Hiking trips above and below the wind
You walk under the influence of the trade winds amidst tropical vegetation in the footsteps of customs officers, pirates and sugar cane planters, e.g. in Guadeloupe, Martinique, Terre-de-Haut, Marie-Galante and La Désirade. An unforgettable experience. Fantastic beaches, mangrove forests, extinct and active volcanoes and picturesque towns. The tours are easily doable for anyone with normal training. You will also be thrilled by the partially included crossings from island to island. It's like a Caribbean cruise with hiking. Freedom with a touch of comfort and adventure without any risk. You also have the option to book only one week or several days. We are happy to offer you these trips optionally also completely from Great Britain or the United States. Or without changing hotels with a lot of ambience and culture without long journeys: hike Antigua with us in a relaxed way. Great, leisurely and easy, e.g. at Shirley Heights, at Rendezvous Bay/Wallings Nature Reserve or something more sporty in the Mount Obama area await you.. Let time stand still: Explore St Kitts and Nevis with us on foot: the Central Forest Reserve National Park on both islands near the volcanoes offers beautiful tours for every taste and fitness level (e.g. Golden Rock Trail, Three Waterfalls on Nevis Island and rainforest tours from Old Road Bay/Palmetto Bay on St Kitts with "normal" fitness). The volcano climbs and similar treks offer outstanding views and require a very good level of fitness.
Programme e.g. French West Indies: Island hopping on pirate trails
Day 1 : Flight to Martinique
Flight to Martinique. Arrival in Fort-de-France in the evening, hotel transfer, dinner and overnight stay.
.Day 2 : Hike on the Caravelle Peninsula
Today we first sleep in. Then we hike in the biosphere reserve on the Caravelle peninsula with its fascinating beaches (approx. 3 km, 1 hour). A cultural highlight is the visit to the ruins of Dubuc Castle. The rest of the day is at your disposal for swimming and relaxing. In the evening, after dinner - optional - we go for a pub crawl in the vicinity of the hotel (drinks to be paid locally).
Day 3 : Hike in the green north of Martinique
Breathtaking views of the Montagne Pelée volcanoes and the Piton du Carbet mountain range accompany you on your hike on the Jesuit Trail near Morne Rouge (approx. 5 km, walking time 2 - 3 hours). Visit a rum factory with cocktail tasting near St. Pierre. Afterwards, stroll through the pretty town, which was buried and rebuilt at the beginning of the 20th century during the last eruption of the Montagne Pelée. Dinner in the Creole restaurant in St. Pierre. Return to the hotel.
PS: In case of rain, for safety reasons, another hike will take place on flat terrain (softened). in the flat terrain for safety reasons (softened paths).
Day 4 : Flight Martinique - Guadeloupe
Sleep in. Around noon transfer to the island capital Fort-de-France. Stroll through the city, lunch and free time for shopping. In the late afternoon, approx. 45-minute flight to Pointe-à-Pitre on Guadeloupe. Hotel transfer and dinner.
Day 5 : Pirate Coast Over the Wind
This morning, relaxation and bathing are on the agenda.
In the afternoon, visit the picturesque village of Deshaies and its botanical garden, which belonged to the French comedian Coluche. Dinner in the panoramic restaurant of the botanical garden. Then return to the hotel or open-end in the romantic Hemmingway Bar by the sea (drinks payable locally), approx. 1 km from Deshaies.
Day 6 : Hike on smuggler's trails
In the north of the mountainous part of the island of Basse-Terre, hike over the Gros Morne mountain to the Grande Anse beach (approx. 3 km, 1 h 30, approx. 200 metres of ascent and descent, magnificent view).
metres of ascent and descent, magnificent view). Lunch in our rustic beach bar "Chez Samy", which is run by our brother and brother-in-law Yvon and is located in the nature reserve directly on the beach. Afternoon free time for swimming. Cocktail at Samy's, then evening walk through the mangrove forests (30 minutes). Return to the hotel. Dinner.
Day 7 : Hiking on Marie-Galante, the island of 100 windmills
In the morning transfer to Pointe-à-Pitre. Approx. two-hour crossing to Marie-Galante. During the full-day island tour in a minibus, you will get to know this picturesque gem in the middle of the ocean. We visit a manioc producer, the former plantation Murat and have a pique-nique with swimming opportunity on the picture-book beach of the island at Capesterre. A short hike of one hour is planned, on the "sentier des Galeries" near Capesterre (approx. 1.5 km, about 1 hour). In the evening back to the hotel in Guadeloupe.
