Reunion Island
The Diagonale des Fous trek in Reunion Island
Réf : QREUX
In summary
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Sports
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Duration15 days
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LevelAdvance
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DestinationFrench Overseas Territories / Reunion Island
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AgeFrom the age of 18
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CO₂-Emissions88.42 kg CO2
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Type of stayIn a group
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Languages
French
In a few words
Embark on an adventure to traverse the island of Reunion from the north coast to the south coast ! With a welcome mix of nights in guesthouses and hotels to recharge your batteries, let yourself be tempted by this legendary trek with breathtaking panoramas.
Your journey begins with the ascent of the Plaine des Chicots and the summit of Roche Écrite . Then you venture into the heart of the unspoiled Cirque de Mafate for an extended period of self-sufficiency. Let yourself be captivated by the beauty of the landscape where nature rhymes with rainforest , verdant peaks , and wild waterfalls . Via the Col du Taïbit , you then progress into the Cirque de Cilaos before climbing to the highest point of the island and the southern Indian Ocean, the famous Piton des Neiges . Your trip continues towards the Plaine des Palmistes to reach the La Fournaise volcano and the Dolomieu crater. After feasting your eyes (and your legs!), your circuit ends on the idyllic beaches of Saint Gilles , where the grandeur of the mountains gives way to the soothing beauty of the Indian Ocean.
The highlights
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A legendary trek: a true crossing from one end of the island to the other in 11 days
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A long immersion in Mafate, without any road access
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The ascent of Piton des Neiges and Piton de La Fournaise
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Photos
Sport
Level
Hiking / Trekking
For those wishing to undertake multi-day hikes involving over 6 hours of walking and an elevation gain of 700 to 1,200 meters, off-trail or over rugged terrain. High-altitude sections are possible. You engage in endurance sports several times a week, hike regularly, and are in excellent physical condition.
In figures
Hiking
- Average duration/day: 6h30
- Average distance/day: 21 km
- Average daily elevation gain: 835 m
- Average daily descent: 917 m
Management
During this stay, a supervisor will be present to guide and assist you.
Languages spoken:
French
French
Guide d'aventure
Guide d'aventure
During your trip, you will be accompanied by an adventure and trekking guide from our partner. Your guide holds the French State Diploma for Mountain Leaders (AEM). Passionate about their work, they possess extensive knowledge of the island, its flora, and its volcanoes, which they will share with you. You will learn more about botany, geology, the history of maroon communities, Creole culture, and volcanology after a trip with them.
Program
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Night flight to Saint Denis
- Breakfast not included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner not included
Departure from Paris in the evening and arrival the following morning.Day 1 -
St Denis Airport - Stopover in St Gilles - Gîte du Volcan de la Fournaise
- Transportation 02h
- Accommodation Refuge
- Breakfast not included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
Arrival at Saint Denis airport and meeting with our local team. After a few minutes of introductions, we'll transfer to Saint Gilles for some relaxation by the sea before our Great Crossing. We'll enjoy a peaceful moment with our feet in the water, accompanied by a delicious meal to recharge. After a short nap to recover from our flight, we'll transfer to one of the world's most active volcanoes. We'll begin our crossing from the south, heading towards Piton de la Fournaise. Arrival at the gîte and settling in for the night.Day 2 -
Ascent of Piton de La Fournaise (2632 m) – Piton Textor – Transfer to Plaine des Cafres
- Transportation 01h
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 6h
- Distance 18 km
- Positive elevation gain 900 m
- Negative elevation 950 m
- Accommodation Cottage
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
We set off to climb Piton de la Fournaise. We ascend to the main crater, Dolomieu (or others depending on the regulations in effect during our trip). Before us, the majestic summit of Piton de la Fournaise slowly appears. On the flank of the large cone are numerous small adventitious craters, demonstrating that the activity is not limited to the main crater. We are in the territory of one of the most active volcanoes in the world, which awakens on average once every 10 months. In the early afternoon, we continue our journey to Piton Textor, crossing a splendid volcanic valley. We will then be picked up and taken to La Plaine des Cafres to spend the night.Day 3 -
