Volcanic calderas and cloud-forest walls, visible only from above.
Hand-picked by our editors — only the best 4 flight routes from 11 reviewed.
Verified partners for Reunion Helicopter tours, free cancellation where available, and instant confirmation on every booking.
55 min
Soar above Réunion's three cirques, active volcano, and cascading waterfalls on this comprehensive aerial adventure.
Reserve
55 min
Soar above volcanic peaks, amphitheater valleys, and cascading waterfalls on this aerial adventure
Reserve
45 min
Soar above Réunion's dramatic calderas, waterfalls, and active volcano on this shared helicopter adventure
ReservePrices from verified partners. Availability updates in real time at checkout. Free cancellation policies apply where shown.
The landmarks, rooms, and views travelers on Reunion Helicopter tours remember — all visible on a single visit.
A remote caldera accessible only by foot or air, containing several small hamlets.
A massive canyon with numerous waterfalls dropping into a deep chasm.
One of the world's most active volcanoes featuring distinct lava flows.
Known for its winding roads and thermal springs, this cirque offers vertical rock faces.
The greenest cirque on the island, famous for its many waterfalls and flora.
Every Reunion Helicopter tour side-by-side — duration, what's included, how you redeem.
| Experience | Duration | Rating | Small group | Free cancel. | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Luxury / Private Most popular
Complete Helicopter Tour of Réunion Island
|
55 min | ★ 4.7 | ✓ | ✓ | €365 | Book → |
|
Luxury / Private
Réunion Island Helicopter Flight
|
55 min | ★ 4.8 | — | ✓ | €259 | Book → |
|
Luxury / Private
Helicopter Tour: Réunion's Three Cirques & Volcanoes
|
45 min | ★ 4.6 | ✓ | ✓ | €325 | Book → |
All prices from verified partners. Availability and exact terms confirmed at checkout.
They complement each other; most visitors who do both call hiking the more immersive experience while describing a reunion helicopter tour as the most efficient way to see island landmarks.
| Feature | Top pick Helicopter Tour | Hiking the Cirques |
|---|---|---|
Aerial Perspective vs Ground-Level Immersion |
Panoramic aerial views | Intimate ecosystem contact |
Physical Effort |
None (seated) | High (strenuous treks) |
Accessibility |
Limited by seat availability | Accessible to fit hikers |
Time Commitment |
45–90 minutes | 6–24 hours per cirque |
Weather Dependence |
High (cloud sensitive) | Moderate (terrain dependent) |
Reunion helicopter tour tours |
Available daily | Requires local trails |
| See tickets → |
Verdict: Securing reunion helicopter tour tickets provides immediate access to inaccessible volcanic summits, whereas trekking offers a slow-paced discovery of the rugged interior landscapes.
Choose your ticket, select your date, and reserve in under two minutes. Secure checkout handled by our verified partner.
Instant confirmation by email, with a mobile voucher you can save offline. No printing, no queuing at a collection desk.
Arrive at the entrance, show your voucher on your phone, and walk in. Most tickets include priority or skip-the-line access.
Practical details for Reunion Helicopter tickets straight from our verified partners — hours, access, rules, and how to get there.
Aéroport de Pierrefond, 97410 Saint-Pierre
Main check-in desk for all flights
Open in Google MapsFollow the RN1 highway towards Saint-Pierre and take the Pierrefond exit.
Available from most major hotels and the Roland Garros airport.
Wear comfortable, layered clothing suitable for varying altitudes. Closed-toe shoes are recommended for boarding your reunion helicopter tour.
Passengers must comply with airport security protocols at the Pierrefond site. Large luggage is generally prohibited on aircraft; please store items in your vehicle or at the facility office.
Photography is permitted during your aerial journey. Ensure your devices are secured with straps to prevent dropping them inside the cabin.
Ground access is accessible, but boarding the aircraft requires the ability to step into the cabin. Contact the operator in advance if you require physical assistance.
Mobile phones must be set to airplane mode during the flight. Use them only for capturing images of the landscape.
Children are welcome on aerial sightseeing trips provided they meet safety weight requirements. Ensure infants are secured in accordance with aviation safety regulations.
Consumption of food and drinks is not permitted during the flight. Refreshments can be purchased at the airport terminal before or after your flight.
Pets are not allowed on sightseeing flights. Service animals must be cleared with the operator prior to arrival.
Weight limits apply to all passengers for aircraft balance. Please provide accurate weight information when booking your reunion helicopter tour tickets.
Aéroport de Pierrefond, 97410 Saint-Pierre
Main check-in desk for all flights
Get directionsBest time to go, insider tips, nearby landmarks, and the cancellation fine print — flip through to skim what matters to you.
How crowds, weather, and events shift across the year.
Dryer season with cooler temperatures perfect for mountain visibility.
Warmer summer months with potential for afternoon tropical rain showers.
Small details that turn a good visit into a great one.
Reserve your reunion helicopter tour ahead of time to secure a window seat. Morning slots provide the most stable air and clearest views.
