Day 1 – Welcome – Catamaran cruise
Welcome at the airport. Hotel transfer.
Welcome at the LUX*Saint-Gilles. Welcome drinks. Installation in the rooms. Lunch with drinks at the hotel. In the early afternoon, Saint-Gilles harbour transfer for a Catamaran cruise on board of « Catananas », « Catapassion », « Lady la fée », « Cat’Alyzé » and « Anti stress ».
You’ll enjoy true moments of pleasure and escape in small groups with this catamaran cruise.
Hoist the sails out of the port and taste the sweetness of boating along the westcoast where a wide range of activities is offered …The malicious dolphins of the Indian Ocean are likely to come play in the bow wave of the boat for your own pleasure. A moment of pure happiness!
Relax and meet the local marine life (dolphins, humpback whales in season, turtles…)
At the end of the day, aperitif and sunset will be on the program.
Dinner at La Marmite restaurant with open bar and overnight at the LUX* Saint-Gilles
Day 2 – Hiking & canyoning at Cilaos
The all group will be divided into small groups: a group of hikers (A) and one canyoners (B).
Supervised by instructors (one for 15 participants), Group A will leave for a 4km hiketoward Bras Rouge Waterfall. Concerning the easiest one: 390 meters of total positive elevation and 286 meters of total negative elevation. Group B will go by bus to the canyons Gobert and / or Mini Yellow Flower for Rappelling, small steps, and swimming. A safe combination of emotions and intense pleasures. Supervision is provided by qualified instructors (one per 12 participants). Around noon, the two groups will share their impressions over a meal (Creole picnic or restaurant depending on the weather). At the end of the day, you will go back to the west coast by bus and arrive at your hotel in the late afternoon.
Technical Information
This program allows you to discover several means of transport: Hiking, rappelling, driving on the roads of Cilaos. The hike is for everyone with a relatively low altitude. Initiation sites are accessible to all; they are fun and not sporting.
Provide walking shoes, warm clothes, water, hat, sunscreen, small backpack, and protection against the rain.
Walking transfer for a dinner on the beach at Copacabana. Demonstration of moring and folk troupe.
Overnight at the LUX* Saint-Gilles
Day 3 – Volcano Rally
7:00: Depart from your hotel after a quick explanation of the day. Each team willreceive a map of the island and a road-book with the different venues. With two or three cars, the guides will supervise the participants that are driving other vehicles. Road towards the volcano. During the morning, you’ll discover the west coast through small roads and typical colorful villages. Then the participants will drive through the “Nationale 3” that crosses the island taking them to the different sites and views of theVolcano : Nez de bœuf, cratère Commerson, Plaine des Sables, Pas de Bellecombe. Several puzzles and questions will be asked in the road book. In order to get the answers, the participants must interact with the population. By late morning, back to the Plaine des Cafres for a typical lunch. The awards ceremony will be at the end of the meal. Then, you’ll be free to come back and continue your exploration of the island or go back to the hotel. Return of the cars at the end of the afternoon at the hotel.
The service includes: Rental of vehicles, insurance, supervision, lunch with soft drinks, gifts given to the first three teams, gas for the vehicles, a water bottle of one liter per person cup, breakfast (coffee, water, juice, cakes country, and fresh fruit).
Closing dinner at La Plage restaurant. Overnight at the LUX* Saint-Gille
Day 4 – Helicopter flight, Street market and departure
Transfer with a shuttle from your hotel to the heliport of Saint-Gilles. Take off toward the cirque of Mafate, the only cirque unreachable by car. Crossing over the cirque toward Salazie. Stop in front of the «Voile de la Mariée» and entering the «Trou de Fer» by the «Bras des cavernes». This 600 meters deep crack where a river runs throw it offers sensational feelings. Return by the cirque of Mafate and over flight of the beaches and the lagoon of Saint-Gilles. Landing on the heliport and transfer to the Saint-Paul street market. This weekly street market is certainly the most important, picturesque, colourful and lively one all over the island. It occurs on Saint-Paul seafront twice a week: on Fridays, the whole day and on Saturday mornings. Saint-Paul, on the West coast, not far from Saint-Gilles-les-Bains and its seaside hotels, is also famous for being the birthplace of the populating Reunion. Walking through the market, you discover all the local products and those of the Indian Ocean zone: craft industry like Malagasy embroidery for example, florists and flower growers, herbalists, fishmongers, and street merchants selling tropical fruits, vegetables, and spices etc. You would be completely out of your element strolling in between the welcoming stands, taking out from your small paper bags some local specialities: samosas, “bouchons”, stuffed peppers, pepper drops, prawn fritters, and all kind of “country cakes”. Return to your hotel towards the end of the afternoon
Lunch at the hotel. In the late afternoon, transfer to the airport and departure
