Grand Raid de la Réunion 2027

Created in 1989, I cross the island of Réunion over 180 km, and I’m famous for my extreme difficulty 🥵. I am, I am, I am...?

"The Grand Raid de la Réunion !" ☝️ Better known as the "Diagonale des Fous."

Bingo ! ✅

Every month of October, this little slice of paradise in the heart of the Indian Ocean welcomes you for THE trail event of the Overseas Territories: The Grand Raid, also known as The Diagonale des Fous 🤪. This historic race (really) lives up to its name, with mind-blowing distances, impressive elevation gain, and ultra-technical trails 😵‍💫. No fewer than five trail races are on offer, ranging from hard to very, very, very hard 😬. Ready to discover one of the toughest races in the world ? 🇷🇪

The most approachable course is the Metis Trail: 51 km and 2,500 mD+ through the jungle and Réunion’s humidity 🦜. Its route starts in the West heading to Ilet Savannah, Chemin Ratinaud, La Possession, the Colorado and, finally, the famous Stade de la Redoute where all the races finish 🏟️. Yes, yes, that’s the most accessible distance 😅. Next up is La Mascareignes, spanning 74 km and 3,800 mD+ 📈. After the start from the Cirque of Salazie, you’ll head toward the Plaine des Merles, the Rivière des Galets and the Belvédère de la Vigie, before deliverance at the Stade de La Redoute 😮‍💨. The Bourbon Trail is (a bit) longer, with its 106 km and 6,200 mD+ and goes through Marla, the Plaine des Merles, the Scout trail, the Plateau Cerf before reaching Maïdo, perched at 2,190 m above sea level 🌄. This summit offers breathtaking views, especially over Mafate and the west coast of the island with its dream beaches and its unique lagoon protected by the coral reef barrier 🪸. It’s not for nothing that it’s nicknamed "the balcony of Réunion" 😌. You then continue along the Chemin Ratinaud, and cross Grande Chaloup 😍. If you’re planning to take part in this event with others, the relay of the Zembrocal Trail lets you share 160 km and 8,460 mD+ as a team of 4 (wise idea 😅). You’ll have to run 37 km, 35 km, 49 km and 39 km, easy when you look at it like that! 🤠

But the true star of the event is, of course, the Diagonale des Fous: 180 km , 10,200 mD+ and several withdrawals to its name... But don’t worry: with all the good advice put together by the Grand Raid teams, you’ll surely be among the finishers! 🙏 Usually, the route is 175 km, so this edition marks the longest distance in the history of this race 😮. Regulars, take note: the route no longer goes through Cilaos, one of the iconic sections 👁️. Nevertheless, the roughly 3,000 runners crazies will still start from Ravine-Blanche in Saint-Pierre, to the applause of thousands of spectators 👏. Make the most of the first flat kilometers—they’ll be the last before loooooooong stretches 😵‍💫. First checkpoint: Domaine Vidot 😋. Then you’ll set your sights on Notre-Dame-de-la-Paix, then Nez-de-Bœuf, before crossing the Plaine-des-Cafres 🌱. From the Kerveguen plateau, the route changes 🤓. You’ll go via Cap Anglais until you reach Hell-Bourg, the Plaine des Merles, then Ilet à Bourse and Grand Place before climbing back up to the aggressive Maïdo 😈. The rest of the route hasn’t changed! 😇 It still goes through the Ratinaud-Kalla path, La Possession, La Grande-Chaloupe, the Chemin des Anglais and the Colorado to reach the finish line, at the stadium in an absolutely wild atmosphere 🥳. This new route promises a race that’s less runnable, draining and demanding, with some seriously leg-breaking sections🦵. If you cross that line, know that you enter history by adding your name alongside athletes such as Mathieu Blanchard, Baptiste Chassagne, Courtney Dauwalter, Ludovic Pommeret, or Blandine l'Hirondel 💪. On the other hand, it’s impossible to avoid the terrible trial of the draw... So many enthusiasts want to take part that the organizers have no choice but to limit registrations and draw lots to pick the lucky ones 🍀. You’re going to have to knock on a lot of wood during your forest training 😂.

Don’t worry: whichever trail you choose, you’ll have the chance to pass some jewels of nature. Too many cirques spoil the cirque? 🎪 Not on the Island of Réunion apparently, because you’ll have some on the program, like the Cirque du Soleil Cirque de Mafate, nicknamed by some trail runners "the hell of Mafate" since its difficulty matches its beauty 🤩. Only accessible on foot (we understand why it was a refuge for runaway slaves back then), mountains with unimaginable shapes are everywhere there, just like ravines, waterfalls and forests—a real feast for the eyes 👀. So yes, you’re going to get an eyeful during your race, but you mustn’t lose sight of the main objective: FINISH! 😫 And even if you have to run backwards or crawl: DO IT! 💥 Worst case, you’ll get killcam’d by Clemquicourt—that makes a great anecdote to tell 🎥. Between sections through the jungle, steep trails, dense vegetation, climbs and out-of-this-world elevation gain, there will be many difficulties rising up in front of you 🗿. But bursts of motivation will give you the prideful kick you need at aid stations and when passing through towns and villages where people live for three days to the rhythm of the Grand Raid trail 🫂. And that’s why your arrival at the Stade de la Redoute (which owes its name to the Battle of La Redoute and not to your sock supplier 🧦 ) will be filled with emotion. You can see why many trail runners believe you have to take part at least once to understand and feel these truly unique sensations! 🥺

After your race, you’ll be able to enjoy these unforgettable moments with many locals or foreigners coming from all four corners of the world 🌍. But the Island is also full of other magnificent scenic spots you won’t necessarily have time to see on your route—you can go for a short hike around the Piton de la Fournaise if your legs aren’t on fire 🔥. And if, in the end, it’s complicated for your legs, you can treat your taste buds to the flavors of the island: green papaya salad as a starter, smoked fish for your main, and sweet potato cake with its Bourbon coffee for dessert 🥮. Come on, you can allow yourself a small glass of arranged rum—you’ve earned it, and the place is perfect for it! 🍹

So do it like Marcelle Puy, a child of Réunion and five-time winner of the Grand Raid and don’t hesitate any longer—sign up! 🫡