Reunion Island 8 Day/7 Night Hike

A Tapestry of Cultures: The People of Réunion

Through centuries of diverse immigration, Réunion Island has developed a vibrant, “rainbow” population.

When settlement began in the middle of the 17th century, the island was a pristine, uninhabited territory. The first French settlers were soon joined by enslaved people from Africa (known as Cafres) and Madagascar. Later, they were joined by Tamil and Indian laborers from the Coromandel Coast of South India.

Their descendants, regardless of specific origin, are often referred to locally as Malabars. The 19th century saw the arrival of Muslim Indians—known as Zarabs—as well as Chinese craftsmen and traders. Since the 1960s, arrivals from mainland France (Zoreilles) have increased, followed by Mahorais and Comorian settlers in the 1970s. This rich blend of heritages makes Réunion a truly unique cultural crossroads.

Tour Logistics: Semi-Slackpack Style

This is a semi-slackpack adventure designed to let you focus on the scenery rather than the weight of your pack.

• Your Load: You will not need to carry bedding or bulk food. You only carry your personal clothing for 2 nights and 2 days, and your daily packed lunch.

• Meals & Drinks: Hearty local meals are prepared by our hosts at the Gîtes, and various drinks are available for purchase.

• Duration: The tour spans 8 days on the island, with 7 full days of hiking.

• Accommodation Mix: * 4 Nights in Mountain Gîtes: Authentic hiking huts with 4 to 6 beds per room and shared bathroom facilities.

  • 3 Nights in 3-Star Hotels: Enjoy the comfort of your own private, en-suite room to recharge.

Réunion Island Peaks & Cirques: Detailed Itinerary

Note: Bedding and meals are provided. Your backpack should only contain overnight essentials, hiking gear, and items from the provided packing list.

Day 1: Departure

• 22:45 – Depart for Réunion via Air Austral or Air Mauritius. (Air Austral typically arrives at 06:00 the following morning).

Day 2: The Heart of Hell-Bourg

• 06:00 – Airport pick-up by your professional guide.

• Transfer – Journey from the airport to the picturesque village of Hell-Bourg.

• Afternoon – Explore the village or enjoy a short, easy introductory hike.

• Overnight – Gîte in Hell-Bourg (Luggage stays with the group).

Day 3: Into the Cirques

• Morning – Transfer to the start of the trail.

• The Hike – Start trekking with your light pack (essentials for 1 night only). Your main luggage will be transported ahead to the hotel for Day 3.

• 15:00 – Arrive at Marla Gîte. Relax and enjoy authentic local cuisine.

Day 4: Cilaos & The Taïbit Pass

• Morning – Hike toward Cilaos after breakfast. Enjoy a trail lunch (own account).

• The Route – Hike to Taïbit Road, followed by a local bus transfer into Cilaos City.

• Overnight – Check in at a 3-star hotel in Cilaos, where you will be reunited with your main luggage for a short while to change clothes and repack your backpack for the next 2 days.

• Dinner – Enjoy dinner at the hotel or explore the town’s local eateries (own account).

Day 5: The Ascent of Piton des Neiges

• Morning – A relaxing morning to enjoy the charm of Cilaos. Lunch in town (own account).

• Afternoon – Hike toward the Refuge (mountain hut) located near the summit of Piton des Neiges, the highest peak in the Indian Ocean.

• Logistics – Pack only essentials for 2 nights; your main bags will be transported ahead to the Vulcano Gîte.

• Evening – Experience a breathtaking sunset near the summit before dinner at the Refuge.

Day 6: Summit Sunrise

• Pre-dawn – Summit hike in the dark to reach the peak of Piton des Neiges in time for a spectacular sunrise over the Indian Ocean. Yu can leave your backpack at the Refuge as we will return. Those who do not want to summit can wait for us at the Refuge.

• Descent – Trek down from the Refuge to the lush Gîte de Bélouve for the night.

• Dinner – Group dinner at the Gîte.

Day 7: The Bébour Forest & Trou de Fer

• Morning – Hike through the famous, prehistoric Bébour Forest and onward to the Trou de Fer (Iron Hole) lookout point.

• Afternoon – After lunch, transfer with your luggage to the Volcano Gîte. Unite with your big bag with your main luggage again

• Dinner – Group dinner at the Gîte.

Day 8: The Active Volcano

• Morning – Hike to the active Piton de la Fournaise. Explore the Fouqué Enclosure and witness the island’s recent lava flows.

• Afternoon – Transfer to a hotel in the coastal town of St. Gilles.

• Dinner – Dinner in St. Gilles (own account).

Day 9: Friday- Final Transfer & Self-Drive Adventure

• Morning – Breakfast included.

