PARIS'S ADVENTUROUS COUSIN

Almost all of my remarks about Reunion Island get the same initial reaction: “Where’s that?”. While I might act smug now, having been to this beautiful far-flung destination no one seems to know about, my own reaction—when I first heard of it—was no different.

I first came upon Reunion Island, one of France’s overseas departments, in 2018. I had been asked to write a researched desk piece on it, and I remember being astonished by the Google search results. They spoke of dense rainforests, innumerable waterfalls, an enviable coastline, and one of the world’s most active volcanoes. The island and its biodiversity seemed extraordinary. I wondered how it had stayed off the tourism radar despite its proximity to India. I continue to wonder.

In 2018, mainland France saw close to eight lakh Indian visitors. Reunion Island, meanwhile, continues to record an average of 1,500 Indians per year. This was reason enough for me to look forward to the adventure that