The great crossing of Reunion - GR R2 - France

Depending on your arrival time, we will meet you at the airport and accommodqte you in one of the city's hotels where you will spend your first night on the island. The day is free so you can explore Saint Denis city. We advise you to head towards rue de Paris which connects the Jardin de l’Etat and the Barachois.

The city also has two other magnificent gardens : Jardin de La Vallée Heureuse and Parc de la Trinité.

The first is a Creole garden like very few remaining, mixing the history of Reunion, Creole culture, and botany. You will discover different spaces there such as the Pleasure garden, the Useful garden and the Endemic garden. In addition to tropical plants and flowers, you will be able to observe birds and insects specific for Reunion Island. Please note, this garden is private property and the visit must be accompanied by the owner (allow 2-3 hours). The second Park is a space dedicated to amateurs of nature and green spaces.

The habitants of the island have turned towards cultural and religious pluralism, and therefore Saint Denis city will give you the opportunity to visit different places of religious worship: the only Catholic cathedral on the island is located on the Avenue de la Victoire, an extension of Rue de Paris, Cathedral Saint-Sauveur is a Roman architecture. It was built between 1829 and 1832, and was consecrated as a cathedral in 1850 then classified as a historic monument in 1975.

The Noor-e-Islam mosque is a "must" for visiting in Saint-Denis with its Indian inspiration and its green and white decor, it is the oldest mosque in France (1905) with 32-meter minaret and the claustras, openwork marble screens are remarkable elements which embellish the mezzanine.

The Indian community not only inspired the mosque, it is very present on the island, and has built numerous Hindu temples. One of the most beautiful and important is the Kali Kampal temple, another must-visiting place in Saint-Denis. Under the leadership of Indian traders in the neighborhood, this simple pile of metal sheets built in 1917 grew and embellished over time to take its current form in 2012. You will observe its magnificent statues and sculptures dedicated to the goddess Kali, to the gods Parvati, Ganesh or Shiva. Tours are organized by the caretaker, but don't forget to remove your shoes before entering the building!

If you prefer social culture to religious culture, we invite you to head towards the Natural History Museum (former place of the colonial past retracing the different species of past and current indigenous fauna), the Museum of the True Fraternity ( retracing the story of Aimée Pignolet de Fresnes, founder of the congregation of the Daughters of Mary who worked for fraternity between the different communities of the island.), the Léon Dierx museum (dedicated to modern art of the 19th and 20th centuries and counting many major works by Maurice Denis, Gustave Caillebote, Gauguin or Picasso or Creole painters like Adolphe Le Roy or Louis-Antoine Roussin.), or finally the Artothèque (with a collection of more than 2000 pieces, the Artothèque manages to highlight contemporary creation from Réunion but also national and international).

Finally, if it is your taste buds that take over, then we encourage you to go to the Grand Marché also called the Malagasy market, which houses numerous craft stalls, local fruit and vegetable stalls as well as improvised kitchens offering Reunionese dishes. To enter is to immediately immerse yourself in Creole culture, with its culinary, clothing and artistic traditions. Please note, many products come from Madagascar, do not hesitate to find out before choosing your souvenirs to bring back! (and think about the weight of your backpack before overloading yourself!).

And if you are thirsty, then don't hesitate: the Brasseries de Bourbon which produce Dodo beer, the best-known Reunionese drink. You will also see it on many facades in Saint-Denis under the colorful inscription “La Dodo Lé La”, meaning that the establishment offers the famous beer on its menu! Please note that only two visits are possible: at 10 a.m. or 2 p.m. and last 1h30 with a tasting of the different beers brewed on site at the end.

In the evening, after this tiring day, we will have a meal together to get to know the members of the group better with whom you will share your first impressions of the island but also one of the most emblematic but incredible adventures in the world: The crossing Reunion Island. 

• Night at the hotel (attention please if you wish to visit the island in more detail, you will have to pay for overnight stays as well as transfers)
• Half board (breakfast and dinner)
• 2 IDTrek guides speaking French/English/Russian and Spanish

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We are committed to providing you with acclimatization to the terrain and altitude. This day is made for that. Be careful, it is not negligible, with a climb of around 100m per km, we will start where ultimately few companies start: at the very beginning of the GR2 in Saint Denis city. Thus we will go up through the jungle along the Mercury trail within the Providence forest, where amateurs of animals, flowers and plants will be able to familiarize themselves with the various information they will find on the route in order to identify the fauna and flora throughout our journey.

