Reunion Island Volcano Explorer – 8 Days Around Piton de la Fournaise

Reunion Island Volcano Explorer – 8 Days Around Piton de la Fournaise

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Saint-Gilles les Bains — Welcome to Paradise

Arrive at Roland Garros Airport and transfer to Saint-Gilles les Bains on the west coast. This vibrant seaside town with 27km of coastline is your base for the evening. Stroll along the boulevard, swim in the lagoon, and watch the sunset over the Indian Ocean. Welcome dinner featuring Creole cuisine — rougail saucisse, carry poulet, and samoussas.

Day 2: Cirque de Cilaos — 400 Bends to the Sky

Drive the legendary road to Cilaos with its 400+ hairpin bends carved into the mountainside. Visit La Maison de la Broderie to see the famous Cilaos embroidery. Soak in the thermal springs at the spa. Afternoon hike to La Roche Merveilleuse for panoramic views over the cirque. Overnight at Hotel Le Vieux Cep, a charming mountain retreat.

Day 3: Piton des Neiges Viewpoint — Roof of the Indian Ocean

Early morning drive to the Piton des Neiges trailhead (3,070m). While the full summit hike takes 2 days, you’ll hike to the intermediate viewpoint (approx. 2 hours) offering spectacular vistas of all three cirques — Cilaos, Mafate, and Salazie. Return to Cilaos for a relaxed afternoon exploring the town’s Creole architecture and markets.

Day 4: Cirque de Mafate — The Car-Free Mountain Kingdom

Drive to Piton Maïdo (2,200m) for the most dramatic viewpoint over Cirque de Mafate — a vast volcanic amphitheater accessible only on foot or by helicopter. Descend into Mafate via the Col des Bœufs pass. Hike through tamarind forests to La Nouvelle, one of the remote villages (îlets) scattered across this UNESCO World Heritage site. Overnight in a traditional mountain gîte with a Creole dinner.

Day 5: Mafate Deep Exploration — Marla Village

Cross the Taïbit Pass at 2,082m, with breathtaking views over both Mafate and Cilaos basins. Descend to the mountain hamlet of Marla, where only a handful of families live year-round. Afternoon hike to Trois Roches waterfall for a refreshing swim. Return to your gîte for another authentic mountain evening with the sounds of nature and star-filled skies.

Day 6: Plaine des Cafres — Gateway to the Volcano

Exit Mafate and drive through the high plateau of Plaine des Cafres, a pastoral landscape of green pastures and cattle farms at 1,200m. Visit La Cité du Volcan museum to understand Réunion’s fiery geology. Continue to the Plaine des Sables — a surreal lunar landscape of red and black volcanic sand. Arrive at your hotel near the volcano with views of Piton de la Fournaise.

Day 7: Piton de la Fournaise — Face to Face with the Fire Mountain

The highlight of your journey. Drive to Pas de Bellecombe (2,311m) at the rim of the Enclos Fouqué caldera. Hike across the volcanic landscape to the summit of Piton de la Fournaise (2,632m) — one of the world’s most active volcanoes. Walk past the Formica Leo crater, across lava fields, and reach the Dolomieu crater rim. The colors shift from black basalt to red scoria to silver lava tubes. Return to Bourg-Murat for a farewell Creole feast.

Day 8: Hell-Bourg & Salazie — Departure

Morning visit to Hell-Bourg, classified as one of “Les Plus Beaux Villages de France” — the most beautiful villages of France. Its Creole mansions with intricate gingerbread fretwork, colorful gardens, and mountain backdrop create an unforgettable scene. Visit Villa Folio and the cemetery with views of the waterfalls. Transfer to airport for departure.

What’s Included

• 7 nights accommodation (hotels + mountain gîtes)
• Daily breakfast (7 breakfasts)
• 4 dinners in mountain gîtes
• All transfers as per itinerary
• English-speaking mountain guide
• Cité du Volcan museum entrance
• Thermal spa visit in Cilaos
• Park entry fees

What’s Excluded

• International flights to Réunion
• Lunches (approximately €10-15/day)
• Travel insurance (required)
• Tips and personal expenses
• Optional helicopter flight over the volcano (~€200)