Off on an adventure in Réunion! (page 1 of 2)

Week 1 - July 2026

Traveling with just one spare pair of underwear, considering a hot shower a miracle, never staying in the same place too long by sleeping wherever night catches us, taking whatever local, improbable, and rickety transport we can find—this is the DNA of us wanderers. Except this time, the script for our movie is going to be a whole different genre. On paper, the destination doesn’t exactly scream epic adventure: Réunion! And what’s more... we won’t be two, or four, or even ten. We’ll be a solid thirty. All from the same family. Yes, thirty. At this point, it’s not just a trip—it’s a summer camp on the move! Why inflict this on such a peaceful island? Because my brother decided to get married there with his lovely bride. A great idea, you might say... especially when it involves relocating the equivalent of a small Ardennes village 10,000 kilometers from home for three weeks! So who’s stepping up to be the guide and wave the little flag?



So, for an exceptional trip, exceptional stories! Don’t worry, the debates at the supermarket over whether to choose plain chips or roast chicken chips, the beach picnics washed down with ti’ punch, and other rougail sausages to digest by the pool will only make it into the family archives. Here, I’ll stick to the tales of our beautiful escapes, the ones where we explore the wild corners of this little volcanic rock planted in the middle of the Indian Ocean. So where exactly are we headed?



For the first week—the subject of this first installment—we’re taking it easy. We’ll start by rediscovering the coastline, from the Souffleur in Saint-Leu to the Hermitage lagoon, before a little trip to the Cirque de Cilaos and its legendary road with 400 turns, just to get our legs warmed up.

Week 1 (continued)

Then comes the ascent of Piton de la Fournaise, to wake up our lazybones who already thought they were on vacation.

















I say "taking it easy" because don’t be fooled—we’ll kick it into high gear in week two once my brother’s tied the knot. I’ll tell you all about it later!...

Week 1 (continued)

Cirque de Cilaos:

Week 2 - July 2026

Who would’ve thought? She said yes! My brother rose to that life challenge! Now it’s Flo and my turn to take ours on... To rise to a challenge, not to get married. Each to their own risks!

Our challenge is called GR R3, one of Réunion’s legendary trekking trails. On paper, it’s a loop of roughly fifty-odd kilometers with climbs and descents around the Mafate cirque, which sensible people usually spread over four days. "Flo, the guy said four days?... Perfect, we’ll do it in three!"

And since we’re only half-smart, we might as well not skimp on good ideas: Since vacations are all about relaxing, we’ll skip the predictable and slightly tame access point that is the Col des Boeufs to tackle it treacherously where it least expects us—the vertigo-inducing descent of the Maïdo wall, expert level (or masochist, your pick).



Maybe it’s a small detail to you, but for our hiking boots, it means a lot: Twelve hundred meters of negative elevation gain to gobble up as an appetizer before the real fun begins... Except when it’s time to pay the bill, it’s on me! The same for everyone three days later, but this time in positive elevation gain to get back to our car. In the end, the house throws in an extra twelve kilometers of credit for our legs. There you go—the three-star tasting menu from the Michelin guide!





So, what’s it gonna be? Are you eating with us, or would you rather wait by the pool sipping ti’ punch?... Shh, don’t say anything, I get it... Come on, we’re tightening our laces and jumping feet-first into the beast’s lair!

And there we are, starting the dizzying descent of Maïdo. Our brains, still generously oxygenated, aren’t yet clouded by our thighs’ complaints. They’re perfectly capable of taking in the spectacle before us: Wow! Hello, Mr. Mafate, you’re stunning, and your ramparts look so high! No lie, if your face matches your landscapes, you’re the most majestic cirque in Réunion!





Once at the bottom, the trail starts playing yo-yo with our calves. Up, down, then up again... before going back down, just to make sure we got the rules. Meanwhile, our eyes stay glued upward, captivated by this wild beauty straight out of Jurassic Park: Lush vegetation, towering ramparts, an almost unreal silence... and a few *îlets* scattered like confetti at the bottom of the cirque. *Îlets* are those tiny, colorful villages from another era that anyone under twenty wouldn’t know. Here, there’s not a single road. To get there, you’ve got two options: The "Eco" deal—free but comes with your hiking shoes and a few liters of sweat... or the "Premium" offer, with panoramic views and comfy transport by helicopter. "Sorry, sir, only Gold cards accepted for that last option..."

