Reception at the Cambaie base: The team welcomes you with a welcome coffee. Your pilot will present the flight itinerary, the different stages of the tour and the highlights you will fly over. An ideal way to mentally prepare for this complete tour of the Intense Island.
Cirque de Mafate: The first of the three cirques, Mafate is the wildest. Accessible only on foot or by air, this cirque, which cannot be reached by road, is home to hamlets such as Aurère, La Nouvelle, Marla, and Roche Plate. You'll fly over the Rivière des Galets, Piton Maïdo, which towers at 2,205 m, and the dizzying cliffs that make Mafate a truly unique site in the world.
Cirque de Salazie: The second cirque on the itinerary, Salazie, will surprise you with its lush vegetation. You will fly over Grand Îlet and its terraced fields, Hell-Bourg, a listed Creole village, the breathtaking waterfalls cascading down the cliffs, and the legendary Trou de Fer, one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the world, visible only from the air or after many hours of hiking.
Volcanic Massif: After the cirques, we head towards the volcano. Piton de la Fournaise (2,632 m) offers you an incomparable lunar show: craters, solidified lava flows, scorched earth and landscapes shaped by millennia of eruptions. Nearby, Piton des Neiges (3,070 m) towers over the entire island in majestic silence.
Piton des Neiges: After the volcanic activity of Piton de la Fournaise, your pilot will head towards the heart of the island. Piton des Neiges (3,070 m) then rises before you in all its majesty, the highest peak on Réunion and in the entire Indian Ocean. This giant, dormant for millennia, silently dominates the three cirques nestled at its feet. The contrast is striking: on one side, the dead, scorched rock of the active volcano; on the other, the calming, majestic presence of the island's highest point.
Cirque de Cilaos: Head due south towards Cilaos, the wild cirque dominated by the Piton des Neiges. You will fly over the Bras Sec and its jagged peaks, the Îlet à Cordes perched high up, and the steep cliffs that encircle this exceptional cirque. Known for its lentils, wine and embroidery, Cilaos reveals a whole new dimension from the sky.
Lagoon from L'Hermitage to La Saline: The flight ends at the sea. You will fly over the turquoise lagoon of L'Hermitage and La Saline, its pristine coral reef, and its white-sand beaches. The transition between the volcanic landscape and this marine paradise is striking. In season (July to October), dolphins and whales may cross your path.
Landing: Drop-off in Cambaie after approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes of flight and a complete view of the Intense Island. A memory that will stay with you for a long time.