100% customisable travel idea
Guadeloupe - Basse-Terre - Marie-Galante - Grande-Terre
100% customisable for you
Meet and greet at the airport and pick up your rental car. Drive to Petit-Bourg. Stay for four nights in the midst of a lush, exotic garden. Your room features a beautiful wooden four-poster bed, typical of the Caribbean and made by local artisans. The floor is decorated with colourful cement tiles. The balcony is perfect for admiring the view over the valley and the vast sugarcane fields stretching as far as the eye can see. Every morning, the day begins with a hearty breakfast on the terrace, surrounded by the sound of birdsong. The bar has an extensive range of exotic cocktails and Caribbean rums. As for the restaurant, it reimagines traditional Creole cuisine with modern creative touches.
Contrary to its name, Petit-Bourg, on the east coast of Basse-Terre, is actually the largest town on the island. Petit-Bourg is an ideal base for exploring the Guadeloupe National Park. The main road through the park, Route de la Traversée, leads to the "Deux Mamelles", two peaks known as Piton de Pigeon and Piton de Petit-Bourg. It will take you straight to the heart of the tropical forest and its superb hikes.
Things to see and do/strong> - Step back in time in the residential area of Vernou and stroll among the Art Deco villas built in the 1950s - take a tour of a well know rum distillery with a tasting session at the end - try cassaves, the delicious traditional cassava flatbreads - hike in Guadeloupe National Park to the Saut de la Lézarde or Cascade aux Écrevisses waterfalls - go swimming at Viard beach, try kitesurfing, or relax on the black sand in the shade of coconut and almond trees.
On your schedule - The secrets of the mangroves at the Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin. From the village of Morne-à-l’Eau, this boat trip takes you through the atmospheric Rotours Canal, which leads to the heart of the mangroves. The sight of the mangroves with their tangle of roots sticking out of the water is quite surreal. The knowledgeable captain enthusiastically shares lots of interesting facts about the local wildlife and plants. The boat stops at Macou islet, a small, secluded stretch of sand, where you can stretch your legs and explore the mangrove forests on foot, maybe walking all the way to the Notre-Dame de la Garde chapel.
Return the rental car and ferry to Marie-Galante. Upon arrival, pick up your new rental car. Stay for three nights in a private villa in Vieux-Fort, near the Sentier des Falaises. The rooms are spacious and bright, but life here takes place almost entirely outdoors. The kitchen on the terrace is fully equipped for preparing delicious meals and having barbecues. You can also eat there, at any time of the day or under the stars in the evening. In the vast, lush garden there’s a pool and an old stone mill, a reminder of the property's history as a sugar plantation.
Its sugar industry earned it the nickname “island of a hundred mills”. Several can still be visited today, including the beautiful Bézard mill and the Bellevue rum distillery. A few distilleries still produce high-quality rums. There are pleasant walking trails all over the island. The beaches are another highlight of Marie-Galante and are not frequented by too many visitors.
Not to be missed - An introduction to the art of indigo dyeing. Before sugar cane, indigo cultivation reigned supreme in Marie-Galante. Pierre and Laurence-Anne work in a picturesque hut on the edge of the lagoon and are dedicated to reviving this ancient tradition by running workshops. Taking part couldn't be easier. Just bring a white item of clothing or fabric to transform it into a unique and personal piece on the spot by following the advice of these two enthusiasts.
Return crossing to Pointe-à-Pitre and pick up a new car. Drive to Sainte-Anne on Grande-Terre. Stay for two nights at your last charming accommodation. In front of the infinity pool, the harmony of blues blurs the boundaries a little. The private beach below is accessible through the gardens. The bungalows overlook the sea. The interior is understated but enhanced with touches of colour, and the furnishings are functionally elegant. The restaurant adds a touch of chic to fish and seafood dishes.
From relaxing on the beach to windsurfing and diving, there are plenty of activities (or inactivities) to enjoy in the sparkling setting of the Caribbean Sea. You can also visit the famous Pointe des Châteaux, which juts out over the Atlantic. The south coast of Grande-Terre is partly protected by a coral reef and is lined with sandy beaches where lazing around is the order of the day.
See and do - Laze on the idyllic beaches that dot the coastline, such as the legendary Bourg beach, Anse des Salines, Bois-Jolan, Anse à la Gourde and La Caravelle; take advantage of the trade winds to try your hand at kitesurfing; venture to lesser-known and less crowded beaches, such as Anse du Souffleur, which is particularly popular with locals, Datcha beach with its festive atmosphere or the charming cove of Anse Colas, with its shallow, crystal-clear waters that are ideal for swimming and snorkelling.
À la carte - A couples massage at the hotel.
Drive to Pointe-à-Pitre, return the car and take a direct return flight. Spend the night on board and arrive the next day.
This suggested itinerary can be customisable down to the smallest detail, including duration, stops and content. An à la carte menu of experiences is also available to create a journey that reflects who you are.
Every day, our travel specialists craft bespoke experiences shaped around each traveller's profile, desires and budget. These passionate experts design experiences delivered on the ground by a local network of Concierges and trusted contacts. These fully customisable, made-to-measure trips are complemented by a wide range of high-end services (lounges, 24/7 assistance, travel booklet, app, Wi-Fi, restaurant booking, etc.)
Let us create your trip
Travel with complete freedom, guided by your interests,
ideas and passions.
250 travel specialists, organised by country and region. Driven by a passion for beauty and never short of ideas, they inspire you and design an ultra-personalised journey: itineraries, accommodation, workshops, encounters, and more.
Always at your service: with a dedicated travel specialist, Concierge service and 24/7 assistance, our teams support you and adapt in real time, for a trip that is both flexible and expertly supported.
With family, as a couple, in a group of ten, on a road trip, by train, by boat, for a weekend or a round-the-world journey... Trips tailored to your preferences, enhanced by clever services, for ever smoother travel.