Honeymoon Guide
Reunion
A French department in the Indian Ocean — volcanoes, cirques, and Creole cuisine.
Why Here for Your Honeymoon
Réunion is the most geologically dramatic island in the Indian Ocean — a French department 700km east of Mauritius where an active shield volcano (Piton de la Fournaise) erupts several times a year, three ancient calderas called cirques are among the most spectacular hiking landscapes in the world, and the Creole culture produces a cuisine that rivals anything in the French provinces. This is the honeymoon destination for couples who want volcanic drama rather than reef and beach.
At a Glance
Is This Right for You?
Reunion for Honeymooners
Perfect for you if…
- 1Couples who want volcanic hiking and adventure alongside Indian Ocean warmth
- 2French-speaking couples (it is literally France)
- 3Those who want dramatic mountain landscapes combined with coral reef beaches
- 4Foodie couples — Réunion's Creole cuisine is extraordinary and entirely French-influenced
- 5Honeymooners adding to a Mauritius trip (the two islands are 1.5h apart by air)
Skip it if…
- 1You want a flat, calm reef lagoon as the primary experience
- 2The Indian Ocean beach resort concept is the main draw
- 3You don't speak French and linguistic self-sufficiency matters to you
- 4December–March (cyclone season and heavy rain on the windward coast)
- 5A volcanic landscape and cirque hiking sounds exhausting rather than exhilarating
What to Do
Top 5 Romantic Experiences in Reunion
Eruption Hike at Piton de la Fournaise
Walking across a hardened lava field to the active caldera of one of the world's most active volcanoes — and watching lava flow from a safe distance if an eruption is active. One of the most primal experiences in nature.
Check the OVPF (Observatoire Volcanologique du Piton de la Fournaise) website for current eruption status. When active, a guided night walk to see lava flow is transcendent. When dormant, the caldera hike is still extraordinary.
Trek the Cirque de Cilaos (3 Days)
The most dramatic cirque (ancient caldera) in Réunion — a 1,200m deep bowl enclosed by vertical walls, accessible only by mountain road or on foot. The GR R1 trail around the cirque is among the finest multi-day walks in the Indian Ocean.
The 3-day GR R1 circuit is the standard itinerary. Guided by Réunion Randonnées for the best interpretation and safety on vertiginous paths.
Paragliding from Piton Maïdo
Launching from the 2,200m Maïdo cliff (one of the highest cliffs in the world above a populated area) and gliding 20 minutes down to the coastal plain. The view over the west coast is extraordinary.
Morning flights (9–11am) before the valley thermals build. The panorama at launch — 2,200m drop directly to the Indian Ocean — is one of the finest views from any paraglide launch in the world.
Rougail Sausages & Creole Feast (Local Restaurant)
Rougail (tomato and chilli sauce with pork or sausage), carry (Réunion curry — different from any other curry on earth), and the extraordinary fresh seafood of the Indian Ocean coast.
The best Creole restaurants are in Saint-Pierre and Cilaos. Avoid the tourist seafront restaurants — find the working-class local restaurants where the Réunionnais eat.
Night Dive with Sleeping Sharks (Saint-Gilles)
Réunion's coral reef at Saint-Gilles is one of the most biodiverse in the Indian Ocean. Night dives reveal nurse sharks resting on the reef floor and reef octopus hunting in the torchlight.
Use Réunion Sub Centre (Saint-Gilles) — the most experienced and safety-conscious operator on the island. Night dives require Advanced Open Water certification.
When to Go
Reunion Month by Month
What You'll Pay
Budget Guide for Reunion
Local gîte or boutique hotel with Creole cuisine, coastal views, and authentic hospitality. The real Réunion experience.
Full-service resort on the west coast lagoon, spa, multiple restaurants, water sports.
Cirque de Cilaos mountain lodge or boutique hotel with spectacular caldera views and hiking access.
Where to Stay
Areas of Reunion for Honeymooners
Saint-Gilles / West Coast
Beach, lagoon, diving, resort baseThe leeward (dry) coast with the island's only protected lagoon. The tourist and resort infrastructure is here. Lux Saint Gilles is the finest hotel. Best beach swimming and diving from this base.
