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Where to stay, recommended guides, travel,
and visitor attraction as featured in the TV series Globe
Trekker: Indian Ocean Islands.
Accommodation
Budget
Le Gîte du
Volcan
Pas de Bellecombe
Piton de La Fournaise
Ste Rose, La Reunion
This gîte (mountain lodge) is in a fantastic location
near the volcano Piton
de La Fournaise - and ideal departure point for a
volcano mini-trek. Accommodation is in dormitories of 2, 4,
8, 12 and 16, with communal showers and hot water. It costs
$35 for a bed, breakfast and dinner at communal tables. The
gîte is family-run by the welcoming and friendly Picard
family whose uncle started the gîte in the 1930s. It's
often full so you must book in advance through the Maison
de La Montagne's website.
Mid-range
Coral Strand
P.O.Box 400
Victoria, Mahé, Seychelles
Telephone: +24 8 621 000
The Coral Strand is the ideal base for those on a lesser
budget, located on Beau Vallon, one of the most beautiful
beaches on Mahé island. The Coral Strand is
a very affordable, all inclusive hotel with spacious, clean
and light rooms and a large array of activities on offer -
swimming pool, deep sea fishing, excursions and a diving club
next door. Although the food isn't brilliant, there are restaurants
nearby in Beau Vallon and overall it's a good price for an
excellent location and great staff.
Wharf Hotel
PO Box 1350
Mahé, Seychelles
Telephone: +24 8 67 0700
Conveniently located near the airport and capital, Victoria,
Wharf Hotel has only fifteen rooms but all are well-designed
with luxury bathrooms. Facilities include a restaurant serving
fish and creole food, a swimming pool and a marina to moor
your yacht!
Domaine de L'Orangeraie
Anse Severe
La Digue, Seychelles
Telephone: + 24 8 234 444
Email: reservations *at* orangeraie.sc
Situated on the idyllic island of La Digue, where you travel
on bicycles or ox carts, the Domaine de L'Orangeraie offers
self-catering bungalows in beautifully landscaped garden.
Built in the architectural style of La Digue, the owners have
added a touch of zen with craft from Indonesia. Bicycles are
available for hire.
Paul et Virginie
Royal Road
Grand Gaube
Mauritius
Telephone: + 230 288 0215
A charming hotel located right on the beach near Grand
Baie. Although the bathrooms could do with an overhaul,
the rooms are charming and well appointed, with mini-bar,
fresh fruit, satellite television, and a balcony overlooking
the ocean. The food is delicious with two restaurants, one
on a jetty whose floor has been spread with sand from the
nearby beach, making for a very romantic atmosphere. Two swimming
pools and a good spa offer plenty of pampering. More relaxed
than a five star hotel, but well worth a stay.
The Saint Georges Hotel
19 rue St Georges
Port Louis
Iles Maurice
Telephone: 230 211 2581
Email: Resa.hsg *at* intnet.mu
A ten-storey building located in the heart of historic Port
Louis, The Saint Georges is reasonably priced with basic rooms
with television and en-suite bathrooms, a bar, internet, and
swimming pool. The service is great but the food left a lot
to be desired, but luckily it's just ten minutes walk to the
Caudan district to enjoy local Indian or Chinese food.
L'Ocean Maloya
10 Allee de Lataniers
97410 Grand Bois
La Réunion
Telephone: 0262 31 11 60
Escape the hustle and bustle of St Pierre in Southern Réunion
and stay at the quaint L'Ocean Maloya Hotel which offers several
bungalows overlooking the ocean and a swimming pool, great
food, and a great bar. The hotel also organizes deep sea fishing,
diving expedition, and there's a heliport for your transfers.
Top-end
Le Touessrok
Trou d'Eau Douce
Flacq, Mauritius
Telephone: +230 402 7400
If you can afford it, spend a couple of nights at the Touessrek
in Flacq, a five star resort that's thought to be one of the
most luxurious in the Indian Ocean. A perfectly attired 24-hour
butler, assistant butler, housekeeper and maid will see to
(almost) all of you worldly wishes. No chore is too difficult
for our private butler - shopping, laundry, unpacking your
clothes, running a bath, organising outings and entertainment.
Facilities includes a private tropical beach, a personal infinity
pool with a bubbling Jacuzzi, giant plasma screen TV and entertainment
system, a glorious spacious bathroom with egg-shaped bath
and en-suite TV. Enjoy Dom Perignon in the mini-bar and other
privileged drinks and foodstuffs. This paradise for newlyweds
offers all sort of sea activities and golf.
