What to Do in Reunion Island: The Most Beautiful Landscapes and Unmissable Activities
As locals who have spent most of our lives on “l’île intense”, it’s a real challenge to sum up everything there is to do in La Réunion. Still, we’ll try to give you a clear, useful and authentic overview of the must-see places and experiences if you’re planning a trip to Reunion Island (places to visit, outdoor and cultural activities, accommodation…).
Of course, as travellers with a strong passion for hiking, outdoor adventures and nature, we do have our favourites… but we’ve made sure there’s something for everyone.
La Réunion Island, also known as “l’île intense”, truly lives up to its nickname. Between mountains, volcanoes, beaches, lagoons, local traditions and spectacular landscapes, everything is within easy reach. In a single day, you can watch the sunrise over Mafate, enjoy a breathtaking hike, and end the day with a cocktail in hand while watching the sun set over the ocean. If you’re looking for a trip packed with incredible scenery without spending all your time in the car, this is the perfect destination.
Summary: What to Do in La Réunion?
- Hiking & nature
- Other outdoor sports and activities
- The cirques (Mafate, Salazie et Cilaos)
- Beaches, snorkeling & water activities
- Boat trips (dolfins, whales, sunset cruises…)
- Local cultural experiences
- Highlights & must-see places
- Museums
- Accomodation: guesthouses, hotels & unusual stays…
- Practical information (budget, best time to visit, safety…)
Before You Start: A Quick Introduction to the Island
La Reunion is an island in the Indian Ocean covering 2,503 km², dominated by the Piton des Neiges, the highest peak in the Indian Ocean (3,069 m). We are French, nearly one million inhabitants, and yes – our capital is Paris, not Saint-Denis!
The island’s geography is truly unique: three cirques (Mafate, Salazie and Cilaos), an active volcano (Piton de la Fournaise), and highly contrasted regions — the beach-lined West, the wild South, the lush green East, the cultural North and the high plains. While La Réunion has beautiful beaches, it is above all famous for its cirques, which are real natural adventure playgrounds.
1. Hiking: The Best of La Réunion (Almost)!
If you love walking, get ready: La Réunion is a hiking paradise.
If you don’t… no worries, the rest of this list should still win you over!
For a truly immersive experience, we highly recommend the GR trails of La Réunion, which take anywhere from 3 to 12 days, depending on the route.
Otherwise, there are dozens of stunning day hikes all over the island.
Below are some hike ideas that can be done in one day or with an overnight stay in a mountain lodge (gîte).
Hiking ideas by difficulty level:
EASY
- Voile de la mariée (Salazie)
- Trou de Fer (Salazie)
- Puits Puits Ramon (Volcan)
- Bras de la Plaine (Entre-Deux)
- Ravine des 3 Bassins (Saint-Gilles)
MEDIUM
- La Chapelle (Cilaos)
- Grand Bassin (Tampon)
- Mafate (plusieurs entrées possibles)
- Grand Bénare (Maïdo)
- Piton de la Fournaise (Volcan)
- Takamaka (Plaine des Palmistes)
DIFFICULT
- Piton des Neiges (Cilaos)
- Tour de Cilaos (Cilaos)
- Roche Écrite par Dos d’Âne (Possession)
- Mafate (plusieurs entrées)
We strongly recommend checking out the website ” randopitons.re “(in french), which lists most hikes in La Réunion (duration, difficulty, type of terrain, etc.). It’s regularly updated and is an absolute goldmine of information.
👉 Always remember to check:
- the list of closed trails (ONF website)
- the weather forecast in La Réunion (météo website)
- your water supply, snacks, sun protection, rain jacket…
- and book your mountain lodges in advance, especially on weekends or during school holidays
Bivouacking is generally allowed in La Réunion (note that bivouacking is different from camping).
Please make sure to take everything back with you, whether it’s waste or not.
2. Outdoor Sports & Adventure Activities (Besides Hiking)
La Réunion is a huge natural playground. Here’s a non-exhaustive list of outdoor activities you can enjoy on the island (excluding beach activities):
👉 You can find our more detailed article on outdoor sports in La Réunion here.
- Canyoning: We’re lucky to have many spectacular canyoning spots on the island! It’s a fun way to explore places that would otherwise be inaccessible. There are several reliable providers — we usually go with Adrenalile. (Here’s our night canyoning experience under the full moon)
- Three Salazes ascent: A mix of hiking and climbing — not for those afraid of heights! Breathtaking views and an unforgettable experience.
- Paragliding: Usually in Saint-Leu, perfect for admiring the lagoon with your feet in the air.
(Article here in french) - Rafting on the Rivière des Marsouins: Super fun, especially after the rainy season.
- Kayaking: On the Sainte-Suzanne River (article in french), Étang de Saint-Paul — or at sea, of course.
