Réunion Island

Hikes on Réunion Island

Mafate, Cilaos, Salazie, the Piton des Neiges and the volcano: here are our routes, with elevation and walking time computed from IGN data, and the gîtes to sleep in along the way.

• Mafate

• Mafate · One way

  La Nouvelle from Col des Bœufs

  Moderate6.1 km+120 m2 h 10

  From Col des Bœufs to La Nouvelle: 6.1 km, 120 m of ascent and 530 m of descent into the Mafate cirque from Salazie. Route and gîtes.

  Via Col des Bœufs, La Nouvelle
• Mafate · One way

  Îlet des Orangers from the Maïdo

  Moderate6.7 km+160 m2 h 40

  From the Maïdo to Îlet des Orangers: 6.7 km and 1,130 m of descent via La Brèche, on the western side of Mafate. Route, walking time and gîtes.

  Via La Brèche, Îlet des Orangers
• Mafate · One way

  Aurère and Îlet à Malheur via the Sentier Scout

  Hard8.6 km+210 m3 h 15

  From Le Bélier to Aurère on the Sentier Scout: 8.6 km and 930 m of descent over the Deux Fesses ridge and Îlet à Malheur, in northern Mafate.

  Via La Plaque, Îlet à Malheur les Hauts, Îlet à Malheur
• Mafate · One way

  Aurère from Dos d'Âne via Deux Bras, on the GR R2

  Hard11.5 km+740 m4 h 15

  The first GR R2 stage in Mafate: from Dos d'Âne to Aurère via Deux Bras, the Rivière des Galets and Bord Bazar. 11.5 km with 740 m of climbing.

  Via Deux Bras, Aurère
• Mafate · Loop

  Trois Roches waterfall and Roche Plate, a loop from La Nouvelle

  Very hard15.3 km+1,190 m5 h 55

  A 15.3 km loop with 1,190 m of ascent in the heart of Mafate: La Nouvelle, Roche Plate, the Trois Roches waterfall and the Plaine aux Sables.

  Via Roche Plate, Trois Roches, La Plaine aux Sables
• Mafate · Loop

  Marla and La Nouvelle loop from Col des Bœufs

  Very hard19.4 km+990 m6 h 40

  A 19.4 km loop with 990 m of ascent from Col des Bœufs: La Nouvelle, Maison Laclos, Marla and the Plaine des Tamarins, in upper Mafate.

  Via Col des Bœufs, La Nouvelle, Maison Laclos
• Mafate · Loop

  Cayenne loop from Dos d'Âne, via Deux Bras and the Bras d'Oussy

  Very hard22.3 km+1,130 m7 h 35

  A 22.3 km loop with 1,130 m of ascent from Dos d'Âne: Deux Bras, the Rivière des Galets, Cayenne, Piton Tortue and the Bras d'Oussy footbridge.

  Via Deux Bras, Cayenne, Passerelle du Bras d'Oussy

• Cilaos

• Cilaos · One way

  Bras Rouge Waterfall from Cilaos, via the Sentier des Porteurs

  Easy2.7 km+30 m1 h 05

  From the centre of Cilaos to the Bras Rouge waterfall along the Sentier des Porteurs, the old spa-goers' path: 2.7 km out, facing the Grand Bénare.

  Via Cascade de Bras Rouge
• Cilaos · One way

  The Sentier de la Chapelle from Cilaos, to the Bras Rouge canyon

  Moderate4.5 km+150 m1 h 50

  From the centre of Cilaos to La Chapelle, a canyon cut by the Bras Rouge into an ancient magma chamber: 4.5 km out, ending in the riverbed.

  Via Début du sentier de la Chapelle, La Chapelle
• Cilaos · One way

  Marla from Cilaos via Col du Taïbit

  Hard5.5 km+760 m2 h 15

  From Cilaos to Marla over Col du Taïbit, the only pass between the two cirques: 5.5 km each way, a steep climb to 2,081 m and Mafate's highest îlet.

