A ramble in rugged Reunion with a taste of delicious Mauritius
You travel for 4 days by private transport exploring the two volcanoes of Reunion Island (one active and one dormant) and their extraordinary landscapes with 1000’s of waterfalls … as well as the French colonial culture. Plus 3 days in Mauritius to soak up and savour Mauritian hospitality and multi-lingual culture.
You travel in a small group, maximum of 14 people. You are escorted by Michèle, Rod and/or James plus our trusted and knowledgeable local naturalist guides when required.
Réunion Island, a department of France, is breathtakingly spectacular. Deep canyons expel fast-flowing rivers, hundreds of waterfalls cascade in veils down the mountain sides and vertical cliffs reach for the sky. Wow! Reunion lies 800 km east of Madagascar and 220 km south west of Mauritius. Réunion has two volcanoes. The older is inactive Piton des Neiges which last erupted 20,000 years ago. It has three massive crater valleys called cirques. The other volcano is the active Piton de la Fournaise. Volcanic activity is constantly and closely monitored.
You wend your way to the two volcanoes; the first sparsely populated with farming communities and their charming Creole villages and, the second raw and harsh with wide open landscape and strong colours. You will explore the villages, immerse yourself in the culture and have a chance to walk onto the lava field. October is not a rainy month in Reunion – in fact it is the driest month.
Mauritius is as flat in profile as Reunion is vertical. This is your well-earned chance to relax on the coral sands, swim in the clear and safe turquoise waters and venture to the nearby towns to get a feel of Mauritian lifestyle. You can take a local bus trip to the botanic gardens and busy port followed by some retail therapy at the colourful market.
This tour is not on offer in 2024 but please register your interest.