Transfer Maraboue - Caverne Dufour Refuge
- Transportation 00h15
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 8h
- Distance 22 km
- Positive elevation gain 1100 m
- Negative elevation 700 m
- Accommodation Refuge
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
This morning, a short transfer takes us to the Savane Mare à Boue. During the transfer, we can admire the herds that live peacefully in these vast meadows, which can be white with frost in June or July. Piton des Neiges overlooks the half-crater of Piton Tortue, bordered by tall cryptomeria and plane trees that are not yet visible. We begin our hike after crossing a fence with a ladder. We gradually enter vast expanses of primary forest before reaching the heights of the ramparts that signal our arrival at the Piton des Neiges refuge, where we will spend the night.Day 4 -
Ascent of Piton des Neiges (3070 m) - Cilaos
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 6h
- Distance 20 km
- Positive elevation gain 600 m
- Negative elevation 1700 m
- Accommodation Cottage
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
Waking up in the dead of night for the final ascent, we'll be rewarded with the first rays of sunlight on Piton des Neiges at 3,070 meters. We're on the roof of the southern Indian Ocean. After a two-hour hike, we reach the island's summit and enjoy breathtaking views across much of the island, a well-deserved reward for our efforts. We return to the refuge for breakfast, then begin the long descent to Cilaos. Upon reaching the road, we'll have a short picnic lunch before continuing along the road and through the forest to Cilaos for a good night's rest.Day 5 -
Cilaos - Marla (Cirque de Mafate)
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 5h
- Distance 16 km
- Positive elevation gain 1120 m
- Negative elevation 750 m
- Accommodation Cottage
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
We pack our things for three nights (we'll find our luggage on day 9 in Dos d'Ane) and begin a descent to reach the Bras Rouge waterfall, followed by a long climb to the Col du Taïbit trail (2,083m), finally revealing the famous Cirque de Mafate. At the pass, we take the time to enjoy the view of the cirques, the south coast, and the Grand Bénare, at the foot of which we are standing. We descend to the hamlet of Marla (1,600m) at the foot of the pass, where we spend the night. Marla was for a long time one of the most populated settlements in the Cirque. (Night without luggage)Day 6 -
Mafate Cirque: Marla - Roche Plate
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 5h
- Distance 18 km
- Positive elevation gain 350 m
- Negative elevation 900 m
- Accommodation Cottage
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
Today we hike from Marla to Roche Plate, passing by the stunning Trois Roches site. It's here that the Rivière des Galets disappears into an impressive crevasse. The Roche Plate site is located directly below the Maïdo viewpoint. We start our day by descending the famous Marla scree slope, and after a pleasant break at Trois Roches, we begin our descent towards the islet of Roche Plate for the night. (Overnight without luggage)Day 7 -
Mafate Cirque: Roche Plate - Grand Place
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 7h
- Distance 24 km
- Positive elevation gain 770 m
- Negative elevation 1110 m
- Accommodation Cottage
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
This morning we head towards the islet of Grand Place. During this leg of the hike, we pass by the islets of Orangers, Lataniers, and Cayenne. After a 3-hour walk, we'll reach a place called La Brèche, the famous trail that leads back up to Maïdo. A short break at Orangers before tackling the long descent to the Lataniers footbridge. Finally, we climb back up to the islet of Grand Place, one of the largest islets in the Cirque, where we'll spend the night. (Overnight without luggage)Day 8 -
Grand Place - Deux Bras - Dos d'âne
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 8h
- Distance 25 km
- Positive elevation gain 1100 m
- Negative elevation 950 m
- Accommodation Cottage
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
An unusual day during our trek: part of the group, doing the 11-day version of the trip, will say goodbye in Deux Bras while the other part begins the ascent to Dos d'Âne to complete their crossing of the Cirques and Volcanoes. We'll descend to Deux Bras, the famous spot where the Rivière des Galets splits into two branches before flowing into the ocean. From there, we'll climb back up to the town of Dos d'Âne via one of the island's most challenging trails, one of the famous routes used by the daredevils of the Diagonale des Fous. We'll settle into our guesthouse for the night in Dos d'Âne and collect our luggage.Day 9 -
Donkey's back – La Plaine des Chicots Gîte
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 8h
- Distance 24 km
- Positive elevation gain 1225 m
- Negative elevation 150 m
