Four kilometres west of Saint-Benoît's town centre is the starting point for a scenic walk lasting around fifteen minutes, along a path lined with bamboo and ferns. With crosses and small oratories dotted along the way, this sloping trail leads to a much-loved green place: the Bethléem islet. As a place of pilgrimage with its chapel, it draws many pilgrims every Christmas, and it also attracts people looking to relax, with its majestic century-old lychee tree, stony beach and peaceful river. Indeed, this is a favourite spot among Réunion locals, for a picnic with family and friends, or sunbathing and swimming in the River Marsouins! Canyoning, kayaking and fishing are also available for water sports fans to enjoy.

Located in the Hauts de Saint-André, to the north-east of the island, the Salazie cirque is not only the most verdant but also the most accessible of all the cirques on Réunion. A UNESCO World Heritage Site like its neighbours Mafate and Cilaos, this unspoilt territory with a humid climate and abundant vegetation has many waterfalls among its mountainous ramparts. The most impressive is indisputably that of the "Bride's Veil" (Voile de la Mariée), an immense waterfall that splits into several small ones, which you can admire from the road between Salazie and Hell-Bourg! The climatic conditions of Salazie also make it ideal for growing chayote, known locally as chouchou, the famous vegetable belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family that people on Réunion particularly enjoy in a gratin, and which you can sample in many local restaurants… In fact, a chouchou festival takes place every June in Hell-Bourg, an event full of flavours and activities celebrating the local emblem.

A haven of peace and greenery, the Salazie cirque invites you to explore its lush landscapes, during a hike on its marked paths or a bicycle or car trip along its peaceful little roads among the vegetation. As well as its magnificent unspoilt environment, this flagship destination of Réunion National Park also boasts a remarkable built heritage, as evidenced by the Hell-Bourg islet, a magnificent little village listed among France's most beautiful villages, which still have some lovely Creole houses with colourful façades that were built during its heyday as a spa destination. The superb Folio house is open to visitors and is sure to delight you with its refined style and charming tropical garden!

Heritage enthusiasts will also want to stop at Grand Îlet, a village perched at an altitude of around 1,100 metres, where the flagship edifice is the splendid Church of St Martin, a listed Historic Monument whose walls are covered with tamarind shingle. From there you can travel along the Bélier road, a beautiful itinerary through the Hauts forest that will guide you all the way to the Col des Boeufs car park, the starting point for the famous walking trail to the Mafate cirque.

To enjoy magnificent views over the Salazie cirque, hikers should be sure to take the footpath between Hell-Bourg and the Bélouve plateau (medium difficulty - 600 metres change in altitude - 3h30 return trip). The efforts made during the ascent will be rewarded upon arrival by an exceptional panoramic view of the verdant Salazie cirque and the famous Piton des Neiges. There is also a particularly well-landscaped esplanade where you can take a well-deserved picnic break!

The hike to the Anchaing Piton departing from the Îlet à Vidot (medium difficulty - 750 metres change in altitude - 4h30 return trip), not recommended for people prone to vertigo, will reveal fabulous viewpoints over the whole Salazie cirque…

Departing from Hell-Bourg, a lovely and pleasant walk (medium difficulty - 600 metres in altitude - 4-hour circuit) will enable you to discover not only the Manouilh spring but also a majestic cryptomeria forest!

Located to the south of the town of Saint-Benoît, the Church of St. Anne, a listed Historic Monument since 1982, is remarkable for having been decorated between 1921 and 1946 by Father Daubenberger, his parishioners and the children from Sunday school. The countless floral patterns, gargoyles and cherubs that adorn the building's façade create a unique Baroque look! Inside, the multi-coloured Chapel of St. Theresa is very eye-catching… This exceptional place was also used as a location in 1968 for the wedding scene in François Truffaut's film Mississippi Mermaid.

Not far away, opposite the ocean, by the side of the road towards Saint-Benoît town centre, stands the beautiful oratory of Our Lady of Lourdes, surrounded by greenery.

