10,000km away from France, in the heart of the Indian Ocean, lies a small area of national territory: Réunion. Once called the “Île Bourbon”, it is known here as the “Île intense” (intense island), with a warm climate where cyclones and tropical rain are common. If you enjoy long hikes, forest walks, swimming in warm water pools and nights spent in welcoming mountain gîtes, then this will be your idea of paradise.

You will experience a real sensory overload as nature explodes from all directions at the same time! Whether you are on the edge of a black lava cliff, at the base of a steep green volcano, opposite waterfalls, on the edge of a lagoon or on top of the famous volcano with its glowing heart which forms and bewitches the face of Réunion, it seems to unfurl into infinity. The contrast is striking between the wild exuberance of nature ruling supreme at the heart of the island and the drier land on the slopes of the volcano a little further south.

The island’s other treasures are its population and its traditions. The people of the island are of mixed culture that has come from the four corners of the Indian Ocean. Africans, Indians, Tamils, Madagascans, people from the Comoros and also China came here to bring their traditions back to life and create new ones. You will be won over by the people of Réunion who are naturally endearing and tolerant, by their customs, their spicy cuisine, their formidable punch and their sing-song accent.

FEATURES OF THE TRIP

The highlights: We will explore two volcanoes, “The Piton de la Fournaise” and “The Piton des Neiges” with

                           its 3 “cirques” (amphitheatre-like valleys): Cilaos, Salazie and Mafate.             

                           This is an original trek via some very un-crowded paths.

                           Fantastic panoramic views of the “cirques”, the volcanoes and the sea.

                           The variety of landscapes from the primary Bélouve forest to the lava flow of the Fournaise volcano.

                           Relaxing on the beautiful beaches of Saint Gilles at the end of the trek.

Best time of year : From May to November.

       It is better to go to La Réunion when it is winter in the southern hemisphere - a cool and dry season 

                                with dry sunny days, rare rainfall and cooler temperatures.

                                The southern hemisphere summer from December to March is the warm and humid cyclone season 

                                with a muggy atmosphere and sometimes short torrential rainfall at the end of the day.

Dates : Thursday 13 August to Sunday 23 August 2009

Number of days away : 11

Number of days trekking : 7

Maximum trekking altitude : 3,070m on the Piton des Neiges.

Level : Fitness - you need to be very fit.

    Technical ability - this is a trek that is achievable by all as long as you have been training for it - 6 to 7 hours steady

             walking per day.

Number of participants : 6 to 8 people per guide with the exception of pre-formed groups which may be larger. 

Guide :  French guide.

Accommodation : We stay in comfortable hotels in Saint Denis and Saint Gilles.

                                During the trek, we stay in mountain huts or we are housed in small hostels by the locals.

Formalities : French citizens need a valid passport or I.D. card.

Equipment to be carried : All the climbs can be completed with a day pack. Travel bags are transported by vehicles.

Local transport : Minibuses are used for all transfers during the trip.

PRICE : €1980/person excluding flights + flight to Saint Denis from La Réunion.

               At the time we planned this trip, tickets cost between €500 and €600 approximately.

Signing up : To sign up for one of the trips offered, please write to us or email us with: your name,  address, telephone   

                      number, name and dates of the trip you wish to join and your deposit  cheque.

                      You will receive a detailed specification sheet of the program accompanied with a registration form on      

                      which the payment methods will be indicated.

Air Travel : Please ask us for more information.

Further information : A specification sheet outlining the trip itinerary and list of equipment you need to bring is    

                                     available on request via email.