Piton Maido
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Port
La Possession, Reunion
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Activity Level
Moderate
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Excursion Type
Local Sightseeing,All
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At
$114.95
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
Approximately 4½ Hours
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Meals Included
Meals not included
Start your tour with a coach ride to St-Paul, where the first inhabitants of Réunion settled in 1646. You'll follow the west (leeward) coast road, which is fringed with a long ribbon of beaches -- some with white sand and some with black sand.
The route ascends to the mountainous center of the island, where fields of sugar cane, geraniums and tamarinds mark the way.
Your destination is a marvelous viewpoint on the edge of a high escarpment at 6,000 feet asl, with a steep drop below. Enjoy breathtaking vistas down into the ancient crater -- the Circle of Mafate -- with its villages called îlets. These are the most isolated places on the island; they can only be reached on foot or by helicopter.
Next, stop the center of the geranium-growing district. You will visit a geranium oil distillery, where the process will be explained. The production uses 1,400 pounds of leaves to produce one liter of essence. You'll have an opportunity to purchase geranium oil and other essential oils and perfumes before returning to the ship.
Notes:
Not suitable for guests with vertigo. Bring a jacket; the temperature is much cooler at high elevations. Visibility depends on weather conditions; fog may descend into the valley, and mist and cloud often surround the higher peaks and plains; no guarantee is offered concerning visibility or views. Terrain includes uneven surfaces, steep inclines and steps. Wear sturdy closed-toe walking shoes.