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Madeira Embroidery Retreat
7 days from £1,879pp
Your Tour Includes
- Full-day and half-day workshops with our expert, kit and refreshments included
- Dinner, Bed and Breakfast accommodation
- Excursions and entrance fees as described in the itinerary
- Services of an experienced Tour Manager
- Gratuities for the local guide and coach drivers
Experts
Holiday Overview
Join our experts for an embroidery retreat on the picturesque island of Madeira. Spend the week at the 4-star, adults-only View Baia Hotel with breakfast and dinner included each day. Enjoy a combination of full and half day workshops with your expert and explore the island on two included excursions, one of which features a visit and workshop at a local embroidery museum and factory!
Kate Barlow is the expert accompanying the 2026 retreat, Helen McCook will be the expert for the 2027 departure.
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Questions about
this holiday?
Our UK team is here and happy to help!
Itinerary
Please choose your preferred 7 or 8 day itinerary
Please Note: Flight-inclusive packages are available at an extra cost, with flights from London to Funchal with 1 piece of checked-in luggage included.
Workshop Information:
Helen (2027): Details to follow!
With our flight-inclusive package, meet Helen and your Tour Manager at a London airport for your flight to Funchal. From here, you will be transferred to your hotel.
If you have booked our join direct package, meet Helen, your Tour Manager and fellow guests at the hotel.
Late afternoon, we will enjoy a welcome talk and drink at the hotel with our local Madeira representative.
Included Meals
- Dinner
Highlights
This morning, we will enjoy an introductory guided tour of Funchal. Discover this fantastic city and the most important places of interest. We'll visit the renown embroidery factory and museum and the local food and craft market. We continue to the village of Monte, situated high above the city. The village is famous for its beautiful church and gardens. The tour concludes with a visit to a traditional wine lodge for a tasting of the famous Madeira wine.
After free time for lunch in Funchal, we’ll enjoy a workshop with the ladies at the local embroidery factory.
Included Meals
- Breakfast
- Dinner
Highlights
- Funchal Tour
- Embroidery Workshop
Today will be spent in a full-day workshop with Helen, starting on our embroidery projects.
Included Meals
- Breakfast
- Dinner
Highlights
- Workshop
Experience the stunning contrast between East and West Madeira in a single day on this unforgettable tour. Perfect for those wanting to see the island's highlights, this journey takes us to Ribeiro Frio, a natural park filled with endemic flowers, and the charming village of Santana, known for its colourful traditional houses with thatched roofs.
Marvel at the breathtaking views along the northern coast, where waterfalls, deep valleys, and towering mountains create a dramatic landscape. Then, explore the island’s only vast volcanic plateau, Paúl da Serra, before heading south-west, passing picturesque fishing villages, banana plantations, and vineyards on our way back to Funchal. A day full of beauty and contrasts!
Included Meals
- Breakfast
- Dinner
Highlights
- Island Tour
This morning is at leisure to relax in the surroundings of your hotel, explore independently or join an optional easy Levada Walk.
If you choose to join the optional walk, you will wander along a 'Levada', Madeira's unique water irrigation system, to immerse yourself in the stunning Madeiran countryside, with views stretching from the sea to the mountains. As you arrive at breathtaking Big Rock Valley, you'll feel like you've stepped into paradise. This two-hour, easy, and flat walk offers magnificent landscapes, vibrant wildflowers, lush valleys, and a glimpse into the lives of local people, giving you a true taste of authentic Madeira.
Afterward, you’ll be warmly welcomed by a local family at their charming tea house, offering breathtaking views of the valley and surrounding gardens. Explore the herb garden and learn about Madeira's medicinal plants. Then, enjoy a delightful afternoon tea featuring homemade local treats: sweet potato bread with jam and honey, regional cakes, and seasonal exotic fruits. Local herbal tea or coffee will accompany this unforgettable experience. An afternoon filled with warmth, local flavours, and memories you’ll cherish! The distance 2.5 km, and walking duration is 1hr 30mins.
This afternoon, join Helen for another workshop in the hotel.
Included Meals
- Breakfast
- Dinner
Highlights
- Workshop
Today will be spent in a full day workshop with Helen to continue working on our embroidery projects.
This evening, we will be taken by coach to a traditional restaurant located high above Funchal. Whilst we are eating, we will be entertained by a local folklore group.
Included Meals
- Breakfast
- Dinner
Highlights
- Folklore Dinner
- Workshop
If you have booked our join direct package, your holiday ends after breakfast.
With our flight-inclusive package, we transfer by coach to Funchal Airport for your return flight to London.
Included Meals
- Breakfast
Please Note: Flight-inclusive packages are available at an extra cost, with flights from London to Funchal with 1 piece of checked-in luggage included.
