I guide you. You book your own lodge.

Mafate is the only cirque on Réunion Island with no road at all. You walk in, you walk out, and that is precisely what has preserved its unique character.

Spending a night in Mafate is not simply extending a hike. It is watching the cirque empty of its walkers in the late afternoon, having dinner in someone’s home and setting off again at first light, in a light that day visitors never know.

I guide you on these multi-day crossings. The length and the route are not set in advance: we build them together according to your level, the season, what you would like to do and the time you have.

How to organise your trek

1. Choose your route

La Nouvelle, Marla, Roche Plate, Grand Place… each hamlet has its own character, its access paths and its level of difficulty.

We talk it through together to choose the route that suits you, and to decide in which hamlet it is most worthwhile to spend the night.

2. Book your lodge

Mafate’s lodges are few and can fill up quickly, especially at weekends and during Réunion school holidays. In high season, it is best to book several weeks ahead.

You can book directly with the lodge keeper, or online through the island’s central booking office:

The online booking office

If the lodge you wanted is full, the booking office lets you quickly see availability in the other hamlets. In that case, let me know before you book, so that we can check together that the accommodation fits the planned route.

Remember also to book my accommodation and meals at the lodge at the same time as yours. These costs are at your expense and are not included in the guiding fee.

3. Meals

When you book the lodge, you can usually choose half board, which includes dinner and breakfast.

If it is not offered, or if you prefer to book separately, meals usually have to be ordered in advance, often at least 48 hours ahead, and are paid on site.

For lunch, you can bring a picnic or, where possible, eat in the hamlets. I know a few places I can recommend.

4. Book your guiding

Once your night at the lodge is confirmed, send me the dates and the route you have chosen. I can then hold the guiding days.

The guiding fee covers the guide’s service only. Your accommodation and meals, as well as mine during the trek (except lunch), are at your expense.

So the principle is simple: you book your accommodation directly with the lodge or the booking office, and I take care of guiding you on the trails.

Before you set off

• No road access. The most common starting point is the Col des Bœufs car park, followed by three to four hours of walking to reach the first hamlets.
• Bring cash. Card payment is not available everywhere.
• Bring your own toiletries and soap. Sheets are usually provided, towels rarely.
• Phone coverage is patchy. Let people know before you enter the cirque.
• Wild camping is tolerated under the National Park charter: tent pitched at the end of the day, taken down at first light, no fires.

The cirque, in pictures

These images come from a three-day crossing. They are not here to sell you one particular route, but to show what the cirque is really like when you sleep in it — something day photographs never convey.