Duration: 12 Nights / 13 Days
Destinations Covered: Mauritius - Cirque de Cilaos - St Philippe -
Piton de la Fournaise - Cirque de Salazie
Tour Id: HV-035
Day 01
Arrive Mauritius. At Mauritius airport, connect with the short flight to Réunion.
On arrival, you are met and taken to your hotel.
Day 02
Your hire car is delivered to the hotel and you drive to the largest of Réunion’s
3 amphitheatres, Cirque de Cilaos. The road is known for the exquisite,
almost alpine scenery. Stay 2 nights at the very comfortable hotel,
breakfast included.
Day 03
A day to enjoy the awe-inspiring amphitheatre of Cilaos. Go hiking,
mountain biking or canyonning (abseiling waterfalls). Or drive to the remote
Islet de Cordes, do one of the shorter walks in the area, or indulge
yourself with a visit to the Irenée Accott Thermal Centre, an
impressive health spa on the edge of the town of Cilaos.
Day 04
Drive to the south coast and head east to the village of St Philippe, where
you stay in the rustic Hotel. This is a lush, humid area of tropical
vegetation and black volcanic beaches, close to the volcano. Le Baril,
breakfast included.
Day 05
Visit the volcano, Piton de la Fournaise, where you can walk into the
crater. During this primal experience, you will see smaller craters and ‘parasitic
craters’, like the much-photographed Formica Leo and the active Craters
Bory and Kapor. The volcano walk will take most of the morning. Then drive
north to the smallest of the 3 amphitheatres, Cirque de Salazie. Stay 2
nights at a lovely hotel.
Day
06
Explore Cirque de Salazie, famed for its 100 waterfalls which look like
silvery ribbons plunging down steep gorges. The tiny town of Hell-Bourg
presents a marvellous opportunity to learn about Rééunionnais
Creole history and everyday life. Alternatively, near the town La Plaine des
Palmistes is the tropical mountain forest of Bebour-Belouve. During a walk
in Bebour, you may see many of Réunion’s rare endemic birds and
plants.
Days 07 - 12
Drive to the airport, return your hired car and check in for your flight to
Mauritius. You are met and taken to your hotel, where you stay 6 nights,
dinner and breakfast included.
Day 13
Transfer to the airport for the flights back to Home.
