What to do in La Réunion around the Grand Raid?

The « Grand Raid de La Réunion », a whole island holding its breath 🌋

Every October, the island shifts to the rhythm of the Grand Raid de La Réunion, with five formats on the program, from 51 km to 180 km. The flagship race, nicknamed « the Diagonale des Fous », links Saint-Pierre to Saint-Denis over 180 km and 10,200 mD+ 💪 . The route crosses the Mafate cirque, climbs toward Maïdo and heads all the way to the legendary Stade de la Redoute.

Alongside the Diagonale, four other races take place: the Zembrocal Trail (160 km, 8,460 mD+), the Trail de Bourbon (106 km, 6,200 mD+), La Mascareignes (74 km, 3,800 mD+) and the Metis Trail (51 km, 2,500 mD+). Plenty to choose from depending on your legs, without necessarily aiming straight away for the « Diagonale des Fous »

The three cirques and two volcanoes not to miss ⛰️

Whether you’re racing or cheering from the villages along the way, the island can be explored like a life-sized playground. The peaks, cirques and ramparts of Réunion Island have been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2010, covering nearly 40% of the territory.

The Mafate cirque: accessible only on foot, crossed by the « Diagonale des Fous ». Isolation guaranteed, well-deserved popularity. The Cilaos cirque: the driest of the three, accessible by car, renowned for its wines and hikes toward the Piton des Neiges, the island’s highest point at 3,070 m. The Salazie cirque: the wettest, dominated by the Voile de la Mariée waterfall, 20 m high and 100 m wide. Piton de la Fournaise: one of the most active volcanoes in the world, accessible from Pas de Bellecombe, a lunar landscape guaranteed for rest days between two stages of the Grand Raid.

So many landforms that explain the monstrous elevation gain of the « Diagonale des Fous », and just as many reasons to extend your stay on the trails of trail and ultra-trail disciplines 🌴 .

Recover and unwind: Creole life after the effort 🌊

Once you cross the line at the Stade de la Redoute, head to the coast. The beaches of Saint-Gilles-les-Bains and L’Hermitage, protected by the lagoon, offer a real break after 180 km in the mountains. On the plate, Creole-style carry and rougail, and a glass of arranged rum often rounds out the evening.

Mid-October corresponds to the Southern Hemisphere spring, a generally dry period ideal for getting out, whether to run, cheer with the family, or simply catch your breath between two passes. Saint-Denis, the finish city, is also worth a visit for its Creole architecture before flying home.

The Diagonale experience

Between an active volcano, listed cirques and 180 km to swallow in one go, the Grand Raid de La Réunion is never just a start line and a finish line.