Exotic walking tour on the island of Reunion
Elamus+ is making a nice treat for hikers this year too: a cross-country hike across the island of Réunion, with its wonderful untouched nature. It is a hike of about 160 km, 10,000 meters of ascent and descent, and we walk from the north to the south of the island through a real jungle.
Réunion is a volcanic island, about 800 kilometers east of Madagascar, in the middle of the Indian Ocean. The island is an overseas region of France, which is part of the European Union. Reunion is home to people of Malagasy, African, Asian and European descent, which means a rich and interesting culture, which is evident in the architecture, local life and food.
highlights of the hike
On the hike, in addition to the jungle typical of the region, we will also see unique moon gardens, dense pine forests, streams, waterfalls, and plains. Réunion is known for its irresistibly beautiful nature. The hiking trail also includes The highest peak in Réunion, extinct volcano Piton de la Neige (3069 m), from where you can enjoy a breathtaking view. This visit to the summit is a pleasant walk (about 3 hours), but you have to take into account that we will get up before dawn, because admiring the sunrise from the top of the volcano with a 360° view is worth a short nap!
We will also hike to one of the biggest attractions on the island – Piton de la Fournaise. It is a volcano that erupts almost every year, offering spectacular fireworks-like spectacles that residents can admire without fear of danger. Most often, eruptions manifest themselves as long streams of liquid lava that extend for several kilometers. Even if we do not see the eruption of our volcano, the area around the volcano is still an impressive sight for any nature lover.
On the hike we will also see the beautiful island of Réunion in the northwest Mafate Circus't, which is completely surrounded by mountains. This crisp and wild circus is the only one of the island's three natural amphitheaters that can only be reached on foot or by helicopter. The lack of cars and paved roads makes it a favorite spot for hikers.
But the hike also offers a feast for the eyes - let's also take a look at, for example Circus of Salazie, the largest and greenest of the island's three natural amphitheaters. It's like a long, deep canyon surrounded by more than 100 waterfalls. There we also see a waterfall known as Le Voile de la Mariée, whose many water drops are said to resemble the tulle of a wedding dress.
And these lovely little villages hidden in the jungle, between the mountains, with their daily life also greatly enrich our hiking days.
Overview - short & sweet
Goal: Explore Reunion Island by hiking and climb the highest peak on the island Snape des Neiges (3069 m)
Dates: 24.10 - 03.11.2027
Activity: hiking
Adventure guide: Sergei Kleidov
Technical difficulty level: 1/5 (suitable for beginners)
Physical difficulty: 3/5 (you have to walk about 20 km per day on uneven ground, carry a backpack)
Group size: min 8, max 12
TOUR PRICE:
Early bird (until 31.01.2027) — €2190
Regular rate (01.02-30.06.2027) — €2410
Less dizzy chicken (from 01.07.2027) — €2650
NB! Elamus+ community members get a 5–10% discount. Read more and check your discount eligibility. community members page.
Travel cost
Price includes:
All travel arrangements and Elamus+ Estonian-speaking tour guide (with 5000+ m of experience)
All local transportation, including airport transfers, according to the flight schedule proposed by the group leader
All overnight stays throughout the trip (in a hotel or guesthouse in the city and in huts during the mountain hike)
Breakfast and dinner on hiking days (except one dinner on the hiking trail in the town of Cilaos) and breakfast on city days (except on the day of arrival)
Festive dinner at the end of the hike
Stylish Elamus+ sports shirt for each participant
Group pharmacy and health assessment on the mountain
Elamus+ mountaineering preparation package worth €250:
personal 30 min online call with the tour guide;
winter hiking training before the trip*;
Summer trial trip/training before the trip*.
*Held once a year — participation depends on the time of registration.
The price does not include:
Flight tickets Tallinn - Saint Denis - Tallinn (from €1000)
Insurance (travel insurance and MANDATORY sports insurance suitable for mountain hikes)
Personal hiking equipment
Lunches and snacks on the hike, dinners on city days (except the closing dinner)
Extra activities and transportation for them (or if you want to do/see anything else)
Personal hygiene products and medications
Registering for the tour
Before registering, please read travel conditions. To secure your place on the trip, you must pay a deposit of 20% of the trip cost within 3 business days of receiving the confirmation and invoice by e-mail. If there are less than 30 days left until the trip, the total cost (100%) must be paid. Read more: frequently asked questions ja package tour information sheet.
