French Islandshotels & tours About
FREN

From the air · Réunion

Helicopter flight over the cirques and the volcano

Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Thierry Caro assumed (based on copyright claims)., Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

Three cirques, the Trou de Fer waterfalls and the volcano crater in a single flight

At a glance

Theme
From the air
Duration
25–55 min
Season
All year, morning departures
Start
The west

The island's signature tour: the helicopter dives into the cirques of Mafate, Salazie and Cilaos, hovers in front of the Trou de Fer waterfalls and, on the longer routes, circles the caldera of Piton de la Fournaise. Flights leave from the west, near Saint-Gilles, and from Pierrefonds in the south.

Flights run in the morning only: by 10–11 am cloud fills the cirques and departures are cancelled. Book for the first days of your trip — if the weather grounds the flight, you will still have time to reschedule.

Where to book

GetYourGuidesearch for this tour GetYourGuideall tours: Réunion

We describe a type of tour, not a specific offer. Prices, schedules and availability are on the booking platforms. Duration and season are a rough guide.

Departure point on the map

Purple dot: departure area (approximate); orange dots: places to stay nearby. Map © OpenStreetMap contributors. Coordinates are approximate.

Where to stay near the start

All places to stay in the area →

Things to see nearby

La Saline-les-Bains Beach La Saline-les-Bains The continuation of the Hermitage lagoon — quieter, with cafés on the sand≈ 1.8 kmL'Hermitage beach Beach L'Hermitage beach The island's main beach: a shallow lagoon, corals and the shade of casuarinas≈ 3.6 kmKélonia Museum Kélonia The sea turtle research and care centre in Saint-Leu≈ 6.8 kmBoucan Canot Beach Boucan Canot A fashionable beach with no reef: swim in the supervised zone only≈ 8.4 km

Other tours on Réunion

All tours →
Paragliding over the Saint-Leu lagoon From the air Paragliding over the Saint-Leu lagoonA tandem flight from 800 m with a landing by the beach 15–30 minAll year, best in the morningHumpback whale watching Whales, dolphins, turtles Humpback whale watchingIn the southern winter the whales come to the west coast 2–3 hJuly — OctoberSnorkelling and diving on the western reef Sea and lagoon Snorkelling and diving on the western reefThe Hermitage lagoon with a mask, and dives beyond the reef from Saint-Gilles 2–3 hAll year; best visibility May — NovemberLava tunnels of the 2004 flow Canyons and thrills Lava tunnels of the 2004 flowDown with a helmet and headlamp into the tubes where lava once ran 3–4 hAll year, except days of heavy rainDolomieu crater with a guide Guided hikes Dolomieu crater with a guideA climb up Piton de la Fournaise with the volcano explained on the way 5–6 hDrier May — November; start at dawnCanyoning in Cilaos and Salazie Canyons and thrills Canyoning in Cilaos and SalazieWaterfall descents, from beginner canyons to sporting ones Half a day to a full dayMay — November