- Accommodation Refuge
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
La Roche Écrite, at 2276 meters, is accessible from several points. The route via Dos d'Ane is one of the longest, but also one of the most beautiful, offering incredible views of the Cirque de Mafate. Some sections along the ridge are magnificent and can be vertigo-inducing for some, but they offer unique vistas. We hike the trail before arriving at the Plaine des Chicots refuge, where we will spend the night before the next day's ascent. (Overnight stay without luggage)Day 10 -
Ascent of Roche Ecrite (2276 m) - Descent of Grand Ilet
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 8h
- Distance 26 km
- Positive elevation gain 580 m
- Negative elevation 1260 m
- Accommodation Cottage
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
We begin the day by climbing to the La Roche Ecrite viewpoint at 2276 meters, where we enjoy a breathtaking view of the Cirques of Salazie and Mafate. Opposite us, we can see the foothills of Piton des Neiges, which we hiked a few days earlier. We then begin a long and steep descent towards the village of Grand Ilet. The trail is a bit steep in places, and handrails are in place to ensure good grip during the climb! The panoramas are breathtaking. We stop in the hamlet of Grand Ilet where we spend the night at Liliane's. The comfort of this night will be appreciated, along with a good meal, before exploring the last Cirque of our trip. (Overnight stay without luggage)Day 11 -
Grand Ilet - Hell Bourg
- Transportation 00h40
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 6h
- Distance 19 km
- Positive elevation gain 1275 m
- Negative elevation 1455 m
- Accommodation Cottage
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
Today, we depart from Grand Ilet to reach one of the most beautiful villages in France. This is an important trail as it connects the exit from Mafate via the Col des Boeufs pass to Hell-Bourg. After a pleasant picnic lunch, we continue our journey towards Hell-Bourg where we will spend the night. Upon arrival in Hell-Bourg, we can visit one of the most beautiful Creole houses on the island, La Maison Folio (at your own expense). (Overnight stay without luggage)Day 12 -
Trou de Fer then transfer to Bélouve - St Denis
- Transportation 01h30
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 3h
- Distance 12 km
- Positive elevation gain 160 m
- Negative elevation 160 m
- Accommodation 2-star hotel
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner not included
An early morning departure for Trou de Fer, a viewpoint overlooking a beautiful waterfall nearly 300 meters high. Crossing the primeval forest of Bélouve is like stepping into some island legends, nurtured by the magic of the place. The density and vibrancy of the forest allow the imagination to run wild. After admiring the scenery, we returned to the Bélouve gîte (mountain lodge) and then transferred to Saint-Denis, marking the end of our trek. A well-deserved night's rest! Well done everyone! Note: depending on trail conditions, access to Trou de Fer is sometimes closed.Day 13 -
Saint Denis - Return flight
- Transportation 00h30
- Breakfast included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner not included
Free day to explore Saint-Denis. Some activities and visits in Saint-Denis: • Saint-Sauveur Cathedral • Kovil Kalikambal Temple • Noor-e-Islam Mosque • Natural History Museum • Léon Dierx Museum • Artothèque • Rue de Paris • Rue de la Victoire • La Vallée Heureuse Garden • Le Barachois (riverfront promenade) • Jardin de l'État (state garden) • Grand Marché (large market). Then, according to our flight schedule, we depart for Saint-Denis airport for our return flight to France. Meals are not included in Saint-Denis. Note: If night flights are full, a daytime flight may be offered on Day 14, arriving in France the same day (private transfer available at an additional cost).Day 14 -
Paris
- Breakfast not included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner not included
Arrival in France and end of stay;Day 15
Note
Depending on weather and operational conditions, your guide reserves the right to modify this itinerary, for your safety and that of the group.
2025 VERSION MAP: The 2025 version map of the trip is currently being produced.
Accommodation
During this stay, you will sleep in several different accommodations.
Access
Departure
Aéroport de La Réunion Roland-Garros
Day 1
End of stay
Aéroport de La Réunion Roland-Garros
Day 15
Go to the starting point
The nearest airport isAéroport de La Réunion Roland-Garros
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Price details
The price includes
- Flight Paris - Saint Denis - Paris
- Air taxes
- Local transfers
- Accommodation in hotels and guesthouses in shared twin rooms
- Full board except for meals indicated as free
- Team of drivers (including luggage transfer)
- Guided by a Mountain Leader (AEM) who is either native to the island or has lived there for many years
The price does not include
- Departure possible from 2 participants with a supplement (please contact us).
