Sign up to a four-day adventure challenge in Madeira to support LifeLine and the Intrepid Foundation

Opportunity for industry colleagues to join a fundraiser ahead of ABTA’s Travel Convention in Madeira

ABTA LifeLine, Intrepid Travel and Avis Budget Group are offering colleagues in the travel industry the opportunity to have an adventure of a lifetime in Madeira – supporting two valuable causes.

Ahead of ABTA’s Travel Convention, which takes place 12-14 October 2026, industry colleagues will have the opportunity to take part in a four-day adventure in Madeira which involves canyoning, hiking and cycling, to raise money for ABTA LifeLine and the Intrepid Foundation. The event is supported by Visit Madeira.

The trip starts on Friday 9 October and finishes Monday 12 October.

It is just £250 to register, entrants also have a minimum fundraising target of £250 that they must meet, although they are encouraged to go much further. Alternatively entrants can pay £500 and then fundraise whatever else they can on top. Entrants will also be responsible for paying for their own flights to Madeira.

There are 20 places available. To register your interest, please email tclements@abta.co.uk.

Trudie Clements, Director of ABTA LifeLine said:

“What better prelude to this year’s ABTA’s Convention than enjoying all of the thrills Madeira has to offer – whilst supporting two important charities at the same time.

“LifeLine is the travel industry’s charity, here to support colleagues when times get tough. We are seeing unprecedented demand for support and we need members to get behind and support their charity.

“We encourage you to sign up to this year’s amazing fundraiser – and not only challenge yourself with the activities, but also how much you can raise for these important causes. We want people to go all in and do what you can to exceed the minimum fundraising target.”

Joanna Reeve, General Manager UK & Ireland at Intrepid, said:

"We're thrilled to be teaming up with ABTA Lifeline to bring the industry together for this fun-packed and challenging adventure around Madeira. Delegates will have the chance to get active, see a different side of the island and raise much-needed funds for two great causes. Money raised for the Intrepid Foundation will support Re-Food, our partner in Portugal whose mission is to rescue quality food from waste and feed people in need, while protecting the planet."

The Adventure explained:

Day 1 (Friday 9 October) – Dive In (Literally!)
Kick things off in style as we head straight into Madeira’s wild side with an exhilarating canyoning adventure through waterfalls, natural pools, and dramatic rock formations. It’s the ultimate icebreaker — and a bold start to our journey together.

Day 2 (Saturday 10 October) – Coastal Challenge
Lace up your boots for a breathtaking 15km coastal hike from Porto da Cruz to Machico. Think rugged cliffs, endless ocean views, and a well-earned picnic along the way. Finish with beach time and a poncha-making showdown — because every challenge deserves a celebration.

Day 3 (Sunday 11 October) – Reach the Summit
Today we go higher. Conquer Pico do Ruivo, Madeira’s highest peak, and soak in the unbeatable views from the top — a true “we did it together” moment. Then unwind with a winery experience, local flavours, and a well-deserved toast to the cause.

Day 4 (Monday 12 October) – The Final Push
One last effort: a 22.5km bike ride into Funchal. No luggage, just pure energy, team spirit, and maybe a little friendly competition to cross the finish line first. The perfect, active finale.

You can register for a place at the ABTA Travel Convention by visiting The Travel Convention 2026. There is currently a 20% discount for early bookers.

Notes to editors

About ABTA LifeLine

ABTA LifeLine is ABTA’s charity for past and present employees of ABTA members. The charity provides support for the unexpected moments in life such as redundancy, relationship breakdown, accidents and bereavement among many other things.

It gives practical, financial and emotional assistance to travel colleagues that are really struggling, throwing them a LifeLine in their time of need.

About Intrepid Foundation

Intrepid Travel has been a world leader in responsible travel for more than 35 years. The company’s mission is to create positive change through the joy of travel, which comes to life on more than 900 trips all designed to truly experience local culture. With its own network of country offices in 33 countries, Intrepid has unique local expertise and perspectives. Globally recognised for their commitment to transparency and ethical travel, they became B-Corp certified in 2018, and their not-for-profit, The Intrepid Foundation, has disbursed more than £10.5million to more than 160 partners. In December 2025, Intrepid was named a Which? Recommended Provider for Escorted Tours. For more information, download the company’s 2025 Integrated Annual Report and follow Intrepid on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or LinkedIn.

About ABTA

ABTA is a trade association for UK travel agents, tour operators and the wider travel industry. We’re the largest travel trade body, with over 3,500 travel brands in membership who have a combined annual UK turnover of over £41 billion. We work closely with our members to help raise and maintain standards and build a more sustainable travel industry, and provide travellers with advice, guidance and support.

Our members sign up to a code of conduct and commit to agreed service standards and fair trading. When you need clear travel information, and accurate and impartial advice relating to your trip, we’re here for you. When you book with an ABTA member, reliable advice comes as standard. This means that booking with our members brings peace of mind.

All this together means we help you travel with confidence. www.abta.com