- Helicopter flights: A once-in-a-lifetime memory if you have the budget (Mafate, Trou de Fer, volcano, lagoon…).
- Lava tunnels exploration: An experience you won’t have everywhere in the world — a must-do if you’re not claustrophobic.
- Vélo Péi: Combine sport and aperitifs in a great atmosphere! Anthony and Étienne are fantastic hosts (article in french).
- Tree-top adventure parks, rock climbing courses, bungee jumping, parasailing, alpine coaster, quad biking, musical hikes, tandem biking, mountain biking down Maïdo…
- Island loop: Of course, you can drive around the island (about 4 hours without stops, depending on traffic), but it’s even better by electric bike.
Here’s our article about cycling around La Réunion Island by e-bike in 4 days (article here).
Ideas of nice stops to do during a roadtrip in Reunion Island:
From West Coast to the South:
Plages de l’Ouest • Pointe au sel • Gouffre de L’Étang-Salé • Pointe du Diable • Bassin 18 • Manapany • Grande Anse • Langevin (and the Grand Galet waterfall) • Cap Jaune (Vincendot) • Cap Méchant • Route des Laves (and the Notre Dames des Laves chirch) • Bassin Bleu (Sainte-Anne) • Cascade Niagara • Le Barachois • L’Étang Saint-Paul et le moulin…
And inside the island:
Grand Étang • Plaine des Sables • Le Volcan • Pas de Bellecombe • Cratère Commerson • Piton de Bert • Descente de la Plaine des Palmistes • Takamaka and its waterfalls…
3. The Cirques: Mafate, Salazie and Cilaos
Mafate (Central Highlands)
Accessible only on foot or by helicopter, Mafate is the wild heart of the island. We talk about it in detail in our articles about the different GRR trails. The cirque is made up of many small hamlets (îlets) and is the perfect place to disconnect and recharge in nature.
There are several hiking access points to enter Mafate, including Rivière des Galets, Sans Souci, Col des Bœufs, Augustave, Scout, Taïbit, Maïdo – La Brèche, and more.
Cilaos (South)
Cilaos is reached via the famous Road of 400 Bends from Saint-Louis.
This charming mountain village is known for its thermal baths, vineyards, and hiking trails (Piton des Neiges, La Chapelle…). You can also explore the area by electric mountain bike towards Bras Sec and Îlet à Cordes, surrounded by lentil fields.
The atmosphere is very alpine, with local craft shops and small restaurants — perfect for a well-earned meal after a hike.
👉 Here’s our article on the must-see spots in the Cilaos cirque (in french), and here’s another one about relaxing at the Cilaos thermal baths (in french)!
Salazie (north)
Accessible from Saint-André or Sainte-Suzanne, Salazie is the greenest cirque on the island.
The road leading there is incredibly lush — straight out of Jurassic Park. Some unmissable villages include:
- Hell-Bourg: Beautiful Creole houses, Maison Folio, former thermal baths, and hikes towards Bélouve Lodge and Trou de Fer (more easily accessed by car via the plains). Here’s a short article about a weekend in Hell-Bourg.
- Grand-Îlet: A key starting point for hikes into Mafate via Col des Bœufs, Scout Trail, or Augustave Trail.
You can also find our article about a fun escape game to explore the village of Hell-Bourg (in french), and another one about a local “apéro maloya” experience (in french).
4. Beaches & Water Activities: Snorkeling, Paddleboarding and More
If you’re more of a coastal traveler, you’re in luck too!
The west coast beaches (La Saline, Trou d’Eau, Hermitage) are ideal for:
- Sunbathing (avoid the hottest hours and use ocean-friendly sunscreen),
- Snorkeling (mask and fins) — usually very rich in marine life, although sadly impacted by the last cyclone,
- Paddleboard, kayak (classic or transparent) and pedal boat rentals,
- Underwater scooter snorkeling tours,
- Scuba diving or introductory dives (most dive centers are located on the west coast, but you’ll also find some in Le Port or Saint-Pierre).
5. Boat Trips: Dolphins, Whales and Sunset Cruises
On boat trips, you can spot dolphins year-round, and humpback whales from June to September. A truly magical experience for marine life lovers.
We strongly recommend choosing operators who respect the cetacean approach charter — unfortunately, not all of them do.
Other options include:
- Sunset aperitif cruises on a catamaran,
- Party boat trips, especially on Le Maloya, the largest catamaran in the Indian Ocean.
6. Local Cultural Experiences
To discover the soul of La Réunion and truly immerse yourself in local culture, here are a few ideas:
- Meet locals!
- Creole cooking workshops for friendly and delicious moments. Check out: La Sirandane (Saint-Benoît), Doudou (Maïdo), Le Mazeniène (Saint-Pierre)…
- Creole nights at the Les Pat’Jaunes cabaret: even if you don’t speak Creole, the atmosphere is incredible — and the food is great! You’ll also discover the Yabs of La Reunion… no spoilers.
