4x4 transfer and climb up Soufrière

Whether with family or friends, put your trust in a team of experienced professional guides to take you to the summit of La Soufrière, the highest peak in the Lesser Antilles. Travelling in a fleet of state-of-the-art Land Rovers, you’ll head to the foot of La Soufrière and set off on a 4- to 6-hour exploration of volcanic geology. A 500-metre climb, unique viewpoints, and active craters spewing sulphurous fumes with force and without ceasing. Spectacular! Full-day trip including lunch.

It’s all very well to see La Soufrière from afar, but it’s even better to climb it. If you’re a keen hiker, accompanied by a nature guide, set off to conquer the ‘old lady’ (100 to 200,000 years old), currently in a state of eruptive repose. The guides will collect you from 6.30 am at your holiday accommodation in Saint-François, Sainte-Anne, Gosier or Baie-Mahault. You’ll set off in the legendary Land Rover Defender to tackle one of the Caribbean’s nine still-active volcanoes. The summit of La Soufrière, known as ‘La Découverte’, rises to an altitude of 1,467 metres and is the highest peak in Guadeloupe and the Lesser Antilles. Let’s set off on a two-hour climb. Your guides are on hand to answer any questions you may have, so don’t hesitate to ask! They’ll tell you all about volcanology, volcanic geology, the local flora and fauna, and the history of the area. At the summit, on a clear day, a magnificent view awaits you: Les Saintes, Dominica, Martinique, Marie-Galante… all the surrounding islands lie before you. As you approach the crater, the sight is impressive, as are the noise and the smell! Indeed, the volcano, which is still active, spews out white smoke with great force and without ceasing, like a furious mouth, leaving behind saffron-yellow sulphur residues. Once you’ve made the most of the scenery, you’ll begin your descent at a leisurely pace, in your own time, taking in the vegetation. Take care not to slip in wet weather. The final activity at the foot of the volcano is a soak in sulphurous hot springs at 29° to reward you for all your efforts (the ‘Bains Jaunes’). It’s the best way to relax your muscles and thoroughly enjoy this unique experience. Lunch break at a restaurant in Bananier, then return between 4.30 pm and 6.00 pm depending on your holiday accommodation.