Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Sainte-Anne – Petit-Ile – Saint-Leu
100% customisable for you
Your 11-day trip to Reunion Island begins with a flight to Saint-Denis via Paris or Mauritius. This will take around 15 hours in total, so you’ll arrive in Saint-Denis the following morning, ready to begin your adventure.
Upon arrival at the airport, you’ll pick up the hire car that’ll be yours for the next ten days. With the car at your disposal, you can get to know the capital on your terms. Travellers often bypass Saint-Denis, but they’re missing out. Its ‘Rue de Paris’ is lined with beautiful Creole buildings, and the Jardin de l'Etat (botanical garden) is filled with exotic plants. If you like, stay for the night market in the evening, which lights up the seafront at Le Barachois, the city’s northernmost point.
If you prefer to skip the city stop, you can head straight for the island’s east coast, known as the Windward Coast. Wetter, greener and more fertile, it’s full of lush plantations and untamed tropical vegetation. Along the way, there are some great places to stop and explore: right next to the airport is Sainte-Suzanne, home to Niagara Fall, an 80ft waterfall that’s easily accessible from the road. Not far from here, you’ll find the Savanna Distillery, which produces some spectacular (and often underrated) Reunion Island rum. Continuing south to Saint-Andre, Plantation Vanilla Roulof makes it easy to understand why local vanilla is some of the best in the world. After Saint-Benoît, you’ll leave the coast to climb up to Sainte-Anne, where you’ll spend the next three nights.
Here, you’ll stay in a beautiful lodge tucked between sugar cane fields and guava forest, with views of the Indian Ocean. During your stay, enjoy a relaxing trip to the spa for two, including tea tasting, a detoxifying scrub and private use of the outdoor hot tub area. We can also arrange for you to spend a day exploring Belouve Forest with a private guide. Of course, if all you want to do is laze by the infinity pool or sip drinks on the terrace as you gaze at the ocean, there’s no judgement from us.
On the morning of the fifth day, you’ll leave Reunion’s eastern coast for the Wild South and Saint-Joseph. The coastal road heads towards Piton Sainte-Rose, home to the charming and culturally significant Notre Dame des Laves: in 1977, a flow of magma escaped from the Enclos Fouque caldera before reaching the village gates. When the lava formed a circle around the church, it was miraculously saved from damage. Even today, people come from all over the island to visit the site of this miracle. The road to Grand Brule is one of the most spectacular on the island; the volcano regularly pours miles of molten liquid into the ocean. Saint-Philippe then marks the return to civilisation and the entry into the Wild South. During your journey, stop at the Jardin des Parfums et des Epices, where you can find wonderful organic products such as honey, jam, soap and spices – perfect as souvenirs or gifts. Shortly before you reach Saint-Joseph, look out for the dramatic landscapes of Cap Mechant, which are full of lava fields and black rocks planted with vacao trees. It’s a real highlight of the journey.
Your home for the next three nights is a stylish lodge overlooking the beautiful white sand beach of Grand'Anse, where you’ll have plenty of time to use the private spa and indulge in the delicious food on offer. We’ll also plan a day out with a mountain guide, to explore the Piton de la Fournaise off the beaten track. Beginning at the Pas de Bellecombe, the hike takes you through a lunar landscape dotted with unexpected flora. At the summit, you’ll be rewarded with views into the Dolomieu crater, from which spectacular eruptions of steam and volcanic gases escape.
On the way to the west coast of the island, you can’t miss a stop in Saint-Pierre. The ‘southern capital’ is considered one of the island’s most dynamic cities, especially at night. With its abundance of bars and restaurants, Saint-Pierre’s sheltered beach is a must-visit. The city is also a great place to do some local shopping at the market, see the work of street artist Jace at the L’Usine A Gouzou gallery, and sample the world’s best coffee – Bourbon Pointu – at the Domaine Café Grille.
The Route des Tamarins runs along the coast to Saint-Leu, your last stop. For your final nights in Reunion, you’ll stay in an unusual hotel with fantastic architecture and a beautiful atmosphere. The next couple of days promise plenty of lazing by the pool and dinners by candlelight at your hotel’s renowned restaurant, which we’ll arrange for you. For a spectacular end to your trip, we’ll also plan a private flight over the lagoon in a two-seater paraglider (trust us, there’s no better paragliding spot on the island).
Unfortunately, your adventure on Reunion Island has come to an end. Today, you’ll drive back to the airport to return your hire car and board your flight to the UK via Paris.
Everything in this itinerary is entirely customisable, down to the smallest details. Here are some more suggestions of what could be included
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
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Our team of destination experts will get to know you and your unique requirements for your holiday
We work with you to build an ultra-personalised holiday itinerary with your choice of accommodation, experiences and activities
All of our holidays include little extras designed to make a big difference to your trip, from fast-tracking you through airport check-in and security to our network of local Concierges