- Airport transfers in case of flights different from the group's flight
- Drinks
- Meals listed as "not included"
- Tips for local teams
Options
- Extra night before the stay - Saint Gilles - 3-star hotel - Single room : CHF164.66 / unit
- Extra night before the stay - Saint Gilles - 3* Hotel - Double room : CHF192.11 / unit
- Extra night before the stay - Saint Gilles - 2-star hotel - Single room : CHF102.46 / unit
- Extra night before the stay - Saint Gilles - 2* Hotel - Double room : CHF128.07 / unit
- Extra night before the stay - Saint Denis - 3-star hotel - Single room : CHF109.78 / unit
- Extra night before the stay - Saint Denis - 3* Hotel - Double room : CHF164.66 / unit
- Additional night after your stay - Saint Gilles - 3-star hotel - Single room : CHF164.66 / unit
- Additional night after your stay - Saint Gilles - 3-star hotel - Double room : CHF192.11 / unit
- Additional night after your stay - Saint Gilles - 2-star hotel - Single room : CHF102.46 / unit
- Additional night after your stay - Saint Gilles - 2-star hotel - Double room : CHF128.07 / unit
- Extra night after your stay - Saint Denis - 3-star hotel - Single room : CHF109.78 / unit
- Extra night after your stay - Saint Denis - 3-star hotel - Double room : CHF164.66 / unit
- Transfer - Airport to hotel transfer : CHF41.17 / unit
- Transfer - Transfer Saint-Gilles - airport : CHF96.05 / unit
- Flex fare and insurance
Practical information
Specific formalities
Specifics
Before your departure, check with the embassy or consulate regarding the entry and stay requirements for your destination country. You can also find this information on the France Diplomatie website ( https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/dossiers-pays/ ).
In the case of flights with stopovers operated by different airlines, also check the entry requirements of the countries you are transiting through.
It is your responsibility to ensure you are in compliance, particularly regarding the validity of your identity documents (for example, some countries require your passport to be valid for at least six months after your return) , visa requirements, necessary vaccinations, and health recommendations. And don't forget to consider any customs restrictions and other potential requirements of your destination or transit country.
ℹ️ Information may change up to the departure date, remember to regularly check official websites.
Equipment
Equipment to bring
- Sleeping bag liner (sleeping bag type) for the Piton des Neiges refuge
- A container (like Tupperware) or a lunchbox with a lid, and cutlery for picnics and lunchtime salads.
- A cup for coffee/tea breaks
- A canvas bag (like a drawstring bag or pouch) that can be closed to hold a picnic lunch inside the backpack, approximately 5 liters
- Toiletries kit and bath towel
- Earplugs
- Sunscreen cream (face and lips)
- Headlamp with spare batteries and bulbs for climbing Piton des Neiges
- A water bottle of at least 1 litre, lightweight and insulated, or preferably: a filter water bottle between 0.5 litre and 1 litre minimum (such as Berkey or Katadyn brand)
- Pocket knife
- Pair of walking sticks
- Protective bag to keep your belongings dry
Clothing to bring
Pack light clothing and warm clothing , as evening temperatures are low in the highlands of the island.
Between July and November, the temperature in the highlands can drop to 10°C during the day and even 0°C at night.
- Cap or hat for the sun
- 1 scarf (to protect the neck)
- 1 or 2 thermal undergarments (short-sleeved or long-sleeved T-shirts)
- T-shirts (short and long sleeves), preferably made of quick-drying technical fabric
- 1 lightweight fleece or equivalent (warm for the southern winter months)
- 1 anorak or jacket/vest
- 1 breathable, waterproof, windproof jacket with a hood, Gore-Tex type, especially for the southern winter months
- 1 short long
- 1 pair of comfortable walking trousers (ideally with detachable legs)
- 1 pair of waterproof, comfortable “trekking” shoes with a mid-cut upper and a grippy sole (Vibram type)
- 1 pair of sneakers or equivalent lightweight shoes for the evening
- Pairs of walking socks
- From June to September, gloves and a hat are recommended for days spent in the Cirques in "the Highlands"
Decathlon Travel Partner
The Paulin team
4.4/5
(1440 reviews)
• 453 stays
For over 30 years, our local partner has been designing adventure walking trips around the world. Specializing in small-group treks, they cater to both casual hikers and seasoned trekkers seeking unspoiled natural environments and a return to the essentials. Their key strength? They own their own agencies in over 30 countries, guaranteeing complete trip creation from start to finish, without intermediaries. This direct, on-the-ground expertise ensures memorable active experiences and total freedom amidst breathtaking landscapes.
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