Self-drive tour of Reunion Island's must-sees with mini-trek in Mafate

Breakfast. This morning, we suggest a beautiful hike from the village of Hell-Bourg, which will take you up to the Bélouve gîte ( mountain refuge) following the GRR1 trail. From there, you'll enjoy a magnificent panoramic view of the Cirque de Salazie (allow 1 hour 30 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes for the ascent to the gîte). You can continue the hike on a lovely path to the viewpoint overlooking the famous Trou de Fer waterfall , crossing the lush Bélouve rainforest and returning via the former teachers' college trail, creating a pleasant loop (allow 1 hour 30 minutes of walking on flat terrain to the viewpoint + 1 hour 30 minutes back to the Bélouve gîte) followed by a 1 hour 30 minute descent back to Hell-Bourg.

Breakfast. Then, head to Col des Bœufs (1850m altitude) by car to leave your car with your luggage in the monitored parking lot (€14 / night and per vehicle) and start a magnificent hike in the heart of the Mafate cirque and set off on a magnificent 3-day mini-trek in "freedom" format with your HORIZON REUNION Roadbook.

NB : once you arrive at the Col des Boeufs car park, you will have the option to leave your luggage in your rental car and only take your hiking bag for 3 days of self-supported walking with your hiking bag – bring 1 towel per person.

This first hike in the Cirque de Mafate will take you along the famous GRR3 trail, which will initially lead you to the parking area and then to the Col des Bœufs (1960 meters altitude) after an easy 30-minute climb. You will then descend into the upper part of the Cirque de Mafate (southern part of the cirque) via a pleasant trail (mostly downhill) that will take you across the magnificent Plaine des Tamarins . At the fork after this plain, you will turn left and continue on the GRR3 to the island of Marla, where you will spend your first ^night . The word "ilet" refers to a small plateau nestled in rugged terrain. Relatively inaccessible, the islet was a refuge for runaway slaves (Maroons).

Breakfast. Today we recommend a very beautiful hike as an alternative to the GRR1 which will take you to the village of La Nouvelle via the magnificent geological site of Trois-Roches and its impressive waterfall (ideal place for a picnic) before heading back up to La Nouvelle via Plaine aux Sables.

From Marla, follow the GRR3 to the Trois-Roches site which you will reach in 2 to 2.5 hours of walking (towards Roche-Plate) then after enjoying the magnificent natural site of Trois-Roches, return slightly towards Marla (about 10 to 15 minutes of walking) to the crossroads sign of Plaine des Sables and take the path which goes up on your left to Plaine aux Sables (short but intense climb with large steps) then continue calmly from Plaine aux Sables to the village of La Nouvelle.

Breakfast. Finish your loop in the Cirque de Mafate by going up to the Col des Bœufs via the Plaine des Tamarins, to pick up your car in the supervised parking lot (approximately 2h30 of walking / + 530 meters of elevation gain / 6 km of walking ) then head towards the East coast (RN2) to the pretty Creole village of Sainte-Rose , in the Southeast of the island, where you will spend your next 2 nights.

After your stop in Ste-Suzanne, take the East Coast road (RN2) to Sainte-Rose. You will discover the wild landscapes of the East Coast and enjoy several tourist attractions along the way:

The Baroque Church of Saint Anne

The suspension bridge over the Rivière de l'Est - Classified as a historical monument : formerly the longest cable-stayed bridge in the world when it was built in 1894!

The Notre-Dame-des-Laves church: during the 1977 lava flow, the lava is said to have bypassed the church, sparing the building from certain destruction! Following this "miracle," a Virgin Mary statue with a parasol was placed in front of the building to symbolize the divine protection of the site.

Breakfast. This morning, we recommend heading towards St-Benoit and then taking the scenic Route des Plaines (RN3) towards the village of La Plaine des Palmistes. Along the way, we suggest a beautiful and easy hike : the Grand-Etang loop . This is Réunion's only volcanic lake, surrounded by majestic mountain ramparts from which long waterfalls cascade. You can also swim in freshwater pools beneath the breathtaking Bras d'Annette waterfalls.

After your hike at Grand-Etang, don't miss Anse des Cascades . This true haven of peace offers a verdant setting enhanced by gentle waterfalls. It's an ideal spot for a picnic or a refreshing break in the small swimming pools. You can also enjoy an easy walk on the coastal path known as the " Fishermen's Path ."

Another unmissable activity Continue along the Route du Grand Brûlé (locally known as the "Route des Laves") between Sainte-Rose and Saint-Philippe and embark on an unusual tour: the guided lava tunnels. Follow in the footsteps of the 2004 eruption by exploring the lava tunnels of Piton de la Fournaise and discover the various imprints left on the cooled and solidified walls (departures daily, morning and afternoon, for a 2.5-hour guided tour ). A 2km-long underground gallery can be visited with a guide. Fascinating & unusual - Price: €55/adult and €40/child (6 to 12 years old) .

Breakfast. Departure towards Saint-Pierre , the capital of southern Réunion, where you will spend the next two nights . Along the RN2, you will discover many exceptional natural sites:

On your way, stop at the beautiful natural site of Cap Méchant with its endemic vegetation of the Wild South and its black volcanic rock cliffs where the raging waves crash.

