Réunion Island
When
May to Sept
Price
From 2 400€ excl. flights
(based on 2 people sharing)
How long
5 nights
Ideal length
The Cilaos cirque, the third volcanic cirque on Réunion after Salazie and Mafate, stands out for its road access — a mountain road with over two hundred bends, built at considerable effort in the 1930s — and for its thermal springs, exploited since the late 19th century. The village, nestled over a thousand metres up, grows one of the Indian Ocean's rare vineyards and keeps alive a fine embroidery tradition recognised throughout France.
The road to Cilaos, completed in 1932 after years of work through particularly hard volcanic rock, remains one of France's most spectacular mountain roads, with over two hundred bends across roughly thirty kilometres. The village, ringed by dizzying ramparts rising over two thousand five hundred metres, was for a long time accessible only via this single route, shaping a cultural identity distinct from the island's other cirques.
The Cilaos thermal baths, in operation since 1896, draw naturally mineral-rich hot water, renowned for its benefits against rheumatism, in a renovated establishment welcoming both spa-goers and passing travellers. The local vineyard, grown on terraces over a thousand metres up, produces a niche wine unique in the Indian Ocean, while the embroidery craft, passed down since the 19th century by the village's nuns, still adorns many Creole interiors.
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Le Vieux Cep
A family-run hotel at the heart of Cilaos village, rooms overlooking the surrounding ramparts, a restaurant serving mountain Creole cuisine with local lentils.
Le Relais des Cimes
A simpler property overlooking the village, a terrace with a panoramic view of the cirque, an ideal starting point for morning hikes.
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