Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Saint-Leu - Saint-Pierre - Hell-Bourg - Pointe Aux Canonniers
100% customisable for you
Your island-hopping adventure in the Indian Ocean begins today. Head to the airport, speed your way through formalities and enjoy a glass of bubbly in the airport lounge as you await departure. Most flights to Reunion depart in the afternoon and take around 15 hours, including an early-evening layover in Paris, so you’ll spend tonight onboard and touchdown tomorrow.
Rise and shine to views across the azure waters of the Indian Ocean as you prepare to land.. After speeding through arrival formalities, collect your hire car and hit the road. Your first destination is Saint-Leu, a laid-back coastal village about an hour’s drive from the airport. Check-in for two nights in a beautiful hillside hotel surrounded by tropical gardens and spend the rest of the day taking the pulse of your new island setting.
Beyond its natural wealth of long white-sand beaches opening onto turquoise waters, Saint-Leu delights visitors with its cultural offerings. This village was the starting point of the island’s one and only slave revolt in 1811, which you can learn more about at a memorial monument. To better understand the fascinating ecosystem of the island, go to Kélonia, the sea turtle observatory, or the National Botanical Conservatory of Mascarin. You can also take the time to wind your way into the hills via a beautiful road that passes through sugar cane fields and offers beautiful views of the coast and its lagoon.
Wave goodbye to the coast as you drive 30 minutes inland to your next destination: the charming village of Entre-Deux. After settling in for the night in a modern colonial-style villa, head out for a walking tour with a passionate local guide to learn more about the Creole heritage of the island – its traditions and way of life. Round off your day with a stroll through the town’s botanical garden to admire various native flora.
After a traditional breakfast, bundle your belongings back into your hire car and head to Saint-Pierre, a serene beach town located a 30-minute drive away. Your home for the next two nights is an old Creole hut that’s been turned into a charming guesthouse. Nothing is on the agenda today, so we recommend taking the day to simply kick back on the beach with a good book and great view. As for dinner this evening, head out and soak in the atmosphere of the seaside, where markets, bars and restaurants invite visitors and locals alike to relax and enjoy the islanders’ way of life.
Make sure to fuel up at breakfast to embark on today’s guided hike up Piton de la Fournaise. This volcano covers a good third of the island and reaches a height of over 8,600ft at its impressive Dolomieu crater. An experienced mountain guide leads the hike from Pas de Bellecombe, which then descends along a mountain ridge to the Enclos Fouqué, an expanse of corded lava surrounding the main cone and first crater. Continue tracing the lava flows from here to the volcano slope. It’s an hour’s uphill climb to reach the summit and enjoy the incredible views of the Dolomieu crater.
In the east of Reunion Island, in the luxuriant Cirque of Salazie, lies your next destination: Hell-Bourg. A two-hour drive from Saint-Pierre lands you in a verdant cocoon of Creole culture with all the makings of a little paradise. Charming little huts border palm-tree-lined streets, all overlooked by towering green peaks in the distance. Hang up your hat for two nights in a characterful hotel that reflects the eclectic cultures of the island: Chinese, Malagasy, Indian, French and Creole. The rest of the day is then yours to spend as you please. Enjoy some free exploration in the village or simply kick back and enjoy the facilities at your hotel, which include a spa and wellness area.
What better way to dive straight into Reunion’s Creole culture than at a private cooking class? After a traditional breakfast of rice and roasted coffee at your hotel, help prepare a Creole lunch of curries, rougails (stews), péi cakes and appetisers. Feast on the dishes you made in the traditional way: on a banana leaf placed on a woven mat. This is also a great opportunity to learn a little more about the local way of life and the gastronomic heritage of Reunion. Spend the rest of today exploring the surrounding area. Hike on one of the many trails that begin in the village, visit the ruins of the old thermal baths, admire the beautiful cascading Voile de la Mariée waterfall or swing by the ‘Case Tonton’, where a village elder will happily share his beliefs and traditions.
Wave goodbye to the peaks, cirques and cerulean coast of Reunion as you head to nearby Mauritius by plane. Drive one hour back to the airport, drop off your rental car and speed through airport formalities before jumping on a one-hour flight to Mauritius’ mainland. On arrival, a private driver will be waiting to whisk you off to the north of the island, which can be reached in the hour. Your home for the next five nights is a luxurious hotel nestled on a blue lagoon in Pointe aux Canonniers, overlooking the offshore northern islands of Coin de Mire, Île Ronde and Île Plate. Everything here is geared towards rest and relaxation, making it a great base to enjoy island life for the rest of the week.
The next four days are all about the luxuriant and paradisiacal landscapes of Mauritius. Drift idly from the hotel’s pool and plush sun-loungers to the powdery white-sand beach bordered by turquoise lagoons. At some point during your stay, we recommend heading out for a guided exploration of the Blue Bay Marine Park and the east coast islands. Begin with a diving session to admire rare coral and tropical fish species just a few feet below the surface. Continue sailing to the islands of Aigrettes, La Passe and Fouquets, visiting fortresses and lighthouses along the way. Finally, enjoy a walk to the Grande Rivière waterfall, before tucking into a delicious lunch on the Ile aux Cerfs.
Sadly the time has come to bid the islands of the Indian Ocean goodbye and embark on the journey home. After a delicious breakfast and relaxing morning at your hotel, sit back and relax as you’re privately transferred back to the airport. Speed back through security with a priority pass and stock up on any last-minute souvenirs before getting comfortable on the plane. Most direct flights depart in the evening and take around 13 hours, so you’ll spend tonight on board and touch down in the UK tomorrow.
Everything in this itinerary is entirely customisable, down to the smallest details. Here are some more suggestions of what could be included
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
ENQUIRE NOW
Our team of destination experts will get to know you and your unique requirements for your holiday
We work with you to build an ultra-personalised holiday itinerary with your choice of accommodation, experiences and activities
All of our holidays include little extras designed to make a big difference to your trip, from fast-tracking you through airport check-in and security to our network of local Concierges