  Via Col du Taïbit, Marla
• Cilaos · Out and back

  The Piton des Neiges from Cilaos via the Caverne Dufour

  Very hard13.2 km+1,720 m7 h 00

  Climbing the Piton des Neiges from Le Bloc, in Cilaos: 13.2 km out and back and 1,720 m of ascent to the roof of the Indian Ocean, with a night at the Caverne Dufour gîte.

  Via Gîte de la Caverne Dufour, Piton des Neiges (sommet)

• Salazie

• Salazie · One way

  Cascade Blanche from the Pont de l'Escalier, in Salazie

  Easy1.9 km+100 m0 h 35

  A short walk at the gateway to the Salazie cirque, along the Bras de Caverne, to the viewpoint over the Cascade Blanche, one of the highest waterfalls in France.

  Via Cascade Blanche, Bout du sentier de la Cascade Blanche
• Salazie · One way

  The Trou de Fer from the Bélouve gîte

  Moderate4.7 km+60 m1 h 15

  A 4.7 km walk each way through the Bélouve forest to the Trou de Fer viewpoint, the 300 m chasm of waterfalls, from the gîte car park. Highland tamarinds, mud and mist.

  Via Route forestière de Fleurs Jaunes, Allée Cavalière, Trou de Fer
• Salazie · One way

  Trou de Fer from Hell-Bourg through the Bélouve forest

  Hard8.5 km+620 m2 h 50

  Salazie's big day out: from Hell-Bourg up the rampart to the Bélouve lodge, then through the tamarind forest to the Trou de Fer viewpoint. 8.5 km each way.

  Via Gîte de Belouve, Parking du gîte de Bélouve, Route forestière de Fleurs Jaunes
• Salazie · One way

  Piton des Neiges from Hell-Bourg, via Bélouve and Cap Anglais

  Very hard14.5 km+2,140 m5 h 55

  From Hell-Bourg to the top of Piton des Neiges via Bélouve, Cap Anglais and the Caverne Dufour: 14.5 km out and 2,140 m of climbing, over two days.

  Via Gîte de Belouve, Cap Anglais, Gîte de la Caverne Dufour

• West of the island

• West of the island · One way

  Piton des Orangers from the Maïdo, on the Mafate rampart

  Easy2.1 km+70 m0 h 40

  From the Maïdo to the Piton des Orangers along the Mafate rampart trail: 2.1 km out, almost flat on the edge of the rampart, above the Orangers hamlets.

  Via Ti Col, Piton des Orangers
• West of the island · Loop

  The Grand Bénare from the Maïdo via the Grand Bord and La Glacière

  Very hard15.4 km+670 m4 h 50

  A 15.4 km loop with 670 m of ascent from the Maïdo: up to the Grand Bénare along the Grand Bord ridge above Mafate, back via La Glacière.

  Via Sentier de bord, Grand Bénare, La Glacière

• North of the island

• North of the island · One way

  Piton Fougères from Dos d'Âne, via the Roche Verre Bouteille

  Moderate2.3 km+370 m0 h 55

  From the Cap Noir car park to the Piton Fougères via the Roche Verre Bouteille and the GR R2: 2.3 km out, on the ridge between Mafate and Dos d'Âne.

  Via Roche Verre Bouteille, Roche Vert Bouteille, Piton Fougères (Dos d'Âne)
• North of the island · Loop

  The Pic Adam loop from Bois de Nèfles

  Hard6.9 km+530 m2 h 55

  A 6.9 km loop with 530 m of ascent around the Pic Adam, in the heights of Saint-Denis: forest, guava trees and views over the city and the north coast.

  Via Pic Adam
• North of the island · Out and back

  The Roche Écrite from Mamode Camp

  Very hard18.7 km+1,060 m6 h 45

  A 18.7 km out and back with 1,060 m of ascent from Mamode Camp, above Saint-Denis, to the Roche Écrite via the Plaine des Chicots gîte: Mafate, Salazie and the Piton des Neiges in a single view.

