Photo: Alain Bonnardeaux ↗THE JOURNEY IN DETAIL
The madmen’s diagonal across an island.
The Diagonale des Fous crosses Réunion from south to north: a Thursday-evening start in Saint-Pierre, the Piton de la Fournaise volcano, the Cilaos and Mafate cirques, the descent to Saint-Denis. About 165 km and 10,000 m of climbing, a limit of roughly 66 hours, two or three nights on your feet. The Trail de Bourbon (93 km) and Mascareignes (61 km) run alongside. A trip for very experienced ultrarunners; we work as a support crew across the island.
- The night start in Saint-Pierre to maloya drums
- The Piton de la Fournaise plateau at dawn
- The Mafate cirque — no roads, only trails
- The finish at La Redoute stadium in Saint-Denis
With old friends or new ones
Join a group or arrange a separate departure for your own team. Before travelling, we get to know each other, discuss everyone's experience and find suitable dates. You can also prepare together.
DAY BY DAY
Your daily itinerary.
A provisional itinerary. Weather, group readiness and local conditions may change the order and length of the stages.
- DAY 1 · Transfer, walk
Arrival in Saint-Denis
Roland Garros airport sits next to the island’s capital. We settle in, walk to La Redoute stadium where the finish will be and eat Creole food.
Overnight: Guesthouse in Saint-Denis - DAY 2 · 10 km, 900 m of climbing
Cilaos and the Piton des Neiges trail
The hairpin drive into the Cilaos cirque (1,200 m) and a 10 km run up the trail toward the Caverne Dufour refuge — a race section of wet steps and roots. We sleep in the cirque.
Overnight: Guesthouse in Cilaos - DAY 3 · 6 km, 300 m of ascent
The volcano and on to Saint-Pierre
We drive to Pas de Bellecombe (2,350 m) and run 6 km across the lava plateau of Piton de la Fournaise, where the runners will meet their first dawn. Down to Saint-Pierre in the evening.
Overnight: Guesthouse in Saint-Pierre - DAY 4 · Rest, briefing
Bibs and a quiet day
Bib collection at the Saint-Pierre race village and the kit check. Ivan walks through the cut-off and sleep plan: Cilaos, Mafate, Grand Place. A nap in the afternoon.
Overnight: Guesthouse in Saint-Pierre - DAY 5 · Start, first night
The Saint-Pierre start
An evening start from the seafront to drums. The first night climbs toward the volcano via Notre-Dame-de-la-Paix, with dawn on the plateau at 2,300 m. The crew moves to Cilaos.
Overnight: Crew in Cilaos; runners on course - DAY 6 · Second night, Mafate
Cilaos and Mafate
Runners drop into Cilaos, climb Col du Taïbit (2,080 m) and enter Mafate, the roadless cirque. The crew meets them in Cilaos with dry kit and moves north.
Overnight: Crew in Saint-Denis; runners on course - DAY 7 · Finish
The Saint-Denis finish
From Mafate via Grand Place and Dos d’Âne — the last descent to La Redoute. The first club runners finish on Saturday; the finish stays open into Sunday.
Overnight: Guesthouse in Saint-Denis - DAY 8 · Recover account
Last finishers and the ocean
We welcome those who walked a third night. The lagoon at Saint-Gilles by day, the award ceremony in the evening.
Overnight: Guesthouse in Saint-Denis - DAY 9 · Transfer
Departure
A free morning and the transfer to Roland Garros airport.
Overnight: —
Included in the estimated price
8 nights: guesthouses in Saint-Denis, Saint-Pierre and Cilaos
Breakfasts and four shared dinners
Airport transfers and a support car
Two acclimatisation outings: Cilaos and the volcano
Crew at aid stations and the finish
Course briefing and a two-night sleep plan
Not included in the price
Flights to the meeting point
Personal travel insurance and visas
Personal equipment
Single-room supplements and personal expenses
Grand Raid entry fee (lottery)
Lunches
Single supplement
YOUR PREPARATION
Arrive ready for the route.
You need 160 km-plus mountain finishes or several hundreds with a night, plus experience of very technical wet descents. Ivan builds a year-long cycle with stair and descent work and a rehearsal of a second sleepless night.
Prepare with IvanROUTE QUESTIONS
BEFORE WE MEET ON THE TRAIL
What to prepare in advance
- Trail shoes already tested in training
- A running vest, soft flasks and rain protection
- Layers for changing weather and familiar trail food
- Poles, if suitable for the route and you know how to use them
Once we choose a date, we agree on the equipment list, meeting point and transfer time. Please wait until the programme is confirmed before booking flights.