We will reach the village of Burnt, from where we can observe Saint Denis city from the belvedere. We will take the opportunity to have a rest and lunch. Then we will cross the village and continue on the main route of the written rock. We will make a slight detour by joining a path a little higher up which will take us towards the Maniquet waterfall. We can then make another stop for those who are exhausted and would like to enjoy a little swim.

Finally, we will reach the Mamode camp to settle in and spend the night. Picnic tables will allow us to prepare the first meal in the mountains.

• Night in tent
• All food
• 2 IDTrek guides speaking French/English/Russian and Spanish

This second, shorter day will allow us to continue our ascent through the middle of the jungle towards the Roche-Ecrite plateau. The climb will be similar to the day before but with half of the road. We will be able to enjoy a quieter morning and a more relaxed afternoon. We will enter the Roche Ecrite nature reserve, where you can observe endemic species such as colored woods or orchids, and the Tuit-Tuit, a very rare and endangered bird.

During the climb and along the path, you can also exercise your memory by remembering the signs from the day before or your talents as biologists by spotting cryptomerias, tree ferns (fanjan) as well as calumet bamboos then higher up the paths - first tamarinds from the heights, the latter have trunks so enormous that it may take the whole group to go around them in an embrace.

After a little less than 5 km we will reach the Plaine des Chicots lodge where we will stay. Shortly after leaving the lodge, the primary forest disappears and gives way first to small and dried out vegetation, then to woods.

The written rock is composed mainly of lava slabs on which graffiti and names have been inscribed, giving this site the name 'Roche Ecrite'. Although these inscriptions have a traditional origin, we recommended you today not to add new writings and leave the site as it is.

Those who wants can take advantage of the afternoon to join the path which leads to the deer pond or to the Antenna located at the tip of the Roche Ecrite and thus enjoy a breathtaking panorama, with a memorable sunset. Please note that we will go to this point the next day regardless.

• Night in tent / Guest House
• All food
• 2 IDTrek guides speaking French/English/Russian and Spanish

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We took care to divide the route of days 1 and 2 so that as many people as possible could rest on this third day. If the group is motivated and well rested, then we offer you an unforgettable experience. Indeed, if we get up before dawn, we can walk at night using a headlamp to cover the 4km that separate us from the tip of the Roche Ecrite, and if the weather permits, attend one of the most beautiful sunrises that you will have the opportunity to see in your life.

From the Roche Écrite antenna, the Cirque de Salazie is revealed before your eyes, and the Piton des Neiges, roof of the Indian Ocean, are in front of you. Writings, often first names, are inscribed everywhere on the rocks around the geodesic marker of the Roche Ecrite. It's time to take photos as the sun is rising and the orange colors combine beauty and the feeling of joy at being there so early.

Your first summit reached, 2276m, and it is time for a coffee break to warm up from this morning walk, we will turn back towards the Soldier's Cave, which makes a slight detour but now we have the whole day ahead to reach our next objective.

We will also take the opportunity to also pass by the Mare aux Cerfs, which will allow us to have another magnificent view of the valley of the Rivière des Galets, which will get us an imagination of the days.

Then we will return to the Gite de la Plaine des Chicots, where we can take another break, telling ourselves that we have already covered half of the day's journey. Then we will continue our route along the ridge which separates the Malfate cirque and the valley of the Rivière des Galets. We will then have several points of view on these two large spaces.

Once reached the Malfate belvedere (Fougères peak), about 4 km after the lodge, we will head towards the village of Dos D'âne, and other viewpoints towards Nourry ilet (viewpoints of Roche Verre Bouteille, Cap noir and Malfate).

• Night in tent / Guest House
• All food
• 2 IDTrek guides speaking French/English/Russian and Spanish

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Today's day will be more strenuous than the day before, we will have to cover approximately 6.5 km in pure descent from the village of Dos D'Âne to river of Sainte-Suzanne, approximately 1000m difference in altitude. We will take advantage of this river which flows into the Rivière des Galets to go for a swim and have a drink in the small local huts. From the arm of Saint-Suzanne, we will be able to admire what we have already accomplished in 3.5 days and observe the summit of Roche Ecrite from below.

