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-Emissions5715 kg CO2
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Type of stayIn a group
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Languages🇫🇷French🇬🇧English
In a few words
An intense and comprehensive trek on Reunion Island . The route almost completely circumnavigates the Piton des Neiges, passing through the Trois Cirques , entirely on foot with virtually no vehicle transfers! You then head south to discover the island's most popular spots and best-kept secrets . The island offers unparalleled landscapes for hiking. This long trek will allow you to experience the island's diverse scenery and climb to the highest point in the western Indian Ocean . You won't leave the island without encountering the iconic Piton de la Fournaise volcano, as well as the lesser-known Grand-Bassin, its village, and its waterfalls. The adventure will conclude on the shores of the Saint-Gilles lagoon, where you can enjoy its market for a relaxing end to your trip .
The highlights
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A long journey through the heart of the Cirques, including 5 days in the isolated Cirque de Mafate
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The ascent of the Pitons des Neiges and the Piton de la Fournaise
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The friendliness and authenticity of the guesthouses throughout the trip
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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
Autre
- Average duration/day: 5h
- Average daily elevation gain: 667 m
- Average daily descent: 702 m
Management
During this stay, a supervisor will be present to guide and assist you.
Languages spoken:
🇫🇷
French
🇬🇧
English
Supervisor
Supervisor
You will be accompanied by a qualified mountain guide with extensive knowledge of the island, its flora, and its volcanoes. By the end of the trip, you will have learned more about the botany, geology, history of maroon communities, and volcanology of Réunion Island thanks to the knowledge he will share with you, and of course, about Creole culture! Your guide holds the French State Diploma for Mountain Leaders (AEM).
Program
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PARIS - SAINT DENIS
- Breakfast not included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner not included
Departure from Paris to catch our night flight to Reunion Island.Day 1 -
SAINT DENIS - HELL-BOURG AND THE SALAZIE CIRCUS
- Transportation 03h
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner not included
Upon arrival, we are met by our guide at the airport before heading to the Cirque de Salazie and the village of Hell-Bourg. Nestled in the heart of the cirque, Hell-Bourg is a former spa town perched at an altitude of 930 meters. This picturesque village is renowned for its pastel-colored houses, the famous Creole cottages. It is the only village outside mainland France to hold the prestigious "Most Beautiful Villages of France" designation. We stroll through the village and enjoy this timeless setting where giant bamboo thrives amidst lush vegetation. We then have the opportunity to visit the famous Maison Folio. A self-guided tour of this beautiful colonial house and its renowned garden is a perfect introduction to the island. In the mid-afternoon, we transfer to Grand Ilet to stay with Liliane for the night. Dinner is at your leisure.Day 2 -
HELL-BOURG (930 M) - ÎLET à MALHEUR (CIRQUE DE MAFATE)
- Activity Autre
- Duration of the activity 4h
- Positive elevation gain 150 m
- Negative elevation 950 m
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
We are driven to the starting point of the scout trail to reach the isolated Cirque de Mafate on foot. Isolated because no road crosses it and it is only accessible on foot. The scout trail is one of the most beautiful routes in the Cirque, dotted with superb viewpoints and lookouts. We walk back into Mafate and begin our descent through vegetation ranging from humid tropical to dry tropical further east! Îlet à Malheur (Islet of Misfortune) owes its name to the tragic fate of the Maroons (slaves) who were persecuted while trying to hide in the Cirques. While its history is sad, the site is breathtakingly beautiful. The islets are like plateaus overlooking the Cirque. Dinner and a typical Creole night in a guesthouse tonight! Note: As there is no vehicle access to Mafate, we are carrying our belongings for 5 days and 4 nights. We find our main bag on the evening of day 7 in Cilaos.Day 3 -
FROM AURERE TO GRAND-PLACE (CIRQUE DE MAFATE)
- Activity Autre
- Duration of the activity 6h
- Positive elevation gain 630 m
- Negative elevation 765 m
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
This hike takes us from hamlet to hamlet in Mafate. We discover these perched villages with their lush gardens and welcoming inhabitants. After Îlet à Malheur, we cross Aurère, then Îlet à Bourse. We follow rivers and pools on this still-damp eastern slope of Mafate. The trails are dotted with sisal agave and bamboo that line the path and the forest. We plunge into a dry ravine before reaching our evening's destination: Grand Place. The day ends with a hearty local specialty (rougail or something similar) served with a small glass of infused rum for those who wish!Day 4 -
GRAND-PLACE - ÎLET DES ORANGERS - ROCHE PLATE (CIRQUE DE MAFATE)
- Activity Autre
- Duration of the activity 6h
- Positive elevation gain 1200 m
- Negative elevation 850 m
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
