Discovering Reunion's Cirques Tour

Day 1: Saint Denis-Saint Gilles

Morning: Arrival and reception at the Roland Garros airport. Transfer to the Lux Saint Gilles hotel in Saint Gilles the baths for one night. Ideally located on the Ermitage Lagoon, one of the most beautiful seaside resorts on the island and a nature reserve, the hotel has everything you need to make the most of Reunion Island.

Lunch at the hotel.

Afternoon: Rest at the hotel or nautical activity in Saint-Gilles.

Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 2: Cilaos Cirque mountain village

Morning: We follow the coastal road along the west coast towards Saint-Louis. Two kilometers after Saint-Leu, we will stop at the "Souffleur". After Saint-Louis, we will take the famous road with its 420 curves, carved on the side of a cliff: Tunnels, vertiginous ramparts, and green peaks!

Creole lunch at Le Terroir Restaurant in Cilaos

Afternoon: Walk in the village of Cilaos, visit an embroidered, or hike or continue the road until "the island of Cordes", the end of the world where the lentil fields of Cilaos extend.

Return to the coast, with a stop at the Étang-Salé, where you will be impressed by its "chasm".

Dinner and overnight at the Floralys 3* hotel in Etang-Salé.

Day 3: Piton de la Fournaise Volcano

Morning: Departure early after breakfast. After crossing the Plaine des Cafres (high plateau at 1200 m altitude), we will arrive at the "Nez de Bœuf" by a road with magnificent and varied landscapes. We will enjoy a view of the River des Remparts. We will arrive at the Plaine des Sables, a true lunar desert. From the viewpoint on the edge of the enclosure, you can admire the Piton de la Fournaise in all its splendor.

Several walks are possible: along the edges of the enclosure, up to the Formica Leo crater (1h30 walk), or up to the Dolomieu crater (5h walk).

Return to the Plaine des Cafres and, weather permitting, stop at the Bois-Court viewpoint overlooking the Entre-Deux valley and the village of Grand-Bassin.

Creole lunch (picnic).

Afternoon: Visit the Saga du Rhum in Saint-Pierre: this unique museum dedicated to Reunion rum is the oldest family distillery on the island, dating from 1845 and still in operation: the Isautier distillery.

Dinner and overnight at Le Boucan Canoe Hotel in Boucan Canoe.

Day 4: The Maïdo and his Spectacular View of the Mafate Cirque

Morning: Departure early after breakfast. You will leave the coast and head towards the Hauts de l'Ouest. After the village of Petite France, you will cross a forest of high tamarins. Then, at an altitude of 1700 m, the trees disappear to be replaced by shrubs: it is the Maïdo, which means "scorched earth" in Malagasy.

The natural site of Maïdo, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the heart of the National Park, surprises by the diversity of its vegetation and the unique panorama over the Mafate circus: its inhabited islets are unveiled and are dominated by crooked peaks and ramparts, the limits of the circuses of Cilaos and Salazie: Gros Morne, Grand Bénare, Col du Taibit and Piton des Neiges!

Lunch at the Luge Park restaurant just before the summit of Maïdo.

Afternoon: relaxing on the beach of Boucan Canot

Dinner and overnight at Le Boucan Canot Hotel.

Day 5: Salazie Circus, a green setting

Morning: We will take the famous "new route du Littoral" to Saint-Denis, the prefecture of the island. We will continue to the East Coast, a region of sugar cane, vanilla, and bamboo.

In Saint-André, we will visit a Hindu temple. Then we will head to the Salazie circus. We will stop to admire the waterfall of the "Voile de La Mariée", whose long and fine waterfalls evoke the vaporous tulle of a bridal veil. We will finally reach the village of Hell-Bourg, located at 1000 meters of altitude. We will walk in the alleys of the "Plus Beau Village de France", a label awarded to Hell-Bourg.

A fun and participatory guided tour will give us a glimpse of past and present lifestyles.

Creole lunch.

Afternoon: Return to the coast and visit the vanilla production of the Roulof family near Saint-André, which has been growing this orchid for over 100 years. The preparation of vanilla pods is a long and delicate process, taking about 2 years from the pollination of flowers to the sale of pods. You will be carried away by its delicious appetizing fragrance.

Dinner and overnight at the Mercure Créolia Hotel in Saint-Denis.

Day 6: Visit of Saint-Denis

After a walk in the Barachois district, we will visit the museums of St Denis.

Visit the Natural History Museum: the acclimatization garden created by the Compagnie des Indes houses the neoclassical building of the Legislative Palace, which became the Museum of Natural History in 1855. It houses a rich collection of past and present fauna of the islands of the Indian Ocean, rocks, and minerals.

This permanent fund is complemented by temporary exhibitions. This an address not to be missed to know all about the wildlife so particular of the islands of the region. The building, listed as a historic monument, is also worth a visit (Open Tuesday to Sunday from 9.30 am to 5.30 pm).

Visit La Maison Carrère: this is a building dating from the 19th century. It is protected as a historical monument and now houses the Saint-Denis Tourist Office. Guided tours of the house, as well as comprehensive information on various media, tell the story of the daily life of rich Reunion families and their staff.

Transfer to the airport.

What the Price Includes :

- Return airport/hotel transfers and domestic transport, according to the program
- Drinks (mineral water)
- Excursions mentioned in the program
- Services of local English-speaking guides during excursions

What the Price Does Not Include:

- Hotel accommodation
- Full board and picnics
- Optional Activities
- Flight tickets
- Personal expenses
- Formalities
- Insurance