ending at the coast.” – Catarina Cymbron, Director of Melo Travel.
Why go? “São Jorge is great for walking due to its dramatic landscape of cliffs, crags and fajãs. It is one of the greenest islands in the Azores archipelago and the walk to Caldeira do Santo Cristo is just spectacular.” – Catarina Cymbron of Melo Travel
Why go? “This trail is wonderfully varied, starting near two small lakes in Flores, it then descends along a rock, down hundreds of stairs until you reach Fajã Grande.” – Catarina Cymbron of Melo Travel
Why go? “Santa Maria is a delightful walk because it is so calm and varied. You can break up the Grand Route over several days, depending on fitness levels, and enjoy new discoveries each day.” – Catarina Cymbron of Melo Travel
Why go? “This trail from the top of the island to the bottom provides beautiful views of the Caldeira and ends at the last volcanic eruption of Capelinhos (which added 2.4 sq km to the island), where the volcanic ashes predominate.” – Catarina Cymbron of Melo Travel
EXAMPLE ITINERARY:
At 2,351m, the dormant volcano of Mount Pico is one of the most prominent landmarks of the Azores archipelago. Sunvil’s two-centre Pico Mountain Hike trip offers an opportunity to climb the highest peak in the whole of Portugal with an experienced guide and enjoy spectacular views across the islands. The price is from £1,583 pp (two sharing) including return flights to São Miguel (London), two nights’ B&B in Ponta Delgada, five nights’ B&B at the new Lava Homes on Pico, all inter-island flights and transfers, and the guided Mount Pico climb.
** The new flights include a Tuesday direct flight to Sao Miguel and a Wednesday direct flight to Terceira (both from London Stansted). Other daily flights are via Lisbon.
To book your tailormade itinerary to the Azores, or to talk to an expert, call Sunvil on 020 8758 4722 or visit www.sunvil.co.uk. For more information on the trails, visittrails.visitazores.com/en.
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