An early start for a full and beautiful day of hiking. The lush vegetation has retained the charm of an exotic garden. We are in the heart of the Cirque de Mafate with a superb view of the surrounding peaks. We leave Grand Place, retracing our steps along the Rivière des Galets, but this time we head towards the Îlet des Orangers and pass by the Îlet des Lataniers. This stage is quite challenging in terms of slopes and elevation changes, but the rewards in the form of exceptional panoramas are well worth the effort! Passing through a gap in the mountain pass offers a magnificent view from a promontory. We reach our gîte at Roche Plate where we spend the night for a well-deserved rest and meal.Day 5 -
THREE ROCKS WATERFALL - MARLA (MAFATE CIRQUE)
- Activity Autre
- Duration of the activity 6h
- Positive elevation gain 850 m
- Negative elevation 350 m
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
We set off for a picnic at the lovely Trois Roches site. There's an exceptional view of the Galets River waterfalls. Here, it plunges over 50 meters, carved into a basalt fissure. We swim on the rocky slabs polished by the water, above the waterfall. To reach Marla, we follow a narrow path winding through a maze of rocks between the cliffs. The trail ends with a short climb in the shade of the casuarina trees. We arrive at Marla (1600 m), a small, quiet, and secluded hamlet where we spend the night.Day 6 -
TAIBIT PASS - CILAOS (MAFATE AND CILAOS CIRQUES)
- Activity Autre
- Duration of the activity 5h
- Positive elevation gain 500 m
- Negative elevation 800 m
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
We leave the Cirque de Mafate via the Col du Taibit pass at 2,142 meters. This is the only way to reach the Cirques de Cilaos and Mafate. We find ourselves at the foot of the Grand Bénare and enjoy the view of the verdant Cirques of Mafate and Cilaos on one side and the south coast on the other. We continue with a beautiful descent through the "Bois de Couleurs" (Colorful Woods), with occasional panoramic views from the clearings. We settle into our gîte (mountain lodge) where we collect our luggage and get some rest before the climb towards the Piton des Neiges the next day! Free time to explore this charming Creole village before dinner.Day 7 -
LE BLOC (CIRQUE DE CILAOS 1400 M) - REFUGE DU PITON DES NEIGES (2500 M)
- Activity Autre
- Duration of the activity 5h
- Positive elevation gain 1150 m
- Negative elevation 50 m
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
We pack our things for the night (we collect our luggage the next day in Bélouve). Depending on the weather, the ascent to the refuge is planned for late morning or early afternoon. In either case, we take the time to visit the village of Cilaos. This small town, surrounded by high peaks, is full of life with its little white Creole houses surrounded by flower gardens and its smiling inhabitants, always ready to exchange a few words on a street corner. We set off from the hamlet of "Le Bloc," at 1400 meters. The climb to the high-altitude refuge allows us to better appreciate the scale of the Cirque de Cilaos with each step. During the ascent, we move from the humid canopy to a sparser, tropical mountain vegetation. The main species on the ground is the green heath, a tree heath of the Ericaceae family. After about 4 hours of effort, we arrive at the refuge situated in the middle of this superb setting, at the foot of the Piton des Neiges.Day 8 -
Ascent of Piton des Neiges (3070 m) - Cirque des Marsouins - Bebour-Belouve Forest (1500 m)
- Activity Autre
- Duration of the activity 9h
- Positive elevation gain 600 m
- Negative elevation 1700 m
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
An early start to admire the sunrise from Piton des Neiges, the highest peak in the southern Indian Ocean (3,070 m). This volcano, dormant for 12,000 years, lies at the heart of the "ace of clubs" formed by the three cirques of Cilaos, Salazie, and Mafate. From the promontory, we also admire the south and east coasts as well as Piton de la Fournaise. Back at the refuge for a well-deserved breakfast before heading towards the Cirque des Marsouins. This cirque has been largely forgotten, having been covered by ash from Piton des Neiges when it was a gray volcano. It is now blanketed in the island's primary forest. Finally, we head towards Cap Anglais before reaching the much-anticipated Bélouve gîte, which offers a stunning view of the Cirque de Salazie.Day 9 -
BELOUVE PRIMARY FOREST - TROU DE FER WATERFALL - PLAINE DES CAFRES
- Transportation 01h
- Activity Autre
- Duration of the activity 3h
- Positive elevation gain 250 m
- Negative elevation 250 m
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
An early start takes us to the Bélouve primary forest. We trek through this forest, immersing ourselves in a humid, mid-altitude island vegetation. Numerous tree ferns and endemic plants line our path. The density and vibrancy of the environment spark our imagination. So many gnarled trees, so many secluded, shaded spaces—all these places seem straight out of a fairy tale. Around a bend in the trail, we arrive at a viewpoint overlooking the highest waterfalls in France, which form the impressive Trou de Fer chasm. We return to the gîte before being driven to the Plaine des Cafres, named after the island's inhabitants of African descent. More than a plain, it is actually a high-altitude plateau nestled between the island's two main volcanic massifs.Day 10 -
PLAINE DES CAFRES - BOIT COURT (1350 M) - GRAND BASSIN (700 m), FREE TIME AND SWIMMING
- Activity Autre
- Duration of the activity 3h
- Positive elevation gain 250 m
- Negative elevation 900 m
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