• 11:00 – Check out and end of Tour. A group transfer back to the airport is included for those picking up rental cars. (Note: This transfer is only available at the scheduled checkout time.

• Extensions – Enjoy the rest of Réunion at your leisure for the next two days. The next flight out to South Africa is only on Saturday evening. You can now decide to stay on longer or take the flight on Saturday. Please make these arrangements on your own.

• Post-Tour Arrangements

  Once you have been dropped off at the airport on Day 9, the organized portion of the tour concludes. From this point, you are responsible for your own itinerary and transport for your final two days, or more if you wish to stay longer—whether you are exploring the island further or catching your return flight via Air Austral or Air Mauritius.

Optional Activities for your Extension:

1. Scenic drive around the island’s coastal roads.

2. White-water rafting.

3. Mountain biking.

4. Canyoning (Réunion is world-famous for this!).

5. Scuba diving in the coral lagoons.

Itinerary – please note, bedding and food are provided. Only 2 nights overnight clothes and hiking clothes should be in your backpack, plus a few items as suggested on the hiking list. Please pack light.

You should be able to get everything into a 35-liter to 45-liter backpack, and it should not weigh more than 15% of a woman’s weight and 20% of a man’s weight

• Your own medicine you need, please let us know if you have any allergies
• Toiletries, small shampoo, soap, toothbrush etc
• Clothes for 1 or 2 days,
• 1 warm set of clothes to wear in the evening,
  • fleece top,
  • tracksuit pants,
  • light puffer jacket,
  • thermal long pants, or running tights under the tracksuit pants
  • warm thick socks
  • Crocs shoes or something similar, that is light, and you can wear with thick socks at night
• Waterproof Rain jacket
• Waterproof cover for your backpack if it does not have one
• Hiking Socks, something like Belague, which is good for blisters
• Trail shoes are better than boots, because your shoes will get wet and trail shoes dry quickly. Please bring shoes that do not keep water in.
• Underwear
• Hiking shirt, preferably long-sleeved for the sun, or arm protectors,
• Hiking pants/shorts
• Bladder or water bottles to carry 2 l water
• A towel that dries quickly
• Swim suit
• Buffs
• Head lamp
• Pillow bag to put their pillow in or for the 1 night at the Refugee, where you will use clothes to make a pillow
• A hygiene sheet, for the bed and specifically for the one night at the Refugee,
• Hiking sticks, if you like
• Gloves for the day of the summit, it is 3500m above sea level, and we will be there at sunrise, it will be cold for about an hour
• Cash, euros, to buy lunch each day, max 50 euros per day, depends on what you order, but a local plate of food is about 15 to 20 euros
• Small light flask for coffee and coffee sachets for 7 days
• A cup, you can buy collapsible cups at Outdoor shops
• camera
• Some snacks, energy bars, nuts etc
• Powdered energy drinks for 7 days to mix with water
• Chargers
• Hat
• Sunglasses
• Space blanket
• Sunscreen
• A few ziplock bags or a plastic holder to pack some lunch
• Earplugs, we will share, and some people will snore

Please note: You do not have to have all the above in your backpack; you can change clothes and add fresh things to your backpack on Days 3 and 6. 

Our accommodation will be at 3-star hotels and Gites in the mountains.

For 4 nights we will stay in the Gites in the mountains with shared bathrooms and bedrooms, This is the only available accommodation, no other options available. Please note: The single option is for the 2 nights in the 3-star hotels; there are no single options at the Gites

For 3 nights, we will stay at a 3-star hotel with our own room and bathroom.

Start point venue: St Denis, Reunion
Finish Venue: Saint Gilles

We will be hiking the Cirques of Salazie, Mafate, and Cilaos and summit the highest peak in the Indian Ocean,  Piton de Neiges (3070)  , as well as the active volcano Piton de la Fornaise

Fly via Air Austral.

Please book your flights from Johannesburg to Reunion.

The package starts early, 6 am at the airport where we will be picked up by a taxi to take us to the hotel.  No delays will be tolerated.

The package includes 7 nights of accommodation

Check-in is on 27 May 2027, and check-out is on 4 June 2027

If you would like to stay longer, please arrange your own accommodation and transport back to the airport.

Air Austral lands at 6:10 at St Denis, Reunion. Transfer to and from the airport on 27 May and back again on 4 June.

After 4th June you must plan your own trip on the Island until you fly back to SA. 

Technical Hike Stats

Please review the daily distances and elevation profiles. The significant elevation changes on Days 3 and 5 make them particularly challenging.

