Hiking is a physical activity suitable for all ages and fitness levels - it engages the whole body, supports mental wellbeing, and has one of the lowest entry barriers of any sport. Yet despite its potential as a health-enhancing activity, many organisations that want to offer hiking to their communities lack the hands-on experience needed to organise it safely, especially outside their home region.
Pathways to Outdoors is an Erasmus+ sport project bringing together four organisations from Portugal, Slovakia, Czechia, and Hungary with a shared goal: to raise their capacity to organise wider-ranging hiking activities - including abroad - with high safety standards, and to use hiking as a tool to get more people moving regularly.
This activity takes place in Madeira, one of Europe’s most spectacular hiking destinations - a volcanic island of ancient laurel forests, dramatic sea cliffs, and a unique network of levadas: centuries-old irrigation channels that have become some of the world’s most scenic walking trails. Through the mobility, participants will gain direct experience of organising and leading hikes in a terrain very different from their home countries, exchange good practices with peers from across Europe, and bring that knowledge back into their everyday work.
Participant profile
- Resident of one of the following countries: Portugal, Slovakia, Czechia, or Hungary.
- Active in organising or facilitating outdoor, sport, or community activities.
- Motivated to develop competencies in hiking organisation and safety, and to apply them in their local context after the activity.
- Fully available to participate throughout the entire programme (18-23 May 2026, including travel days).
- Basic physical fitness is required.
- Not currently receiving other European Union funds (e.g., not enrolled in an Erasmus+ university exchange).
Location
We will be hosted at Village Cabo Girão, a resort perched on the slopes of the Cabo Girão cliff in Câmara de Lobos - one of the highest sea cliffs in Europe - with panoramic views over the Atlantic Ocean, approximately 18 km from Funchal. The resort features fully equipped apartments and shared facilities.
All meals will be prepared for the group by a dedicated cooking team throughout the activity.
Hiking in Madeira
Madeira’s trail network is unlike anywhere else in Europe. The island is best known for its levada walks - gentle paths following narrow irrigation channels that wind through lush valleys and dense laurel forest, part of the UNESCO-listed Laurisilva. For those seeking more challenge, the island’s central ridges offer dramatic hikes with sweeping views of both coastlines and the open Atlantic. The mobility will feature hikes across different terrain types and difficulty levels, giving participants direct experience of the planning, safety considerations, and group leadership skills required to organise hikes in an unfamiliar environment - exactly the kind of hands-on learning that cannot be replaced by theory alone.
Useful information
- Participation costs: There are no participation costs. Accommodation and all meals are funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union. To avoid last-minute cancellations, selected participants are required to pay a 30€ deposit to confirm their place. This amount is returned after the activity.
- Travel: 18 May and 23 May are designated travel days. Participants will travel by plane to Funchal (FNC). Once selected, project coordinators will collaborate on developing a travel itinerary.
- What to bring: Identification card or passport, hiking shoes, comfortable and weather-appropriate clothing, sunscreen, sunglasses, reusable water bottle(s), and a hiking backpack to carry water and personal items during hikes. Watch our Preparation and Packing Tutorial for a full guide on what to bring.
- Health & insurance: All participants are asked to bring their European Health Insurance Card, which can be used if hospital care is needed.
- Terms & conditions: See e29.eu/terms-and-conditions for detailed terms and conditions.
- Q&A: Have questions? Reach us on Instagram - E29 or CJE.
