Departure

Return


Loading
Choose a country or city

The “Au cœur de la Réunion” tour at a glance

Au cœur de la Réunion (In the Heart of Réunion) is an 8-day, 7-night Club Med Discovery tour, in the Nature Escape theme, that covers the island's great landscapes, arriving at and leaving from Saint-Denis airport. You walk in the Salazie cirque to the Creole village of Hell-Bourg, explore the lava tunnels of the wild south, then climb by 4x4 toward the Piton de la Fournaise, up to 2,311 metres. Next come L'Entre-Deux and the Dimitile, at 1,852 metres, Piton Maïdo above the Mafate cirque and, to finish, the Saint-Gilles lagoon in a transparent kayak. You stay in three hotels, rated 4 and 5 stars. Full board with drinks, travel by air-conditioned coach, visits and French-speaking local guides are included.

Club Med Vacations Promotion A World of Fun Awaits up to 40% with Voyages AquaTerra

How do the first days unfold, from Sainte-Anne to the Piton de la Fournaise?

On day one, you are welcomed at Saint-Denis airport and driven to Sainte-Anne, in the east of the island. On day two, you head for the Salazie cirque: an easy hike, then the Creole village of Hell-Bourg, with its colourful houses and gardens. On day three, you go to the wild south and its lava flows, where you explore the lava tunnels for about 2 hours 30 minutes, at an easy level. On day four, a 4x4 takes you up toward the Piton de la Fournaise, one of the most active volcanoes in the world, up to 2,311 metres.

And the second half of the tour, from the Dimitile to Saint-Gilles?

On day five, you reach L'Entre-Deux, then climb by 4x4 to the Dimitile, at 1,852 metres, for a panorama over the south of the island. On day six, you go up Piton Maïdo, above 2,000 metres, where the view plunges into the Mafate cirque, then stop at a geranium producer before heading down to Saint-Gilles. Day seven is spent by the sea, with the market, an outing in a transparent kayak on the lagoon and a cocktail on the beach. On day eight, the morning is free before the transfer to the airport.

What are the highlights of the tour?

The 4x4 climb toward the Piton de la Fournaise, a volcano listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, often leaves travellers speechless: you go from green fields to lunar landscapes in a few kilometres. The lava tunnels, explored with a guide, take you into the belly of the island. At Maïdo, the Mafate cirque opens beneath your feet, and the fully transparent kayak on the Saint-Gilles lagoon ends the week gently, with fish just below the hull. For thrill seekers, a helicopter flight is offered as an option.

Which hotels do you stay in during the tour?

The tour begins at the Diana Dea Lodge, a 5-star hotel in Sainte-Anne, in the east of the island. The second address is the Papangue Hôtel & Spa, a 4-star property, for departures until December 2026, then Le Dimitile, another 4-star hotel, from January 2027. The end of the stay is at the LUX* Saint Gilles, a 5-star hotel on the west coast. Your advisor confirms the exact hotel based on your departure date.

What is included in the tour?

The package includes travel by air-conditioned coach and full board from lunch on day one to lunch on day eight, with a glass of wine, a beer or a soft drink, water and a coffee or tea at each meal. The visits on the programme, the 4x4 climbs, the French-speaking local guides and local taxes are also included. International flights and the related transfers, the helicopter flight, extra drinks, personal expenses, tips, insurance and the annual Club Med membership fee are extra.

How is the group led?

From 9 participants, a dedicated French-speaking guide accompanies the group for the whole tour. For more intimate departures, French-speaking local guides take over at each excursion, each a specialist of their corner of the island. Either way, you travel in a small group, and your advisor tells you which format applies to your departure date.

When is the best time to visit Réunion?

The island can be visited all year. From May to November, during the southern winter, the air is drier and cooler at altitude, which suits hikes and 4x4 outings very well: bring a warm layer for the volcano and Maïdo. From December to April, it is hotter and more humid, and the vegetation is at its most lush. The published programme is valid from January 2026: your advisor tells you which departures are offered on your dates.

How do you get to Réunion from Quebec?

