Tour du Grand Bénare

The ascent of the island's third-highest summit, at 2,898 metres, from the Maïdo viewpoint, with a succession of views over the Cirques of Mafate and Cilaos.

The route

The Grand Bénare (2,898 m) is the third-highest summit on Réunion. From the Maïdo car park (already at 2,200 m above sea level), the elevation gain is modest (+700 m on the loop), but the terrain more than makes up for it: unstable basalt boulders, exposed sections along the ridges and no shade at all on the crests.\n\nThe classic route, a 16-kilometre loop, takes the Sentier du Grand Bord from the Maïdo. It follows the ridge overlooking the Cirque de Mafate, with dizzying views down onto the îlets below, then reaches the summit via the Col de la Glacière. On a clear day, the view takes in all three cirques, the Piton des Neiges and sometimes the east coast.\n\nAllow 7 hours of walking and set off early in the morning. The loop can be shortened to a simple out-and-back depending on conditions.