Itinerary
- Day 1
Saint-Denis to La-Saline-Les-Bains
Your guide picks you up at Saint-Denis airport and takes you down to La-Saline-Les-Bains, a coastal town on the west side of the island where you'll be staying in a lagoon-front hotel. This first day is fairly relaxed, so you can try optional snorkeling if the water looks good, take a walk through the village, or just catch the sunset from somewhere quiet. Pack only what you need for hiking since your main luggage will get sent ahead to Cilaos.
Optional Activities
- Snorkeling at La-Saline-Les-Bains
- Stroll through the village
- Watch the romantic sunset
Landmarks La-Saline-Les-Bains 
- Day 2
Mafate Valley Trek Begins
You'll drive to Sans Souci village where the actual trekking starts. The route follows an old aqueduct through the mountains as you gain elevation, and you'll start seeing into the Mafate valley basin. After stopping for lunch and dropping down to a river, you climb up to Grand Place mountain hut for the night. It's a solid day of hiking with really good views as your reward.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch break during trek)
Included Activities
- Trekking from Sans Souci to Grand Place with guide
Landmarks Mafate Valley Riviere des Orangers Riviere des Galets 
- Day 3
Mafate Valley to Roche Plate
This one's more challenging, starting with a steep drop down to Riviere des Galets, then a tough climb up to Ilet des Orangers. You'll get chances to cool off in natural pools along the way. Later you'll hike through a gorge and heathland before hitting the rocky ridge at La Breche, where you can see how far you've come. Then it's down to Roche Plate mountain village to sleep.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch break during trek)
Included Activities
- Trekking from Ilet des Orangers to Roche Plate with guide
Landmarks Riviere des Galets Ilet des Orangers La Breche Roche Plate - Day 4
Mafate to Marla
After breakfast with mountain views, you head toward Les Trois Roches waterfall, walking through heather and ferns along the western cliffs of the Cirque de Mafate. Lunch happens at Roche Plate with a swim in the rock pools to refresh. From there you follow the Galets river, cross it one more time, and climb up to Marla where you'll spend the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at mountain hut), Lunch (Lunch break at Roche Plate with dip in rock pools)
Included Activities
- Trekking from Roche Plate to Marla with guide
Landmarks Les Trois Roches Waterfall Cirque de Mafate Roche Plate Riviere des Galets 
- Day 5
Mafate to Cilaos
This day takes you out of the Mafate basin using scenic paths through alpine meadows where mimosa flowers are blooming. You'll climb steeply up switchbacks to Col du Taïbit pass at 2081 m/6,827 feet where the views of Cilaos valley really open up. After that it's basically a descent down into Bras Rouge river valley, then you can cool off at Bras Rouge waterfall in the emerald pools before the final push up to Cilaos for the night.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch break during trek)
Included Activities
- Trekking from Marla to Cilaos with guide
Landmarks Col du Taïbit Bras Rouge Waterfall Cilaos 
- Day 6
Cilaos Rest Day
You get a full rest day in Cilaos, a town with colonial Creole buildings that used to be a fancy spa resort back in the day. Wander around at your own pace, check out the embroidery house if that interests you, or if you've got energy left, you can rent a mountain bike or try canyoning. Mostly it's about recovering and taking it easy before the next stage.
Optional Activities
- Visit Maison de la Broderie embroidery house
- Mountain bike rental
- Canyoning
Landmarks Maison de la Broderie Cilaos - Day 7
Cilaos to Caverne Dufour
Start your day at the local market in Cilaos, where you can pick up some supplies and get a feel for the area. After that, head to Le Bloc picnic area to begin your trek. The hike takes you through a forest with lots of ferns, orchids, and parasitic plants as you make your way toward Caverne Dufour mountain hut, which sits at the base of Piton des Neiges. You'll be staying at the hut overnight, so keep in mind it has shared facilities.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit local market in Cilaos
- Guided trek to Caverne Dufour mountain hut
Landmarks Piton des Neiges Caverne Dufour Cilaos 
- Day 8
Piton des Neiges Summit and Descent to Salazie
If you're up for it, there's an optional pre-dawn hike to the summit of Piton des Neiges at 3070 m/10,072 feet to catch the sunrise from the top. After that you head back for breakfast, then continue trekking through the heathland along the southeastern ridge of Cirque des Salazie. You'll drop into the third basin and reach Hell-Bourg, which is known as one of France's most beautiful villages.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at mountain hut after summit descent)
Included Activities
- Trekking through Cirque des Salazie to Hell-Bourg
Optional Activities
- Optional summit ascent of Piton des Neiges (3070 m) with sunrise
Landmarks Piton des Neiges Cirque des Salazie Hell-Bourg 
- Day 9
Hell-Bourg to Piton de la Fournaise
Starting from Hell-Bourg, you trek across the eastern side of Salazie valley with nice views of green plains and waterfalls everywhere. The Plateau de Belouve gives you views of the surrounding cirques and Piton des Neiges. You'll see Trou de Fer viewpoint where a 250 m waterfall drops into the landscape. Then a vehicle transfer takes you through the Foret de Bebour jungle to your mountain hut at Piton de la Fournaise.
Included Activities
- Trekking from Hell-Bourg to Plateau de Belouve
- Visit Trou de Fer waterfall gorge viewpoint
Landmarks Cirque de Salazie Plateau de Belouve Piton des Neiges Trou de Fer Waterfall Bras de Caverne Foret de Bebour Piton de la Fournaise 
- Day 10
Piton de la Fournaise Crater Trek
Early morning descent takes you down the Rempart to explore the crater and lava fields of Piton de la Fournaise. You'll walk across the cooled lava, pass the Ant Lion crater and a lava grotto at La Chapelle de Rosemont. The Dolomieu crater rim gives you dramatic views looking down into the crater itself. After you return to the volcano hut, a vehicle takes you back to La Saline-les-Bains for the night.
Included Activities
- Trekking to Piton de la Fournaise crater with guide
Landmarks Piton de la Fournaise Rempart Ant Lion Crater La Chapelle de Rosemont Dolomieu Crater - Day 11
La-Saline-Les-Bains Beach Relaxation
Now that the trekking is done, you spend the day relaxing at the beach in La-Saline-Les-Bains. Swim in the Indian Ocean, lie on the sand, or try a glass-bottom boat to see the reef. There are optional excursions available like the market in St. Paul, the Jardin d'Eden botanical garden, Kelonia turtle museum, or a sugar cane museum if you feel like doing more. End your evening at one of the local bars and restaurants.
Optional Activities
- Glass-bottom boat reef exploration
- Snorkeling excursion (at own expense)
- Diving excursion (at own expense)
- Market in St. Paul
- Jardin d'Eden botanical garden
- Kélonia turtle museum
- Sugar cane museum
- Beach swimming and relaxation
Landmarks La-Saline-Les-Bains Beach St. Paul Market Jardin d'Eden Kélonia Turtle Museum - Day 12
Departure Day
Your final day is unscheduled and you can move at whatever pace works for you. Depending when your flight leaves, you'll get a transfer to the airport to head home, or you can arrange a personal extension if you want more time on the island.