- Explore local flora in the island’s Creole gardens.
👉 Here’s our dedicated article on Creole gardens in La Réunion. - Local events and festivals: Chinese New Year, Dipavali, Guan Di, Cavadee, Fet Kaf, fire-walking ceremonies…
In this article, you’ll find a selection of activities to dive into local culture.
7. Highlights: Must-See Places and Experiences
Oh wow… this might be the hardest part of the article to write! But here’s a short list of things you should absolutely try to see or do during your stay in La Réunion, if you can:
- The diversity of landscapes: beaches, tropical forests, the Lava Road, waterfalls, a sunrise at Maïdo… and if you’re lucky, even a volcanic eruption.
- Religion and spirituality: discover the colorful world of Tamil and Chinese temples, as well as the incredible Notre-Dame des Laves Church in Sainte-Rose, miraculously spared by the 1977 lava flow.
- Wandering through local markets: one of the best ways to immerse yourself in the culture and pick up souvenirs. The most well-known (and touristy) markets are: Saint-Paul (Friday), Saint-Pierre (Saturday),
- Visiting one or more Creole gardens: a must for nature lovers. There are many beautiful Creole gardens showcasing the island’s rich plant life. See our dedicated article on Creole gardens in La Réunion.
- You’ll find more ideas above for must-see spots to discover during an island loop.
8. Museums & Cultural Visits
Here are a few really great museums and visits worth adding to your itinerary:
- Rum distilleries for rum lovers: Rivière du Mât, Distillerie de Savanna, Saga du Rhum, La Part des Anges…
- Kélonia Museum (sea turtles) and the Jardin des tortues.
- Stella Matutina, dedicated to the history of sugar cane (Saint-Leu).
- Volcano City (cité du Volcan), located on the road to the volcano.
- Le MADOI – the Museum of Decorative Arts of the Indian Ocean.
- Léon Dierx Museum (Saint-Denis).
9. Accommodation: Where to Stay in La Réunion
Depending on your travel style, you’ll find plenty of accommodation options on the island. When it comes to hotels and Airbnbs, we won’t be of much help – there’s something for every taste and every budget!
Bivouac / camping : of course, if you’re hiking, nothing beats a bivouac in Mafate or an overnight stay at the summit of Piton des Neiges, fully self-sufficient, to truly enjoy the island’s raw nature.
There are also more comfortable campsites, such as Le Bois Joli Cœur, Camping de l’Hermitage-Lagon, L’Entre 2 Songes, La Bonne Terre…
Mountain Lodges & Guesthouses (Gîtes) : a great balance between price and authentic local experience. You’ll often stay with locals and enjoy home-cooked Creole dishes during shared meals – perfect for a friendly evening.
Examples include: Eden du Randonneur, La Bergerie, Cœur de Mafate, Théophane & Yoleine…
Unusual Accommodation: for a stay like no other (prices vary widely depending on the place): Terre Rouge, Kaz Nature, La Bulle Verte, Kanopéa Lodge, La Ferme du Kilimandjaro, Tereva Lodge, Ti’Laos, Tapacala, Domaine de Jade, Bird House, Le Repaire du Dodo, La Cabane du Zèbre….
Luxury Hotels: we’ll probably miss a few – and we haven’t personally tested them all – but here’s a short list: Le Palm, Diana Dea Lodge, Lodge Roche Tamarin, Blue Margouillat, LUX, Le Tuit Tuit (Dina Morgabine)…
Van Rental: van rental companies have exploded in recent years (the oldest ones being Run A Van and Black Sheep, as far as we know). It’s a fantastic way to travel freely, combining transport and accommodation in one!
It is advisable to have several bases in different parts of the island, this will allow you to explore all around without having to spend your time in the car!
10. Practical Information
Local food to try: Creole curries (ti jacques boucané, pâté cochon, rougail saucisse…), bouchons, samoussas, fried sauté de mines, Chinese and Malagasy cuisine…
Best time to visit: Our favourite seasons are April to June and September to December.
Try to avoid January to March (cyclone season and heavy rainfall).
Getting around: Renting a car is highly recommended, but it’s possible to get around by bus if you’re patient.
You can also get 10% off with our promo code NLTZC25 when renting from our partner Nouloutou.
Budget : it really depends on your travel style (accommodation, activities, meals…). If you plan on renting a car, staying in hotels, and doing activities and excursions, budget at least €80 per day per person.
Safety: No mandatory vaccinations, and no particularly dangerous animals (aside from sharks).
Yes, it’s a lot of information – but how could it be otherwise when it feels like we haven’t even said enough? We wish you the best of luck with your trip planning, and above all, an amazing holiday on our Caillou 🌴
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