In the municipality of Saint-Benoît, heading towards La Plaine-des-Palmistes, lies an exceptional natural site, the Grand Étang, which is reached by walking for around twenty minutes along a pleasant path. Surrounded by tall basalt ramparts, this lake of 50 hectares, supplied by rain water and several waterfalls, enjoys a wonderfully peaceful, green setting full of lush, unspoilt plant life… This particularly relaxing spot is an ideal place to rest and recuperate, and you can explore it by following a path around the lake of about 4 kilometres. More motivated walkers on the trail will enjoy a little half-hour detour to go and admire the majestic Bras d'Annette waterfalls that pour into the Grand Étang! It should however be noted that the lake can sometimes be dry during droughts or flooded during heavy rain…

At the north exit from the town of Sainte-Rose, heading towards Saint-Benoît, stands a magnificent and impressive suspension bridge measuring 152 metres in length, which is a listed Historic Monument. Built at the end of the 19th century and having stood the test of time, it towers majestically over the Rivière de l'Est river bed and its surrounding greenery. A beautiful structure reserved for pedestrians only, making it a joy to cross…

Accessible via a long and scenic winding road, the Takamaka viewpoint located around fifteen kilometres south-west of Saint-Benoît town centre is indisputably worth a visit. This impressive belvedere indeed offers an exceptional view of the Takamaka Valley, whose river supplies two hydroelectric dams. An awe-inspiring, untamed site where you can not only admire majestic mountains covered in greenery, but also some magnificent waterfalls! As the Takamaka Valley is considered to be one of the rainiest places in the world, it is advisable to go there on a fine day, preferably early in the morning before the clouds arrive, if you want to enjoy an untrammelled view…

If you are exploring the superb east coast of Réunion, be sure to stop by Sainte-Rose marina. When you take a stroll along this peaceful and pretty little harbour, you can not only admire the Indian Ocean, but also see two old cannons, relics of some ancient gun batteries, as well as the imposing Corbett monument. This listed Historic Monument is a mausoleum dedicated to the British commodore Robert Corbett, who was killed in a naval battle in the sea near the island in 1810.

Departing from the marina, you can also go on a pleasant walk along the coastal path, a magnificent coastal trail through unspoilt landscapes. More athletic visitors can follow the itinerary all the way to the lovely Anse des Cascades cove.

Spanning 105,447 hectares, Réunion National Park covers 42% of the island's surface and contains exceptional UNESCO World Heritage Sites, like the majestic cirques of Cilaos, Mafate and Salazie, as well as the famous Piton des Neiges peak and the Piton de la Fournaise volcano.

As well as its remarkable landscapes featuring peaks, cirques and ramparts, this unspoilt territory has fauna and flora that are unique in the world, with around 230 native plant species and endangered rare birds, such as the Mascarene Petrel, the Réunion Cuckooshrike (or Tuit-tuit), Barau's Petrel (known locally as Taille-vent), and the Réunion Marsh Harrier (or Papangue), the island's only raptor.

To discover the biodiversity and other countless marvels of Réunion National Park, nothing beats a hike with family and friends! One of the island's most popular activities, this sporty activity much loved by Réunion locals is a way to enjoy natural sites of outstanding beauty which are often only accessible by walking, like the Mafate cirque and the Piton des Neiges. Around 1,000 kilometres of paths are available to lovers of country walks, who are spoilt for choice here when it comes to practising their favourite hobby. Bélouve Gîte - Trou de Fer Belvedere (3-hour return trip - easy); Col des Boeufs pass - La Nouvelle (4h30 return trip - easy); Bellecombe Pass - Dolomieu Crater (5-hour return trip - quite difficult) and Cilaos - Piton des Neiges (8-hour return trip - difficult) are just some of the remarkable trails that you can explore during a stay on Réunion.

