6 Days • 5 Nights
Reunion Mafate Trek: The Roadless Cirque
Tour Includes
About the Trip
Trip Highlights
- Trekking the remote, roadless Cirque of Mafate is the extraordinary heart of this journey. Mafate is one of the most extraordinary places on earth, a vast mountain amphitheatre ringed by soaring peaks, accessible only on foot or by helicopter, with no roads or cars. You trek through its heart from hamlet to hamlet, across spectacular trails amid jagged peaks, deep ravines and lush forests, taking in breathtaking views and a profound sense of remoteness and wilderness. The remoteness and beauty are extraordinary. Trekking the remote, roadless Cirque of Mafate, from hamlet to hamlet amid soaring peaks and deep ravines.
- Staying in simple, welcoming mountain gites is a rewarding highlight. In Mafate, there are no hotels, only simple, welcoming mountain gites (lodges) run by the hamlets' Creole families. You stay in these gites, sharing hearty home-cooked Creole meals, experiencing the warm hospitality of the mountain people, and sleeping amid the profound silence and starry skies of the remote cirque. The simplicity and warmth are rewarding. Staying in simple, welcoming mountain gites run by Creole families, sharing hearty meals and warm hospitality amid the profound silence of the cirque, is a rewarding and authentic highlight of this Mafate trek.
- Breathtaking views of jagged peaks and deep ravines are a spectacular highlight. The Cirque of Mafate is ringed by some of Reunion's most spectacular peaks, including the Piton des Neiges massif, the Gros Morne, and the dramatic ramparts, with deep ravines, lush forests and tiny hamlets clinging to the slopes. As you trek, you take in breathtaking views at every turn, across the vast amphitheatre, to the peaks and passes, and down the dramatic ravines. The views and scenery are spectacular. Taking in breathtaking views of jagged peaks, deep ravines and the vast amphitheatre as you trek.
- The timeless Creole life of the roadless hamlets is a fascinating highlight. Mafate's tiny hamlets, La Nouvelle, Marla, Roche Plate, Grand Place and others, are home to a few hundred people living a remarkable, timeless Creole life, with no roads or cars, supplied by helicopter and mule, connected only by trails. You experience this extraordinary way of life, meeting the mountain people and glimpsing a profound remoteness rarely found today. The remoteness and culture are fascinating. Experiencing the timeless Creole life of Mafate's roadless hamlets, connected only by trails, is a fascinating and moving highlight of this Mafate trek in Reunion.
- Expert mountain guiding and a genuine wilderness adventure make this deeply rewarding. Trekking Mafate is a genuine wilderness adventure, and your expert mountain guide leads you safely through the spectacular but demanding terrain, sharing the routes, history, nature and Creole culture of the cirque, and ensuring a rewarding, safe trek. The guiding and adventure are deeply rewarding. Expert mountain guiding through the spectacular, demanding terrain of Mafate, sharing its routes, nature and culture on a genuine wilderness adventure, makes this trek deeply rewarding, a key highlight of this journey through Reunion.
- Above all, this journey offers an unforgettable trek through one of the world's most extraordinary remote landscapes. The Cirque of Mafate is one of the most extraordinary places on earth, and this journey treks through its heart. Over six days you trek from hamlet to hamlet across the remote, roadless cirque, staying in simple mountain gites, taking in breathtaking views of jagged peaks and deep ravines, and experiencing the timeless Creole life of a place with no roads or cars, guided by an expert mountain guide. The combination of a remote, roadless wilderness, spectacular scenery, simple mountain gites and timeless Creole life makes this an extraordinary trek.
Day by Day
A detailed day-by-day plan for this 6-day journey.
Your Mafate trek begins as your flight arrives at Roland Garros Airport near Saint-Denis, where you are met and transferred to your hotel on the west coast. Reunion is one of the world's great hiking islands, and the Cirque of Mafate, which you trek over the coming days, is one of the most extraordinary places on earth. Spend the rest of the day settling in and relaxing after your journey, perhaps taking a first swim in the turquoise lagoon or relaxing at your hotel. This evening, your guide talks through the trek ahead, and you savour Creole cuisine. As you settle in, the anticipation of trekking the remote, roadless cirque works its magic. Rest well, ready to trek into the extraordinary Cirque of Mafate tomorrow.
Today you trek into the remote, roadless Cirque of Mafate. You transfer to the trailhead, high in the mountains (at the Col des Boeufs or from Maido), and, with your expert mountain guide, begin trekking into the extraordinary cirque, descending spectacular trails amid soaring peaks, deep ravines and lush forests, with breathtaking views opening at every turn. You reach a tiny Creole hamlet such as La Nouvelle, with no roads or cars, and settle into a simple, welcoming mountain gite. The remoteness and beauty are extraordinary. As the sun sets over the cirque, you share a hearty home-cooked Creole meal at the gite, experiencing warm mountain hospitality. As you settle in amid the profound silence and starry skies, the magic of Mafate works its spell. Rest well in the remote cirque, ready to trek deeper tomorrow.