Limited to 15

Physical Requirements & Mandatory Fitness

This is an extraordinary journey through landscapes that are vastly different from the mountains of South Africa. However, to ensure this remains an “adventure of a lifetime” and not a “misadventure,” you must be physically prepared.

Strict Fitness Criteria:

• No Beginners: This trek is exclusively for fit and experienced hikers.

• High Endurance: You must be capable of handling steep gradients with daily elevations and descents of 900m to 1,600m (and over 1,700m if you summit Piton des Neiges).

• Technical Terrain: While not a “technical climb,” you must be comfortable navigating rocks, boulders, and uneven volcanic terrain.

• No Injuries or Phobias: Participants must be free of pre-existing injuries. Due to the dramatic mountain ridges, this hike is not suitable for those with a fear of heights.

Training Recommendations: You cannot prepare for Réunion on flat gravel roads alone. To enjoy this experience, your training must include elevation. We recommend completing several hikes with at least 700m of vertical gain in a single session before arriving on the island.

A Note on Group Dynamics: An unprepared hiker’s struggle significantly impacts the experience and morale of the entire group. We prioritize the safety and enjoyment of the collective team; therefore, baseline fitness is non-negotiable.

Contact Us Before Registering: If you are unsure of your fitness level or have questions about the terrain, please contact Sonja at sonja@trisport.co.za for a consultation before you book.

Age & Health Requirements

To ensure the safety and well-being of all participants on our Réunion Island expedition, the following age and health guidelines apply:

• Minimum Age: Participants must be at least 17 years of age.

• Ages 65 and Over: Hikers aged 65 and older are required to provide a medical certificate or letter from their physician. This letter must explicitly state that the participant is physically fit to manage consecutive days of high-altitude hiking, involving daily elevations and descents of up to 1,600m.

Your safety is our priority. Please ensure this documentation is submitted to us at sonja@trisport.co.za prior to final registration.

Terrain & Elevation Profile

The trails in Réunion are world-renowned for their beauty and their difficulty. You should be prepared for a wide variety of challenging surfaces:

• Technical Footing: Expect single-track paths, large boulders, and loose rock sections that require concentration and balance.

• Varied Paths: The route includes established hiking trails as well as rugged, rocky mountain roads.

• Steep Gradients: The island is famous for its “verticality”—prepare for long, sustained uphill climbs and equally demanding, steep descents.

• Daily Elevation: Expect a vertical gain/loss of between 900m and 1,700m per day (particularly if you choose to summit Piton des Neiges).

What is Included

Duration & Accommodation:

• 7 Nights / 8 Days of curated adventure.

• 7 Nights’ Accommodation: * 5 Nights in authentic mountain Gîtes (hiking huts).

  • 2 Nights in 3-star hotels (Cilaos and St. Gilles).

• 7 Days of guided hiking through the Cirques and Volcanoes.

Professional Support & Logistics:

• Expert Guiding: Professional local English-speaking mountain guides and experienced Trisport hosts.

• Transport: * Airport pick-up and transfer to the start of the hike.

  • Pick-up at the finish point (Piton de la Fournaise) and transfer to the final 3-star hotel.

  • Return transfer to the airport on Day 9. (Note: If you extend your stay, return transport is for your own account).

• Fees & Permits: All Nature Reserve entry fees and required trekking permits.

Meals & Culinary Experience:

• Authentic Flavors: Home-cooked local Réunionnais cuisine at the Gîtes.

• Breakfast & Dinner: Included for the duration of the hike, with the following exceptions:

  • Cilaos & St. Gilles: Breakfast and dinner are included at Cilaos, but dinner at St Gilles is for your own account to allow you to explore local restaurants.

  • Lunches: Not included (guests typically enjoy trail snacks or local stops).

The Trisport Advantage:

• Expert Scouting: Benefit from Trisport’s extensive scouting and local knowledge to ensure a seamless experience.

• Full Coordination: All logistical arrangements are handled by Trisport, allowing you to focus entirely on an unforgettable and unique Réunion experience.

Exclusions (For Your Own Account)

• Travel & Flights:

  • International airfare and travel to/from Réunion Island.

• Food & Beverages:

  • All alcoholic beverages and additional soft drinks.

  • Daily lunches (guests typically enjoy trail snacks or local village stops).

  • Dinner on the night spent in St. Gilles (allowing you to explore local restaurants).

• Additional Activities & Days:

  • Any extra excursions or activities not listed in the itinerary.

  • Costs for any additional days or nights on the island outside of the 7-night/8 Day package package.

• Logistics & Gratuities:

  • Airport transfers or transport required outside of the specified package dates.

  • Gratuities/Tips for mountain guides and lodge staff.

  • Any other personal extras or incidental expenses