The Park House (Maison du Parc) in La Plaine-des-Palmistes is open to visitors and invites you to discover its permanent exhibition entitled "Réunion, island of nature, heart of people", about Réunion's natural environment, as well as its pleasant gardens with native plant species.

Located right at the heart of the Hauts area of the island, at around 1,050 metres in altitude, in the charming community of La Plaine-des-Palmistes, the Tourelles estate is a major site for the heritage and craft of Réunion. Dedicated to promoting arts and crafts, it also includes a craft shop, a sculpture studio, an art foundry and a porcelain painting studio. The Tourelles estate also has an interesting heritage trail named "People, the Hauts and Plants", which you can explore on a visit to its magnificent Creole house and its beautiful gardens. A unique place that is both pleasant and educational…

If you carry on towards Le Tampon, you can stop at the Bellevue pass. True to its name meaning "beautiful view", it offers a superb panoramic view of La Plaine-des-Palmistes and its mountainous surroundings!

In Piton-Sainte-Rose, a district in the municipality of Sainte-Rose at the foot of the Piton de la Fournaise volcano on the island's East Coast, stands a small church, now renamed Our Lady of the Lavas (Notre-Dame-des-Laves), which was miraculously spared during the 1977 lava flow, which encircled the building without consuming it! The impressive mass of hardened lava that can still be seen at the entrance to the church provides a reminder of this incredible moment in its history.

A true gem in the Hauts of Réunion, located in the municipalities of Saint-Paul and La Possession, Mafate has the particularity of being the only cirque on the island to be accessible only by foot or by helicopter. A listed UNESCO World Heritage Site like its neighbours Cilaos and Salazie, this exceptional, unspoilt territory protected from the nuisance of motor traffic is home to incredible biodiversity, full of native species. A haven for hikers and other nature-lovers, with around 180 kilometres and landscaped paths, this haven of peace and tranquillity, surrounded by dizzying ramparts, will leave you with unforgettable memories… A totally unique place where you can not only admire fantastic wild landscapes, but also meet the residents of Mafate, of which there are around 750 inhabiting the nine islets of the cirque. This adventure will be even more unforgettable if you spend the night there, in one of the gîtes with tables d'hôte dining. A great opportunity to socialise and also appreciate the very special, serene atmosphere of the area…

Several walks of varying lengths and levels of difficulties provide access to the heart of the Mafate cirque. The most classic and easiest itinerary (4h30 return trip - 700 metres change in altitude) starts at the Col des Boeufs, accessible from Salazie, leading to the islet of La Nouvelle, the most populated village of Mafate, via the magnificent and mysterious Tamarind Plain full of twisted trees. Popular with walkers looking for a place to stop for lunch or for the night, the village of La Nouvelle will delight you with its little wooden chalets, charming church, scenic grassy paths and idyllic environment.

You can also go to Mafate from Cilaos, taking the uphill path to the Col du Taïbit pass (3 hours' ascent - 800 metres change in altitude - difficult), an itinerary best travelled in the early morning, before the clouds come along and obstruct your view… Once you reach the pass, the effort exerted on the way up is rewarded by an exceptional panoramic view, not just over the Cilaos cirque but also over Mafate! After a well-deserved short break, the hike continues downhill (1-hour walk) to the islet of Marla, a charming little hamlet surrounded by pastures nestled at the foot of the Grand Bénare, at 1,645 metres in altitude, where you can stop at a snack bar or spend the night in one of its gîtes or B&Bs. From there, you can go to the famous Three Rocks (Trois Roches) site, by taking a steep path going down along the Galets river. Located halfway between Marla and the islet of Roche Plate, this unique natural site will impress you with its three large basalt blocks and its beautiful waterfall plunging into a deep chasm. An exceptional place, but also a hazardous one, so care must be taken! You then have several options: return to Marla or go to the islet of Roche Plate or La Nouvelle, where there are many paths waiting for you to discover the countless natural riches and little villages of Mafate, like the islet of Les Orangers, the islet of Malheur or Aurère!