Today you trek deeper into the spectacular heart of Mafate. With your guide, you trek from your hamlet across the cirque to another, along spectacular trails amid jagged peaks, deep ravines and lush forests, taking in breathtaking views and a profound sense of remoteness and wilderness. You pass through tiny Creole hamlets, meeting the mountain people and glimpsing their timeless way of life, and take in the extraordinary scenery of the vast amphitheatre. The trekking and scenery are spectacular. As the sun sets over the cirque, you reach a mountain gite and share a hearty Creole meal, experiencing warm hospitality amid the profound silence. As you settle in beneath the starry mountain skies, the magic of Mafate lingers. Rest well in the remote cirque, ready to trek more tomorrow.
Today you trek to spectacular viewpoints and more of Mafate's hamlets. With your guide, you trek to breathtaking viewpoints over the cirque, perhaps to a pass or peak with sweeping views across the vast amphitheatre and to the surrounding cirques, and explore more of the tiny Creole hamlets, experiencing their extraordinary, timeless roadless life. You take in the spectacular scenery, lush forests and profound remoteness of the heart of Mafate. The viewpoints and remoteness are spectacular. As the sun sets over the cirque, you reach a mountain gite and share a final hearty Creole meal in the cirque, experiencing warm hospitality amid the silence. As you settle in beneath the starry skies, the magic of Mafate lingers. Rest well in the remote cirque, ready to trek out tomorrow.
Today you trek out of the extraordinary Cirque of Mafate and return to the coast. With your guide, you trek out of the cirque, ascending spectacular trails with final breathtaking views back over the roadless amphitheatre, jagged peaks and tiny hamlets you have explored, to the trailhead high in the mountains. You then transfer down to the west coast, where you settle into your hotel by the turquoise lagoon, a comfortable contrast after the remote cirque. The trek and views are spectacular. As the sun sets over the ocean, you savour the glorious colours, reflecting on your extraordinary trek. This evening, savour Creole cuisine, reflecting on the remote beauty and timeless life of Mafate. Rest well by the lagoon, the extraordinary cirque of Mafate vivid in your memory, ahead of your departure tomorrow.
After a final morning on the west coast, perhaps a last swim in the turquoise lagoon, you journey to Roland Garros Airport near Saint-Denis for your onward international departure. You leave having trekked one of the most extraordinary and remote landscapes on earth, the roadless Cirque of Mafate, from hamlet to hamlet across the vast amphitheatre, staying in simple mountain gites, taking in breathtaking views of jagged peaks and deep ravines, and experiencing the timeless Creole life of a place with no roads or cars. The images stay vivid long after you land, the vast, roadless amphitheatre, the soaring peaks and deep ravines, the tiny Creole hamlets, and the warm gite hospitality amid profound silence. Mafate offers a genuine wilderness and cultural adventure in one of the world's most extraordinary remote landscapes, and you depart deeply moved, already dreaming of a return to the dramatic heart of Reunion.
Where You Will Travel
What's inside the package?
Inclusions
- 5 nights accommodation (west-coast hotels and Mafate gites), with half board in Mafate
- Airport and land transfers
- Guided tours, hikes and excursions as per itinerary with expert local guides
- Services of expert local guides as per itinerary
- Expert mountain guiding, a multi-day guided trek through the Cirque of Mafate, gite stays with meals, and trailhead transfers
Exclusions
- International airfare
- Visa or tourist card fees where applicable
- Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
- Some lunches and hiking equipment where not specified
- Optional helicopter flights and tips for guides
- Meals not mentioned in the itinerary or inclusions
- Drinks unless specifically stated
- Optional excursions and experiences
- Personal expenses and gratuities
- Anything not specifically mentioned under Package Inclusions
Know when to go.
