Combined trip to the two islands: Mauritius and Réunion

Hi everyone, we’re planning a trip to Réunion for 6 nights and Mauritius for 7 nights in March 2027. I’m starting to look into it now. We’re not hikers, so I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Should we book flights and small hotels separately, or go for a flight-and-stay package? We don’t want to blow our budget (around 2800 € per person). Thanks! Gigi

we’re planning to visit Réunion for 6 nights and Mauritius for 7 nights in March 2027. I’m starting to look into it—we’re not hikers, so I’d love to hear your thoughts!

My take is that one island is plenty. Even without hiking, there’s so much to see on Réunion (my favorite). You’ll want to rent a car and stay in 3 different spots (guesthouses, gîtes, or hotels). Some visits involve short, flat walks—especially in the south and east—mostly along the coast or through botanical gardens/parks, to waterfalls, etc. Two islands mean wasted time, extra fatigue, and a much bigger budget!

Hi there,

Without doing any hiking, it seems tough to spend a long time in Réunion. Especially since the trails get pretty steep in terms of elevation gain! Exploring the whole island requires several bases because of the winding roads and traffic jams on the coastal highway: one in Cilaos, one near the Piton de la Fournaise, and one in Salazie.

Mauritius will be better suited for beach relaxation. The southern part from the capital to Mahébourg is wilder. Food and accommodation will be cheaper there than in Réunion (unless you're staying in hotels or all-inclusive resorts).

Booking flights separately and renting apartments will be your best bet for a reasonably priced trip. And don’t forget to rent a car in Réunion.

Without doing hikes, it seems hard to stay very long on Réunion. Especially since the trails quickly get tough in terms of elevation gain!

Total nonsense! There are plenty of short coastal walks (max 1 hour) in the south and east of the island (and even in the southwest). My kids live there—we’ve been five times now. For the rest of the island, yes, rent a car, and if you go pretty much everywhere except the Mafate cirque, of course, you can easily fill 2 weeks.

Food and accommodation will be cheaper than in Réunion (unless it’s hotels and all-inclusive).

Yeah, that’s true.

To add to what I said, here are the travel journals I wrote about these two destinations:

Mauritius

Réunion

Hello,

What a wonderful travel plan! 7 days is really short to do both—it’s better to focus on one of the two destinations. Whichever you choose, you’re going to be amazed. On Mauritius, there are several must-see spots you can visit without too much effort, like Chamarel, Île aux Cerfs, and the Pamplemousses Garden. If it helps inspire you, here’s my 8-day travel journal for Mauritius.

For Réunion, I haven’t published it yet, but it’s just as rich in discoveries. It’s true that the hikes are stunning, but you can also enjoy the beach, historical, and natural sides of the island. I’d definitely recommend renting a car—it’s the best way to explore. Even if you don’t plan on hiking, you can still visit the cirques. The landscapes are gorgeous, and there are historical points of interest, especially in Hell-Bourg.

Anyway, have a great trip!

Yes, Hell-Bourg. I can’t remember the name of the guide (the agency was called "Les Aventuriers") who organized a really informative tour of the town and its surroundings (cemetery, etc.)—over 2 hours of guided exploration covering different aspects: historical heritage (Creole houses), geology, botany, zoology, and so much more, with tons of anecdotes and a lot of humor... A must-do you shouldn’t miss!

Hi, seven days already feels way too short—you won’t have time to really appreciate anything (not to mention the catastrophic traffic jams everywhere that’ll eat up even more of your time). Plus, in March, you’re right in the middle of cyclone season! Here are the risks: your flight could be diverted if there’s a cyclone on the day you arrive, delayed if there’s one on the day you leave; roads could be closed (landslides, flooded ravines...) and trails damaged (even on flat ground), power outages, confinement if there’s a red alert, swimming banned after heavy rain (pollution from ravines flowing into the lagoon). In short, it’s the worst time to visit the Mascarene Islands. I’d recommend a different period: May to November is ideal.

Oh right, I didn't realize the trip was planned for March!

So it's better to do just one if we can't do it for a longer period. I'm tempted to start with Mauritius and stay in 2 places.

Good evening, If what you prefer is beaches and seaside resorts, Mauritius is probably better than Réunion. Personally, I found Mauritius quite (very) disappointing and didn’t like it much, and I far prefer Réunion, which is much more varied. Even if we just look at the seaside aspect, I didn’t think it lived up to trips to Zanzibar or Madagascar.

If you really must go to Mauritius, I’d choose Rodrigues instead.

In Mauritius or Réunion, avoid March!

Over 15 days, both are doable since you’re not hiking. Mauritius for the beach vibe and Réunion for the landscapes.

My trip that didn’t happen because of COVID was planned to include both. But it was more like 9 days in Réunion and 5 in Mauritius because my goal was to hike.

I was supposed to leave at the end of March 2020...

If you want to swim in Mauritius, avoid the austral winter. Go at least by mid-October and no later than May. After that, if chilly water doesn’t bother you...

Réunion is way more spectacular for landscapes, while Mauritius has plenty of stunning, postcard-perfect beaches when the sun’s out and the wind dies down. Mauritius is more exotic in terms of its people.