Cirque de Mafate

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Pour les amoureux de la nature et du silence...

Details

n°9847
Creation:
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–
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 18.05 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3 days 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: No
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 8,386 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 5,741 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 6,821 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,644 ft

Photos

départ du GR, le brulé
Réunion
Direction Cilaos
Col du Taïbit

Stages of the route

This route needs several days, find the details below:

  1. S
    Sans-Souci - Roche Plate

    Sans-Souci – Roche Plate

    ↔10.39 mi ↗4,117 ft ↘2,087 ft
    What hiker hasn’t dreamt of walking the Cirque de Mafate on Réunion? This hike is renowned for being challenging, with a considerable elevation gain. But the scenery is spectacular! Please note: the elevation gain given is an overestimate; it is actually only about 1,200 metres uphill and 800 metres downhill.
    View the route
  2. 2
    Roche Plate - Marla

    Roche Plate - Marla

    ↔5.01 mi ↗2,680 ft ↘968 ft
    Second day of the hike in the Cirque de Mafate.
    View the route
  3. E
    Marla - Cilaos

    Marla - Cilaos

    ↔2.65 mi ↗1,588 ft ↘2,687 ft
    Third and final day in the Cirque de Mafate, heading back to Cilaos.
    View the route

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

Reviews and comments

Other walks in the area

Walking Sans-Souci – Roche Plate

Visorando Member
Sans-Souci - Roche Plate
↔10.39 mi ↗+4,117 ft ↘-2,087 ft ◔8h 20 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Saint-Paul (La Réunion) (Réunion)
What hiker hasn’t dreamt of walking the Cirque de Mafate on Réunion? This hike is renowned for being challenging, with a considerable elevation gain. But the scenery is spectacular! Please note: the elevation gain given is an overestimate; it is actually only about 1,200 metres uphill and 800 metres downhill.

Walking Îlet des Orangers via the canal

Visorando Member
L'Îlet des Orangers par la canalisation
↔17.14 mi ↗+4,409 ft ↘-4,409 ft ◔8 hrs ▲Very difficult
⚑Departure from Saint-Paul (La Réunion) (Réunion)
One way to access the Cirque de Mafate is from Sans Souci. The pipeline path may seem long, but the landscape overlooking the Rivière des Galets from a height of 500 m is breathtaking. From above, you can see Deux Bras and the narrow gorge through which the Rivière des Galets flows out of the Cirque de Mafate. The canal path has a gentle slope. After the water catchment, access to Îlet des Orangers is via a narrow gorge after a steep climb. Estimated elevation gain: approximately 700 metres.

Walking Mafate via the Rivière des Galets

Tourist office
Mafate par la Rivière des Galets
↔10.40 mi ↗+440 ft ↘-449 ft ◔5h 10 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from La Possession (Réunion)
The Cirque de Mafate is accessible from many different points. The flat track is easy to follow and suitable for everyone. Families can come on this walk and turn back at any time. You can even take a dip in the Rivière des Galets. The track runs straight ahead, winding its way between rock faces that grow ever higher as you go.

Walking The Bassin Vital

Tourist office
Le Bassin Vital
↔1.44 mi ↗+686 ft ↘-686 ft ◔1h 15 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Saint-Paul (La Réunion) (Réunion)
Étang Saint-Paul is designated as a nature reserve. There are several walking routes around it, including the Bassin Vital trail. Perched at an altitude of just over 150 metres, you can reach it via a short, fairly steep climb or by following a circular route. The views over Étang Saint-Paul are absolutely stunning! You can combine this walk with others in the area.

Walking Bottle Rock

Tourist office
Roche Verre Bouteille
↔2.08 mi ↗+1,024 ft ↘-1,017 ft ◔1h 50 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from La Possession (Réunion)
This short hike offers magnificent views of the Mafate cirque on one side and the coast of La Possession on the other, with the Dos-d'Àne islet in the foreground. This is the easiest place to get a spectacular, unobstructed view of Mafate.

Walking La Roche Écrite via Dos d'Âne

Tourist office
↔13.58 mi ↗+4,436 ft ↘-4,416 ft ◔5 hrs ▲Very difficult
⚑Departure from La Possession (Réunion)
La Roche Écrite rises to 2,276 metres and is accessible from several points. The route via Dos d'Ane is one of the longest, but also one of the most beautiful, with frequent views of the Cirque de Mafate in the first section. Some sections along the ridge are vertiginous and offer unique views. The detour via the Mare aux Cerfs and the Caverne Soldat adds an extra dimension to this long, challenging route.

Walking La Possession – Grande Chaloupe

Visorando Member
↔4.76 mi ↗+1,122 ft ↘-1,135 ft ◔3h 10 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Réunion
Eighth stage of the island tour, following the railway line as closely as possible. After the long flat stretch of the previous stages, this short stage sees a return to uphill terrain. As access to the tunnel is officially prohibited, you must go via the Chemin des Anglais, which includes sections with steep gradients. This is a very old paved path that is now a must-do hike on the island.

Walking The Chemin Pavé Lougnon

Tourist office
↔2.17 mi ↗+768 ft ↘-771 ft ◔1h 40 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Saint-Paul (La Réunion) (Réunion)
The Saint-Paul region once had three paved roads: the Chemin Charrette Boeuf, the Chemin du Bernica and the Chemin Pavé Lougnon. They were built by Governor Antoine Desforges-Boucher in the18th century. Goods were previously transported from the hills above Saint-Paul to the town via unpaved tracks, which is why Antoine Desforges-Boucher decided to build these paved roads. The route of the Chemin Pavé de Lougnon was rediscovered by Albert Lougnon.

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