Accommodation
LUX* Saint Gilles
Direct beachfront on Boucan Canot Three restaurants and a beach bar LUX* Me spa…
From€ 250per night
Island destination
Réunion
Réunion is a spectacular volcanic island - a slice of France in the Indian Ocean, just off Mauritius. Towering peaks, three vast cirques, plunging waterfalls and lush rainforest give way to a west-coast lagoon fringed with beaches. It is the Indian Ocean's great adventure…
◷ Best time May to November
◎ 5 to 8 nights
☼ Hikers, adventurers and a French-Creole twist
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Best timeMay to NovemberDry season, ideal weather
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Ideal length5 to 8 nightsRecommended stay
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Best forHikers, adventurers and a French-Creole twistNature, adventure and relaxation
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RegionCirques, volcano & west-coast lagoonRéunion / Indian Ocean
Where to stay
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Accommodation
Le Blue Margouillat Seaview Hotel
Adults-oriented boutique of 14 rooms Celebrated seaview restaurant Saltwater pool and tropical gardens Above…
From€ 160per night
Accommodation
Palm Hotel & Spa
Dramatic clifftop setting above Grande Anse Award-winning Cinq Mondes spa Infinity pool and gourmet…
From€ 200per night
Things to do
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Adventure
Piton de la Fournaise Volcano Hike
Cross the lunar Plaine des Sables to the rim of one of the world's…
FromOn request
Adventure
Cirque de Mafate Trek
Trek into Mafate, the caldera reachable only on foot or by helicopter, staying in…
FromOn request
Scenic
Helicopter Flight over Cirques & Volcano
The single best way to grasp Réunion - a scenic flight over all three…
FromOn request
Suggested packages
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7 Nights
Réunion Volcano & Cirques Explorer
A week for active travellers: the Piton de la Fournaise volcano, a trek into…
FromOn request
7 Nights
Réunion Beach & Adventure
The easygoing island in a week - the L'Hermitage lagoon, a scenic helicopter flight…
FromOn request
Climate & quick facts
When to go to Réunion
A French island of two climates: a warmer, drier west coast for beaches and a cooler, wetter highland interior. May-Nov is best for hiking and the volcano; Dec-Mar is warmer and wetter with a cyclone risk.
Rainfall & temperature
Rainfall Avg high °C
JFMAMJJASOND
Best time to travelMay to November (cooler, drier)
Indicative monthly averages. Sea temperature ranges 24-28°C; daytime highs 25-31°C.
Flight timeApprox. 4-5h from Johannesburg (usually via Mauritius, ~45min hop)
Time zoneUTC+4 (RET)
LanguageFrench & Creole
CurrencyEuro (EUR)
VisaVisa required (French overseas territory)
Best monthsMay to November (cooler, drier)
Sea temperature24-28°C year-round
Overview
Réunion is a spectacular volcanic island – a slice of France in the Indian Ocean, just off Mauritius. Towering peaks, three vast cirques, plunging waterfalls and lush rainforest give way to a west-coast lagoon fringed with beaches. It is the Indian Ocean’s great adventure island: hiking, canyoning and an active volcano by day, Creole cuisine and French flair by night – and it pairs beautifully with Mauritius in a single twin-centre journey.
Why visit Réunion
Réunion is the Indian Ocean's most dramatic island - a UNESCO-listed landscape of volcanoes, cirques and waterfalls with French-Creole soul. It rewards active travellers and pairs perfectly with a relaxed Mauritius beach stay.
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Piton de la Fournaise - one of the world's most active volcanoes
See memorable landscapes and wildlife.
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The three cirques: Mafate, Salazie and Cilaos
Every route can feel different.
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Waterfalls, rainforest and dramatic mountain hikes
Local expertise shapes the journey.
Best time to go
The cooler, drier season (May-November) is ideal for hiking and the volcano. December-April is warmer and wetter with a cyclone risk, though the west coast stays pleasant for beach time.
Dry seasonMay to November
Green seasonLush landscapes and fewer crowds
Travel noteMatched to lodge availability
How to get there
Roughly 4-5 hours from Johannesburg, most easily via Mauritius with a short 45-minute hop across. Réunion is a French department, so the euro is used and French is spoken.
FlightsMain gateway routing
ConnectionsDomestic or island transfers
TransfersPrivate or shared options
Explore Réunion
From the lagoon towns of Saint-Gilles and L'Hermitage on the west coast, up into the highland cirques of Cilaos and Salazie, and out to the moonscape of the Piton de la Fournaise - Réunion packs astonishing variety into one small island.
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