We will also take the opportunity to buy our meal but we will have lunch in the second part of our day.

In fact, the same distance and the same elevation await us uphill for this second part of the day. We will have to walk along the cliff, on a reduced path, with dense vegetation partly covering the path and protecting us from the sun. The last part will be more hilly than straight uphill, and therefore more rolling, with however many climbs in bends and many footbridges to cross. We will then reach our 4th resting place at the Ilet à Bourse in the early evening, and we will be happy to have a Dodo beer to quench our thirst after this long day.

• Night in tent / Guest House
• All food
• 2 IDTrek guides speaking French/English/Russian and Spanish

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This day is aptly named because we will be able to observe no less than ten peaks. We will start today's route by following the Piton Bois Jaune then the Pitons Caré, Canal, Papangue and Tortue, then later in the day, and after having crossed again the river "des Galets" which you begin to know well, we will follow those of Bérane and Roche Plate. From a distance you can also observe those of Kichenin, Calumets, Orangers, Bernica (2150m) and finally the highest of all of the day it is Maido which peaks at 2170m and faces the Roche Plate.

We will also pass through many creole villages or nearby, Grand Place, Cayenne, Les Lataniers, Les Orangers... and we will end up at Roche Plate where we will stay for the night.

The highest point of the day is at the Brèche belvedere (1295m) but make no mistake, this is the altitude that you will have to reach from the river "des Galets" with almost 200m/km of altitude difference. But as always with IDTRek, each effort has its share of rewards, and this time, from the Brèche you will be able to congratulate yourself once again on the distance already accomplished because you will be able to review your entire day at a glance. A dozen peaks and villages, that you have already crossed, will open up in front of you and, further on, the Roche Ecrite.

• Night in tent / Guest House
• All food
• 2 IDTrek guides speaking French/English/Russian and Spanish

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On this seventh day, waking up will be very early. We have in fact more than 10 hours of walking ahead and a significant elevation gain to overcome.

In order to save time, we will leave the GR2 for a good half of the day to travel on the GR3 which reduces the distance by at least 5km while offering us magnificent views and thus skirting the edges of the cliffs of different peaks: Maido , Bernica, Saint Gilles and de la Glacière. Our progress will be relatively rapid, because the difference in altitude is regular and not very gradual once the path along the edge of the cliff is reached. We will  be able to observe the entire valley of the river "des Galets" as well as the different villages which populate the northern center of the island and in the distance magnificent waterfalls.

We will reach the Trois Roches waterfall mid-morning. This waterfall is very impressive because it flows into a very restricted canyon. We can rest there for a while, swim and have a snack before setting off again to tackle the day's summit. We will go up the river "des Galets" on a very rolling road at first then after having covered around 7km, our ascent will begin. We must climb the Col de Taïbit at 2081m. It will be the most exhausting part of the day, but it is the best to do it before our lunch so we will have an empty stomach going up but digestion will be much easier on the descent. At the top of the pass, you can be proud again to see what you have already covered since the start of our adventure. During the climb we will join the GR2 and on the descent we will pass near a herbal tea cafe for taking a slight break, tasting local tea.

We will continue to descend to the Cilaos arm to rest again near a magnificent pool and the Fouquet waterfall. Then our last ascent will take us back to the heights of Cilaos in order to pass near the Bassin Bleu, another hidden site on the island. We will go back down to Cilaos and can count on a restorative and beneficial night.

• Night in tent / Guest House
• All food
• 2 IDTrek guides speaking French/English/Russian and Spanish

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In order to breathe a little during this journey, we are only going to cover 4,97 miles today. We will start early in the morning, and progress through pine forests, the climb is regular and rolling for 2,49 miles then more steep for the next 2,49 miles. We will have to reach 2500m before leaving the forest. The view that emerges will allow us to observe Cilaos and beyond the ridges the Indian Ocean. We can take our time to climb and admire this magnificent view because once the plateau is reached, we will still have a few 500m to go to reach the Caverne Dufour lodge and the horizon will be cut to the west by the pass we come from and to the east it will probably be covered by many clouds. If, however we are lucky, our view will extend to Saint Benedict and the ocean as well. We can take advantage of the afternoon to recharge our batteries at the lodge before tackling the second half of our adventure in the days to come.

