La Réunion: Road trip to volcanic adventures

Pure adventure in the tropics of the Indian Ocean – a lifelong dream is finally coming true! With boundless excitement, you board the plane and escape the daily grind. You lean back and can already hear the sound of the sea. Only a few more hours separate you from paradise in the Indian Ocean, and you spend them imagining all the wonderful experiences you'll have.

A giant volcanic landscape crests the horizon in the middle of the vast blue Indian Ocean. One glance out the window and it's suddenly clear: your tropical paradise is close at hand – La Réunion! As soon as your plane lands and you feel the island's warm embrace, you can't help but grin from ear to ear.

You've finally arrived! You pick up your hire car right at the airport and can't wait for all the adventures you’ll embark on together over the next few days.  

You kick off your first round of exploring in the island's capital, Saint-Denis, where urban style meets colourful markets and colonial-era buildings. As you stroll along the Rue de Paris, which starts at the Victory Column and is lined with magnificent Creole villas, you feel the relaxed vibe everywhere. Next, you swap city life for the jungle and head to the Cirque de Salazie, a natural basin that's hard to beat for lush greenery. The slopes of the surrounding mountains rise up on both sides, absolutely bursting with vegetation. And just a bit further on, rushing waterfalls suddenly plunge into the depths right in front of you! The Voile de la Mariée has got to be one of the most stunning falls you've ever seen. You keep exploring and, hidden between banana plantations and bamboo forests, come across the village of Hell-Bourg. Here, colourful houses lie nestled between hills and palm trees, and the smell of sweet crêpes lures you into the cute, car-free centre.

After such a busy day, you finally chill out by the outdoor pool at your accommodation and start dreaming about your upcoming adventures.

The green heart of the island calls! Today, you’re plunging into your own personal jungle adventure and exploring the hiking trails of the Cirque de Salazie on your own. After an obligatory stop in Hell-Bourg, you head into the magical world of the elves. The Forêt de Bélouve, also known as the Fairy Forest, is set to enchant you. And the view of the Salazie basin from up there is simply stunning. Follow wooden paths through the thicket while individual rays of sun filter through the treetops and meet dense clouds of mist. The whole scene's like something from a fairy tale! Before you know it, you'll reach it: the little natural balcony above the Trou de Fer. And weather permitting, you'll be able to gaze down at the deep gorge with its endless waterfalls far below. What a sight! You'll still be reeling with happiness at the sight come bedtime. Now that's an experience!

Pedal to the metal! Today, you're driving down the east coast and into the island's interior. If you've woken up early from all the excitement, it's worth taking a short detour to the Takamaka waterfalls. The rushing masses of water cascading through the deep-green jungle make for the perfect pics! Then swap the solitude of nature for village life in La Plaine-des-Palmistes, where a lively morning market is held every weekend. Mingle with the locals for a little while before getting back behind the wheel for the next leg: the Col de Bellevue mountain pass. Wind your way along the slopes at an altitude of 5,270 feet and take in the unique natural scenery before you. On one side, bizarre peaks vie to be the tallest, while on the other, a flat plain stretches all the way to the coast – a rarity on La Réunion. Follow the view from light-green meadows to dark-green forests all the way to the Plaine des Cafres plateau. There, you'll spot a real eye-catcher: the Piton des Neiges, aka the highest peak in the Indian Ocean!

Once you reach your accommodation, you'll find it surrounded by grass-green mountains. And from your room, you can watch the evening sun slowly dip behind the massif and bid farewell to the day.