A bit of history and authentic encounters. Discover the rich past of Reunion Island and savor its flamboyant culture during your 9-days stay. Stroll through its streets loaded with history, discover its unique architecture and creole cuisine.
Your Reunionese experience will be unforgettable with Islandian.
USPS:
A trip to Reunion Island is incomplete if you have not discovered its rich history and heritage. Both have helped to shape the flamboyant culture of the island. From the Creole vibes present in its streets and translated through its architectures, your Reunionese experience will be unforgettable.
Follow us, we will show you the way!
The price includes:
- Reception and assistance at destination
- Medium-class car rental for the duration of the experience, taken and returned to the airport.
- 1 night at the Poivre et Citronelle in bed & breakfast formula
- 1 night at Pointe Corail in bed & breakfast formula
- 1 night at la Bulle Verte in bed & breakfast formula
- 1 night at Villa Belle in bed & breakfast formula
- 1 night at Palmaé Lodge in bed & breakfast formula
- 3 nights at Villa Mascarine in bed & breakfast formula
Rate does not include:
- Meals not mentioned as included
- The drinks
- Cancellation / multi-risk insurance
- Excursions and activities not mentioned as included in the itinerary
- Personal expenses
- Tips
Day 1:
Set foot on the island and let the awe sink in; Welcome to Reunion Island! Grab the keys of your rental car and head to Saint-Denis, the capital City of Reunion Island. With monuments like the Félix Guyon former colonial hospital, the cathedral of Saint-Denis or the Lazarets of Grande Chaloupe, your cultural immersion will be awesome. Stroll through the famous “Rue de Paris” and be dazzled by the charms of its beautiful Creole houses wonderfully turned into museums, hotels and the tourism office.
Islandian tip: Get an even better of the storied past of Saint-Denis by visiting the Barachois and the local market.
Smelt the delectable scent yet? Well then get ready for lunch as you will be amazed by the mouth-watering island specialties. With all the available variety of restaurants available along the streets, you will be spoilt for choice, our top recommendation being the Le reflet des Iles Restaurant. If you a food buff, the local dishes served there are heavily influenced by the Creole gastronomy. Your taste buds are headed for a real treat!
After this fun-packed day, check-in at your first guesthouse for an authentic island experience. Welcome to Poivre et Citronnelle! Located in the town of St André, this establishment enjoys the perfect geographical situation; a lush green space, lavish plants and birds singing beautifully. This magical place is perfect to get away from the everyday hustle and bustle in an authentic setting.
Day 2:
Now that you are slowly getting into the island mood, enjoy your breakfast and set off to Salazie, one of the three calderas of Reunion Island. Let yourself be seduced by the waterfalls and the small rural villages in which time seems insignificant.
The waterfalls will transport you and one of them, known as “Cascade le voile de la mariée”, has such an intriguing history. According to the legend, a young woman forced to get married by her father, escaped and fell into a precipice where her veil remained stuck. It is imagined that the father’s tears have kept on sliding on the veil since then.
Your following stop is undoubtedly Hell Bourg. Cited as one of the most beautiful villages of France, Hell Bourg is thought to be one of Reunion Island’s little gem. On your way, stop by the typical creole-styled, Maison Folio. This 19th century bourgeois house is a beautiful nod to the art of living "dan'temps lontan". Then, head back to Bras Panon for a well-deserved lunch.
Islandian tip: The “Canard à la Vanille" at “La ferme Auberge Eva Annibal” in a Bras-Panon is a must try to truly experience the variety of Reunionese cuisine.
After feasting on the tropical cuisine of the island, we suggest “La coopérative de la vanille” to discover the fascinating history of vanilla in Reunion Island. Ending off your day near “Bassin la paix” or "Bassin la mer” is the perfect plan before reaching to the second accommodation of your Islandian experience.
La Pointe au Corail, a charming establishment found in Ste Rose, is perfectly located at the foot of the volcano in a luxuriant green setting. Take a dip in the pool while enjoying a breath-taking wide-angled view on the ocean.
Day 3:
Early birds catch the worm, so wake up bright and early to fully enjoy your day ahead.
First stop; Sainte Anne Church, an astounding building with a typical baroque style. This place has been declared a protected monument since 1982.
Next, will be the Saint Rose Church! , the latter being one of the absolute emblem of Reunionese history. In 1977, a lava flow burned everything on its way but spared this religious building making it one of the most important monuments on the island. The church has been renamed Notre Dame des Laves since then as a beautiful connotation to this rare phenomenon.
Now, that you have wandered in the streets of Saint Benoit, it’s time to head towards the Wild South and discover wonderful places like Saint Philippe, its “Jardin des parfums et des épices” or the Langevin Waterfall.