  Via Gîte de la Plaine des Chicots, Roche Écrite

• East of the island

• East of the island · Loop

  The Grand Étang lake loop and the Bras d'Annette falls

  Moderate7.2 km+80 m1 h 40

  An easy 7.2 km loop above Saint-Benoît: the Puy de l'Étang, a walk round the island's largest mountain lake and the Bras d'Annette waterfalls.

  Via Cascades Bras d'Annette, Point de vue Grand Étang

• South of the island

• South of the island · One way

  Nez Coupé de Sainte-Rose from Pas de Bellecombe

  Moderate4.9 km+90 m1 h 40

  From Pas de Bellecombe to the Nez Coupé de Sainte-Rose by the Piton Partage, on the northern Enclos rampart: 4.9 km each way, facing Piton de la Fournaise.

  Via Nez coupé de Sainte-Rose
• South of the island · One way

  Piton de la Fournaise: the Dolomieu crater from Pas de Bellecombe

  Moderate6.0 km+270 m1 h 45

  The hike to the Dolomieu crater on top of Piton de la Fournaise: 6.0 km each way from Pas de Bellecombe, across the lava flows of the Enclos Fouqué.

  Via Chapelle de Rosemont, Piton de la Fournaise (sommet Dolomieu)
• South of the island · One way

  Piton de Bert from the Plaine des Sables

  Moderate6.3 km+20 m1 h 25

  From the Foc-Foc car park to the Piton de Bert, on the rim of the Enclos Fouqué: 6.3 km each way, almost flat on the GR R2, facing Piton de la Fournaise.

  Via Croisée Sentier J. Payet GRR2, Piton de Bert
• South of the island · Loop

  The Mare Longue forest in Saint-Philippe

  Moderate6.9 km+270 m2 h 10

  An easy 6.9 km loop in the Mare Longue forest, Saint-Philippe: one of the island's last lowland rainforests, grown on a lava flow.
• South of the island · Loop

  The Argamasse loop from Piton Textor

  Moderate7.0 km+130 m1 h 45

  A 7.0 km loop above the Plaine-des-Cafres: the Piton Textor panorama, the crater lake of the Argamasse and the rim of the Rivière des Remparts.

  Via Hauts de la Rivière des Remparts
• South of the island · Loop

  The Dassy trail and the Bras de la Plaine gorges

  Hard9.4 km+580 m3 h 10

  A 9.4 km loop along the Dassy trail, from Bras de Pontho down to the bed of the Bras de la Plaine and back via Pont d'Yves: basalt walls, the river and 580 m of climbing back out.

  Via Caverne de la Petite Ravine, Pont d'Yves
• South of the island · Out and back

  Grand Bassin from the Bois Court viewpoint, to the Voile de la Mariée

  Hard9.9 km+810 m3 h 35

  From the Bois Court viewpoint down to Grand Bassin, Le Tampon's roadless hamlet, then on to the Voile de la Mariée: 9.9 km there and back and 810 m to climb.

  Via Grand Bassin, Voile de la Mariée
• South of the island · Loop

  The Fenêtre des Makes loop via Camp Deux Mille

  Hard11.0 km+850 m4 h 40

  A 11.0 km loop with 850 m of ascent above Les Makes: the viewpoint over the Cilaos cirque, the Petit Mapou and the old forestry camps.

  Via Camp Deux Mille
• South of the island · Loop

  The Margosiers loop at Plaine des Grègues

  Hard11.0 km+810 m4 h 20

  A 11.0 km loop with 810 m of ascent above Plaine des Grègues: turmeric fields, the Rivière des Remparts rampart and the Piton du Rond.

  Via Plaine des Grègues, Bel Air
• South of the island · Loop

  The Sentier Jacky Inard, from the Dimitile to the Sommet de l'Entre-Deux

  Very hard20.5 km+1,440 m8 h 00

  From L'Entre-Deux to the Sommet de l'Entre-Deux, at 2,352 m, by the Sentier Bœuf and the Jacky Inard ridge above the Cilaos cirque: 20.5 km, a big day out.

No hike matches. Show all

Plan this hike in RandoMafate

The trail map offline, elevation to the metre, ONF closures and the weather for the day, and the people close to you told when you set off and when you are back.