Discovery tour of Reunion Island
2024
Highlights of the trip
During your stay you can enjoy the following highlights: Culture / Heritage, Faune and flora, Discovery, Adventure / Sports & Leisure, Free time, Relaxation / Well-being.
Best times to go
The best time(s) to go is/are : Printemps, Eté, Automne.
Petit Futé
Where to stay - Saint-Benoît ?
The map of your stay "Discovery tour of Reunion Island"
Detail of the stay : Discovery tour of Reunion Island
How to get there - Saint-Benoît
Paris, Saint-Denis de La Réunion
Night in flight, arrival, transfer to hotel or residence. Visit of Saint Denis, market, museum, etc.
Road to the Salazie circus
Steps: Hell Bourg
Arrival in the Salazie Circus. Discovery of La Vanilleraie in Sainte-Suzanne. At Saint-André, up the Rivière du Mât in the middle of the waterfalls. Stop in front of the fall of the Bride Veil. Direction the village of Hell-Bourg in the Cirque de Salazie, classified among the most beautiful villages in France, by a succession of surprising green landscapes. Waterfalls and flowers cover the roads up to the top at nearly 1,000 m! The village that honours the Governor of Hell resembles a museum of Creole architecture: sharp ridges, tamarind shingles, exquisite lambrequins... Possibility to visit the Maison Folio, a residence with 3 gardens and precious wood furniture: a journey back in time to the days of hot springs. Take the opportunity to enjoy a dish based on "chouchou": the local cristophine.
Places of interest : MAISON FOLIO DISTILLERIE RIVIÈRE DU MÂT
From Salazie to Plaine des Cafres
Steps: La Plaine Des Cafres
Via the coast road, head for St-Benoît to discover the island's verdant east coast. Continue on to La Plaine des Cafres. Don't miss: Rivière des Roches, Bassin La Paix, the sea and the Takamaka viewpoint. Discover the magnificent colorful forests of Bébour and Bélouve. Ascent to Plaine des Cafres and overnight stay.
Heading wild south
Steps: Piton De La Fournaise
This wild route will take you to the Wild South, to St Philippe via St Benoît and above all to the unmissable site of the Piton de la Fournaise volcano. Extension to the Nez de Boeuf at 2,070 m and its panorama overlooking the Rivière des Remparts. Stop at Commerson Crater, cross the Plaine des Sables, adorned with lunar landscapes. Visit of the Maison du Volcan in Bourg Murat. Stop at the Belvedere de Grand Bassin for a panoramic photo. Stop at St Philippe, the Garden of Perfumes and Spices. Stops at the wild beaches of Grand Anse and Manapany les Bains.
Places of interest : JARDIN DES PARFUMS ET DES ÉPICES
On the road with 400 bends....
Steps: Cilaos
Direction the circus of Cilaos through the city of Saint-Pierre. Located at the foot of the highest peaks of Reunion Island, Cilaos offers an unforgettable sight and spectacle. After a short stop at the Saint-Pierre market, visit the rum museum located in the heart of the Isautier distillery, it is the oldest family distillery on the island, founded in 1845. Stop at the picturesque village of Entre-Deux, which has retained its architectural authenticity. Road to the Circus and village of Cilaos from Saint-Louis by the road to the "400 bends".
The West Coast
Steps: Cilaos
Cilaos, located at an average altitude of 1,300 metres, is a spa, sports and agricultural town, and it is here that we find the highest vineyards in France. Remember to have lunch on the spot or buy lenses very rich in iron, they are very famous. From the site of La Roche Merveilleuse we overlook the whole circus. Before arriving in Saint-Leu, stop at Trou du Souffleur and its surprising geysers! In St-Leu visit the Stella Matutina Museum, the Kélonia Marine Turtle Study Centre and the Conservatoire Botanique des Mascarins.
Places of interest : KÉLONIA - L'OBSERVATOIRE DES TORTUES MARINES
In the Saint-Gilles region
After the unforgettable views of the Cirque de Mafate and its 9,000 hectares of land, 27 km away, the road is lined with geranium, purple, pink or white fields. They like it here and make it known in an exuberant way. If you are in the area on a Friday, the Saint-Paul fairground market is a must. Vanilla, rums, Malagasy tablecloths, naive embroideries, homemade charcuterie, hats and bags made of woven cowhide, so many gift ideas for souvenirs.
Return to Saint-Denis
Another 50 short kilometres from Saint-Gilles along the coast to St-Denis. Depending on flight schedules, departure for the airport, return of the vehicle and flight to the Metropolis