The machine’s running, and the pace is steady. Roche Plate, the Three Rocks waterfall, and finally landing in Marla by late afternoon, where a nice cold Dodo beer, the lodge, and dinner give us a standing ovation on arrival.

Week 2 (continued)

And the day after? Another track in the jukebox, we fire up our same four wobbly cylinders and hit the trail again! Plaine des Tamarins, Col des Bœufs, Piton de la Marmite, Ilet à Malheur—fueling up on elevation gain for another nighttime interlude in Aurère.









Oh, and I’m getting word in my earpiece that the stats team following us noticed a little slowdown in the afternoon. Turns out Flo’s left knee is starting to show signs of "windshield-wiper syndrome." Don’t worry—whoever could stop Flo from finishing this trek hasn’t been born yet, and it sure won’t be some silly car part getting in her way!

Week 2 (continued)





So, third and final act: we pass through Les Lataniers, the Orangers canal, and Îlet des Orangers. As promised, we tackle the never-ending and grueling climb back up to Maïdo, which demands full repayment—plus interest—for the 1,200 meters of elevation we gained on the first day.







Flo’s limping, grimacing... but her iron will is clearly made of sterner stuff than her cartilage. With a little help from her charming prince, she crosses the finish line after 65 kilometers of sweat and wonder, her head in the clouds. Flo, 1 – Mafate, 0. Hats off to you, ma’am! I’ll admit, this GR R3, genetically modified with extra challenges, was a pretty dumb idea. We’ll *definitely* have to do it again someday!...











One thing’s for sure: unlike newlyweds, we won’t have any witnesses to certify we made it to the end. Just Flo’s knee, which will bear the scars of this trek for a few days...

Week 3 - July 2026

After a second week mostly defined by our three days of trekking through Mafate and Flo’s knee being officially declared a disaster zone, what do you think we’ve got planned for our final chapter on the tempting island of Réunion? Option A: Intensive sessions in the jacuzzi at our villa, sprinkling in a few visits at a relaxed Réunion pace. Option B: Putting Flo’s knee under a protective bubble for a few days before tackling one last athletic challenge. Option C: Turning our terrace into a research lab dedicated to flavored rum, with daily tastings in the name of science.

Truth be told, our last week of wandering is a delicious mix of all three: soaking up the Réunion vibe to satisfy both our taste buds and our eyes. And since Flo’s determination far outweighs the mechanics of her knee joints, the grand finale will light up the sky of our trip with the ascent of Piton des Neiges at over 3,000 meters. A 1,700-meter positive elevation gain on the way up, and the same hiking serenade in reverse on the way down. Yep, with a cardboard knee in tow!

Cascade des Aigrettes:











But hold your horses! Before that, the young lady Réunion still has plenty of stunning views to dive into. Starting with the lava road in the south of the island, shaped by the fiery outbursts of the temperamental Piton de la Fournaise, with the still-warm flow from last April as the highlight... Next up is the panoramic Langevin waterfall and its solitary swim... Solitary not because this waterfall is a well-kept secret, but because the water is so icy that only Sasha and I dare to defy Celsius’s cryotherapeutic laws, while the more sensibly built tourists settle for a photo... We can also add the Bois-Court viewpoint and the breathtaking hike to Grand Bassin that goes with it. The Cap Jaune hike, the Aigrettes hike, Manapany basin, Grande Anse beach, Anse des Cascades...

Grande Anse Beach:

Week 3 (continued)

Manapany:





Langevin Waterfall:









Cap Jaune:

Week 3 (continued):

Route des Laves:









Bois-Court and Grand Bassin:

Week 3 (continued)

Don’t throw any more at us—the schedule’s packed, and we’ve only got one day left for our Piton des Neiges challenge. Or rather, one day *and* one night, because to climb the island’s highest peak, you’ve either got the 59.90 € option (two days with a night in a gîte) or you’ve got the legs and the mindset to tackle it in one go, at night with a headlamp strapped to your forehead, then descend when daylight comes. So, between a reasonable option and a crazy one, which do you think we picked?... Off we went for a nighttime stroll with just the two of us...

When it comes down to it, let’s just say the way up *always* goes up—steep, relentless, no mercy, no gentle slopes to save you. It’s nighttime, you keep your head down, and you just push forward while lactic acid eats away at your thighs. By eight in the morning, the self-inflicted torture session is over, and we’ve crossed the finish line.