Workshop Information: Join Kate on this retreat in Madeira to learn more about the traditional hand embroidery from this stunning island. With a history going back hundreds of years, this style of needlework is timeless and continues to be popular today. Worked in cotton threads on fine linen fabric, the technique uses many stitches including padded satin stitch, closed buttonhole stitch, seed stitch and eyelets. This project is the perfect introduction to this beautiful embroidery technique
With our flight-inclusive package, meet Kate and your Tour Manager at a London airport for your flight to Funchal. From here, you will be transferred to your hotel.
If you have booked our join direct package, meet Kate, your Tour Manager and fellow guests at the hotel.
Late afternoon, we will enjoy a welcome talk and drink at the hotel with our local Madeira representative.
Included Meals
- Dinner
Today will be spent in a full-day workshop with Kate, starting on our embroidery projects.
Included Meals
- Breakfast
- Dinner
Highlights
- Workshop
This morning, we will enjoy an introductory guided tour of Funchal. Discover this fantastic city and the most important places of interest. We'll visit the renown embroidery factory and museum and the local food and craft market. We continue to the village of Monte, situated high above the city. The village is famous for its beautiful church and gardens. The tour concludes with a visit to a traditional wine lodge for a tasting of the famous Madeira wine.
After free time for lunch in Funchal, we’ll enjoy a workshop with the ladies at the local embroidery factory.
Included Meals
- Breakfast
- Dinner
Highlights
- Funchal Tour
- Embroidery Workshop
Today will be spent in a full day workshop with Kate working on our embroidery projects.
This evening, we will be taken by coach to a traditional restaurant located high above Funchal. Whilst we are eating, we will be entertained by a local folklore group.
Included Meals
- Breakfast
- Dinner
Highlights
- Folklore Dinner
- Workshop
Experience the stunning contrast between East and West Madeira in a single day on this unforgettable tour. Perfect for those wanting to see the island's highlights, this journey takes us to Ribeiro Frio, a natural park filled with endemic flowers, and the charming village of Santana, known for its colourful traditional houses with thatched roofs.
Marvel at the breathtaking views along the northern coast, where waterfalls, deep valleys, and towering mountains create a dramatic landscape. Then, explore the island’s only vast volcanic plateau, Paúl da Serra, before heading south-west, passing picturesque fishing villages, banana plantations, and vineyards on our way back to Funchal. A day full of beauty and contrasts!
Included Meals
- Breakfast
- Dinner
Highlights
- Island Tour
This morning, we will enjoy a workshop with Kate and this afternoon is free for you to relax, explore the local area or make use of the many facilities available at the hotel.
Included Meals
- Breakfast
- Dinner
Highlights
- Workshop
This morning, we will enjoy a workshop with Kate. Enjoy some free time this afternoon or join an optional easy walk.
If you choose to join the optional walk, you will wander along a 'Levada', Madeira's unique water irrigation system, to immerse yourself in the stunning Madeiran countryside, with views stretching from the sea to the mountains. As you arrive at breathtaking Big Rock Valley, you'll feel like you've stepped into paradise. This two-hour, easy, and flat walk offers magnificent landscapes, vibrant wildflowers, lush valleys, and a glimpse into the lives of local people, giving you a true taste of authentic Madeira.
Afterward, you’ll be warmly welcomed by a local family at their charming tea house, offering breathtaking views of the valley and surrounding gardens. Explore the herb garden and learn about Madeira's medicinal plants. Then, enjoy a delightful afternoon tea featuring homemade local treats: sweet potato bread with jam and honey, regional cakes, and seasonal exotic fruits. Local herbal tea or coffee will accompany this unforgettable experience. An afternoon filled with warmth, local flavours, and memories you’ll cherish! The distance 2.5 km, and walking duration is 1hr 30mins.
Included Meals
- Breakfast
- Dinner
Highlights
- Workshop
If you have booked our join direct package, your holiday ends after breakfast.
With our flight-inclusive package, we transfer by coach to Funchal Airport for your return flight to London.
Included Meals
- Breakfast
Tour Notes: You will need to have a reasonable level of fitness to get the most out of this holiday. On excursion days you will need to walk a short distance from the hotel to the coach and you should be able to board the coach unaided. On arrival at the excursion destination, you should be able to alight the coach unaided and there may be a walk between the coach drop off point and the excursion venue. By their nature, walking tours, museum visits etc involve being on your feet for a significant amount of time. Whilst our excursions are taken at a leisurely pace, for the enjoyment of everyone in the group you should be able to keep up with your fellow travellers.
Accommodation
You will stay at the 4-star, adults-only Views Baia Hotel in Funchal for 7 nights (2026) or 6 nights (2027).