You leave from Montreal with a connection to Saint-Denis airport, where the tour begins. International flights are added to the package, and your advisor books them together with the transfers so everything flows from the moment you land. Réunion is a French overseas department: you pay in euros and people speak French and Creole. Your Canadian passport must be valid for the whole stay, and your advisor checks the requirements at the time of booking.

Which Club Med resort should you combine with Réunion?

Neighbouring Mauritius is the easiest extension after a week of volcanoes and cirques. Club Med La Plantation d'Albion, on the west coast, is ideal for couples, with its zen pool perched on the rocks facing the sunset. Club Med La Pointe aux Canonniers, on a peninsula with two beaches, welcomes families with clubs for ages 0 to 17. Our Mauritius all-inclusive page helps you compare. For a shorter stay, the Escapade à La Réunion lasts 4 days.

Why book this tour with AquaTerra?

Voyages AquaTerra is part of the Voyages Synergia network, which received the Club Med Excellence Award 2025. We build the whole trip for you, from the flight to Saint-Denis to the week in Mauritius, and show you all the Club Med Discovery tours, including those in Asia and the Indian Ocean, such as Joyaux des Seychelles. This tour appeals to curious, fit travellers who enjoy walking without chasing performance.

Call 1-866-628-6241. You will reach someone who knows this tour and has time for you. We look together at what is available on your dates, we choose the right departure, and we stay on the line throughout your trip. That is the difference between booking alone in front of a screen and travelling with someone behind you.

  • Gazebo above a sea of clouds at sunset, Reunion Island

    Gazebo above a sea of clouds at sunset, Reunion Island

  • Volcanic coastline pounded by the ocean, Reunion Island

    Volcanic coastline pounded by the ocean, Reunion Island

  • Window of a Creole house with colourful shutters

    Window of a Creole house with colourful shutters

  • Crater of Piton de la Fournaise from above

    Crater of Piton de la Fournaise from above

  • Reunion Island vanilla pods

    Reunion Island vanilla pods

Meet our Club Med Specialists who can help you plan your trips to any of the Club Med destinations.

Voyages Synergia - 2025 Excellence Club Med Award Travel agency

All rights reserved Voyages Synergia. Images, logos and Club Med properties: © Club Med. The Club Med 2 yacht is registered in France.

Frequently Asked Questions

A good walker's fitness is enough. The Salazie hike and the lava tunnel exploration are at an easy level, and the climbs to the volcano and the Dimitile are by 4x4. Bring good walking shoes with ankle support.
Clothes you do not mind getting dirty, closed shoes and a warm layer. Your advisor specifies the equipment provided before departure. The exploration lasts about 2 hours 30 minutes.
For many travellers, it is the most striking memory of Réunion: you see the cirques, the ramparts and the volcano all at once. It is offered as an option on day seven. Your advisor can book it ahead, as spots go quickly.
Yes, each meal included in the full board comes with a glass of wine, a beer or a soft drink, plus water and a coffee or tea. Extra drinks are paid on site. It is a chance to taste Creole cuisine, from cari to rougail.
They are the two 4-star hotels planned for the second stage of the tour. The Papangue Hôtel & Spa hosts departures until December 2026, and Le Dimitile takes over from January 2027. Your advisor tells you which one matches your date.
It is one of Réunion's three great cirques, a world of ridges and hamlets reached only on foot or by air. You admire it from above at Piton Maïdo, above 2,000 metres, on day six. Morning often offers the clearest view.
Yes, it combines nature, good food and hotels with character, including two 5-star addresses. Many couples extend it with a week at Club Med La Plantation d'Albion in Mauritius. Your advisor can let the hotels know about the occasion.
You pay in euros, since Réunion is a French department. Cards are widely accepted in hotels, restaurants and shops. Keep some cash for the Saint-Gilles market.
Yes, solo travellers easily join the small group. Your advisor explains the conditions for a single room at the time of booking. Days in the 4x4 and shared meals quickly create bonds.
The two islands are neighbours, linked by a short flight. Your advisor books this connection with the rest of the trip, along with the transfer to the Club Med resort you choose. Club Med La Plantation d'Albion is about 1 hour from Mauritius airport.
  • #