Land of Mist | Île de la Réunion Tourisme

The peaks in the Land of Mist are just waiting for adventurers looking for freedom, to get away from it all and get back to nature, in the midst of a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Once on the roof of the Indian Ocean, an intense feeling of serenity takes over your body and mind while your gaze travels between the cirques, pitons and ramparts and the ocean stretching as far as the eye can see. Breathe in deeply and contemplate the breathtaking views.

Reunion’s Highlands are the perfect place to reconnect with nature. When evening falls, the laid-back Creole way of life will reignite your sense of adventure, over a friendly meal with the locals.

Taste the freedom of the peaks

Are you tired of the constant frenzy of city life? Do you need a change of scenery? Turn off your phone in the Land of Mist and you will hear another call. The call of nature, where the most beautiful things are also the simplest. The call of a world where clouds brush the peaks and dance amongst the treetops. Listen to the song of the cuckooshrike and smell the jasmine at night; venturing into the cool Highlands will give you a taste of the incomparable freedom of the peaks.

Be it at Plaine des Palmistes, Le Tampon or Piton Saint-Leu, from north to south and from west to east, escaping to Reunion’s Highlands means immersing yourself in an authentic place where time stands still. Prepare a Creole meal at a local’s house on a wood fire, go to a Kabar where the air resonates with the catchy sound of maloya, hike from plains to peaks – so many spellbinding experiences in the Land of Mist. Choosing the Land of Mist means reconnecting with what is essential.

A night under the stars

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Parachute jump

Tea plantation tour

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Discover creole cooking

Reunion Island, The Highlands - Land of Mist

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Sunrise at Maido

A night under the stars

Contemplation and introspection

Far from the bubbly, party feel of the coast, the peace and tranquillity in the Highlands are just what you need to relax and observe. Superb panoramic views are everywhere: from Fenêtre des Makes you can contemplate the cirque of Cilaos, Le Maïdo has breathtaking views over the cirque of Mafate and Roche Ecrite is a unique balcony over the cirques of Mafate and Salazie!

The highlight of the show, Piton des Neiges, is the highest point in the Indian Ocean. Perched at 3,071 metres above sea level, it is only accessible on foot from Cilaos or Salazie. The Caverne Dufour Refuge, a high mountain gite, is a welcome place to stop on the way to the summit before completing the climb at dawn to see the sunrise on the roof of the Indian Ocean. Magical.

These are just some of the aerial viewpoints over the iconic landscapes of the Pitons, cirques and ramparts of Reunion Island on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

When evening comes, the fire crackles in the Creole houses and the wind whistles through the trees.

At Les Makes Astronomical Observatory, the island’s Highlands become the perfect place to observe the stars. Under the star filled sky, the nature of the journey changes and ultimately becomes internal. You will be surprised at how clear your mind becomes, and how you are left with a feeling of lightness and a taste of the infinite.

After a good night’s sleep, the beauty of the Highlands is best appreciated at dawn with the colours of the rising sun reflecting on the morning dew. You are in the best seats for one of the most beautiful shows on Reunion Island.

The Creole way of life

High up on the peaks, the Land of Mist offers curious travellers total immersion in Creole culture. The people who live in the Highlands have a rural way of life in harmony with nature that they are passionate about preserving. Let them guide you and listen carefully so as not to miss any of their know-how and their traditions. In the Land of Mist you will find this singular Creole identity which makes each encounter unique.

Setting out to explore the Highlands means enjoying life at the same pace as the inhabitants. Stay in a guesthouse or a gite to soak up this friendly and sincere atmosphere. Share a traditional meal with a Creole family. After the samosas and the sausage rougail, just before the sweet potato cake and rhum arrangé, you will realise that the warmth comes from the heart!