This travel guide is offered by your hotel
Duration: 6h one way. Level: difficult. Elevation gain: 1,730 m.
Departure point: From the Tourist Office, head for Bras Sec on the D241 for 3 km to the locality known as “le Bloc”. By bus, take line 63 from Cilaos-village.
This fairly strenuous hike takes you to the highest point of the Indian Ocean. A two-day hike is recommended. You can sleep at the Piton des Neiges gîte, also known as the Caverne Dufour refuge, at 2,478 m. The gîte should be booked well in advance, as this destination is a priority for most visitors. It’s a 4-hour walk to the hut and another 2 hours to the summit. From up there, you can see the whole of Reunion Island. You can contemplate the cirque de Cilaos, the cirque de Salazie, Marla, the Plaines, the Gros Morne, the rempart du Grand Bénard…
Bring warm clothes and gloves, as it can get very cold at sunrise, especially if it’s windy.