Boasting a wild, unspoilt coastline, the municipality of Sainte-Rose, located on Réunion's east coast, has a natural site that is highly prized by the locals: Anse des Cascades cove, located to the south of Piton-Sainte-Rose. Ideal for picnics with family and friends, this beautiful area is remarkable for its pretty coconut grove and many screwpine trees, waterfalls, dry port for fishing boats, and its charming little bay with large volcanic stones. A very pleasant and peaceful haven where, if you can't swim in the ocean, you can cool off in the waterfalls!

By taking the famous Lava Road on the south-east coast of Réunion, which runs from Sainte-Rose to Saint-Philippe, between the ramparts of Bois Blanc and Le Tremblet, you will find some of the island's wildest and most unusual landscapes… Tucked between the Indian Ocean and the Grandes Pentes area of the active volcano named Piton de le Fournaise, this incredible territory known as Grand Brûlé resembles the surface of the moon and bears the scars of the great eruptions of the past. Along the way you can see the various volcanic flows, which have now hardened and stretch as far as the sea, as well as some very specific plant life that has reasserted itself with the passing of time. A unique adventure offering magnificent views of the Grand Brûlé, the Grandes Pentes and the Indian Ocean!

Heading towards Sainte-Rose, at the foot of the Bois Blanc rampart, you can see the famous Virgin with Parasol, a statue venerated by a number of Réunion Catholics for the protection it is thought to give them against the volcano's onslaughts…

Keen walkers should be sure to visit the volcanic garden 4 kilometres north of the village of Saint-Philippe! Starting at the pleasant Puits Arabe site, which has picnic kiosks, this is a lovely seaside walk that will take you to the Table headland, a unique site formed by the 1986 lava flow.

In the heights of Hell-Bourg, at 1,500 metres in altitude, lies a vast plateau covered in a magnificent, unspoilt forest. Protected by Réunion National Park and listed as a biological reserve, Bélouve primary forest is home to many native species like the fanjan tree fern, the Hauts tamarind and a number of orchids. Accessible by car via a road through Bébour forest, departing from the village of La Plaine-des-Palmistes, or on foot along a craggy path from the islet of Hell-Bourg, this wonderful area is particularly suitable for hiking.

As well as being able to enjoy its lovely tamarind grove, as well as a quantity of exotic plants lining the roads and paths, you can also take the famous marked trail to the Trou de Fer belvedere, a particularly unspoilt place where on a fine day you can admire an impressive waterfall rushing down the middle of a canyon covered in greenery. To get there, you will need to walk for around 3 hours there and back, starting from the Bélouve gîte. A very beautiful trail through the heart of the luxuriant primary forest, where caution is advised as the path can become slippery and muddy after rain.

Lovers of scenery will also enjoy a trip to the Bélouve esplanade, a particularly well-landscaped site with a picnic area and orientation table, with truly exceptional panoramic views of the Salazie cirque and the Piton des Neiges! Not far from there, anyone wanting to learn more about the history of the old forest cable car and the Hauts tamarind grove can visit the permanent exhibition entitled "Bélouve the great legacy, legacy of the people". Meanwhile, the Somin Tamarin, a sightseeing path within the tamarind grove dotted with signs and interactive terminals, accessible to people with reduced mobility and sight-impaired people, is an ideal way to discover the local flora!

Nestling at the very heart of the Wild South, on a volcanic flow around 800 years old, the perfume and spice garden in the municipality of Saint-Philippe is a haven of peace and tranquillity containing no fewer than 1,500 plant varieties grown for their perfumes, spices or ornamental qualities. Century-old remarkable trees, rare native plants and other exceptional flora all have a place in the magnificent tropical forest of Mare Longue. Ylang-ylang, vetiver, clove, cardamom, as well as palm trees, orchids, ferns and fruit trees are among Réunion's floral treasures, which you can admire on your own or on a guided tour!

