Aurère and Îlet à Malheur via the Sentier Scout

Outbound

The hike starts at Le Bélier, on the northern edge of the Mafate cirque, from the car park near the start of the trail. The path soon heads into vegetation of mahots, tree ferns (fanjans), fleurs jaunes and guava trees, with fine views of the Cimendef. The trail is generally well kept and alternates wooded sections, muddy stretches and crossings of small ravines over rocky fords.

After a fairly easy stretch, you reach the Ravine Bémale and its ford of large boulders. The trail then starts climbing towards the rein de Deux Fesses. This climb, fitted in places with steps and a cable or handrail, leads to one of the landmark passages of the route. The trail follows the Deux Fesses ridge, narrow in places but wide enough to stay comfortable. The two canyons on either side give superb views, notably towards the Sentier Augustave, Aurère and Piton Cabris.

After Deux Fesses, head on to the Plateau de la Sale, a flatter section where the path can be wet and muddy. A small wayside shrine marks the way before you carry on through the native bois de couleurs forest. The route then gradually leaves the plateau and crosses an area of filao (casuarina) trees, guava trees and tropical vegetation. Several viewpoints look out on Piton Cabris, which stays with you for much of the descent.

The trail then steepens and zigzags down to the Captage Grimaud, where you find an old concrete reservoir. The descent continues under the filaos, over ground sometimes covered in needles that can be slippery. After several wooded stretches, the trail reaches the Îlet à Malheur area.

At Îlet à Malheur, a short detour takes you to the old cemetery and the small Îlet à Malheur chapel. The route then continues to the Bras Bémale, crossed on a narrow footbridge high above the canyon. From this footbridge, several routes lead on to Aurère.

The climb to Aurère starts under the filaos and carries on up steps, then rockier stretches lined with chayote vines (chouchous). After this last climb, you reach Aurère, one of the main îlets (hamlets) of northern Mafate. You can extend the hike to Bord Bazar for fresh views over the cirque. Aurère is also an ideal stop for a night in a gîte or a bivouac, depending on your plans.

Return

From Aurère, take the trail back towards Îlet à Malheur and the Bras Bémale. The descent leads to the footbridge over the Bras Bémale canyon, then the trail climbs gradually back to Îlet à Malheur. A variant also goes through Îlet Jardin, with fine views over the Bras Bémale valley and towards the Sentier Augustave.

Back at Îlet à Malheur, carry on towards the Captage Grimaud. This part retraces the outbound descent and includes several switchbacks. The slope gradually steepens on the way up to the Plateau de la Sale, with technical sections, roots and steps. Piton Cabris remains a key landmark as the trail crosses the bois de couleurs forest and the filao woods again.

Once on the Plateau de la Sale, continue towards the Deux Fesses ridge. The route then returns to the most spectacular part of the area, crossing Deux Fesses with its views over the surrounding canyons, Aurère, Piton Cabris and the Sentier Augustave. The climb up from the Ravine Bémale takes real effort and is one of the main challenges of the return.

After Deux Fesses, go back down and cross the Ravine Bémale before picking up the trail to Le Bélier. This last stretch is less technical overall but still has a few muddy passages and small ravines. The hike ends at the Le Bélier car park, as the forest vegetation and the views over the peaks of northern Mafate gradually return.

Coming back the same way is much harder than the outbound walk, because of the many climbs and the elevation gain that adds up, especially around Deux Fesses, the Plateau de la Sale and the Ravine Bémale.