Northolme Hotel
Glacis, Seychelles
Telephone: +248 299000
Le Northolme is Mahé's legendary hotel. It used to
be the hideaway of choice for the likes of Ian Fleming,
Somerset Maugham, and Noel Coward. It has now been
completely re-designed and boasts 40 individual villas hidden
in a tropical garden right above a small creek. The rooms
are absolutely fabulous, all with beautiful terraces or balcony
overlooking the ocean, air conditioning, mini-bar and espresso
machine, satellite television with plasma screen and DVD,
telephone, internet, jacuzzi bath and shower. The hotel is
a perfect haven for romantics and those who like tranquillity
and privacy. There are two fantastic restaurants where some
of the best cuisine in the Seychelles can be tasted. You can
relax in the magnificent spa or swim in the beautiful infinity
swimming pool. The bar serves gorgeous cocktails and some
live entertainment.
Trekking
Ric a
Ric
13 Av du Gal de Gaulle
97434 Saint Gilles les Bains
La Réunion
Telephone: + 02 62 33 2538
Ric a Ric is a well-established and reputed canyoning outfitter.
Their experts and certified guides will take you to some of
the most beautiful canyons
in Réunion. It's a memorable and fun experience,
especially if you get to go with manager and canyoner extraordinaire,
Mric. Born on the continent, he's a legendary potholer, extreme
kayaker and canyoner. He's opened and equipped many of the
canyons in Réunion. Be warned that canyons considered
easy in Réunion are in fact intermediate compared to
Europe, so you need to be in good physical form and not scared
of heights.
Maison de la Montagne
5 rue Rontaunay - 97400 Saint-Denis
La Réunion
Telephone: 02 62 90 78 78
Fax : 02 62 41 84 29
La Maison de La Montagne, funded by the government, is where
you can get lots of information on trekking and nature activities
in La Réunion. You can book horse riding expeditions,
hiking trips, four-wheel-drive trips, mountain guides, and
accommodation. Their website is well organized and you can
book everything on the net.
Sarl Nomad-Treks
Patrick Bibollet
6 rue Hermann Grondin
97427 Etang Sale les Hauts
La Réunion
Telephone or fax: +26 2 26 58 18
Email: Patrick-bibollet *at* wanadoo.fr
Patrick Bibollet is one of the very few English-speaking
mountain guides based in Réunion. Patrick can organize
hiking trips for groups or individual. He's very knowledgeable
about Reunion's flora and fauna and a nice guy to hike with.
Patrick works in the French Alps during the winter season.
Nature reserves
Le Domaine du
Chasseur
Anse Jonchee
Vieux Grand Port
Ile Maurice
Telephone: + 23 0 634 5011 (or 5097 or 5166)
Nature lovers in search of peace and quiet will love this
place located in what is probably the most striking location
in Mauritius: the heights of Mahebourg in Southern
Mauritius. The Domaine du Chasseur is an eco-friendly hunting
ground with African-safari-style bungalows, a great restaurant,
and lots of atmosphere. Hikes are taken in what is the last
chunk of virgin forest in Mauritius. Wander around the estate
to discover the local wildlife, taste the Domaine's own aged
rhum and enjoy the lovely food cooked in the kitchen's
restaurant. Most of the foods served come from the garden
of the Domaine as is the meat - mainly deer hunted on the
property. The bungalows are comfortable, all with large balconies
with a stunning view down the valley and the ocean. Lionel
Berthault, the Estate's knowledgeable head hunter is passionate
about the estate and its preservation work. You can join him
during one of his bow-hunting outings, or during a night
hare or hedgehog hunting expedition with local Creoles.
La Vanille Crocodile Park
Riviere des Anguilles
Mauritius
Telephone: 230 626 2503
Email: crocpark *at* intnet.mu
La Vanille Crocodile
Park is a Nile crocodile farm in a beautiful forest
setting. The park is lovely and well-maintained with a restaurant
serving crocs fritters and other croc delicacies (but also
beef and chicken burgers). The park includes different kind
of tortoises, some roaming the grounds freely, and other endemic
species.
Underwater Centre
Seychelles
Coral Strand Hotel
Beau Vallon
PO Box 384
Mahé, Seychelles
Telephone: +24 8 247 165
This is one of the best diving centres in the Seychelles,
run by Scotland-born Glynis, who can take you to see amazing
marine life. Check out their website for rates and details.
Glynis's husband runs the The
Marine Conservation Society Seychelles, which has
a yearly research programme studying and tagging
Whale sharks. Look at their website to see how you
can help the whale sharks from being hunted.
Travel
Max Moto
10 Av Gaston Moneville
97400 St Denis
La Réunion
Telephone: +26 2 347080
Email: maxmoto *at* guetari.fr
One of the best ways to explore Réunion is to hire
a motorbike. Max Moto offer rentals of 125cc to 750cc bikes
at a really good price. Remember that wearing a helmet is
compulsory and riding a bike in Réunion means dealing
with hair-rising mountain roads and energetic and impatient
drivers. |