Schedule and equipment
hiking days
We will take 8 days (7 nights) to walk diagonally across Réunion.
We hike about 20 km a day (well, some days it might be a few kilometers more) and we estimate that it will take 7-9 hours.
We carry our own backpacks during the hike, but there is no need to take sleeping gear, as we will be staying in mountain huts. And luckily the temperatures are pleasant, which makes it possible to keep the weight of the backpack reasonable.
During the hike, we will stay in cabins in the middle of this wonderful nature – there are probably no other places with such beautiful views! It is also a true traveler's experience – other hikers with their adventure stories, friendly owners and truly refreshing meals will give you memories for a long time. And such luxury is necessary so that your legs want to continue working with you the next day. 😊
We will be treated to breakfast and dinner at the mountain hut. However, everyone will have to take care of their own lunch snacks.
The hike does not require any special equipment - you should have comfortable hiking shoes that support your feet when walking on uneven terrain, light rainwear, a long-sleeved shirt and long-legged pants, as there are sections of the trail where the path may be overgrown, and a hat. Hiking poles will probably also be useful, as you will be wearing a backpack and the ground is uneven. We will discuss equipment in more detail with the hikers who have already registered. Vedur has been exploring the trail himself, so he has some recommendations. :)
We will be hiking at the end of October, which is one of the best times to hike in Réunion in terms of weather: during this time the days are pleasantly warm (25 C), the evenings and nights are cooler, and the chance of rain is the lowest. We will also be most likely to avoid muddy sections of the trail.
before and after the hike
Upon arrival, we will have one night at the hotel to shake off travel fatigue and get used to the pleasant warm climate. After the hike, we will have two more nights at the hotel - we will use this time to get to know the local life. After the hike, we will also enjoy a joint final dinner with local delicacies.
If you wish, you can extend your stay on the island or even fly to the neighboring island of Mauritius to enjoy the beach for a few days. The locomotive will also kindly share ideas for how to decorate your extended vacation.
NB! There may be minor changes to the schedule and planned activities - for example, due to weather and conditions or passenger requests.
Travel documents, Covid and footnote information
The participant is responsible for the validity and orderliness of their travel documents. The following documents are required for this trip:
passport (must be valid for at least 6 months after the end of the trip);
sports insurance/additional insurance, which is suitable for this mountain hike;
travel insurance (including travel disruption, baggage, medical assistance).
We recommend that you take out travel insurance immediately after receiving confirmation of your travel registration so that you are also covered for longer-term health problems!
Read more also Elamus Pluss OÜ travel conditions
Don't worry, let's do it!
Is this hike suitable for me?
Absolutely! But in order to make the hike enjoyable, it is still recommended to invest in preparation. An active and sporty lifestyle is helpful for this hike, and to enjoy the hike, the prerequisite is that you like walking. You will be able to enjoy the hike better if you practice longer hikes in Estonia. When registering for this hike, you will also get access to mountaineering lectures and an invitation to glacier training, but these are more of the knowledge you would need for another of your future adventures. Elamus+ However, a test drive is undoubtedly a good helper.
But I don't have any hiking gear, who can afford to buy it?!
Good equipment helps you enjoy the hike, but you don't really need anything special for a hike in Réunion. Light, rainproof clothing is probably the best special equipment to have on hand. The guide, who has inspected the trails with his own eyes, will also give you advice on equipment. Feel free to ask!
Okay, I registered. Now what?
To make the hike more enjoyable, we recommend participating in our preparatory events before the trip - it's also part of the fun. Elamus+ also organizes preparatory hiking training and, if desired, we can provide advice on suitable insurance and equipment, etc.
But in principle, you can also just keep an eye on the group chats, buy a ticket at the right time, and show up at the airport with your gear.
Read more also frequently asked questions.
