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Guided hikes · Réunion

Overnight trek into the Mafate cirque

Photo: Rémih, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

A cirque without roads: on foot from hamlet to hamlet, with a night in a gîte

At a glance

Theme
Guided hikes
Duration
2–3 days
Season
May — November
Start
Mafate cirque

No road leads into Mafate — only footpaths and the helicopter. The classic guided route enters over the Col des Bœufs, spends the night in La Nouvelle or Marla and leaves over the Col du Taïbit to Cilaos, or returns the same way.

The guide handles the logistics: gîte bookings and transfers to the start and from the finish. In season the gîtes fill up weeks ahead — book early.

Where to book

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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

Grand Bénare from Maïdo Hike Grand Bénare from Maïdo The ridge above Mafate to the island's third-highest summit≈ 3.1 kmInto Mafate: Col des Bœufs → La Nouvelle Hike Into Mafate: Col des Bœufs → La Nouvelle The shortest way into the roadless cirque, and a night in an îlet≈ 4.5 kmFrom Cilaos to Mafate over the Col du Taïbit Hike From Cilaos to Mafate over the Col du Taïbit A crossing between two cirques over a 2,080 m pass≈ 4.5 kmMaïdo lookout Viewpoint Maïdo lookout Sunrise over the Mafate cirque from 2,200 m≈ 5.0 km

Other tours on Réunion

All tours →
Dolomieu 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 dawnHelicopter flight over the cirques and the volcano From the air Helicopter flight over the cirques and the volcanoThree cirques, the Trou de Fer waterfalls and the volcano crater in a single flight 25–55 minAll year, morning departuresHumpback 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 rainCanyoning 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