All that’s left is to be amazed! Clear views of the three cirques—Salazie, Cilaos, and Mafate. No one else around, so we soak it all in until we can’t take any more, almost forgetting the other half of the plan! "Oh right, we’ve got to go back down!"

Week 3 (continued and wrap-up)









So, what about that hellish slide with a thousand hairpin turns to wreck your knees?... In a word, endless... And Flo’s knee, of all things, went on strike against bending. Every step requires a social negotiation. Every stair, its own union conflict... Painfully, but surely. By three in the afternoon, Flo’s torturous hike was over... Exhausted...









So, was Flo’s knee sacrifice to the hiking gods worth it? Flo insists I tell you a big Yes! And it’s non-negotiable! Nothing but happiness... just like these three weeks spent on this little rock, a hiker’s paradise... Eyes full, legs full, head full... heart full! And that unpleasant feeling of leaving a little part of ourselves on the island. My brother, for example, left his single life there. And Flo, her knee!

So much elevation gain to explore. You're ready for the UTMB near my place... but you won't be alone!

When the phrase "travel the world until the body can't take it anymore" really hits home! You're crazy, but it's amazing 😎 We'll be following your journey—we're always torn between excitement and bewilderment... I keep saying it, but Réunion is just so beautiful. It's at the top of my personal list.

So many elevation exploits. You're ready for the UTMB near my place... but you won't be alone!

We're getting a bit old for the UTMB, though... The TMB would already be great... 😛

Another travel journal that kept me on my toes—just reading it straight through wore me out! 😉 It brings back such great memories (though with slightly less cooperative weather... and way less elevation gain! 😉)

Another travel journal wrapped up at a breakneck pace (just reading it straight through wore me out 😏). It brings back such great memories (with slightly less cooperative weather... and way less elevation gain! 😏)

And yet, the pace was... so Réunion...😎 Nothing like elevation to make you feel alive! 😏😏😏

Hi Franck,

You really can’t stop treating us to your travel stories, can you? I’m thrilled you’ve decided to publish all your overdue travel journals. And the success—well deserved—is there! Huge kudos to your Flo, who seems like an amazing woman. You’re lucky she’s willing to follow you on your wild adventures. Thanks again for this ode to Réunion, which is an incredible destination.

Hi Franck,

You just can’t stop treating us to your travel stories, can you? I’m thrilled you’ve decided to publish all your overdue travel journals. And the success—well deserved—is definitely there. Hats off to your Flo, who seems like an amazing woman. You’re lucky she’s willing to follow you on your crazy adventures. Thanks again for this ode to Réunion, which is an incredible destination.

Yeah, sorry—I’m going all out at the moment, and it might be a lot to read... 😉 I just posted a new one, by the way (Lithuania). As for Flo, she’s one hell of a woman, totally on board with my wild travel whims! See you soon in another travel journal! Franck

Hello, You’ve really chosen some great hiking routes for the natural sights—and for the challenges! The descent from Maido into Mafate, all the way to Marla, isn’t easy! Especially with the Canal des Orangers and then climbing back up to Maido. I’d guess nearly 1,500 m of elevation change just to Marla… maybe even more! And the total is probably almost double that. Lucky the weather was perfect—when it’s wet and slippery, it gets *very* intense. You’ve covered a big chunk of this island I love so much—my two kids have lived here for about ten years now. It’s still better (by my standards) than its neighbor, Mauritius. Let’s just say it’s *very* different. Great job, and thanks for this awesome travel journal! !

Hello, You’ve really chosen great hiking routes for the natural scenery and the challenges! The descent from Maido into Mafate, all the way to Marla, isn’t easy! Especially with the Canal des Orangers and then climbing back up to Maido! I think you’re looking at nearly 1,500 meters of elevation gain just to Marla—maybe even more! And overall, it’s probably almost double that. Lucky the weather was perfect because when it’s wet and slippery, it gets really tough... You’ve explored a big part of this island I love so much—my two kids have lived there for about ten years now... It’s still better than its neighbor, Mauritius (in my opinion, at least). They’re just so different. Great job, and thanks for this amazing travel journal!

Thanks, Jean-Michel, for your comment! Yeah, Réunion isn’t really comparable to Mauritius. It depends on what you’re looking for, but for me, there’s no contest. As for elevation gain, the climb back up to Maïdo from Îlet des Lataniers alone is 1,300 meters of ascent. Over three days, we must’ve gone well beyond 3,000 meters total...