Cilaos Cirque
Hiking, thermal baths, dramatic sceneryA 1,200m bowl surrounded by 2,000m+ cliffs. Thermal springs (the only ones in the Indian Ocean), the island's best wine (produced at altitude), and the finest multi-day hiking in the Indian Ocean.
Piton de la Fournaise (SE)
Active volcano, lava fields, eruption viewingThe active volcano of Plaine des Cafres. The most visited natural site in the Indian Ocean. An active eruption (several per year) makes night lava hiking possible. Extraordinary even when dormant.
Salazie Cirque (North)
Waterfalls, most dramatic scenery, gîtesThe lushest and greenest cirque. Bridal Veil waterfall (Voile de la Mariée) is visible from the main road. Hell-Bourg is one of the most beautiful heritage villages in the Indian Ocean.
All Hotels
Honeymoon Hotels in Reunion
5 properties · sorted by Honeymoon Score
Lux* Saint Gilles Resort
reunion, reunion
Villa Delisle Hotel & Spa
reunion, reunion
Les Villas du Lagon
reunion, reunion
Boucan Canot Hotel
reunion, reunion
Le Récif Hôtel & Spa
reunion, reunion
Compare
Top 3 Hotels Side by Side
| Hotel | Score | Price/night | Adults-Only | Spa | Beach |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lux* Saint Gilles ResortTop Pick | 84 | $400+ | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Villa Delisle Hotel & Spa | 83 | $300+ | — | ✓ | — |
| Les Villas du Lagon | 82 | $300+ | — | ✓ | ✓ |
Expert Advice
Insider Tips for Your Reunion Honeymoon
Réunion is ideal as part of a Mauritius + Réunion combination trip
Air Austral flies between Mauritius and Réunion in 1.5 hours. 5 nights Mauritius (beach) + 5 nights Réunion (volcano, hiking) is a genuinely extraordinary pairing.
Check the OVPF volcano website before booking your eruption hike
Piton de la Fournaise erupts 2–4 times per year. If an eruption is in progress, the night lava hike is the most extraordinary thing you can do in the Indian Ocean. If dormant, the caldera hike is still world-class.
Rent a car — public transport in Réunion is limited
Réunion has a good road network but buses are infrequent between tourist sites. A hire car from Réunion Location at Roland Garros Airport is the correct approach. Drive the Route Forestière for the volcano.
The cirques require 2 nights minimum
Cilaos is a 1.5h drive (with 400 hairpin bends) from the coast. Check in for 2 nights to do the GR R1 day walk and recover. Going for a day trip is exhausting and inadequate.
The Bourbon vanilla from Réunion is the world's finest
Réunion (the former Bourbon Island) is the origin of the Bourbon vanilla variety. Buying it directly from a vanilla cooperative in the northeast is one of the great culinary souvenirs of the island.
What to Pack
Packing List for Reunion
Food & Drink
What You'll Eat in Reunion
Carry (Réunion's unique curry — different from Indian, Malagasy or South Asian curry, with local spices and often served with rougail sausages and rice), samoussas (triangular fried pastry stuffed with vegetables or meat from the local Indian-Réunionnais tradition), and the extraordinary fresh seafood. The local rum agricole (made from fresh sugar cane, not molasses) is the finest in the Indian Ocean. Rhum arrangé (rum infused with local fruit and vanilla) is the island's social drink.
Practical Guide
Getting to Reunion
Getting There
Fly to Roland Garros Airport (RUN) near Saint-Denis. Direct from Paris (Air Austral, Air France — 11h). Connections from London via Paris (12–13h total). From Mauritius: Air Austral operates 1.5h shuttle service. Rent a car at the airport — essential for all island exploration. The island is 220km in circumference and driveable in a day.
Where to Stay
West coast (Saint-Gilles, Saint-Leu) for lagoon and resort base. Cilaos cirque for mountain and thermal hiking. Piton de la Fournaise (southeast) for the volcano. Salazie cirque (north) for waterfalls and lush green landscape. A 10-night itinerary: Saint-Gilles 3 nights → Cilaos 3 nights → volcano area 2 nights → Salazie 2 nights.
When to Go
April–November is the dry season. May and October are the sweet spots: excellent weather, lower French school holiday crowds, and lower prices. July–August is peak (French school holidays — book 4 months ahead). December–March is cyclone season with genuine risk.
Map
Hotels in Reunion
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