The island of Réunion is not only famous for its active volcanoes and spectacular landscapes, but as well for being a mountain bike hot spot and battlefield for the annual Megavalanche race. We didn’t bring our own bikes to La Réunion to avoid the baggage hassle – and it was a wise decision as we got superb material from Stephane our guide and his company Bike Aventure.
The bike adventure on La Réunion usually starts with a shuttle lift to Le Maido, one of the older volcanic peaks on the island, at an altitude of about 2200 meters above sea level. The following downhill feast is served on rugged lava rock as a starter and continues in lush jungle forest for the main course. The final descent to the beaches is in a savanna like setting – sweet dessert.
The trail through the jungle becomes muddy and slippery in some spots during the rainy season (starting in December) and therefore more challenging. This is why the Megavalanche is staged in December. There are different trail options leading down from Le Maido and the choice is between more roots or more mud. Anyway, both are options were big fun. Actually, I was surprised how easily I could handle even those tracks that consisted of roots only – thanks to Stephane’s neat Intense.
To explore more of Réunion’s stunning nature you need to put on hiking boots, since the trails in the other parts of the island are simply to steep and not really rideable. All in all, La Réunion is a fantastic place for all kinds of adventures from mountain biking, to hiking, to canyoning and surfing.
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