Trekking to the heart of Reunion Island
Duration : 6 days
France, Réunion Island
Level : intermediate
from 1120 € / p. from 1 to 12 persons
Infos & Booking
Description
I offer you a stay including the unmissable hikes in the mountains of Reunion Island, eliminating the most difficult portions. Result: a journey through the 3 cirques, the Bélouve forest and two unforgettable hikes on the Fournaise volcano. The essentials of Reunion accessible to any hiker!
Pick-up and drop-off are in the center of the island, in Bourg-Murat, with the possibility of guarded parking to leave your vehicle. Other possible pick-up point, on request.
If you want other experiences on the intense island, I also offer 5 days of trekking in the north of Reunion Island, the famous trekking of the diagonal of Reunion, the discovery of the cirques and volcanoes of Reunion Island, the trek around the Piton des Neiges with its ascent and 4 days of hiking across the Mafate cirque.
Program
Day 1: Bourg-Murat - Bélouve forest - Hell-Bourg.
From Bourg-Murat, a first transfer takes us in 45 minutes to the Bélouve lodge, the starting point of our hike.
We travel across the plateau of the lush Bélouve forest, for a warm-up on the gentle reliefs of this superb cloud forest! We discover the incredible view of the Trou de Fer waterfall.
Return to the lodge for a picnic, then in the afternoon we begin the 500-meter descent to reach the Creole village of Hell-Bourg in the Salazie cirque. We take advantage of the end of the day to visit this typical village.
Duration: 6 hours, distance: 11 km, elevation gain: 200 meters, elevation loss: 600 meters.
Day 2: Hell-Bourg - The News - Marla.
Early in the morning, transfer to cross the Salazie cirque to the Col des Bœufs, our gateway to Mafate cirque!
We hike from there to reach the incredible Tamarins plain, then the islet of La Nouvelle and continue to the islet of Marla to spend the night there.
This route through the forests, rivers and islets of Upper Mafate can be shortened (without passing through La Nouvelle) or lengthened (passing by the 3 Roches waterfall).
Duration: 6 hours, distance: 10 km, elevation gain: 600 meters, elevation loss: 800 meters.
Day 3: Marla - Cilaos.
We leave the Mafate cirque to join the Cilaos cirque via the Taïbit pass, the only passage between the two cirques. We cross the road to the Islet à Cordes, then reach the bottom of the Bras Rouge river to discover the waterfall of the same name. A final climb at the bottom of the shaded ravine brings us to the town of Cilaos.
The route in Cilaos can be adapted: it is possible to shorten the stage (bus at the foot of the Col du Taïbit) or reduce the elevation gain by taking the GR R1 trail. Night in Cilaos.
Duration: 5 hours, distance: 11 km, elevation gain: 800 meters, elevation loss: 1200 meters.
Day 4: Hike in Cilaos.
Returning from Cilaos, we hike to La Chapelle, a UNESCO world heritage site. You will discover a superb crystallized magmatic reservoir cut by the river, after a hike between forest and watercourses. You can replace this hike with an easier hike to the Bras Rouge waterfall, or a walk in the Roche Merveilleuse forest, or simply enjoy the Creole atmosphere of the city!
In the afternoon, we hit the road again to reach Bourg-Murat, and the lodge where we left the vehicles. You will then be able to dispose of your luggage. Night in Bourg-Murat.
Duration: 5 hours, distance: 8 km, elevation gain: 700 meters, elevation loss: 700 meters.
Day 5: Plaine des Sables.
In the morning, we make a transfer by minibus on the volcano road to Pas des Sables. We then discover the incredible Sables plain and the mineral environment of the Piton de la Fournaise volcano. Hike on the rampart, passing by the Sainte-Thérèse oratory and its exceptional panorama, then we cross the Plaine des Sables. A detour to Piton Chisny offers you a new view of the landscapes, then we return to the recent volcano lodge to spend the night.
Possibility of extending or shortening the route by modifying the starting point of the hike or the route in the Plaine des Sables.
Duration: 6 hours, distance: 10 km, elevation gain: 300 meters, elevation loss: 400 meters.
Day 6: Piton de la Fournaise volcano - Bourg-Murat.
On today's program, the unmissable round trip from Piton de la Fournaise to the Dolomieu crater and the Bory crater if the legs can take us that far!
In the afternoon, transfer from the volcano to Bourg-Murat to collect the vehicles.
Duration: 6 hours, distance: 12 km, elevation gain: 500 meters, elevation loss: 500 meters.
The price includes
- Supervision by the mountain leader.
- ½ accommodation (night + evening meal and breakfasts), in lodges, in small dormitories and bedrooms.
- Transfers by bus mentioned in the program.
The price does not include
- Round-trip transportation to Bourg-Murat, one hour and a half drive from Saint-Denis.
- Lunch time picnics. I will advise you of the best ways to have lunch.
- Drinks other than those provided at meals.
- Personal equipment.
- Personal expenses.
- Anything not mentioned in "The price includes".
Accommodation
In comfortable family mountain lodges.