Seasons
Hiking the highlands from June to September
La Réunion6 minby Sejournia
From June to September the island runs through its dry season. At altitude that means cold nights and clear mornings, two conditions that decide a hike.
The austral winter runs from June to September. It is the driest period of the year, with a clearer sky and temperatures that drop sharply as you climb. By the sea it stays pleasant; above a thousand metres it demands the right gear.
The Piton des Neiges
The Piton des Neiges peaks a little above three thousand metres, the highest point in the Indian Ocean. It is climbed in two stages from Cilaos, with a hut night midway for anyone wanting to be on the summit at sunrise.
The cirques and the Maïdo
Cirque trails hold up better in the dry season: less mud, fewer closures. The Maïdo, above Saint-Paul, offers a view over Mafate that is earned by road before it is earned on foot.
| What you gain | What to plan for | |
|---|---|---|
| Piton des Neiges | Clear sky at the summit | Hut night, warm layer |
| Cirques | Drier trails | Early start, plenty of water |
| Maïdo and the ramparts | View over Mafate | Road access early, before the clouds |
Three walking terrains, and what the austral winter changes there.
Piton des Neiges
- What you gain
- Clear sky at the summit
- What to plan for
- Hut night, warm layer
Cirques
- What you gain
- Drier trails
- What to plan for
- Early start, plenty of water
Maïdo and the ramparts
- What you gain
- View over Mafate
- What to plan for
- Road access early, before the clouds
In the austral winter you are not walking against the heat. You are walking against the clock.
- Leave before daylight for the summits, cloud cover arrives fast.
- Carry a warm layer even on a day outing.
- Book huts ahead, the dry season is the busiest.
- Check trail openings after heavy rain.
What visitors say
2 comments
Céline
A four a.m. start for the Piton des Neiges in July. We got the sunrise, at three degrees.
Marc
Afternoons cloud over fast, even in winter. Starting early is not guidebook advice, it is a necessity.
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