Reunion Island Grand Tour — 9 Days of Creole Culture & Volcano Adventure
| Duration | 9 Days / 8 Nights |
|---|---|
| Country | Réunion Island (France – Indian Ocean) |
| Price From | $1,236 USD per person (~$137/day) |
| Tour Style | Culture & Nature, Multi-Stop, Self-Drive |
| Operator | DERTOUR (TourRadar) |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Hell-Bourg — Arrival in a Storybook Village
Arrive at Roland Garros Airport and drive directly to Hell-Bourg in the Cirque de Salazie. Despite its devilish name, this is one of France’s most beautiful villages. Check into your hotel, then take an orientation walk through streets lined with Creole mansions adorned with intricate gingerbread fretwork. The town sits in a natural amphitheater of towering green cliffs and waterfalls.
Day 2: Salazie Waterfalls & Creole Life
Explore the Cirque de Salazie in depth. Visit the Voile de la Mariée waterfall — dozens of streams cascading side by side like a bride’s veil. Continue to Grand Îlet, a small village in the heart of the cirque. Visit a local family for a Creole cooking class at Tapacala: learn to prepare rougail, carry, and the famous lentilles de Cilaos. Afternoon hike along the Rivière du Mât. Return to Hell-Bourg.
Day 3: Mafate Viewpoint & Plaine des Cafres
Drive to the Piton Maïdo viewpoint (2,200m). The view over Cirque de Mafate from here is one of the most photographed in the Indian Ocean — a vast, rugged amphitheater of 4 million-year-old volcanic rock, dotted with tiny hamlets and no roads. Continue to the Plaine des Cafres, stopping at La Vanilleraie plantation to learn about vanilla cultivation: hand-pollination, the 9-month curing process, and why Réunion vanilla is among the world’s best.
Day 4: Piton de la Fournaise — Journey to the Center of the Earth
The volcano day. Cross the surreal Plaine des Sables, a red and black landscape that could be from another planet. Park at Pas de Bellecombe and hike across the Enclos Fouqué caldera. Pass the Formica Leo crater, traverse vast lava fields, and reach the rim of the Dolomieu Crater. This is one of the world’s most active volcanoes — the ground may be warm, and on lucky days you might see lava glow. Return exhausted but exhilarated.
Day 5: Cilaos — Wine, Embroidery & Thermal Springs
Drive to Cilaos via the famous 400-bend road. Visit the Maison de la Broderie to see the intricate Cilaos embroidery tradition. Then, a wine tasting at Chai de Cilaos — one of the few vineyards in France’s DOM-TOM territories, producing wines at high altitude on volcanic soil. Afternoon at the thermal spa. The 31-37°C mineral waters have been soothing visitors since 1819. Overnight in Cilaos.
Day 6: Cilaos to Saint-Gilles — Mountain to Sea
Morning hike in Cilaos — perhaps to La Chapelle, a natural rock formation with religious significance. Then the dramatic drive down the 400 bends back to the coast. Arrive in Saint-Gilles les Bains in the afternoon. The contrast is striking: from cool mountain air to tropical beach. Swim in the lagoon, walk the waterfront, and enjoy a beachside dinner of fresh grilled fish and rhum arrangé.
Day 7: Saint-Gilles — Boat Trip & Marine Life
Morning boat excursion — choose between dolphin watching (year-round) or whale watching (July-October, humpback whales). The waters off Réunion’s west coast are a marine mammal sanctuary. Afternoon at leisure: snorkel in the lagoon, visit the Jardin d’Eden botanical garden with 700+ tropical species, or simply relax on the beach. Evening sunset cocktail at a beach bar.
Day 8: Saint-Denis — The Capital
Drive to Saint-Denis, Réunion’s capital and largest city. Visit the Barachois waterfront promenade, the colonial Préfecture building, and the Natural History Museum in the former Governor’s Palace. Explore the Grand Marché for souvenirs — vanilla pods, turmeric, lemongrass essential oil, and artisanal rum. Lunch at a traditional Creole restaurant. Visit the Léon Dierx Museum for fine arts in a stunning colonial building.
Day 9: Departure
Final morning in Saint-Denis. Visit the Tamil temple — a reminder of Réunion’s diverse cultural heritage (French, African, Indian, Chinese). Last coffee and croissant at a café on Rue de Paris. Transfer to Roland Garros Airport. You leave with incredible memories of hiking active volcanoes, sleeping in remote mountain hamlets, and experiencing a uniquely French tropical paradise.
What’s Included
• 8 nights accommodation in charming hotels
• Daily breakfast
• 9 days car rental
• Creole cooking class
• Vanilla plantation tour
• Wine tasting in Cilaos
• Thermal spa entry
• Boat excursion (dolphin/whale watching)
• Detailed itinerary with GPS
What’s Excluded
• International flights
• Fuel and parking
• Meals not mentioned
• Travel insurance
• Personal expenses