A UNESCO World Heritage Site like the cirques of Mafate, Cilaos and Salazie, the Piton de la Fournaise peak, whose highest point is at 2,632 metres in altitude, is one of the world's most active volcanoes. Known for its frequent eruptions that take place every nine months on average, it is also one of the most closely monitored volcanoes in the world. Easily accessible via the Volcano forest road starting in the middle of the Cafres plain, at the village of Bourg-Murat, the Piton de la Fournaise is also the most visited tourist site on the island!

Made up of a large dome set amid a vast area of subsidence called the Enclosure (Enclos), this imposing volcanic massif that emerged 500,000 years ago is now a treat for hikers and thrill-seekers. Located right at the heart of Réunion National Park and only accessible outside of eruption periods, the Fournaise volcano is sure to impress you with its lunar landscapes, thousand-year-old craters, hardened lava and very special flora…

Departing from the Bellecombe pass, two hiking circuits which are very popular with walkers will take you to discover this mysterious mineral world: the Nez Coupé de Sainte-Rose path (medium difficulty - 3h30 return trip - 350 metres change in altitude), for its amazing views of the volcanic massif and the Indian Ocean; and the Dolomieu balcony (quite difficult - 5h return trip - 500 metres change in altitude), to get up close to the volcano! This second route, as unique as it is fascinating, will not only give you a fabulous panoramic view of the Dolomieu crater from the observation platform, but also offers other places of interest, like the Formica Léo crater and the Rosemont Chapel rock formation, both located within the Fouqué enclosure.

Dotted with many remarkable viewpoints, the Volcan tourist road, which starts at Bourg-Murat and takes you to the Bellecombe pass, is well worth taking the time to explore. There are several particularly inviting places to stop: the Nez de Boeuf belvedere and its sublime panorama of the Remparts river valley; the spectacular viewpoint over the Commerson crater; the magnificent, warm-coloured panorama of the Sables plain; or the Bellecombe pass and its beautiful view of the vast, desert-like expanse of the Fouqué enclosure, surrounded by ramparts.

Located in the hills around the municipality of Le Tampon, right at the heart of the Cafres plain, the Cité du Volcan museum in Bourg-Murat will take you on a trip in the fascinating world of volcanoes. Modern and fun, its interactive exhibits that use innovative technological procedures such as augmented reality, holographic projection and multi-touch surfaces will delight adults and children in equal measure!

The highest point on the island of Réunion, at 3,071 metres in altitude, the Piton des Neiges is an old, now dormant volcano that has not been active for over 12,000 years. This mountain massif, which was formed around five million years ago and emerged from the Indian Ocean over three million years ago, gave birth to the island that we know today. Located at the centre of Réunion, to the north of the Cilaos cirque and to the south of the Salazie cirque, the Piton des Neiges' name means "snow peak" but on the contrary, it is not constantly covered in snow despite its high altitude and cool temperatures. In fact, snowy spells are rare and it is quite unusual to see its peak covered with a white mantle.

Popular with walking enthusiasts, its ascent is regarded as difficult and can begin from Cilaos, Salazie or the Cafres plain, preferably in a clear day wearing warm clothes, following one of the three trails leading to the Caverne Dufour refuge located just down from the top of the Piton des Neiges, at 2,470 metres in altitude. Nestling in the very heart of Réunion National Park, this gîte is a stopping place for many hikers who come to explore the island's tallest mountain massif, as it allows them to break the ascent up into two days. To watch the sunrise from the top of the Piton des Neiges, you will need to pack a torch and leave the refuge at around 4 am to ascend the 600 remaining metres, which is about two hours' walk. Once you reach the top, your efforts will not only be rewarded by a sublime sunrise, but also by a fabulous view of the whole island and the Indian Ocean! A unique 360° panorama, revealing in particular the famous cirques of Cilaos, Mafate and Salazie.