Full Réunion Island tour: 13 stops with private driver-guide

Circle the entire island in one day and see all of Réunion's landmarks

A full-day private tour of Réunion by vehicle with driver-guide covers 13 stops across the island (from coastal geysers and volcanic rock fields to waterfalls, historic churches and the city of Saint-Denis) over nine to ten hours with bottled water, WiFi and air conditioning. You choose your guide's language at checkout: English, French or Chinese. Lunch is not included, and you'll spend five to six hours in transit between stops.

Step-by-step itinerary

Full island tour with 13 stops

• Visit the Blower natural geyser
• Stop at the black sand beach
• Discover the Salt Pond Abyss chasm
• Viewpoint over Manapany village
• See the Langevin Grand Galet waterfall
• Lunch at Cap Méchant
• Drive along the Route des Laves lava fields
• Visit Notre-Dame des Laves church
• Stop at the East River Bridge
• See the Church of Sainte-Anne
• Visit Niagara Waterfall near Sainte-Suzanne
• Walk at the Barachois of Saint-Denis
• Final stop at Cap-la-Houssaye cliffs

The experience

This is a circuit tour built to show you the whole island in a single day. A driver-guide picks you up and takes you through 13 stages, starting with the Blower (a natural geyser that shoots seawater dozens of meters high when waves hit it), then moving to the black sand beach at Salt Pond, a volcanic chasm, and a viewpoint over Manapany and the Indian Ocean. The route then heads south to the Langevin waterfall and Cap Méchant, where you'll have lunch (at your own cost), before crossing into the Grand Brûlé: a vast field of solidified lava from past eruptions, crossed by a single road called the Route des Laves.

The second half takes you through Sainte-Rose to see the Church of Notre-Dame des Laves, which survived a 1977 lava flow that destroyed everything around it, and the East River Bridge: a 152-metre suspension bridge built in 1894 that was once the longest in the world. You'll pass the baroque Church of Sainte-Anne, the Niagara waterfall in the sugar cane fields near Sainte-Suzanne, and the Barachois of Saint-Denis, a historic waterfront with cannon remnants from an 1810 English invasion attempt. The tour ends at Cap-la-Houssaye, where golden savannah and ocean cliffs meet.

The vehicle is air-conditioned and comes in two sizes: a standard car for one to four passengers or a minibus for five to eight. Bottled water and onboard WiFi are included. You spend roughly five to six hours moving between stops, so the pace is steady but not rushed. Your guide speaks English, French or Chinese depending on which option you select at booking.

What’s included

• Private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle sized for your group.
• bottled water throughout the day.
• onboard WiFi.
• a driver-guide who speaks your chosen language (English, French or Chinese).
• all 13 stops and entry to the sites visited.

Options for this experience

3 options

French-speaking driver/guide08:00Driver/guide who speaks French; pickup is included

English-speaking driver/guide08:00English-language supplement for the driver/guide; includes pickup

Chinese-speaking driver/guide08:00Chinese-language supplement for the driver/guide at a basic language level; pickup is included

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to2d before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, French and Chinese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated 14 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcome

Operated by 5A Transports Reunion

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to see the whole island's range in one day (from coastal geysers and black sand to lava fields, waterfalls and historic churches), and prefer not to drive yourself. The fixed 13-stop route and five to six hours of transit time mean you're moving steadily. If you'd rather linger at fewer places or explore at your own pace, a self-drive rental or shorter regional tours might suit you better.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, French and Chinese.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is the Blower and why does it shoot water so high?

The Blower is a natural site on Réunion's coast where waves hit rock formations and force seawater to geyser upward dozens of meters. It's a volcanic coastal feature that works like a natural fountain when the swell is strong.

Can I see waterfalls on this tour?

Yes, the tour includes two waterfalls: the Langevin waterfall in the south, called the Grand Galet and counted among the island's most beautiful, and the Niagara waterfall near Sainte-Suzanne, named for its torrential flow during rainy periods.

What happened to the Church of Notre-Dame des Laves during the 1977 eruption?

During a major volcanic eruption in 1977, a lava flow destroyed everything in its path but miraculously stopped at the church's entrance and flowed around it instead, leaving the building standing: a story that became a local legend.

How much time will I spend actually driving versus stopping at sites?

You'll spend five to six hours in the vehicle moving between the 13 stops, so roughly half the nine to ten hour tour is transit time and half is at the sites themselves.

Is lunch included in the tour price?

Lunch is not included. You'll eat at your own cost, typically at Cap Méchant where the tour stops for the meal break.