Exploring the French Caribbean

Unique blend of Créole joie de vivreand French chic Gentle independent island discovery; freedom to explore at your own pace Small, intimate hotels: fabulous cuisine, superb pools, stylish rooms Over 2000 floral species; a bird watcher’s paradise White sand beaches, azure seas, rain forest

Your discovery begins on butterfly-shaped Guadeloupe. The two wings of the island offer a myriad of opportunity for easy exploration by car, on foot and by sea. Take time to discover thundering waterfalls, coastal mangrove trails or golden sands lapped by warm azure waters – and each day you can do as little or as much as you want. Nestling in the hills above Trois-Rivières, your base here is the fabulous 9-room Jardin Malanga. As well as affording unrivalled balcony views across the sparkling Atlantic, as far as Dominica on a clear day, it offers a panoramic swimming pool and luxuriant tropical gardens.

Moving onto Martinique, the Island of Flowers, exploration here is even more relaxed, in tune with the island’s atmosphere. Savour the amazing diversity of natural beauty that makes the island so alluring; beaches with sand ranging from volcanic black to the purest white or the cathedral-like canopy of virgin rainforest in the Fôret d’Absalon. Your base here is the discreetly charming Hotel Plein Soleil, a gorgeous Créole villa style accommodation just outside Le François looking out over Thelmont Bay. With just 16 individually crafted rooms, it exudes a feel of understated luxury - upgrade to a suite and you’ll even get your own private plunge pool!

Cuisine on both islands is a mouthwatering mélange of Creole and French flavours, like succulent swordfish served with grilled banana or sea bream on a bed of creamy coconut rice.