The three cirques and two volcanoes of Reunion Island

Description

I propose you a trek to discover the unmissable of Reunion Island: the Salazie, Mafate and Cilaos cirques, followed by the Piton des Neiges and the volcano of La Fournaise. You will live a concentrate of the Reunionese mountain during these five days of hiking!

If I am unavailable, a colleague from the Bureau Montagne Réunion Trek will take care of the supervision.

You can also follow me on a beautiful tour of the Cilaos cirque. And if you prefer to focus on the highest point of the Indian Ocean, I also propose the ascent of the Piton des Neiges or 6 days of hiking to go around it and climb it.

For the more sporty, it's also possible to embark on the famous Reunion Diagonal trek, or set off for 3 days of trail running on the paths of Reunion Island.

Program

D1: La Possession - Marla.
From the guarded parking of La Possession, we take the road in direction of the cirque of Salazie to the parking of the Boeufs pass. The trek starts here, with a magnificent view on the cirque of Mafate. After crossing the magical Tamarins plain, we go down to the Galets river to go up to the Marla islet, the highest of Mafate.
Duration: 5 hours, distance: 7km, positive altitude difference: 250 meters, negative altitude difference: 500 meters.

D2: Marla - Cilaos.
We leave the cirque of Mafate to reach the cirque of Cilaos via the Taïbit pass, the only passage between the two cirques. We cross the road of the îlet à Cordes, then join the bottom of the Bras Rouge river to discover the waterfall of the same name. A last shaded climb leads us to the town of Cilaos.
Duration: 6 hours, distance: 10,5km, D+: 800m, D-: 120m.

D3: Cilaos - Caverne Dufour hut.
From Cilaos, we reach the departure of the path in the beginning of the afternoon thanks to the city bus. We start the steep ascent to arrive at the hut of the Dufour cave at the end of the day and enjoy the extraordinary colors of the sunset at almost 2500 meters of altitude.
Duration: 4 hours, distance: 4,5km, D+: 1100m.

D4: Caverne Dufour - Piton des Neiges - Bourg-Murat.
We start the ascent of the Piton des Neiges by night, in order to enjoy the extraordinary spectacle of the sunrise from the highest point of the Indian Ocean! We then go back down to the refuge for breakfast. The day continues on the long and magnificent GRR2 trail via the Kerveguen hillside, the Bébour forest, then the forest of the "plaine des Cafres", to finally arrive at the village of Bourg-Murat.
Duration: 8 hours, distance: 18km, D+: 700m, D-: 1100m.

D5: Bourg Murat - Piton de la Fournaise - La Possession.
Change of atmosphere and change of massif today since we enter the domain of the Piton de la Fournaise. The transfer by vehicle on the sumptuous road of the volcano reveals its marvelous points of view. Then we leave for the ascent in round trip, until the top of one of the most active volcanoes in the world! The atmosphere is mineral, and the recent flows give this place an exceptional character. Eruptions, fountains, lava flows, lava scrapings and lava ropes will no longer hold any secrets for you after this day.
This spectacular day ends with the return to La Possession by vehicle.
Duration: 6 hours, distance: 12km, D+: 500m, D-: 500m.

The price includes

• Supervision by the mountain leader.
• Accommodation in ½ board (night + evening meal and breakfasts), in lodges, in small dormitories.
• Transfers mentioned in the programme.

The price does not include

• Picnic lunches (available as an option). I will advise you of the best ways to have lunch.
• Drinks other than those provided at meals.
• Personal equipment.
• Personal expenses.
• Insurance and assistance (optional).
• Anything not mentioned in "The price includes".

Accommodation

• In lodges and mountain huts.

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