Mauritius - Itinieries

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Like many reputable holiday companies we are ABTA registered, our ABTA membership number is 65310.

We also use ATOL protected tour operators. However if you wish to use a tour operator who is not ATOL protected then we will take our supplier failure insurance on your behalf.

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Thanks to the well-maintained coastal road, you can drive around the island in one day but there is plenty to see along the way so allow more time if you can. A one-week stay will suffice for most visitors, especially those combining Réunion with another destination, such as Mauritius or Madagascar. However, if you are planning to spend several days hiking, or a few days relaxing on the beach at the end of your visit, you will need to allow two weeks.

One week Most visitors will arrive at the airport in St-Denis, where you can pick up a hire car and begin exploring. If you are willing to brave the traffic, have a quick look around the capital, which offers a European café culture in a tropical setting and some good examples of colonial and Creole architecture. Continue on to the beach resort of St-Gilles-les-Bains for two nights, making sure you get the chance to snorkel in the lagoon at L’Hermitage. Get up early on the first morning and drive up to Piton Maïdo for spectacular views of the Cirque de Mafate.

Head to Cilaos – the long, hair-raising drive means you will need to spend at least one night. The following morning, hike one of the shorter trails, such as Bras Rouge, which takes you to a waterfall. If you have longer than one week on the island, hikes up the extinct Piton des Neiges start here and you can spend a night at the gîte at the base of the summit before getting up early to climb to the top in time for sunrise.

From Cilaos head back down to the coast and spend the night at St Pierre, the hub of the south coast. It has a lively nightlife, some great restaurants and the daily markets are one of the best places on the island to pick up souvenirs. If you can time your visit to include the large Saturday morning street market, all the better.

From St Pierre head up towards the volcano, Piton-de-la-Fournaise, and spend the night at one of the nearby hotels ready for an early start and a climb to the rim of the crater.

Return to St Pierre and head eastwards, through St Joseph and along the east coast. Between St-Philippe and Ste-Rose is where you will see the remnants of past lava flows and the path they took down the eastern face of Piton-de-la-Fournaise to the sea. The coast in this area is rugged – lava cliffs constantly pounded by the ocean. Don’t miss Piton Ste Rose, where lava has skirted around the church.

Spend two nights in the Cirque de Salazie, at the delightful village of Hell-Bourg. Take in the fresh mountain air, explore the cirque and perhaps have a go at canyoning.

Returning to the coast, continue north back to St Denis, stopping off at St-André to learn about vanilla production.

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Mauritius - Itinieries

Reunion

Mauritius - Itinieries