Non-bookable sights within a short walk — free to visit, easy to pair.
A local white sand beach ideal for relaxation after your flight.
A colorful cultural site reflecting the island's heritage.
Learn about the history of rum production on the island.
Flexible, no hidden fees.
Cancellations made at least 48 hours in advance are eligible for a full refund. The 0 EUR entrance fee does not apply as tour costs are per flight service per person.
Hand-picked options within walking distance — pick a district for vibe, or a specific hotel for convenience.
Upscale hotel located near the Saint-Pierre waterfront.
Comfortable accommodation in the heart of the city.
Various guest houses and apartments available.
Réunion's three cirques — Mafate, Cilaos, and Salazie — were carved by collapsed volcanic chambers over three million years, leaving amphitheatres of basalt cliffs that rise two thousand metres from rainforest floors. Mafate remains roadless, its forty hamlets accessible only by helicopter or multi-day trek.
The island's Piton de la Fournaise, one of the world's most active shield volcanoes, has erupted more than thirty times since 2000, each flow reshaping the southeast coast and adding fresh black sand to the shoreline. Corail Hélicoptères operates six-seat Écureuil rotorcraft from Pierrefonds Airport, the island's southern gateway, positioned fifteen minutes by air from the caldera rim.
Reunion helicopter tours depart daily between dawn and dusk, though morning slots secure the clearest views. Trade winds push moisture inland after ten o'clock, shrouding the peaks in orographic cloud that persists until late afternoon. Pilots route flights according to wind direction and eruption status: when Fournaise is active, helicopters circle the vent at five hundred metres, close enough to photograph incandescent lava without entering the exclusion zone. When dormant, routes pivot west to overfly the Trou de Fer, a three-hundred-metre waterfall that drops through a cylindrical canyon invisible from any trail. The twenty-minute circuit covers Mafate's ridge villages; the forty-five-minute route adds Fournaise's summit crater and the Grand Brûlé lava field; the sixty-minute option encompasses all three cirques and both volcanoes.
Weight-and-balance calculations assign seating: front-row passengers sit beside the pilot behind a Plexiglas nose cone, rear seats face forward in tandem pairs. Noise-cancelling headsets pipe two-way intercom and a recorded French-English narration synchronized to GPS waypoints. Doors remain attached throughout the flight; photographers tilt cameras against the curved windows, which are polished weekly to minimize glare. The fleet logs eight thousand flight hours annually, regulated by the French civil aviation authority and subject to monthly airworthiness inspections.
Reunion Island's UNESCO World Heritage designation, awarded in 2010 for its volcanic peaks and endemic cloud forests, prohibits ground construction above fifteen hundred metres, preserving the cirques as a continuous wilderness corridor. Helicopter access remains the only mechanized option for visitors unwilling to commit to the multi-day Mafate traverse. What began as a utility service for cirque residents — mail runs, medical evacuations, construction material lifts — now operates primarily as a sightseeing concession, though charter flights still deliver supplies to off-grid villages twice weekly.
"Mafate remains roadless, its forty hamlets accessible only by helicopter or multi-day trek."
A step-by-step walkthrough of Reunion Helicopter tickets — what you'll see, how long each stage takes, and the details that matter.
You arrive at Pierrefonds terminal before eight, when the apron is still in shadow and the rotorcraft sit nose-to-tail along the taxiway. Check-in requires a photo ID and a signed weight declaration; the dispatcher assigns you seat three, rear left, based on the morning's passenger manifest.
You step onto the tarmac ten minutes before departure, ducking under the tail boom as the pilot completes the pre-flight walk-around, checking the Jesus nut and the pitch-control linkage with a gloved hand.
The turbine spools to idle, then climbs to a high whine as the rotors accelerate through translational lift. You rise vertically, pivot south, and cross the coastline at two hundred knots, the sugarcane fields shrinking to a geometric grid. The helicopter banks left into the first valley, following a ridgeline toward Cilaos. You spot the village's red rooftops a thousand metres below, then the terrain drops away as the aircraft enters Mafate's western rim. The intercom crackles: the pilot names each hamlet — La Nouvelle, Marla, Roche Plate — as they pass beneath the skids. You press your phone against the window, framing the Piton des Neiges summit against the Indian Ocean, then the helicopter pivots east toward Fournaise's caldera, where steam vents mark the most recent lava flow.
The facility is open Monday through Sunday from 06:30–20:00.
The best arrival window is 06:30–09:00 for optimal visibility.
There is a 0 EUR entrance fee; costs are per flight service per person.
Large items are restricted, and passengers are limited to small personal items during the reunion helicopter tour.
The terminal is located at Aéroport de Pierrefond and is accessible by car or taxi.
Children are permitted on the reunion helicopter tour provided they meet weight and safety criteria.
Photography is encouraged, though personal items must be secured.
Cancellations 48 hours prior to departure are fully refundable.
Yes, you can visit the Plage de Saint-Pierre or La Saga du Rhum after your flight.
Wear comfortable layers and closed-toe shoes for your reunion helicopter tour.