- Visa & entry: Reunion is a French overseas department in the EU; entry rules follow those of France, and many nationalities can visit visa-free for short stays with a passport valid for the trip (note Reunion is not in the Schengen Area, so requirements can differ). We confirm the exact process for your nationality before travel
- Currency: The currency is the Euro (EUR); cards are widely accepted at hotels, restaurants and shops, but carry some cash for markets, small guesthouses (gites), mountain villages and rural areas. ATMs are available in towns; Reunion is a modern, well-developed French department
- Best time to visit: The cooler, drier winter (roughly April to November) is ideal for hiking and touring, with clearer mountain weather; the humpback-whale season runs about June to October. The summer (December to March) is hotter and wetter with a cyclone risk, though the coast remains warm; mountain weather can change fast year-round
- Hiking & the volcano: Reunion is a world-class hiking island; bring good boots, warm and waterproof layers (mountains are cool and weather changes fast, and Piton des Neiges is over 3,000m), and start early. Access to Piton de la Fournaise volcano depends on its activity and official rules; we follow current guidance for safe, rewarding visits
- Mafate & the cirques: The remote Cirque of Mafate is accessible only on foot or by helicopter, with stays in mountain gites (lodges); Cilaos and Salazie are reached by dramatic, winding mountain roads. We arrange guided hikes, gite stays, transfers and, where wished, scenic helicopter flights for an unforgettable mountain experience
- Language & driving: French is the language and Reunion Creole is widely spoken; some English is spoken in tourism, and our guides assist throughout. Driving is on the right, and mountain roads are steep and winding; we arrange private transfers and guides. Reunion blends French and Creole culture, with excellent cuisine
- Health & safety: Reunion is a safe French department with no malaria, though mosquito-borne dengue and chikungunya can occur, so use repellent. The tropical sun and high-altitude UV are strong, so bring sun protection; heed swimming-safety advice on some coasts (shark-safe swimming is within the protected lagoons and marine reserve). Take comprehensive travel insurance
- Power & getting around: Touring combines private vehicles and guided hikes, with some long, scenic mountain drives; Mafate is on foot or by helicopter. Power is 230V with European type C/E plugs, so bring an adapter. Reunion offers dramatic mountains, an active volcano, lagoon beaches and rich Creole culture in a compact, spectacular island
Frequently Asked Questions
How demanding is the Mafate trek, and what fitness is needed?
The Mafate trek is a genuine mountain trek, demanding good fitness and comfort with several hours of hiking each day, including significant ascents and descents on steep, uneven mountain trails, with a daypack (main luggage can sometimes be sent ahead by helicopter). It suits keen, reasonably fit walkers. Our expert guide sets a manageable pace and tailors the route to your group. The reward, one of the world's most extraordinary remote landscapes, is immense. We advise on preparation, boots and gear.
What are the Mafate gites like?
Mafate's gites are simple, welcoming mountain lodges run by the hamlets' Creole families, offering basic but comfortable dormitory or small-room accommodation, hearty home-cooked Creole meals, and warm hospitality, all supplied by helicopter and mule as there are no roads. They are not luxurious, but the experience, sharing meals and stories with mountain families amid profound silence and starry skies, is authentic, moving and deeply rewarding, part of what makes trekking Mafate so extraordinary. We arrange the gites and meals throughout.
What meals are included?
Daily breakfast is included, along with any meals named in the itinerary (such as dinners at mountain gites on multi-day hikes, or half board at some hotels). Reunion has superb Creole and French cuisine, from cari (Creole curries) and rougail to fresh fish, tropical fruit and French pastries and wine, and we advise on the best board basis and dining, often leaving meals free to explore the island's excellent restaurants and Creole tables d'hotes.
Are the tours and hikes guided?
Yes, the touring and hikes are led by expert local guides who bring the volcano, cirques, waterfalls and Creole culture vividly to life and ensure safety in the mountains, and touring is by private vehicle. Reunion is a world-class hiking and adventure island, and guided experiences, from volcano hikes and cirque treks to canyoning and paragliding, greatly enrich and enable the adventure. We tailor the guiding and pace to you.
Do I need a visa for Reunion?
Reunion is a French overseas department in the EU, and entry follows French rules; many nationalities visit visa-free for short stays with a valid passport (note Reunion is not in the Schengen Area, so requirements can differ from mainland France). We confirm the exact, current requirements for your nationality before travel, so entry is smooth. Reunion is a modern, well-connected French department.
Is Reunion safe to visit?
Reunion is a safe, modern French department, welcoming and well-developed, with excellent infrastructure and no malaria. Standard precautions apply, as anywhere. In the mountains, we use expert guides and follow weather and volcano guidance for safety; on the coast, we advise swimming within the protected lagoons and marine reserve (which are shark-safe). The island is easy, rewarding and spectacular to explore, blending French and Creole culture.
When is the best time to visit?
The cooler, drier winter (roughly April to November) is ideal for hiking and touring, with clearer mountain weather, and includes the humpback-whale season (June to October). The summer (December to March) is hotter and wetter with a cyclone risk, though the coast stays warm and the island lush. Mountain weather changes fast year-round. We advise on the best timing for your interests, whether hiking, whales or beaches.
Can the itinerary be customised?
Absolutely. We can adjust the balance of volcano and cirque hiking, canyoning, paragliding and adventure, lagoon beaches, Creole culture and relaxation, add a Mafate trek or helicopter flight, whale watching in season, and tailor the pace and difficulty to you. Reunion offers dramatic mountains, an active volcano, beaches and rich culture, and every journey is tailored to create your ideal adventure and discovery of this spectacular island.
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