Four Island Tour of the Azores

Start the holiday in Ponta Delgada, capital of São Miguel Island. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel and check in for a four-night stay. Tonight, consider an evening walk along the waterfront before heading to the Old Town for a delicious dinner at one of its restaurants. 

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One of the main highlights of any trip to the Azores is to visit Sete Cidades to take in the iconic blue and green crater lakes separated by just a thin slice of land. Travel along mountain roads to Vista do Rei Belvedere for one of the most magnificent panoramic spots in Azores and also vis a pineapple plantation. (B)

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Enjoy a full day trip to Furnas, stopping at the village of Vila Franca do Campo. Continue to Furnas valley, driving past the lake to the area of geothermal activity where caldeiras bubble and smoke. Watch locals dig up huge pots of cozido nas caldeiras which will be served for today's lunch. Take a relaxing swim in the natural hot water pool at the botanical gardens before making a stop at a tea plantation on the return to Ponta Delgada. (B,L)

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Enjoy a free day to explore the streets and harbour area of the Azores’ capital, Ponta Delgada or travel out to discover more of São Miguel’s stunning countryside with an optional excursion. São Miguel is known as the green island thanks to its supremely fertile volcanic soil ensuring that valleys and pastures are carpeted in greenery year-round. Perhaps book a whale watching excursion by catamaran or exhilarating rib boat from the town’s busy harbour. (B)

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Take a short flight to Terceira Island and transfer to Angra do Heroísmo for a 2-night stay. Terceira is home to a patchworked countryside of walled-off fields and vineyards, lovely little villages and a rugged volcanic centre. The afternoon is free to explore this pretty town at leisure. (B)

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Enjoy a full-day tour around Terceira, visiting some of the hidden treasures of the island. Follow coastal roads offering stunning panoramas, head inland to discover the volcanic heart of the island, see natural swimming pools, and visit the wine making village of Biscoitos. Lunch is the delicious local dish, Alcatra - mouth-watering beef slow-cooked in a clay pot for 12 hours. Also visit to the ancient Algar do Carvao lava vent - a 900 metre deep volcanic chimney. (B,L)

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Fly to Faial island and transfer to Horta for a four-night stay. Home to a huge abundance of blue hydrangeas, Faial is known locally as the blue island and is truly spectacular during July and August when the flowers are in bloom. The centre of the island is dominated by a scenic volcano caldera. (B)

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Take a short ferry ride across to the fourth island of the trip - Pico. Make sure to keep an eye on the water for the whales that famously live in these waters. Learn about the impact whaling and whale watching has played in the life of the Azores at the Whalers Museum. After lunch visit Mistérios de São João before heading towards the Criação Velha to see Pico's famous UNESCO world heritage vineyards. Return to Faial by ferry. (B,L)

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Take in the best of Faial with a tour of the Valley of Flamengos and Caldeira - the highest point of the island. Continue to Capelinhos to walk across the remains of the last volcanic eruption in the Azores and to visit the fascinating Capelinhos Volcano Interpretation Centre. Much of the land here was formed by the 1957 eruption and the ashen coloured dirt hides not only craters and volcanic cones but also the remains of a lighthouse which now houses the museum. (B,L)

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Enjoy a free day at leisure to relax or explore Faial. (B)

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After breakfast, transfer to the airport for the flight to the UK. (B)