Gîte de Bélouve
HIKING GÎTE
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Gite de Belouve - Gite du Piton des Neiges
Walking/pedestrian
in Salazie
8.6
km
One-way
Walking/pedestrian
4h 30min
Hard
-
This is a lovely trail which in good weather offers magnificent views of the Cirque of Salazie. Flirting with the edge of the cirque’s rampart, it starts in the forest of highland tamarinds near Gîte de Bélouve (lodge). The vegetation changes radically as you progress along this trail to a pebble landscape near Gîte du Piton des Neiges.This trail is very often muddy, so wear good boots. Hat and sunscreen are essential in good weather when approaching the Gîte du Piton des Neiges. Be careful on the edge of the rampart because some sections are slippery.
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- Points of interest
How to reach the start
From the west, take the dual carriageway towards Saint Denis, then Saint Benoit. Passing through Saint Benoit, head for Plaine des Palmistes. Crossing Plaine des Palmistes, after passing Domain des Tourelles, you’ll take a fork to the right indicating La Petite Plaine, Bébour. Follow this direction and after 9 kilometres, you’ll reach Col de Bébour. Continue along this forest road for 10 kilometres. The forest road passes through the forest of Bébour. At the end of the forest road, there’s a car park at the foot of Coteau Monique where hikers can park. Coteau Monique marks the border between the forests of Bébour and Bélouve. Arriving in front of the Coteau Monique car park, the barrier which blocks the road on Sundays and public holidays is open during the week. Continue along this road until the last car park closest to the gite.
Steps
0 km: Leaving the car park (panel 2), or the Gîte de Bélouve viewpoint (panel 1), join the trail that leads to the relay antennas.
1.0 km: You arrive at the shelter and relay antennas with a nice view of the Cirque of Salazie (panel 3). The trail proper starts beside the shelter, and goes up among the highland tamarinds.
1.8 km: Continue near the edge of the rampart (panel 4), then you arrive at the junction with the Tamarinaie trail. Continue straight ahead.
2.2 km: Continue to make progress on a wet trail (panel 5) in a very rich forest.
2.5 km: The slope steepens and the trail offers some wonderful views (panels 6 and 7).
2.7 km: The trail now moves away from the edge of the rampart.
3.8 km: The route continues in a forest of thickets (panel 8).
4.5 km: The trail is almost flat (panels 9 and 10), then begins to descend.
4.8 km: At the end of the descent, cross a small ravine on a wooden bridge (panel 11). The trail then rises again and the slope becomes more pronounced.
5.7 km: The trail descends again and you see the cross of Cap Anglais in the distance (panel 12). A ladder helps you get down (panel 13) and you come to the side of the cross of Cap Anglais (panel 14). A trail heads down the rampart towards HellBourg; this is the Cap Anglais trail. Continue to climb among the thickets.
6.0 km: Now the trail properly moves away from the edge of the rampart and the vegetation, made up of thickets, becomes more and more sparse.
8.0 km: The slope becomes very gentle and the thickets become smaller and smaller (panels 15 and 16), and you see in the distance Gîte du Piton des Neiges.
8.5 km: You’ve reached the gite (panel 17).
1.0 km: You arrive at the shelter and relay antennas with a nice view of the Cirque of Salazie (panel 3). The trail proper starts beside the shelter, and goes up among the highland tamarinds.
1.8 km: Continue near the edge of the rampart (panel 4), then you arrive at the junction with the Tamarinaie trail. Continue straight ahead.
2.2 km: Continue to make progress on a wet trail (panel 5) in a very rich forest.
2.5 km: The slope steepens and the trail offers some wonderful views (panels 6 and 7).
2.7 km: The trail now moves away from the edge of the rampart.
3.8 km: The route continues in a forest of thickets (panel 8).
4.5 km: The trail is almost flat (panels 9 and 10), then begins to descend.
4.8 km: At the end of the descent, cross a small ravine on a wooden bridge (panel 11). The trail then rises again and the slope becomes more pronounced.
5.7 km: The trail descends again and you see the cross of Cap Anglais in the distance (panel 12). A ladder helps you get down (panel 13) and you come to the side of the cross of Cap Anglais (panel 14). A trail heads down the rampart towards HellBourg; this is the Cap Anglais trail. Continue to climb among the thickets.
6.0 km: Now the trail properly moves away from the edge of the rampart and the vegetation, made up of thickets, becomes more and more sparse.
8.0 km: The slope becomes very gentle and the thickets become smaller and smaller (panels 15 and 16), and you see in the distance Gîte du Piton des Neiges.
8.5 km: You’ve reached the gite (panel 17).
- 1064 meters of difference in height
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- Start altitude : 1506 m
- End altitude : 2484 m
- Maximum altitude : 2484 m
- Minimum altitude : 1506 m
- Total positive elevation : 1064 m
- Total negative elevation : -87 m
- Max positive elevation : 196 m
- Min positive elevation : -31 m
