Things to do on Reunion Island and around
From helicopter flights over the cirques and snorkeling trips in the lagon to hikes toward the volcano and day trips to the wild south, Reunion Island rewards visitors with excursions for every kind of trip.
Signature experiences
The excursions that define a first trip to Reunion Island — a walk through Saint-Denis, a snorkel in the Saint-Gilles lagon, and a first look at the Piton de la Fournaise.
Helicopter and aerial tours
Helicopter or microlight flights over Piton de la Fournaise, the cirques and the coastline for views the trails cannot reach.
2 guides
Piton de la Fournaise volcano tours
Guided trips to Pas de Bellecombe and the Plaine des Sables to see one of the world's most active volcanoes up close.
1 guide
Whale and dolphin watching
Boat outings off Saint-Gilles and Saint-Leu to spot dolphins year-round and humpback whales during their seasonal passage.
1 guide
Lagoon snorkeling
Snorkeling, kayaking and paddleboarding in the sheltered lagoon of the west coast, home to coral and reef fish.
2 guides
Canyoning and river descents
Canyoning, hydrospeed and river descents through Reunion's ravines, guided for beginners and confirmed climbers alike.
2 guides
Hiking and trekking
Guided hikes in the cirques of Mafate, Cilaos and Salazie, and ascents of Piton des Neiges on marked ONF trails.
4 guides
Outdoor adventure activities
Quad biking, zip-lining and horseback riding across Reunion's varied terrain, from coastal trails to highland forest.
1 guide
Food, rum and local culture
Rum distillery visits, vanilla and sugar farms, and tastings of Reunionese Creole cuisine and produce.
2 guides
Boat and catamaran cruises
Catamaran and speedboat outings along the coast, from sunset cruises to full-day excursions with swim stops.
1 guide
Scuba diving
Guided dives and baptisms along the west coast reef, from beginner sessions to deeper wreck and drop-off dives.
2 guides
Island tours
General guided tours covering Saint-Denis, Saint-Pierre and other highlights across the island in a single day.
3 guides
Airport transfers
Private transfers between Roland-Garros or Pierrefonds airport and your hotel, with a driver waiting on arrival.
0 guidesMore ways to experience the region
Specialist interests and practical planning - photo sessions, water sports, seasonal timing, and the comparisons every first-time visitor searches for.
Trip planning guides
Practical guides for building an itinerary across Reunion's cirques, coast and volcano with realistic travel times.
20 guides
Comparison guides
Side-by-side guides weighing routes, regions and activities to help you choose what fits your trip.
5 guides
Seasonal travel guides
What to expect by season in the southern hemisphere, from the dry winter hiking months to the summer cyclone season.
4 guides
Getting around Reunion
Guides to renting a car, using the Car Jaune bus network and reaching the cirques and coastal towns.
6 guides
Family travel guides
Advice on cirque hikes, lagoon swimming and easier outings suited to traveling with children.
2 guides
Accessibility guides
Notes on trail difficulty, terrain and step-free options for travelers with mobility needs.
1 guide
Budget travel guides
Tips for visiting Reunion's cirques, coast and volcano without overspending on transport, lodging and activities.
4 guidesBrowse by destination
Tours and activities organised by where you're headed — the best of each city and region.
Good to know about things to do on Réunion Island
Réunion Island's outdoor activities are spread across very different terrain, and this hub gathers the ones that can be booked in advance through Reunion Island Escape's two partners, GetYourGuide and Viator, rather than every possible way to spend a day here. Hiking is the obvious starting point on an island whose interior is built from three volcanic cirques and a still-active volcano: guided treks range from short walks near Cilaos, Salazie and Hell-Bourg to multi-day routes into Mafate, which has no road access and can only be explored on foot. Canyoning is concentrated around Cilaos and Saint-Leu, where the terrain drops steeply enough to create a genuine canyon experience.
For a different kind of altitude, Saint-Leu is also the island's paragliding base, taking off from the hills above the west coast. Helicopter and microlight flights are the way most visitors see the full shape of the cirques and the Piton de la Fournaise crater from above, especially useful when cloud cover or a trail closure rules out a ground approach to Pas de Bellecombe or the Plaine des Sables. On the water, whale and dolphin boat trips run seasonally off the west coast, and snorkelling and diving trips explore the lagoon around Saint-Gilles-les-Bains and L'Hermitage.
Volcano tours cover Piton de la Fournaise itself, from guided walks to viewpoint visits, though access depends on current eruption and closure status set by the authorities, so this hub points you to the operator listing or the official source for up-to-date conditions rather than guessing at them. Because mountain roads and trails here can take far longer than map distance suggests, and because cirque and volcano access is genuinely weather- and closure-dependent, each activity listed here is described with the honest travel time and access caveats that make the difference between a trip that goes to plan and one that doesn't.
Prices, exact durations and availability change by operator and season, so check the current GetYourGuide or Viator listing before booking rather than relying on any figure quoted elsewhere.
Frequently asked questions about things to do on Réunion Island
What outdoor activities can I book in advance on Réunion Island?
The main bookable categories are hiking, canyoning, paragliding, helicopter and microlight flights, whale and dolphin boat trips, snorkelling and diving, and volcano tours. All are listed through GetYourGuide or Viator on this site.
Is canyoning suitable for beginners?
Canyoning trips around Cilaos and Saint-Leu vary in difficulty, and operator listings usually state the level required. Check the specific GetYourGuide or Viator listing before booking to make sure it matches your experience.
Can I see Piton de la Fournaise up close?
Access depends on the volcano's current activity and any official closures around Pas de Bellecombe and the Plaine des Sables. Guided tours and viewpoint visits are the way to approach it, but check current conditions before planning your route.
Is there a season for seeing whales?
Whale and dolphin boat trips run seasonally off the west coast. Check current GetYourGuide or Viator listings for which trips are running at the time of your visit.
Do I need to book activities through GetYourGuide or Viator?
These are the two booking partners used on this site, and booking through them secures your spot and gives access to current pricing and availability. Both operate widely across the island's hiking, canyoning, flight and water-based activities.
Helicopter and paragliding flights over Réunion on GetYourGuide
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GetYourGuide does not provide a product photo for this activity — the image shows the meeting point, photographed by us.
Réunion Island: Guided Water Hiking Tour in the Lagoon of Saline-les-Bains
Discovery of the lava tubes 2004 of Piton de la Fournaise
