10 must-do tours in Réunion Island with a private driver
10 must-do tours in Réunion Island with a private driver
Réunion Island fits in 2,512 km², yet every kilometre changes the landscape. Active volcano, UNESCO-listed cirques, turquoise lagoons, primary forest, highland roads at 1,600 m: it''s all within reach by VTC (private driver) if you pick the right tour. This guide brings together the 10 must-do tours by private driver, with realistic durations, road difficulty and local tips so you don''t waste an hour stuck in mountain switchbacks.
Table of contents
- Round-the-island in one day
- Piton de la Fournaise and Plaine des Sables
- Cilaos via the road of 400 bends
- Salazie, Hell-Bourg and Belouve
- Drop-off for Mafate cirque
- West coast lagoons
- Recap table
- FAQ
Why hire a VTC for these tours
Réunion''s public buses (Car Jaune) cover cities but not high-altitude attractions: no regular bus serves Pas de Bellecombe, Belouve or Maïdo. Renting a car works, except that driving the 400 bends to Cilaos at 1,200 m altitude after an 11-hour flight from Paris is rarely the smartest move. A local driver knows the road, manages the afternoon clouds (near-daily in the highlands) and lets you focus on the view.
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1. Round-the-island in one day
Distance: ~210 km, 6-8 h including stops. RN1 then RN2, via Saint-Pierre, Saint-Joseph, Saint-Philippe (the 2007 lava flow), Sainte-Rose, Saint-Benoît, returning via Saint-André and the north coast. You see both faces of the island: wild east, urban + lagoons in the west. Full breakdown in Round-the-island in one day: itinerary & VTC price.
2. Piton de la Fournaise
Half-day to full day. The active volcano peaks at 2,632 m. Access via the forest road from Bourg-Murat (Plaine des Cafres) up to Pas de Bellecombe, crossing the Plaine des Sables: a Mars-like landscape at 2,200 m. No regular public transport. See Getting to Piton de la Fournaise: road, parking, driver.
3. Cilaos via the road of 400 bends
Travel time: 1h-1h15 from Saint-Louis. RN5 climbs from sea level to 1,200 m over 35 km of tight switchbacks. At the top: Cilaos, its cirque, its lentils, its thermal spa. Single-lane tunnels along the way. See Cilaos via the 400 bends: road and transport guide.
4. Salazie, Hell-Bourg and Belouve
Full day. The greenest, wettest cirque. Hell-Bourg listed among France''s most beautiful villages, Creole houses, Manouilh spring. Belouve (1,506 m): primary tamarin forest, plunging view over Salazie. Details: Salazie, Hell-Bourg, Belouve: a day with a driver.
5. Mafate drop-off
Mafate is not visited by car. The cirque is accessible only on foot (or by helicopter for resupply). The VTC drops you at trailheads: Col des Bœufs (trail to La Nouvelle / Marla), Sans-Souci (Cayenne trail to Aurère / Îlet à Malheur), Le Maïdo (trail to Roche Plate). See Mafate: how to reach the isolated cirque.
6. West coast lagoons
Half-day to full day. L''Hermitage, La Saline, Saint-Leu, Étang-Salé. Lagoons protected by the coral barrier, snorkelling, surf at Saint-Leu. Combine with Maïdo for a sunrise view over Mafate. See Wild coast vs lagoon coast: VTC itinerary.
7. Maïdo at sunrise
Departure around 4-5 am. Belvedere at 2,200 m, plunging view over Mafate cirque. Clouds usually roll in by 9 am, hence the night start. About 1h30 from Saint-Paul.
8. Highland road (Plaine des Palmistes to Plaine des Cafres)
The RN3 crosses the Hauts between Saint-Benoît and Saint-Pierre: cryptomeria forests, cow pastures, afternoon mist. Required leg to reach the volcano.
9. Wild south: Saint-Philippe, Cap Méchant, Anse des Cascades
Black lava coast, pounded cliffs, Cap Méchant viewpoint. Classic photo stops between Saint-Joseph and Sainte-Rose.
10. Creole north: Saint-Denis, La Possession, Sainte-Marie
Creole architectural heritage of Saint-Denis (rue de Paris, villa Déramond), Saturday morning market in Saint-Paul, view over the bay of La Possession.
Recap table
| # | Tour | Duration | Max altitude | Road level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Round-the-island | 6-8h | sea level | Easy |
| 2 | Piton Fournaise | 5-7h | 2,360 m | Hard (forest road) |
| 3 | Cilaos | 5-8h | 1,200 m | Very hard (400 bends) |
| 4 | Salazie / Belouve | 6-8h | 1,506 m | Medium |
| 5 | Mafate drop-off | 1-2h one way | 2,000 m | Medium-hard |
| 6 | West lagoons | 4-6h | 0 m | Easy |
| 7 | Maïdo sunrise | 3-4h | 2,200 m | Medium |
| 8 | Highland road | 2-3h | 1,600 m | Easy |
| 9 | Wild south | 4-5h | sea level | Easy |
| 10 | Creole Saint-Denis | 3-4h | 0-100 m | Easy |
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How much does it cost?
VTC pricing on Réunion comes in two flavours: point A→B or hourly hire for tours with multiple stops. The hourly format starts from €41/h and is the better deal as soon as you do more than 2 photo stops. Details in When to take a VTC on Réunion Island.
FAQ
Which single tour should I pick if I have one day?
Piton de la Fournaise via Plaine des Sables. A landscape found nowhere else, reachable as a day trip from the west coast.
Can I combine volcano and Cilaos in the same day?
No, unless you spend 3 hours at each. Both legendary roads (Bourg-Murat and 400 bends) need a full day each to be enjoyed.
Best season for the cirques?
May to November (austral winter). Dry season, cool highland temperatures (can drop to 5 °C at night in Cilaos), clear morning views.
Can I book a driver by the hour for these tours?
Yes, hourly hire is the format made for multi-stop tours. You book a slot and the driver waits while you visit.
Do I need a 4×4 for these tours?
No, not for 9 out of 10. Only the track up to Col des Bœufs (Mafate drop-off from Salazie) is rough but passable. Zoot drivers know which vehicle suits each route.
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