Reunion Island itineraries
Ready-made routes for every kind of Reunion Island trip — from three-day Saint-Gilles and Saint-Denis breaks to week-long trips that add the cirques, the volcano and the wild south.
By theme
Curated around a specific interest — family travel to Kelonia and the lagon, boat trips through the bay, or a heritage walk through Saint-Denis and the Barachois.
One day in Reunion Island: the Saint-Gilles lagoon and the Maïdo
Piton de la Fournaise volcano weekend
A weekend in Réunion Island: lagoon, Mafate viewpoint and the volcano
Wild South and east coast in two days
Mafate in three days: a car-free trek from ilet to ilet
3 days in Réunion Island: lagoon, volcano and Cilaos
Four days in Réunion Island: west coast, volcano, Cilaos and Saint-Pierre
Four days in Réunion Island without a car
Three cirques in four days: Cilaos, Salazie and Mafate by road
Whale season in Réunion: a 4-day easy itinerary
Five days in Réunion Island: the west coast and cirques
Réunion Island on a budget: a 5-day west coast, Cilaos and volcano loop
A five-day coastal road trip around Réunion Island
Reunion Island with kids: a five-day family itinerary
One week in Réunion Island: cirques, volcano and the wild south
Seven days hiking Réunion: Mafate, Cilaos, Salazie and the volcano
Good to know about itineraries across Réunion Island
Planning a Réunion Island itinerary means deciding first how much of the island's interior you want to reach, since the cirques and volcano add real driving and walking time that a coastal-only trip doesn't need. This hub groups itinerary suggestions from a single day up to a full week, organised around the kind of trip you're planning rather than a single fixed route. A self-drive itinerary makes the most of a week here, since a rental car opens up the cirques, the volcano area and the quieter east and south coasts that are hard to reach otherwise.
A car-free itinerary is realistic if you base yourself in one of the coastal towns and rely on guided day trips booked through GetYourGuide or Viator plus the coastal bus network, though it will naturally reach less of the interior than a self-drive plan. Family itineraries here tend to favour the west coast's lagoon around Saint-Gilles-les-Bains and L'Hermitage for swimming, together with gentler outings rather than the longer cirque treks or canyoning trips better suited to older kids and adults.
A budget-minded itinerary leans on the coastal towns, self-guided hiking where trail access allows, and fewer booked activities, since guided excursions, canyoning, paragliding and helicopter flights add up quickly. A hiking-focused itinerary is built around the cirques, particularly Cilaos, Salazie and Hell-Bourg, and Mafate for those willing to walk in and stay overnight, and works best in the drier austral winter months from May to October when trails are in better condition. A whale season itinerary times a visit around the west coast boat trips, building the rest of the plan around that seasonal activity rather than the other way round.
Every itinerary here notes what's realistic to fit in given real driving and walking times, rather than assuming you can treat the island's map distances as a guide to how long a day will actually take.
Frequently asked questions about itineraries across Réunion Island
How many days do I need on Réunion Island?
This hub covers plans from one day up to a full week, and how many days you need depends on whether you want to reach the cirques and volcano or focus on the coast. A week with a rental car covers noticeably more ground than a shorter, coastal-only stay.
Can I plan an itinerary without a car?
Yes, a car-free itinerary is realistic if you base yourself in a coastal town and combine the bus network with guided day trips booked through GetYourGuide or Viator. It will reach less of the interior than a self-drive plan, particularly the cirques and volcano area.
What's the best itinerary for a family?
Family itineraries here tend to centre on the west coast lagoon around Saint-Gilles-les-Bains and L'Hermitage for swimming, paired with gentler outings. Longer cirque treks and canyoning trips are generally better suited to older kids and adults.
When is the best time for a hiking-focused itinerary?
The drier austral winter, from May to October, is the better window, since trails in the cirques are generally in better condition then. The hot, humid austral summer from November to April is also cyclone season.
How do I plan around whale season?
A whale season itinerary builds the rest of the trip, such as the cirques, the volcano and coastal towns, around the seasonal west coast boat trips. Check current GetYourGuide or Viator listings to confirm trips are running before finalising dates.
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GetYourGuide does not provide a product photo for this activity — the image shows the meeting point, photographed by us.
