7 days Reunion: cirques + volcano + lagoon

Trip map

Click each numbered marker to see the corresponding day.

Day by day

1. 1

   Day 1

   Arrival Saint-Denis

   Direct Paris-Saint-Denis (RUN) flight via Roland Garros airport (11h direct, Air Austral/Air France/Corsair/French Bee, €600-1500 return). No visa (French territory). Time difference +2h or +3h depending on season. Rental car ESSENTIAL (€50-80/day). Hotel settle: option city Saint-Denis (historic centre, Creole houses - Mercure €100-150) or west coast Saint-Gilles-les-Bains/L'Hermitage (Le Recif €130-200, Saint-Alexis €200-350). Evening Le Chaudron market or traditional Reunion dinner (cari + rougail + samosas, €20-30).

   Tips

   • · No visa: Réunion = French territory. ID card sufficient for EU.
   • · Rental car ESSENTIAL (€50-80/day, book 2-3 months ahead)
   • · West Coast hotel (Saint-Gilles, L'Hermitage): lagoon + nightlife
   • · Direct Paris-RUN flight: 11h, €600-1500 return depending on season
   Saint-Denis →
2. 2

   Day 2

   Saint-Denis + north-east coast

   Morning Saint-Denis: Jardin de l'Etat (colonial botanical garden 1832, free), Musee Leon Dierx (painting, free), Creole houses rue de Paris (18th-19th c. architecture), Noor-e-Islam Mosque (1905). Brunch Le Reflet des Iles or Cafe Edouard. Afternoon east coast drive: Sainte-Suzanne (Niagara waterfall), Cap Mechant (basalt cliffs), Bourbon vanilla plantation (tasting and purchase). Back Saint-Denis.

   Tips

   • · Jardin de l'Etat: free, open 7am-7pm, on-site cafe
   • · Bourbon vanilla plantation: free tasting + purchase €5-15 per pod
   • · Saint-Denis Creole houses: rue de Paris, rue Jean-Chatel = remarkable architecture
   • · Sainte-Suzanne Niagara waterfall: 25m, basin swimming possible
   Saint-Denis →
3. 3

   Day 3

   Cirque de Cilaos + thermal baths

   Drive to Cilaos via the mythical 400-bend road (1h30 from Saint-Louis, 1200m elevation gain). Arrive Cilaos cirque (1200m altitude). Village visit: church, craft market (embroidery, lentils, Cilaos wine). Afternoon thermal baths (natural hot springs, €20-30 session) or Piton des Neiges ascent (3071m, Indian Ocean summit - 2am departure for sunrise, 5-7h round trip - book Caverne Dufour shelter night before). Otherwise quiet hike Roche Merveilleuse (cirque panorama, 30 min from village).

   Tips

   • · 400-bend road: 1h30 climb, don't drive during austral summer rainy season
   • · Cilaos thermal baths: €20-30 session, sulphurous hot water spring
   • · Piton des Neiges: INDIAN OCEAN SUMMIT 3071m - book Caverne Dufour shelter
   • · Cilaos wine: only wine produced in tropical climate, AOC since 2007
   Cilaos →
4. 4

   Day 4

   Piton Maido + Mafate cirque (view)

   WAKE 4am to reach Piton Maido (2200m, 1h30 drive from Saint-Gilles) at sunrise. EXCEPTIONAL PLUNGING VIEW over the Mafate cirque (the inhabited-not-by-car, accessible ONLY on foot or helicopter). Photographers: golden light 5:45-7am. Back west coast. Afternoon L'Hermitage lagoon relax: white sand, turquoise water, snorkeling from beach (reefs 50m from shore). Saint-Gilles restaurant dinner (Le Manta, La Petite Vague - €30-50).

   Tips

   • · Piton Maido: DEPART 4am, golden light 5:45-7am, fog after 9am
   • · Mafate: ONLY CIRQUE INACCESSIBLE BY CAR - alternative 6-8 day hike
   • · L'Hermitage lagoon: snorkeling free from beach, hammerhead shark RARE but possible
   • · Saint-Gilles restaurants: Le Manta (fish, €30-50), Le Manapany (sea view)
   Piton Maïdo →Saint-Gilles →
5. 5

   Day 5

   Piton de la Fournaise + wild south

   EARLY DEPARTURE (4-5am) to Piton de la Fournaise (2h30 drive from west coast). WORLD'S MOST ACTIVE VOLCANO (1 eruption every 9 months on average). Pass via Plaine des Sables (lunar red-orange landscape, feeling on Mars). Pas de Bellecombe (parking) then Dolomieu crater hike (3-4h loop, 11 km, 400m elevation). If eruption in progress: ULM FLIGHT for photos (€200-300). Afternoon wild south: lava flows at Saint-Philippe (national road crosses 2007 flows), Cap Mechant, Anse des Cascades. Back evening.

   Tips

   • · Piton de la Fournaise: DEPART 4-5am, road closed if active eruption
   • · Plaine des Sables: lunar landscape, spectacular photo ('Martian Mars' road)
   • · If eruption: ULM flight €200-300/person (Felix ULM, Helilagon)
   • · Wild south: national road crosses 2007 lava flows (still black)
   Piton Fournaise →
6. 6

   Day 6

   Saint-Pierre + dolphins + whales (Jul-Oct)

   Morning Saint-Pierre (southern capital, authentic Creole atmosphere): Saturday morning market (one of the island's most colourful), seafront, old railway. Dolphin + humpback whale boat excursion (June-October - breeding season) from Saint-Gilles or Saint-Pierre (€50-80/person, 3h, 80-90% observation rate in season). If off-season for whales, alternative scuba diving (Saint-Leu, mythical 'Le Tombant' dive - €60-90 dive). Afternoon cirque de Salazie (1h from Saint-Denis, Voile de la Mariee waterfall, listed Hell-Bourg village). Saint-Gilles dinner.

   Tips

   • · Humpback whales: STRICT SEASON June-October (breeding), 80-90% rate
   • · Ethical operators: Globice, Reunion Mer (distance respect charter)
   • · Off-season for whales: Saint-Leu Le Tombant dive (mythical deep sea)
   • · Cirque de Salazie: greenest of the 3 cirques, listed Hell-Bourg village
   Saint-Gilles →
7. 7

   Day 7

   Beach morning + Paris return

   Free morning: last swim Hermitage lagoon, souvenir shopping at Saint-Denis market (Bourbon vanilla, arranged rum, Hauts honey, dry cakes). Hotel brunch. Return car at Roland Garros airport. 3h margin. Direct Saint-Denis → Paris CDG/Orly flight (11h return). Time difference -2h or -3h depending on season. End of trip.

   Tips

   • · Typical souvenirs: Bourbon vanilla (€5-15 per pod), arranged rum (€15-30)
   • · Airport more expensive: prefer market or plantation
   • · 3h RUN airport margin
   • · Gifts: dry cakes (Le Marche bakery), candied sweet potatoes
   Saint-Denis →

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