Near Saint-Joseph, discover the magnificent Langevin River : a road shaded by fruit trees runs alongside its banks, passing a series of pools. Stop at the spectacular viewpoint overlooking the "Grand Galet" waterfall . Composed of multiple cascades, it spreads over a wide wall, over which abundant, crystal-clear water flows continuously. You can also park at the Marine Langevine parking lot and take a 10-minute walk to swim in the freshwater pools of the Jacqueline waterfall .

Recommended optional activity: Easy canyoning in the Langevin River : (Beginners welcome) with a zipline starting point at the Grand-Galet waterfall . Thrills and fun guaranteed! - 3.5 hours of activity - Price: €60 per person

Before arriving in St-Pierre, stop at the beautiful wild beach of Grande-Anse , a paradise beach (swimming only in the basin) where you can take beautiful photos, especially at the end of the day before sunset!

Breakfast. Early morning departure To discover the exceptional site of Piton de la Fournaise , one of the world's most active volcanoes! Along the way, you can stop at Nez de Bœuf , an impressive viewpoint overlooking the Rivière des Remparts canyon, and then explore the Commerson crater , a 235-meter-deep chasm created by an ancient volcanic eruption. Before arriving at the Pas de Bellecombe parking area , you'll cross the lunar and desert-like landscapes of the Plaine des Sables . From Pas de Bellecombe, enjoy a magnificent panorama of the caldera and the Dolomieu crater , which rises to 2,631 meters.

Several hiking options are available to you:

The most well-known: The ascent of the Dolomieu crater : from the Pas de Bellecombe parking area, where you'll have a magnificent viewpoint overlooking the volcano and its immense caldera, the trail begins with a descent into the caldera itself and continues via Formica Leo. From there, you'll begin the ascent of the Dolomieu crater and wander across the volcanic rock. Return via the same trail.

On the way back from the Volcano, after the effort comes the reward! Make a stop at the Cheese Palace and taste our famous small "péi" cow's milk cheeses with chili, ginger or even combava.

After leaving Bourg-Murat towards Plaine des Cafres and Saint-Pierre, we recommend a slight detour to the Bois-Court viewpoint overlooking the canyon and the Grand-Bassin waterfall . Spectacular!

Departure in the morning towards Cilaos and the famous Cirque de Cilaos , in the heart of the island on the southern part of the Piton des Neiges massif, where you will stay for two nights in the heart of the village, in a place renowned for its tranquility and superb panoramic views . Its peaks (pitons) and ramparts (steep cliffs) are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Optional canyoning trips include "Fleurs Jaunes" (€75 per person) or " Bras-Rouge" (€70 per person) in one of the world's most renowned canyoning spots .

From Cilaos, during your stay, enjoy the charm of this Creole mountain village and explore one of its many trails. We recommend three hikes (two easy and one challenging) :

The Bras Rouge waterfall : Originating on the slopes of Piton des Neiges. The waterfall is impressive!

The Chapel Trail: A beautiful hike that will lead you to the entrance of a canyon, carved by the river through a monolith over 100m wide and high. You'll enter its center to discover an incredible stone cathedral!

The Roche-Merveilleuse botanical trail : A lovely loop 5 minutes from Cilaos in a high-altitude forest with a fun route and a magnificent view of the village of Cilaos.

Suggested activities and visits in Cilaos : the embroidery house, the panorama from Roche Merveilleuse, the famous Cilaos thermal baths, the archipelago of arts and crafts, the reed pond and its body of water.

Breakfast. After enjoying your stay in the Cirque de Cilaos, leave Cilaos for Étang-Salé-les-Bains to discover its Gouffre , a long natural corridor formed by black volcanic rocks offering a magnificent spectacle of the raging sea, as well as its beautiful black sand beach (the largest on the island) where you can relax in this exceptional setting. Then head towards Saint-Leu with a stop at Le Souffleur : another natural wonder where water rushes into an underwater cave of volcanic origin and is expelled like a geyser by the force of the waves.

Continue your journey towards Saint-Gilles-les-Bains and the West coast where we offer you a magnificent 4* beachfront hotel with direct access to the beach of La Saline-les-Bains and its preserved lagoon where you can discover countless multicolored tropical fish while snorkeling as if you were swimming in a giant tropical aquarium!

You will spend your last 3 nights there and can enjoy magnificent sunsets.

During your 3-night stay on the West Coast, we recommend:

A morning at Maido ( Tip : leave your hotel around 7:00/7:30 am for ideal conditions) to enjoy an exceptional panorama of the Cirque de Mafate and discover the Maison du Géranium in Petite France (free visit) – possibility of hiking on the Maido ridges to Grand Bénare (2900 meters altitude / 6-hour round-trip loop / level: medium/difficult)

Take advantage of beautiful beaches on the West coast (the lagoon of Ermitage les Bains, La Saline les Bains and the lagoon of Trou d'Eau where you can try Transparent Kayaking or paddleboarding on the lagoon.

Strolling through the Saint-Paul market (every Friday and Saturday morning) Located on the seafront, this is the largest market on Réunion Island. A true immersion in local culture, it offers a vibrant atmosphere blending exotic fruits, spices, local crafts, and typical Creole specialties. A must-see for visitors, this market is an authentic experience allowing you to discover the flavors, skills, and conviviality of Réunion.

On the day of departure: leave your tourist accommodation no later than 3 hours 30 minutes before the takeoff time and return your rental car. On your way to the airport, take the opportunity to discover the historic center of Saint-Denis , including the rue de Paris with its beautiful colonial houses and the Barachois.