Reunion
7 Day Extension Tour
Day 21 - Monday 13 October
Mauritius - St. Denis, Reunion
Transfer to the airport this morning for your flight to the extraordinary and mountainous French island of La Reunion. Reunion Island was first colonised by the French in the 17th century and during the 18th century slaves were brought from East Africa to work the coffee plantations. One of the most extraordinary qualities for an island of its size, is the diversity of the landscape. On arrival you are met and transferred to your Hotel Bellepierre at St Denis, the island’s capital. The afternoon is at leisure. BD
Day 22 - Tuesday 14 October
St. Denis - Cirque of Salazie - Plaines des Palmistes
Today’s tour takes you to the north of the island. Drive up to Salazie Cirque through a region of huge cliffs and more than 100 waterfalls, among them the famous Voile-de-la-Mariee (the wedding veil) waterfall. The main villages of the cirque are Salazie and Hell-Bourg, where you visit the Folio House, for an insight of past Creole life. During a Creole lunch, you should have a chance to taste the local vegetable speciality, the chouchou (Choko). After lunch return via the coast to the Cooperative de la Vanille, then drive to the region of the Piton de la Fournaise Volcano. Venturing to the interior, you enter another world! At a height of 1,100m is a green plateau full of flowers: “La Plaine des Palmistes”, surrounded by the forest of Bebour. You overnight at the hotel Ferme Auberge du Pommeau. BLD
Day 23 - Wednesday 15 October
Piton de la Fournaise Volcano - Cilaos
After breakfast drive to the Piton de la Fournaise Volcano, one of the most active on earth. You stop off at the viewpoint of Le Nez de Boeuf to admire the valley of the Riviere des Remparts, and then proceed to Commerson Crater and arrive at La Plaine des Sables, with its moon-like landscape. After lunch visit the fascinating La Maison de Volcan, designed by Maurice Kraft. At the museum learn about Reunion, world volcanism and the genesis of the earth. After lunch return to your hotel Les Chenets. BLD
Day 24 - Thursday 16 October
Cilaos - St Gilles
In the morning visit Cilaos, stopping at the breathtaking view point of La Roche Merveilleuse. After lunch proceed to La Maison de la Broderie (Embroidery and craft museum), to learn about the history of Cilaos embroidery. After lunch, return to the west coast and we stop to watch the sea thundering into the chasm at Le Gouffre de L’Etang Sale, before driving to your hotel Villas du Lagon in St Gilles. BLD
Day 25 - Friday 17 October
St Gilles - Piton Maido - St Paul Market - St Gilles
Travel to Piton Maido, at an altitude of 2000m, for views over the island’s mysterious cirque: Mafate, Roche Ecrite, Cimendef, Morne de Fouche and in the background, the Piton des Neiges and the Taibit. The Cirque is a crossroads of various differing landscapes: Sugar cane, geranium fields where you meet a geranium farmer who will reveal the secrets of distillation techniques for obtaining geranium oil. On the way back to your hotel, visit the colourful market of St Paul. The rest of the afternoon is at leisure.BD
Day 26 - Saturday 18 October
St Gilles - The Wild South - St Gilles
After breakfast depart on a full day expedition to the wild south of the island. After St Pierre, the landscape changes completely. You stop en route at Point de la Table to view the promontory formed by a lava flow in 1986. Lunch is at Cap Mechant. Visit the Spice and Fragrance Botanical Garden, where you can discover indigenous species, spices and most of the fruit trees which grow on the island. Drive back to the hotel late afternoon. BLD
Day 27 Sunday 19 October
St Gilles - St Denis
Return to St Denis for a city tour this morning. Founded in 1668, St Denis still retains some lovely colonial Creole mansions as well as a lively waterfront area of up market bars and sidewalk cafes. Tonight stay at Hotel Bellepierre.BLD
Day 28 Monday 20 October
St. Denis - Mauritius - Australia
Sydney and Melbourne passengers fly to Mauritius this morning to connect with the flight to Australia. BLD*
Day 29 Tuesday 21 October
Australia
Arrive Sydney or Melbourne. Perth passengers depart Mauritius this morning, arriving Perth later this evening.
* Lunch and dinner for Perth passengers only on day 28.
