Hiking in La Réunion: more beautiful randos, circuits

Apart from the heavenly beaches and its cuisine, the Meeting has much more to offer. Discover our selection of hiking tours in La Réunion!

Lost in the middle of the Indian Ocean, a beautiful little island is on the rise. You can almost see everything there, and do everything there. This is the Island of the Meeting. Renowned for its beauty, almost 42% of its surface is listed in UNESCO World Heritage. With its wild landscapes, it manifests its character by the mountains that shape it. And in her heart, three circus. In other words, three volcanic natural enclosures, formed over the millennia. Many hikes at the Meeting are practicable through these circus. But the Meeting is not just about that. It also has sandy beaches, heavenly lagoons and abundant forests.

On the other hand, what interests us is his other mountains and wonders. This is why we offer you today this list of the most beautiful hikes at the Meeting. Put your walking shoes on and it's gone!

1. The Piton of the Fournaise

The Piton de la Fournaise is the volcano of Réunion Island. Still active, it enlarges the surface of the island to each of its eruptions! It is also a beautiful place to which and on which to hike, when volcanic conditions permit it.

• So we advise you to start with the No Bellecombe. This is the terminus of the Route du Volcano, where a parking lot allows you to park.
• First, observe the magnificent viewpoint on the massif and its plain.
• Then get ready, you're going to survey them. This is a hike of almost 12 kilometers, of rather average difficulty. However, the arrival is largely worth the effort. Because at an altitude of more than 2600 meters, the panorama you can observe will undoubtedly be one of the most beautiful of your life.

2. The Snow Piton

At La Réunion, you have the fire side with the volcano, and the ice side, with the Snow Piton. The highest summit of the Indian Ocean, it peaks at more than 3000 metres above sea level. It is the origin of the island and its three circus (Cilaos, Mafate and Salazia). Despite his qualification as a high-montagne, he does not require any notion of mountaineering, but asks for prudence.

It is a surprising and sporting hike, but the pleasure at the finish is without the same. You will see a 360° panoramic view across the island. We advise you to go there to sunrise . A magical landscape that will blow you. Depending on your starting point, Cilaos or Salazie, your journey will be longer or less. In any event, it remains that it is one of the best hikes at the Meeting, only for the exploration and experience.

3. Cirques

The island of Réunion has three huge circus: Cilaos, Mafate and Salazie . These are natural formations generated by the Piton des Neiges volcano, now asleep. It is possible to hike through these immensities of greenery and basaltic rock. Each of them is unique, offering sometimes complicated, sometimes easy trails.

Cirque de Cilaos

In the circus of Cilaos, there are also some of the most beautiful hikes in the Meeting.

• Notam the Path of Sources between Cilaos and Bras Sec. Accessible to families, this very easy loop allows you to discover the Snow Piton and the Kerveguen rempart. We advise you to realize it at the times of the day when sunlight is special: sunrise or sunset. On the ramparts it will make you see all the colors, but in the right sense of the term!

Cirque de Salazie

The Salazie circus is the most populated of the three. However, there is still a plethora of hikes to do. Like others, greenery and rock are omnipresent. And even waterfalls pierce the rock.

If you want to hike and get close to one of them, we recommend the path leading to the second basin the Cascade Blanche from the Chapelle de l’Escalier . Cross a wild nature until you reach a 600 metre high waterfall. In addition, you can hope to taste some of its drops!

Cirque de Mafate

Access to the Mafate circus is very special: on foot, or in a helicopter! And for cause, the steep cliffs and the topology of the site make it one of the most complicated to reach. Only, it is also the opportunity to discover it through its paths.

• For example, you can start from the pebble river that opens it to the commune of La Possession. Then climb the mountains to the different views. A few tiny hamlets such as Grand Place, La Nouvelle or Les Lataniers overlook the valley and are only accessible on foot. In short, a real experience that to reach them all down!

4. The Piton Argamasse and Caille

Want to venture on a way out of the ordinary with a magnificent goal? The hike of the Piton Argamasse is for you!

• To start her, go to Beef Nose, and make a loop very accessible and in full nature. Children will feel like explorers, and you, like adventurers.
• In the end, the Piton Argamasse offers a panorama of its surroundings and on its lake, if it is filled. In fact, sometimes the empty lake gives way to a huge hole, but it does not remove anything from the overall charm of the hike.

5. The Belvedere of the Piton Maido, then the Great Edge

Access to the Piton Maido is one of the most beautiful hikes in the Meeting. Indeed, it is an observation post of the Mafate circus and the entire west of the island. The magnificent view of the steep mountains of the island that draws before your eyes will leave you without a voice. The Maido also has the audacity to be the starting point of many other very beautiful hikes: towards the circus, the Glacière or the Grand Bénare another great summit meeting.

• As with other beautiful hikes at the Meeting, we advise you to test the sunrise from the Maido Piton. From this point of view, join the Grand Bord in just less than two hours, find a new view of Mafate and Maido.

Little more: accessible to children!

6. The Jacky Inard Trail through the Beef and Windy Paths

The area of Entre-Deux is covered by numerous trails, very frequented, but also rather coriac. Yet, the Jacky Inard Trail detached from all because the landscapes observed on the road are among the most beautiful of the island. And for cause, at the end, the circus of Cilaos opens completely to you, once you arrive on the stop of its rempart.

That said, do not trust in the name of one of the trails: Bad in the Wind. In fact, a little bit cozy, his name comes from the old time, when people went to their lands. It is at this level of the path that efforts begin to be felt, and that abdominal pain is manifested! But it’s good for the body, good for the mind!

Security Reminder to Revoke the Meeting

First of all, we remind you that the hikes at the Meeting don’t get caught like any digestive ride.

• So, always plan tosufficiently equipped : walking shoes, comfortable clothing, cap, dressings and sunscreen...
• Also, never forget to take water, at least one liter per person, to moisturize you regularly.
• Check the battery on your phone and the level of the planned hike.
• Don’t see too much if you’re not an accustomed to walking, some of them are more coriate than they look.