La Réunion

Réunion is both a French overseas department and region. It is a tropical island located in the heart of the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar and west of Mauritius.

Réunion also has a very active volcano, the Piton de la Fournaise, one of the most active volcanoes in the world that experiences frequent eruptions. It has a steep relief worked by very marked erosion. Its highest point is the Piton des Neiges (3071 m).

Nicknamed the intense island or the island of great spectacle, it is a true paradise for nature lovers and hikers!

An exceptional natural heritage

The island of Réunion benefits from an exceptional geography and natural heritage: beaches and lagoons on the west coast, wild coasts on the east and south coasts, three majestic cirques in the center of the island, countless peaks, waterfalls and ramparts, which are all spectacular panoramas and breathtaking views, and of course the Piton de La Fournaise.

With the creation of the Réunion National Park which covers 43% of its territory, the island of Réunion was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its "Pitons, cirques and ramparts" in 2010.

Reunion Island has two mountain ranges: the Piton des Neiges massif which occupies nearly two-thirds of the northwest of the island, and the Piton de la Fournaise massif located on the southeast flank of the Piton des Neiges massif.

Reunion Island, a paradise for hikers

With more than 1000 km of trails, the hikes are countless, of all difficulties, and are without a doubt the best way to discover the sublime landscapes, the riches and the culture of the island.

The trails are an integral part of the history and culture of Reunion since they were originally created and used by runaway slaves fleeing oppression.

There are three main GR® hiking trailsin Réunion:

• the GR® R1 or "Tour du Piton des Neiges"
• the GR® R2 or "Grande Traversée de l'île"
• the GR® R3 or "Tour de Mafate"

The island also has three major cirques:

• Cirque de Mafate

A mythical cirque, no roads, no cars, a feeling of being at the end of the world!
Lost and isolated, Mafate is worth it, but offers visitors breathtaking landscapes.
It would take weeks to discover Mafate in its entirety, especially since some islets have now disappeared and some are only accessible by brown trails (trails that are more maintained and used, except by a few explorers or poachers).

Some must-see places to discover in Mafate: hiking in Trois Roches, Plaine des Tamarins, Plaine aux Sables and Plateau de Kerval.

• Cirque de Cilaos

This majestic cirque is dominated by the Piton des Neiges and accessible by a road with endless bends. Cilaos is a paradise for sports enthusiasts and mountain lovers, certainly without snow, even if the conditions on the ramparts and high peaks are those of the high mountains.

Hiking, trekking, mountain running: there are many trails in the Cilaos cirque, some of which are legendary, starting with the ascent of the Piton des Neiges, the roof of the Indian Ocean at 3070 meters, but also to enter or exit it like the Col du Taïbit, or to connect the different islets of the cirque.

• Cirque de Salazie

Salazie is the most accessible of the three cirques and the greenest. Here nature puts on a show and water is omnipresent. Salazie is also home to some of the most beautiful villages and Creole huts on the island, including Hell-Bourg which is one of the most beautiful villages in France.

There are many trails and hiking opportunities in Salazie, including some must-sees: Forêt de Bélouve and Trou de Fer, Cap Anglais and Piton des Neiges, La Fenêtre, La Roche Ecrite, Mafate, Piton d’Anchaing…

Technical trails
Generally speaking, Reunion Island's trails are quite difficult and technical (high steps, ladders, footbridges, rocks, vegetation, fords / slippery / unstable / dizzying, etc.) and with a significant difference in altitude. Furthermore, weather conditions can be very variable and change quickly in the interior of the island (rain, wind, fog, etc.), and be very harsh in the high mountains above 2,500 meters.

Reunion Island, a land of trail running

Reunion Island is also, well before the craze we know today for this sport, a land of trail running and mountain running. The island also has an impressive number of races that take place every weekend.

Every year in October, it also hosts the legendary Grand Raid, or Diagonale des Fous, a true extreme race: 165 km, 10,000 meters of elevation gain, all in just over 24 hours for the first, a race now known and recognized as one of the most beautiful but difficult races in the world.

Several trails and mountain races are organized in the Cilaos cirque: Cross du Piton des Neiges, Cross des Lentilles, Cimasarun.

Before going hiking on Reunion Island, don't forget to equip yourself properly: backpack, comfortable shoes, water bottles, hiking poles... Discover our range of hiking poles dedicated to the regions and massifs of France, and in particular our telescopic hiking poles Réunion.

Also feel free to check out our article " Choosing your hiking poles".

Source: https://habiter-la-reunion.re/ ; https://www.reunion.fr/organisez/vos-activites/les-circuits-de-randonnee/