• Night in tent / Guest House
• All food
• 2 IDTrek guides speaking French/English/Russian and Spanish

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Today, a new challenge awaits us. But we promise you one of the most beautiful shows on the route after the Roche Écrite. Equip yourself with your headlamp, because we will climb the Piton des Neiges very early in the morning, before dawn. The altitude difference is 582m over 3.5km. The path is very stony but the vegetation is composed of garrigue which will allow us to progress quickly. Once the summit has reached, several spots we wait along the Piton ridge which peaks at 3070m (the North summit at 3052m or the South at 3070m). No matter which spot you choose, you will be able to observe the sea of ​​clouds which extends to the east and who is also preparing to climb the Piton, topped by the first rays of sun which color the clouds orange, pink their white hues. While to the west will extend little by little, when the sun rises high enough to illuminate it, the crater of the volcano, the towns of Cilaos and Bras Sec and further away Saint Louis and the Ocean.

We ask you to respect the sleepers who had the courage to come up here the day before and spend the night there in the cold if they are still sleeping.

Once this spectacle has passed, we will have to go back down the volcano and we will spend the rest of the day following the crests of the Kerveguen hill which separate the east from the West of the island up to the crossing of the Mare at an altitude of 2165m then those of the Dimitile massif which we will now enter. This massif will allow us to contemplate other magnificent views of the towns of Cilaos and Bras Sec, but also of the valley of the town of Le Tampon.

The Dimitile massif is steeped in history, it served as a refuge for escaped slaves called "maroons" because this mountain massif is landlocked between the Cilaos arm and the Plaine arm, making it a difficult to access place. A single motorable road serves it via the Ouaki radiate and more recently from the Ravine des Cabris thanks to a bridge dizzyingly overlooking the arm of the Plaine. But in the 18th century, it was another story, a first brown path starting from the bottom of the Cilaos arm snaked its way through the mountain to arrive at the beginning of the village of Entre-Deux. On the arm of the Plaine side, it is the Dassy path which leads from Pont d'Yves to the village of Entre-Deux. As for the north from the Kerveguen hill, which we have just crossed, it is the recent and majestic Jacky Inard trail which also serves the top of the Dimitile massif. This is the path that we will take to climb the massif.

The leader of these slaves left his name to the part of the island where he lived free: Dimitile. Malagasy, he was reduced to slavery with his family, and was deported to Reunion by Father Criais. He managed to escape to the heart of the island and became, around 1730, one of the legendary captains of the Maroons. Its comes from Dimy, given as the name of the fifth child in a family, and from tily (tile) which means watch in Malagasy, hence its nickname "the watchman". Very agile, he always escaped slave hunters, which earned him his other nickname, the elusive.

This route is made up of ladders and dizzying passages. It is important to note this before departure, especially if you are prone to vertigo.

• Night in tent / Guest House
• All food
• 2 IDTrek guides speaking French/English/Russian and Spanish

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Wake up early to continue our journey on the chestnut trails towards the village of Entre Deux. This is the last time we can take a look at the Cirque de Cilaos before heading down to the village of Entre Deux. The path of descent is anchored in an ancient and eroded volcanic relief, the vegetation will gradually change as we descend and we will go from heather to colored woods, ferns and mossy rocks until we find a more typical tropical vegetation of the island at this altitude. In exchange for the Cirque de Cilaos, we will be able to contemplate multiple views of the Ocean.

We will take advantage of the village of Entre-Deux for lunch and taste the local specialties, then we will go down to take the bridge overlooking the "Bras de la Plaine" river, to catch up with the Dassy trail; and thus continue our journey in the footsteps of his escaped slaves.

The gorge of the Bras de la Plaine is exceptional because it also has a geological history that can be read on its walls : volcanic organs, caves, ravines and annexed gorges. Here, it is one of the veins of the island that we go up to reach its living heart: the Grand Bassin waterfall. A magnificent waterfall which flows into a cirque that we will go up before resting in one of the lodges in the area.

During this day, we will have to cross the river many times, the water can rise up to mid-thigh. It is necessary to wear a pair of hiking/trail shoes or walking sandals that can go into the water.

Note that at the start of the season (April) or in the event of heavy rain, the high flow of the river may lead to a change in the program.

