Update: I did finally visit Reunion Island in December 2015. Some expectations were met, but the trip was not without its challenges. Here’s my article on it: Reunion Island as a summer destination?
Initial Travel Plan:
St Louis / Cilaos / Mafate / Hell Bourg / Cilaos / St Pierre / St Gilles / St Denis
Arrive in St Denis Airport (north of the island) and take a bus to St Pierre in the south-west. 2 nights in St Pierre. Leave some luggage in St Pierre and then begin the GR R1 hiking expedition in the central part of the island.
3 Days Hiking from Cilaos through Mafate to Hell-Bourg. then 3 more days of hiking from Hell-Bourg to Cilaos where I ascend/descend Volcano Piton Des Neiges on the last day. Two nights in Cilaos. Then I head back to the ocean town of St Pierre for 3 more nights. In St Pierre I plan a day trip to the active volcano Pite de la Fournaise (not sure how?). I also plan to experience canyoning in one of the rivers (perhaps Cilaos on 26 Dec). I then head to St Gilles Les Bains for 4 nights. I’ve selected a location near La Saline-les-Bains which is near the lagoon that is open for swimming. My final night will be in St Denis, near the airport.
| Start | End | Accommodation | Distance / Route Info / Description | ||
| 17-Dec | Thursday | Johannesburg / St Denis | St Pierre | Lindsey Hôtel
R1180 p.n (booked) |
Depart JHB 1130, arrive Reunion 1720. Shuttle to St Denis L’Ocean Terminal. Get on Car Jaune Line 02 from St Denis to St Pierre, 1 hr 30 min. |
| 18-Dec | Friday | St Pierre | St Pierre | Lindsey Hôtel
R1180 p.n (booked) |
Day in St Pierre. |
| 19-Dec | Saturday | St Pierre/ Cilaos | La Nouvelle | Relais de Mafate (Le)
R255 per night dorm or EUR40 double (booked) |
Line 60 St Louis to Cilaos or GR R1/R2 (D242).
Buses depart St Louis 05:30 06:30 07:35 09:15… (1h21m journey to Cilaos Ville) |
| 20-Dec | Sunday | La Nouvelle | Hell Bourg
(No accommodation in Grand Illet) |
Booking in Hell Bourg, L’Orchidee Rose, $78 (booked)
(no accommodation available in Grand Illet) La Tourte Dorée B&B (La Nouvelle), R525 per night |
Hike 2 hours, 4.6km La Nouvelle to Col des Boeufs.
Hike 3 hours, 10km Col des boeufs to Grand Ilet. Hike 5 hours, 18km Grand Îlet to Hell-Bourg or 5 hours Grand Ilet to Salazie
Alternative: Bus from Col des Bouefs to Le Belier (3km from Grand Ilet) at 10:35am and 4:50pm on Sunday. See Line 82C schedule. Alternative Bus 82 from Le Belier / Grand Ilet (10 mins later) to Salazie (Times: 05:47 07:02 08:37 09:20 12:17 14:07 05:47 16:57 ) Bus 83 from Salazie to Hell-Bourg (times: 6:45 8:05 10:10 12:10 13:55 15:05 16:50 18:20) |
| 21-Dec | Monday | Hell Bourg | Hell-Bourg | Le Relais Des Cimes – Hell Bourg R1053 per night (booked) |
|
| 22-Dec | Tuesday | Hell-Bourg | Belouve | Mountain Gite de Belouve
R270 per night (booked) |
Hike: 2 hours, 3,6km Hell-Bourg to Gite Bélouve, +600m altitude. Hike 3-4 hours. 13 km return trip from Belouve to Trou Der Fer to Belouve |
| 23-Dec | Wednesday | Belouve | Cavern Dufour | Mountain Gite Cavern Dufour
R285 per night (booked)
|
Hike 3hours, 6km Gîte de Bélouve to l’intersection de Cap Anglais (Caverne Mussard). Hike 1h30, 4km From l’intersection de Cap Anglais to Gîte de la Caverne Dufour. |
| 24-Dec | Thursday | Caven Dufour / Piton Des Naiges | Cilaos | Otroiza Hotel
R1209 (booked) |
Hike 3 hours, 6km (ascent/descent: 600m), Cavern Dufour to Piton Des Naiges summit and back. Hike 3,5hours, 10km Cavern Dufour to Cilaos. |
| 25-Dec | Friday | Cilaos | Cilaos | Hotel Des Neiges
R1384 p.n. (booked) |
Cilaos Masjid: Rue des Bons Enfants |
| 26-Dec | Saturday | Cilaos | St Pierre | Lindsey Hôtel
R1180 p.n. (booked) |
? Canyoning tour in Cilaos |
| 27-Dec | Sunday | St Pierre | St Pierre or
Gite Pite de la Fournaise |
Lindsey Hôtel / Gite Volcan
R1180 p.n. (booked) |
Line 60 Cilaos to St Louis. Line 02 St Louis to St Pierre.Car Jaune Line S2: From St Pierre, Piton de la Fournaise via Bourg Murator Helicopter Tour (180 EUR to 259 EUR) of Piton de la Fournaise |
| 28-Dec | Monday | St Pierre | St Pierre | Lindsey Hôtel
R1180 p.n. |
|
| 29-Dec | Tuesday | St Pierre | St Gilles |
St Gilles Beach flat (AirBnB) -R1200 p.n. |
|
| 30-Dec | Wednesday | St Gilles | St Gilles | Beach flat (AirBnB)
-R1200 p.n. |
St Gilles Les Bains market |
| 31-Dec | Thursday | St Gilles | St Gilles | Beach flat (AirBnB)
-R1200 p.n. |
|
| 01-Jan | Friday | St Gilles | St Gilles | Beach flat (AirBnB)
-R1200 p.n. |
St-Paul’s fairground market.
Masdjid St Paul. |
| 02-Jan | Saturday | St Gilles | St Denis | Hotel Austral
R1380 per night (booked) |
Spend day in St Denis.
Noor-e-Islam mosque (oldest on the island) |
| 03-Jan | Sunday | St Denis | Johannesburg | – | Shuttle from L’Ocean Terminal St Denis at 0600am. Depart St Denis Airport 0805am |
Questions:
- To get to Piton de la Fournaise I will take the bus S2 (schedule here) from St Pierre to Bourg Murat). How far (distance / time) to the trail to Piton de la Fournaise? I am not sure how to get there with public transport and what routes to take….. Do I have to stay in Gite Volcan? Or should I consider a helicopter tour instead (are there operators with discounted rates?)
- Will the Bus 80 from St Louis to Cilaos stop along the D242 route for the trail to Marla / La Nouvelle, or do I need to get another bus (82?) from Cilaos? Which stop do I get off at?
- To get to La Nouvelle from D242 do I stick to the GR R1 trail (go past Marla)?
- Is the water safe to drink on the trail?
- Does the hiking itinerary (with distances and timings) seem correct – Belouve to Trou Der Fer seems to be long. Also uncertain if Cavern Dufour to Cilaos is 5km or 10km.
Estimated Cost
Flight Cost: R7103
Accommodation Cost for 17 nights: Estimated at R19000
Buses are approx EUR 5,00 per trip (I may be able to purchase 5 tickets for EUR 20). Budget 12 trips approx R1100.
Food cost budgeted at EUR 35 per day. Total for 17 nights: R10000 (estimate)
Other Activities: Canyoning: EUR 50 (or R950)