Sortie Hélico HELILAGON
Montagne Cilaos
cirque de CilaosWe begin our aerial adventure in the West of the island. The helicopter awaits us on the tarmac, ready for take off. We can’t wait for this intense experience. After flying over the West Highlands, it only takes a few minutes to arrive in front of the ramparts. These steep cliffs that are so difficult to access from the valleys welcome us with open arms and are ready to reveal their secrets. We enter via the cirque of Cilaos. Before our eyes, the contours of the mountain peaks become outlines that everyone interprets their own way. We fly over the village of Cilaos. The colours of the Creole houses blossom in the rugged landscape.
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Montagne Trois Salazes01 Credit Irt Serge Gelabert Dts 12 2014.jpg
To access the landlocked cirque of Mafate from Cilaos, first we have to fly over the legendary “3 Salazes“. These three amazing geological formations standing erect at the top of the rampart are one of the emblems of Piton des Neiges. Once above the inaccessible cirque, we weave in and out between the pitons admiring the landscapes composed of rocks, winding paths and tiny hamlets scattered everywhere. This hikers’ paradise provides us with a wild and unique spectacle. From the sky, we get a better understanding of this mystical atmosphere typical of the cirque of Mafate.
Cirque de salazieThird and final stage: the opulent countryside of the cirque of Salazie. We fly over the Bélouve primary forest. A mist covers the ground and only reveals the tops of the trees. The cloud forests enchant us and plunge us into a fantastic universe. Soon, the fog thins out and we get a glimpse of the void.
We reach Trou de Fer, one of Reunion Island’s most impressive places. Before our eyes a 300 metre deep gorge comes into view and we are stunned by a series of vertiginous waterfalls. A fascinating sight, mid-way between the rocky and plant filled landscapes. It’s time to go back and come back to earth, literally!
