TREK THE MEETING GR R2

Arrival at Saint-Denis Roland Garros airport, reception by the Indigo Be coordinator and private transfer to the hotel in Saint-Denis. Brief briefing of the next stage and delivery of information material. Free time to visit the famous "Rue de Paris" and its Creole houses, as well as the lively pedestrian streets of downtown Saint-Denis full of stores, restaurants and bars. Check-in at the hotel.

• HOTEL AUSTRAL 3* HOTEL

Breakfast and private transfer to the starting point of the GR R2, the Providence. From here, a long climb on foot will take us to the Roche Écrite lodge, a Natural Reserve created in 1999 and covering an area of 3,635 hectares comprising the " Plaine des Chicots, the Plaine d'Affouches and the Hauts de la Montagne.635 hectares comprising the "Plaine des Chicots, the Plaine d'Affouches and the Heights of the Mountain" is part of the Reunion National Park and is very appreciated by lovers of botany as we will cross a primary forest full of tree ferns, calumets (bamboo endemic to Reunion), cryptomerias, tamarinds ... Installation in the shelter located about 1h30 from the summit that we will face the next morning. Elevation + 1890m / - 100m Approximate duration 7 hours

• HOSTEL
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  • Breakfast
  • Dinner

Breakfast and early morning ascent (voluntary) to the summit of La Roche Écrite ( 2,276m). It is not part of the GR R2 but from its summit we will have a breathtaking view of the Salazie cirque, Mafate and the Piton des Neiges (Elevation gain + 440 / - 440 / 3h round trip). We will continue to Dos d'Âne through a tropical rainforest trail. We will face a long ridge to Cap Noir and between the vegetation we will see the cirque of Mafate and Dos d'Âne (1,044 m). Elevation + 170m / -1010m Approximate duration 4 hours

• HOSTEL
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  • Breakfast
  • Dinner

Breakfast and start of our dive in the Mafate cirque through a technical descent that will take us to the Rivière des Galets, a river that we will encounter several times during our trek. This cirque is accessible only on foot or by helicopter and its small and isolated villages were founded by former African and Malagasy slaves who sought the long-awaited freedom, in fact, Mafate, was the name of a Malagasy slave who was one of the first to take refuge in this remote mountainous area of the island. We will arrive at the Ilet d'Aurère, the "ilets" are precisely these isolated plains between steep mountains where the communities founded by slaves (noirs marrons) took refuge. Elevation + 750m / - 820m Approximate duration 5h30

• HOSTEL
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  • Breakfast
  • Dinner

Breakfast and continue walking to explore the cirque of Mafate, crossing small "îlets" mountain villages that live isolated from everything and still retain a great particular charm. Like the îlet Malheur, îlet Bourse... We will arrive at Grand Place les Hauts, where we will settle in the lodge. Elevation + 510m / -560m Approximate duration 4 hours

• HOSTEL
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  • Breakfast
  • Dinner

Breakfast and third day of trekking inside the cirque of Mafate, we will walk approximately 1h30 and whoever wishes can take a bath or cool off in the Rivière des Galets. We will continue our trekking crossing several îlets and admiring the superb views over the Bas Mafate. Arrival at La Roche Plate at the foot of the famous viewpoint of the Piton Maïdo. Elevation + 1030m / - 790m Approximate time 6h15

• HOSTEL
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  • Breakfast
  • Dinner

Breakfast and today we will face one of the wildest and most difficult stages of the GR R2 due to the orography. We will walk along the Rivière des Galets at the foot of the Bronchard peak, a peculiar mountain with a completely flat top that gives its name to the Roche Plate region. After crossing the river several times, we will start the ascent to La Nouvelle, the most populated îlet of the Mafate cirque. In the afternoon, we will continue ascending to Marla, the highest îlet of the cirque (1,630m) where we will settle in the lodge. Elevation + 1200m /- 690m Approximate duration 6h45   Alternative: we can reach Marla through another more direct route leaving the GR R2 and following the GR R3 that allows us to enjoy the waterfall of Trois-Roches, a fracture produced on the basaltic soil through which the water of the Rivière des Galets rushes. Elevation +860 m/ -350m Approximate duration 5 hours

• HOSTEL
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  • Breakfast
  • Dinner

Breakfast and ascent to the Col du Taïbit, natural border between the cirques of Mafate and Cilaos. We will continue on foot to the Cirque de Cilaos in a long descent that will take us to the Bras Rouge waterfall and the famous mountain village of Cilaos. This village is accessible by car through the famous road of the "400 curves" so it has all kinds of services and amenities so that our night here will allow us a good rest. Elevation + 880m / - 1310m Approximate duration 6 hours

• HOTEL LE VIEUX CEP 3*.
• Breakfast

Breakfast and visit on foot of the original mountain village of Cilaos, twinned with Chamonix and renowned for its legendary thermal baths, its famous lentils, its embroidery and its great wine activity. Early afternoon ascent to the Piton de Neiges refuge. Elevation + 1460m / - 180m Approximate duration 5 hours

• PITON DE NEIGES REFUGE
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  • Breakfast
  • Dinner

Ascent (voluntary) at dawn (04h00) to the top of the highest mountain in the Indian Ocean, the Piton des Neiges, 3,070 meters high (Elevation gain + 600 / -600 4h round trip). We will admire the sunrise from its summit and descend back to the refuge to have breakfast and then continue our trekking to the Plaine des Cafres. This is a technical and very muddy trail that will leave us on the RN3 road and from here we will continue to the mountain village of Bourg-Murat where we will settle in a guesthouse. Elevation + 280m / -1200m Approximate duration 7 hours   Alternative: take the old GR R2 to Mare à Boue, then the RN3. Take the public bus to Bourg-Murat. Elevation + 150m / -1030m Approximate duration 5h (5 minutes by bus)

• MAISON D'HÔTES CÔTÉ VOLCANO
• Breakfast