The irresistible
Île de la Réunion

Steps

• Day 1: Arrival at the airport, pick up your rental car.

  Your adventure begins on Reunion Island. You head east. This is the greenest part of your trip, with a multitude of waterfalls and lush vegetation. A stop at the Niagara waterfall in Sainte-Suzanne is a must, with its 25-meter-high drop into a basin.

  The commune of Saint-André also offers a number of stops, including the Bois Rouge sugar mill and its Savanna distillery, the island's largest Tamil temple, Le Colosse, and the Mariamen temple.

  Then head for the Salazie cirque via the RD 48 to reach the village of Hell Bourg, listed as one of France's most beautiful villages. Stop off at the Voile de la mariée waterfall on the way to the cirque.

  Check-in and overnight at hotel les Jardins d'Héva 2*.

  Distance covered: ± 45km

  Suggested activities :

  Vanilleraie de Sainte-Suzanne
  Visit to the Bois Rouge sugar refinery and distillery
  Guided tour of the Tamil temple

• Day 2: Discover Hell-Bourg

  After breakfast, you'll set off on foot to discover the village of Hell-Bourg, a magnificent Creole village surrounded by greenery.

  Depending on your walking ability, you can hike to the famous viewpoint of Trou de fer, starting early in the morning (approx. 5 hrs. return walk).

  Overnight at hotel les Jardins d'Héva 2*.

  Distance covered: ± 0 km

  Suggested activities :

  Guided tour of the village of Hell-Bourg
  Trou de fer guided hike

• Day 3: Discovering the plains

  After breakfast, return to the coast, then head east towards Saint-Benoît. Take Route Nationale 3 towards Plaine des Cafres. Take a break at Plaine des Palmistes, a haven of peace 20 minutes from the east coast. Depending on the weather, you can hike to the cascade biberon. This is a one-hour walk (round trip) accessible to all. 

  Then on to Plaine des Cafres. 

  Check-in and overnight at Hôtel Les Géraniums 3*.

  Distance covered: ± 67 km

  Suggested activities :

  Rafting
  Cooking workshop at La Sirandane
  Horseback riding

• Day 4: towards the Volcano

  Departure around 7 a.m. is the ideal time to discover the Piton de la Fournaise volcanic massif, one of the world's most active volcanoes. You'll cross the lunar landscape of the Plaine des Sables before arriving at the road's terminus, the Pas de Bellecombe. Just in front of you stands the majestic king, the Piton de la Fournaise. 

  You have the option of touring the small Formica Léo crater (approx. 1H return), or the Dolomieu crater (approx. 5H return). After the hike, and depending on the day and opening hours, you can visit the Cité du Volcano to learn more about the history of Réunion Island.

  Overnight at Hôtel Les Géraniums 3*.

  Distance covered: ± 55 km

  Suggested activities :

  Piton de la Fournaise guided hike
  Volcano City

• Day 5: Discovering the wild south

  Head for Saint-Pierre, to explore the entire south coast as far as Sainte-Rose. During the day, you'll make a number of stops from site to site: 

  Saint-Pierre seafront ;
  Grand-Anse beach
  Langevin waterfall;
  Manapany ;
  Cap Méchant ;
  la route des laves ;
  Notre Dame des Laves church.
  All these landscapes will give you an idea of what Réunion used to be like.

  Then it's on to the cirque de Cilaos with its famous 400-turn road, where a different panorama awaits you at every turn.

  Check-in and overnight at Hôtel le Cilaos 4*.

  Distance covered: ± 158 km

  Suggested activities :

  Canyoning at Langevin

• Day 6: explore Cilaos, one of the island's three cirques

  Discover the cirque of Cilaos, at the foot of the Piton des Neiges, the island's highest peak (3070m). This day will be devoted to the many walks and hikes in the village, including the old thermal baths, the chapel, etc... 

  You'll also have the chance to take advantage of the Thermes de Cilaos, a spa renowned for the quality and richness of its water. You can also discover the village's handicrafts, with the Maison de la Broderie and the Chai de Cilaos.

  Overnight at Hôtel le Cilaos 4*.

  Distance covered: ± 0 km

  Suggested activities :

  Guided hike in Cilaos

• Day 7: explore the Entre Deux village

  After breakfast, head for the village of Entre Deux, a pretty, authentic Creole village situated between two rivers, the bras de Cilaos and the bras de la plaine.

  Then head for the west coast, stopping off at Etang Salé, the famous black-sand beach. Enjoy the beautiful beaches and swimming pool of your hotel.

  Check-in and overnight at the Akoya 5* hotel in Saint-Gilles.

  Distance covered: ± 80 km

  Suggested activities :

  Guided tour of the Entre Deux village

• Day 8: Discover the Piton Maïdo

  Early morning departure from the hotel for Piton Maïdo, a magnificent panorama of the Mafate cirque (accessible only on foot).

  Return to the coast, where you can relax on the island's most beautiful beaches (trou d'eau, l'Ermitage, la Saline), or take part in water sports such as scuba diving or transparent kayaking.

  Overnight at Akoya 5* hotel.

  Distance covered: ± 40 km

  Suggested activities :

  Helicopter flight
  Paragliding
  Transparent kayaking
  Scuba diving
  Cetacean discovery cruise

• Day 9: Departure

  Depending on your flight schedule, you'll have the chance to relax by the sea, or stroll through the Saint-Paul market (Friday, daytime and Saturday mornings only). 

  You can also stop off at the Barachois en route. Take the opportunity to explore Rue de Paris, with its beautiful colonial Creole houses.

  Return your rental car and depart.

  Distance covered: ± 50 km

  Suggested activities :

  Guided tour of St Denis