To satisfy your taste buds, we suggest the “La marmite du pêcheur”, a restaurant that serves your meal in authentic creole dishes in the most original setting, namely on, banana leaves.
In the evening, check-in at La plantation Côté Sud in St Joseph or La Bulle Verte in Mont Vert. Whichever you choose, both will offer you the best service and a perfect setting for you to have either fun or rest.
Day 4:
Rendez-vous in the picturesque village of l’Entre-Deux. The way this village has been able to sustain its heritage through the ways is surprising. From the beautiful panoramas to the Creole houses gracefully built there, l’Entre-Deux is worth taking a look at.
Islandian tip: You may ask for advice from the Tourism Office for a guided tour of the village or you can also visit an artist’s house and share a special moment in discovering his/her craft.
At lunch time, take a detour to Chez Philippe’s snack bar, where a diversity of local dishes is served.
In the afternoon, a visit to the La saga du Rhum distillery, the oldest one on the island, will transport you right into a historical, cultural and sensory adventure.
Take it easy in the evening and choose between the Villa Belle or Plantation Côté lagon, both found in the beautiful setting of St Pierre, to stay for the night.
Day 5:
Kick off the morning with an early start to admire the sun rising on the Piton de la Fournaise, one of the most active volcanos in the world. Start by a stop at Pas de Bellecombe and its exceptional panorama upon the volcano, and for the more adventurous, hike towards the summit at 2632 meters up. On the way back, take some time to admire the dusk and marvel at the beauty of "La Plaine des Sables".
To remain on this trend, take a stroll by the City of Volcanoes to discover, in an interactive way, the overall story of Reunion Island.
Islandian tip: If you want to relish on a delicious traditional “carri”, we recommend that you have lunch at Ti resto lontan, located in Bourg Murat.
After a busy and emotionally-charged day, head to the Palmae Lodge. With its cosy vobes, this new-age guesthouse will be the perfect spot to relax and unwind.
Day 6:
The calderas of Reunion Island known as “cirques” in French, are one of the many highlights of the island. As such, on the 6th day of your adventure, off you go to Cilaos in the early morning to admire the dazzling beauty of the site. Hiking or spa session, you can choose one or do both there. Le Petit Randonneur will be your address at lunch time to taste some succulent local dishes. When getting back to the coast, a stop-by at Etang Salé and “Le souffleur” at St Leu to contemplate the waves crushing against the cliffs is definitely a must.
For your 6th night on the island, Isabelle and Cyrille from la Villa Mascarine will be your host. Known as an environmentally responsible establishment, this guesthouse located on the West coast of the island and which proudly possesses the Clef Verte ecolabel advocates relaxation and wellness to all its guests. The rooms offered are reserved to single people and couples with no children. As a couple or solo, enjoy this haven of peace dedicated to the body and soul’s well-being
Day 7:
Located within the walls of an old sugar cane mill in the heights of Saint-Leu, the Stella Matutina Museum will be your first stop for this 7th day on the Reunionese territory.
On the agenda for the day:
uncover the cultural history of the building and the sugar cane industry of the island.
Feeling hungry? Le Vieux pressoir, a traditional restaurant located at the heart of the Botanic Garden of Saint Leu is highly advised.
At 2 in the afternoon, a workshop will be held at “La Maison des Cocos” located in an agricultural field at Pointe des Chateaux. Made up of 3 different stages it will enable you to go through the origins and the use of coconuts on Reunion Island, how it is used in the Reunionese cuisine and an introductory to the webbing of palm leaves.
At nightfall, retire back to the comfort of Villa Mascarine for two more nights.
Day 8:
An early departure to watch the sun rising on the summit of Maïdo! What a wonderful way to start your penultimate day on the volcanic island. Accessible by foot, the caldera of Mafate will literally blow your mind.
At the seaside resort of St Gilles, it’s already breakfast time. By stopping at “Chez Loulou", a very popular place in the region, with marvelous architecture, you may enjoy the famous macatias filled with cheese, chocolate, banana and coconut, samosas and other exquisite cakes.
The Garden of Eden is worth a visit as it is a tropical garden that blends diversity and culture through its endemic plants
For the rest of the day laze on the beach under the magnificent filao trees and work on your tan or dip into the ocean before returning to Villa Mascarine for one last night.
Day 9:
Final day of your stay on the fascinating Reunion Island. Relax, have some breakfast and off to your last-minute souvenir hunt. With a bitter-sweet feeling, and after having shared some precious moments with your hosts, head to the airport with plenty of memories engraved in your mind and the profound desire to visit this gem-of-an-island back soon enough.
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