Day 8 : High up in Guadeloupe National Park
Ride along the coast above the wind. Then it's up high. The volcano la Soufrière rises to almost 1500 metres. The views are gigantic. Hike with a visit to the sulphur springs "Bains jaunes", a kind of natural wellness, where the starting point of the hike is also. We walk up the Pas du Roy to the Savanne du Mulet at approx. 1140 metres (approx. 45 minutes). Then a stroll through the island's capital Basse-Terre (markets, Fort Delgres, colonial town centre). If there is still time, we will stop at the former coffee plantation in Pointe-Noire on the way back. If, contrary to expectations, the road to the volcano is closed, we offer alternatives.
Day 9 : Excursion to the island paradise of Les Saintes
We drive through the national park on the south side of the island to Trois-Riviéres. At the waterfall "Ecrevisses" we make a short photo stop. After about 20 minutes, your boat reaches the island of Terre-de-Haut, one of the most beautiful bays in the world. Short hike to Fort Napoléon (approx. 45 minutes, some ascent). From there, wonderful views of the islands. Visit to the fortress. Hike via the village centre to Pompierre beach (45 minutes, flat), pique-nique on the beach and free time. Return to Guadeloupe in the evening.
Day 10 : Free time or optional excursion
Free time for swimming and relaxing. We offer an optional excursion after consultation with the participants on site, e.g. colonial Pointe-à-Pitre, Gosier with lighthouse on the island incl. crossing, hike at Pointe aux Chateaux etc.
Day 11 : Excursion to the island of La Désirade
In the morning transfer to St Francois and from there approx. 45 min. crossing to the island of La Désirade (if whales are sighted, approx. 1 hour). Hike on the "sentier de la Pointe Double" in the east of the island to the former weather station (approx. 2.5 km, 90 minutes). Afterwards free time in the small town of the island. Enjoy the absolute tranquillity of this island and the rhythm of life of its inhabitants. Time seems to stand still. Return journey in the evening.
Day 12 : Hike on the customs officers' path
We walk on the mythical customs officers' path at the northern tip of the island at Pointe aux Grande Vigie (approx. 1 km, 30 minutes). It may be possible to walk to the hole of the witch Coco (additional 2 km, 1 hour, depending on the condition of the path). Picnic at the lagoon with swimming opportunity amidst tropical fish. Afternoon visit to a rum factory with train ride through the sugar cane fields. At the end of the day, small botanical garden tour with explanations of the local fruits (Karembol,Ignam etc.).
Day 13 : Free time
The day is at your free disposal today. In the evening barbecue at
Samy with a Creole buffet, music and local drinks..
Day 14 : Cruise Guadeloupe - Martinique
Early transfer to Pointe-à-Pitre. Approx. 4 h 30 boat trip via the island of Dominica to Martinique, lunch and then short tour by bus, dinner and overnight.
Day 15: Free time and return flight
In the morning sleep in and free time. In the afternoon airport transfer and return flight.
Services:
- Scheduled flight to Fort-de-France on Martinique in economy incl. in-flight service (return flight - RT)
- Flight Fort-de-France to Pointe-à-Pitre on Guadeloupe with Air Caraibes or Air Antilles Express (one way - OW)
- Local bus service in the French West Indies
- Cruise Pointe-à-Pitre - Grand Bourg on Marie-Galante RT
- Boat trip St Francois - La Désirade Island RT
- Cruise Pointe-à-Pitre - Martinique (St Denis or Fort-de-France)
OW
- Tour guide from/to the airport of origin, e. g. USA
- 10 nights in a good middle-class hotel on Guadeloupe incl. half board (dinner is partly in the restaurant)
Half board (some dinners are in restaurants and not in the hotel - please refer to the brochure). If not stated in the description drinks not included
- 4 nights in a good middle class hotel in Martinique incl. half board.
dinner is partly in restaurants and not in the hotel - please refer to the advertisement). If not stated in the description drinks are not included
- 8 lunches, 7 of which as pique-nique on the hike
- Cocktails (beach bar, rum distillery)
- Entrance fees as per programme incl. train ride through the sugar cane fields
Dates on request
Hotels:
*** Apartments Habitation Grande Anse in Ziotte/Deshaies www.hga.com or
*** Langley Fort Royal in Bas Vent/Deshaies on Guadeloupe. You stay directly on the kilometre-long sandy beach in a romantic, dreamy setting. Description under hotel and travel information.
*** Hotel Carayou & Spa in the well-known seaside resort Les Trois-Ilets on Martinique at the end of the bay Anse Mitan approx. 30 km from Fort-de-France. www.hotel-carayou.com. Description under hotel and travel information.
