Reconnecting in LA REUNION

In the heart of the Indian Ocean, a hidden gem beckons the intrepid traveller - the captivating island of La Réunion. Savanna Douglas answered its call

- Savanna Douglas

Anticipation nearly gobbles me whole as our group of five board an Air Austral flight to the small tropical paradise of La Réunion, a French island boasting a unique blend of Creole, French, Indian and Chinese culture. Our indulgent business-class flight sets the mood for the days ahead: delicious food, a cup that will runneth over, and a palpable sense of connection and adventure.

After soaking up a beautiful sunset in the sky, we touch down at La Réunion’s Roland Garros Airport. Our adventure begins with a ‘bonjour!’ from our guide, Sully Chaffre. Although the island’s official language is French, it’s one of several languages spoken in La Réunion. Sully speaks a bit of everything.

He drives us to our haven for the night, Villa Myriam in Saint-Pierre, just an hour away. The villa boasts traditional Creole-style architecture with wooden floors, large rooms, a beautiful French-style garden and a pool. As the darkness still leaves much to the imagination, I head to bed eager to meet La Réunion in the morning.

An early continental breakfast at the villa fuels the day ahead. Our first stop is Grand Anse beach, where magma from the island’s active volcano Piton de la Fournaise gracefully plunges into the ocean and forms solid black rock that lines the beach – a stunning spectacle that makes for a special introduction to the 63 km-long island.

After a pit stop by the seafront, we drive to the island’s ‘Wild South’ where La Réunion’s volcanic origins become evident. A landscape of lava fields track from the ocean on one side, upwards to the peak of the Piton de la Fournaise on the other.

Here, we meet Fred from Activites De Montagne, a speleologist guide who leads us on an underground expedition through the island’s lava caves.