ITINERARY - 4 DAYS / 3 NIGHTS

DAY

–Welcome at Roland Garros airport by Mille Tours team and an english speaking guide
– Transfer to the West coast and HOTEL(AS PER CHOICE OF CATEGORY) located in Saint Gilles Les Bains.
– Welcome and check-in.
– Lunch on the beach in front of the lagoon.
– Continuation for Saint Leu, a fisherman village and visit of Kelonia, a turtle study center.
– Back to the hotel and departure end of afternoon in tuk tuk to the port of SaintGilles for a sunset cruise with aperitif on board (1h30).
– Back to the hotel.
– Dinner and night in HOTEL(AS PER CHOICE OF CATEGORY)

Higher Altitude: 2360 meters
Temperatures: 3 to 21°C
What to wear: good shoes, rainwear, hat, pullover, sunscreen cream.

The cold morning air will be quickly transform by the natural warm of volcanic sites. The West's roads reveal a seaside where calm coasts are punctuated by abrupt cliffs until Saint Pierre. Here begin the ascent to Plaine des Cafres plateaus and to la Grande Ferme. Heathers, gentians, villages, pastures, cows, forests will be the setting until "Nez de Bœuf"!at 2 070 m. At this place it stretches a puzzling valley: 22 km of geological surprises!

The gaping hole of Commerson crater has as many rocks as question marks. This amphitheatre loved by geologists, announced the amazing discoveries first fruits. The higher point of the day will be at 2 360 m. Once you will have finished this visit, the change of scene will be sudden! La Plaine des Sables will blindingly obvious as a challenge to immensity. It's like in one step you go from earth to the moon. Fantastic indescribable!

Le Pas de Bellecombe, at 2 311 m, is a place which overlooks from a cliff of 150 m, a large enclosure over 22 km on 10, in which there are not less than 60 craters. The highest is LeBory at 2 631 m.

After a hearty mountain lunch, you will go from basaltic natural structures to the futuristic architecture of the City of Volcano. This museum, of modern, interactive and playful conception as much as instructive, lets ignore nothing of the tempestuous life of volcanoes, or the geologic formation of the island.

Back to the coast and the city of Saint Pierre to visit "La saga du Rhum", oldest family distillery, still in activity today. The only museum dedicated to rum on the island, the Saga du Rhum will take you through a historical, cultural and sensory adventure, mingling the history of the island with that of its people and the manufacture of this traditional local product.

Back to the hotel around 5.00 pm.

Dinner and night in HOTEL(AS PER CHOICE OF CATEGORY) *****

Higher altitude: 2205 meters
Temperatures: 8 to 23°C (very quick variations)
What to wear: good shoes, rainwear, pullover, sunscreen cream.

An exceptional ascent rate! On 27 km, you will be from the sea level to 2 200 m of altitude! The landscape changes as one goes along the ascent: villages, acacias forest, geranium fields, typical forest of tamarinds and finally the edge of Mafate Cirque. This sightseeing reveals a spectacular and breathtaking island! A cirque over more than 9 000 hectares is at your feet; about fifteen vill ages and thousand kilometres of trekking paths are hidden in the bustling meanders of an appealing mountain. The Indian Ocean summit is here, it is within reach. Distances areimpossible to calculate, here all is spectacular!

On the way back, stop over in a geranium essence oil producer for a discovery of Creole customs linked at free living besides the essence oil's typical aroma.

On Friday only, Saint Paul's market is a rich summary of Indian Ocean products. Stroll about its colourful aisles through Martin hot pepper, baskets of bitter Margoze, Pitaya crates, delicious Qunquat cardboard boxes, naïve malagasy embroideries, home cooked meats, hats and bags hand-woven in Vacoa. The visit of this market on the ocean banks leaves its mark on your souvenirs for a long time. A stop over will be provided on Friday...

Continuation to Saint Denis to discover the sea front "Barachois" and the main street with all the historic creole houses "La rue de Paris".

Lunch time in Saint Denis.

Shopping time in the main shopping street of Saint Denis and the craft market.

Back to the hotel around 5.00 pm

Dinner and night in HOTEL(AS PER CHOICE OF CATEGORY) *****

Departure for the airport depending on the flight schedule