• Night in tent / Guest House
• All food
• 2 IDTrek guides speaking French/English/Russian and Spanish

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From the lodge, we will go up the path of this wild valley through the tropical vegetation and which continues on the steep mountainside, punctuated by beautiful steps and endearing views of this valley. Arriving at Bois-Court, a final viewpoint will allow us to observe the green Dimitile before turning towards more desert and arid landscapes.

We will reach the village of Bourg-Murat in the early afternoon where we will stay for the night. The walking day will be shorter, which will allow us to take advantage of the afternoon either to rest or to cultivate ourselves in the city of the Volcano. This 6000m2 museum will immerse you in the volcanic knowledge of the island thanks to the use of numerous innovative and interactive devices such as holographic projection, augmented reality, large format “multitouch” surfaces, sound and visual ambiances, etc. Entrance is €9 per person (not included).

• Night in tent / Guest House
• All food
• 2 IDTrek guides speaking French/English/Russian and Spanish

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Here's another long but less difficult day. We leave Bourg-Murat early and progress gently through the pastures of the Cafres plain, up to the Textor peak where we join our faithful GR2. Little by little, the tamarinds of the Hauts make their return, then, as they approach the Plaine des Sables, the vegetation becomes rarer in guarigue and the soil becomes red and ocher. We then enter a lunar and desert universe, clearly marked by volcanism.

The trail is rolling and easy from start to finish. We will arrive at the Pas de Bellecombe lodge (2300 m), also called "Volcano lodge" in the evening and if luck is on our side, we will be able to observe the Milky Way after dark.

• Night in tent / Guest House
• All food
• 2 IDTrek guides speaking French/English/Russian and Spanish

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Of the two volcanoes on the island, the Piton de la Fournaise is the most recent (500 thousand years old), compared with the 3 million years of the Piton des Neiges. It is also, with its two eruptions on average per year, one of the most active in the world. It was formed within a 150m deep caldera, called "l’Enclos" because the lava exfiltrates mainly in the center of this area.

In 1977, the town of Piton Sainte Rose was devastated by an eruption of gigantic magnitude and no fewer than 30 buildings, the remains of which are still visible today, were submerged under 120 million cubic meters of lava. The volcano has advanced 1.40m towards the sea.

We will go down into "l’Enclos" to walk among the lava outpourings, small cones such as that of Formica Leo, near the Rosemont chapel, before climbing the slopes of the Piton to observe its crater. If time permits, we will head towards the Bory crater and the lava tubes of the same name. This lunar, mineral and spectacular landscape will leave you speechless. Return to the volcano lodge by the same path.

Attention : depending on the eruptive activity, access to "l’Enclos" may be prohibited and the program may therefore be affected and modified.

• Night in tent / Guest House
• All food
• 2 IDTrek guides speaking French/English/Russian and Spanish

We leave the Volcano lodge early for one last exceptional hike. The return to civilization will be along the Langevin river which will allow us to finish in style with multiple varied landscapes and numerous magnificent waterfalls thus summarizing the entire stay.

The trail crosses the sand plain near Piton Chisny, and numerous volcanic formations. Very easy, it will take us to the edge of a cliff. This is when the real adventure begins because the path suddenly becomes steeper and steeper. We will follow a lava flow rushing into the heart of a small collapse cirque. The descent will be through dirt, slag and gravel (the path is rarely used due to its difficulty). In the distance, the ocean can be seen and the panoramic landscapes follow one another.

Little by little we find a forest of colorful woods and casuarina trees, and the secrets of the valley are revealed one by one before your eyes: arches, basalt slabs, small waterfalls and natural bridges... We will continue in this way to the Grand Galet basin into which a waterfall flows.

From this point the descent will be easier because it is on a gentle slope, we will then be able to move faster and quickly reach the Trou Noir waterfall, then we will head leisurely towards Saint-Gilles, a seaside town where a well-deserved rest awaits you afterwards this long and incredible adventure.

• Night in tent / Guest House
• All food
• 2 IDTrek guides speaking French/English/Russian and Spanish

Today we have free time for enjoying the seaside resort and the turquoise waters of the lagoon. A transfer is planned in the middle of the afternoon to Saint-Denis airport for the return international flight.

• Breakfast
• Private transfer