Undiscovered Indian Ocean Reunion, Comoros and Mayotte

• Morning arrival in Saint-Denis, with a transfer to your hotel and time to relax and freshen-up. • Lunch at the hotel. • Enjoy a free afternoon with no pre-arranged activities. • Overnight Bellepierre Hotel or similar.

• Breakfast and departure towards the north east of the island, known for its sugar cane production. • Then visit a vanilla plantation before taking a typical creole lunch in a local restaurant. • In the afternoon we head for the Cirque of Salazie the largest and greenest of the island's three natural amphitheaters. This cirque is both rugged and beautiful, best described as a long, deep canyon, lined with more than 100 magnificent waterfalls and full of hills and valleys ripe for exploration. • Finally finish our day in Hell-Bourg. This enchanting small mountain town is Creole culture at its finest, boasting enchanting Creole houses and colourful flower gardens that simply delight the eye. • Overnight Les Jardins d’Heva Hotel or similar

• Today we travel south to Sainte Pierre. • Along the way we stop at Piton Sainte-Rose located on the island’s east coast. • Then visit the ‘Our Lady of the Lava’ church, named after the 1977 eruption of the Piton de la Fournaise, which remains an active volcano. • Continue south towards Saint Philippe and the “Big Burnt Area”. It is a stunning landscape where various eruptions have caused dramatic lava flows. After lunch we visit Jardin des Parfums et des Epices located in the middle of Mare Longue forest, on an 800-year-old lava flow. • A guide will show you the various plants including ylang-ylang, clove trees, cardamom, orchids and vanilla. • On arrival we check-in to our hotel where we stay for 3 nights. • Overnight Les Villa Delisle Hotel or similar.

• Today travel to the southeast corner of Reunion Island, to Piton de la Fournaise, which is one of the world's most active volcanoes. Erupting for the first time about 50,000 years ago, records note that this basaltic shield volcano has erupted nearly 180 times since such eruptions were first recorded in 1640. The most recent occurred in 2004. Piton de la Fournaise (Furnace Peak) stretches to about 2,631 meters in height and, since 1980, has been consistently monitored by volcano experts including scientists and government surveillance facilities, just in case an evacuation of residents and guests is required. • After lunch we visit La Cité du Volcan, a scientific centre and museum. • Return to Sainte Pierre. • Overnight Les Villa Delisle Hotel or similar.

• Today visit another of the island’s three natural amphitheatres. Cirque de Cilaos is well worth a visit, with a beauty akin to the Alps in summer. The village of Cilaos, inside the cirque, is attractive and tranquil. • Access to the cirque is on an incredible mountain road, winding up and up from the coastal plain, with more than one hundred hairpin bends. • After lunch we check-in to our hotel and the rest of the day is free with no organized activities. • Overnight Le Vieux Cep Hotel or similar.

• Today travel to the west coast and the resort town of Saint-Leu with its smattering of handsome stone buildings dating from the French colonial era, such as the mairie (town hall) and the church opposite. • From Saint-Leu we continue to Saint-Denis. • Overnight Bellepierre Hotel or similar.

• After breakfast transfer to Saint-Denis’ airport for a scheduled flight to Moroni, the largest city, and federal capital of the Union of the Comoros. Transfer to your hotel. • After check-in explore the city in your own time. • Overnight Retaj Moroni or similar

• After breakfast drive to the fishing village of Iconi. • Visit the ruins of the sultan palace built in the 18th century. Continue to Marabou Lake and visit an ylang-ylang and spice plantation. • Then visit an ylang-ylang distillery before driving back to Moroni. Here we will visit the national museum, the market and Medina with its beautiful narrow streets and colourful shops. • Overnight Retaj Moroni or similar

• Full day tour of northern Grande Comore including visits to Mitsaniouli village, an ylang-ylang plantation, Lac Salé (salt lake) and Chomoni with its excellent beach. • Overnight Retaj Moroni or similar

• Transfer to the airport for the short flight to Mohéli. • On arrival transfer to the Laka Lodge • Relax and savour the different pace of life and meet the friendly local people. If you are feeling a little more energetic, you can arrange a guided hike across the island on tracks of virgin rainforest. Then of course there are the beaches. Two of the most beautiful are Sambadjou and Nioumachoua. • You can also snorkel to discover the rich marine life or even go whale and dolphin watching. Finally you may be lucky enough to see giant turtles lay their eggs at night on the beaches of Itsamia. • Overnight Laka Lodge

• Transfer to the airport for a short flight to Anjouan. • On arrival transfer to your hotel and after check-in enjoy a guided tour of the island’s capital Mutsamudu. • Visit the historical citadels and the medina. • Visit the ‘Col de Patsy’, a beautiful valley, and then continue to the picturesque Tatringa falls. This afternoon visit the mausoleum of the late president Abdallah, the father of independence in the Comores. • Overnight Al Amal Hotel or similar.

• Today fly to the last island on our tour, Mayotte, another overseas department of France. • Transfer from the airport to the hotel and after check-in enjoy a tour of Mayotte. • Visits include the old market and plantations of Ylang-Ylang and cloves. Continue to the island’s eastern beaches with a famous old baobab tree. • Enjoy a picnic at the beach before returning to your hotel. • Overnight Hotel Le Rocher or similar