We're off again for two days to a place accessible only on foot, just like Mafate! (luggage collection the following day). A short transfer takes us to Bois Court, overlooking the isolated village of Grand-Bassin. While the village has been deserted by many of its inhabitants in search of a more comfortable city life, a touch of Creole authenticity remains in this haven of peace, which has become one of the most beautiful hiking getaways on the island. We descend towards Grand-Bassin. We discover stunning landscapes and enjoy the surrounding tranquility of the rivers and waterfalls at the bottom of the valley, which we admire and where it's also possible to swim. Overnight stay in a guesthouse in Grand-Bassin.Day 11 -
GRAND BASSIN - PLAINE DES CAFRES - PITON DE LA FOURNAISE MASSIF
- Activity Autre
- Duration of the activity 4h
- Positive elevation gain 1100 m
- Negative elevation 450 m
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
We begin our return journey on foot, following a loop trail if conditions permit, accompanied by the sound of nearby waterfalls. The gardens overflow with flowers and fruits of all kinds: loquats, jackfruit, papayas, anthuriums, fangeans... We return to the Plaine des Cafres before reaching the volcanic massif of Piton de la Fournaise. Along the way, we cross the Auvergne Tropicale, a verdant, mid-mountain region ideal, as its name suggests, for agriculture. As we climb the switchbacks leading to the Piton de la Fournaise, we encounter numerous magnificent sites such as the Rivière des Remparts and the Plaine des Sables. The landscape becomes starkly mineral as we approach one of the world's most active volcanoes. We spend the night in a mountain refuge near the Piton de la Fournaise caldera.Day 12 -
Ascent of Piton de la Fournaise (2632 m) - Saint-Gilles-les-Bains and its lagoon
- Transportation 02h
- Activity Autre
- Duration of the activity 6h
- Positive elevation gain 650 m
- Negative elevation 650 m
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner not included
A day dedicated to hiking in the heart of the Piton de la Fournaise. We take the Pas de Bellecombe, which offers a superb panoramic view of the caldera and the Piton itself! We descend into the Enclos Fouqué, the most recently formed caldera, which leads to the volcano. Subject to current regulations, it is possible to climb the main crater, Dolomieu. This crater has completely changed shape following the 2007 eruption, creating a depression several hundred meters deep in its center. We discover different types of rock resulting from successive lava flows. We explore a mineral world of fumaroles and lava in a variety of shapes and colors. This hike reminds us that this island lives to the rhythm of the vibrations of this still-active volcano. In the afternoon, we head towards Saint-Gilles and its lagoon to relax by the water at the end of our trip. Note: In the event of a volcanic eruption, alternative hikes in the area are offered.Day 13 -
FREE DAY IN SAINT-GILLES
- Transportation 00h45
- Breakfast included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner not included
Free day. In the morning, you have the option of visiting the Saint Paul market (if it's a Saturday), a renowned market bursting with colors and aromas. You can also enjoy the lagoon and relax before being transferred to the airport for your return flight. Lunch is at your leisure, and dinner will be served on the plane. 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 -
ARRIVAL IN FRANCE
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
Arrival of the international flight in France and end of the 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.
We are a member of the Altaï group, a network of local nature and adventure travel agencies operating in 30 countries. To offer you a wider range of guaranteed departures, this trip is also offered by other companies within the group (Atalante, Huwans, and Altaï Réunion).
Accommodation
- Days 1 to 14
Most nights are spent in a variety of friendly and authentic guesthouses , carefully selected by our local partner for their location and hospitality. Near Piton des Neiges and Piton de la Fournaise, you'll sleep in mountain huts , in dormitories accommodating 10 to 15 people. This is currently the only option. Hot showers are not guaranteed during these stays. During the peak season of October and November, it's possible to sleep in communal tents set up next to the volcano guesthouse (Fournaise) and the Piton des Neiges refuge. Sleeping arrangements are the same as in the dormitories, but in tents with access to the same bathrooms and meals.
Access
Departure
Aéroports de Paris
Day 1
End of stay
Aéroports de Paris
Day 15
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Price details
The price includes
- International flights and airport taxes
- The accommodations as indicated in the itinerary
- Full board except for meals listed as "free" in the daily itinerary
- Team of drivers (including luggage transfer)
- Guided by a Mountain Leader (AEM) who is native to the island or has lived there for many years
- The excursions detailed in the program
The price does not include
- Travel insurance
- Airport transfers in case of flights different from the group's flight
- Drinks and mineral water during your stay, including during meals
- Meals listed as "free" in the daily itinerary. Expect to pay around €10-15 per meal.
- Tips for local teams
Options
- Departure the next day - Double room : CHF199.50 / unit
- Departing the next day - Single room : CHF171.00 / unit
- Outbound transfer: Saint Denis airport - hotel : CHF42.75 / reservation
- Return transfer: hotel in Saint Pierre or Saint Gilles - airport : CHF99.75 / reservation
- Flex fare and insurance
Practical information
Specific formalities
Equipment
They traveled with us
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Decathlon Travel Partner
The Paulin team
4.4/5
(2842 reviews)
• 821 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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