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Réunion🇷🇪 | townsTrois-BassinsThree basins, geranium slopes, Cap Homard, Sunday stalls | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in Trois-Bassins
👀 For curious travelerstown ranked #16
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 22, 2026

Trois-Bassins puts you on the cool, cane-and-geranium slopes above the west coast beaches without the Saint-Gilles price tag. It sits in the west of Réunion, between Saint-Paul and Saint-Leu, and buses from the coast are infrequent, so a rental car or patience helps. Streets climb steeply through villages, the air smells of wet earth and frangipani, and evenings are quiet, with few hostels and little nightlife. Meeting other backpackers is hard here. Your reward is a bowl of rougail saucisse eaten with the sea glittering far below, and the sound of roosters at dawn.

Discover everything you want to know in the 📖 Réunion Travel Guide.


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✨ Why go?
Ranked #16 town in RéunionThe unique appeal for travelers

Trois-Bassins suits slow travelers and hikers who want the west coast without its crowds. Its main draw is the Cascade Bassin Bleu area and the cool forest trails of the Forêt de Bois de Couleurs region reached on the highlands above, plus the quiet Cap Homard shoreline with its black-rock coast. Guesthouses and gîtes are small and family-run, and most visitors stay two or three nights, using it as a calm base for the nearby beaches. Solo travelers who enjoy local food and early starts will like it, while those wanting hostels and nightlife should stay on the coast.

💡 HighlightsWhat this place is best known for

  1. Cascade Bassin Boeuf and Trois Bassins waterfalls: the village is named for its three basins of cascading water along the ravine. Go in the morning after rain for the fullest flow. Free, 1 to 2 hours.
  2. Église Saint-Sacrement: the village church anchors the center, with a calm square beneath tall trees. Visit in the morning when the light is soft. Free, 20 to 30 minutes.
  3. Cap Homard coastline: black volcanic rocks and a rugged shore where Indian Ocean swells break loudly. Late afternoon is best, and swimming is unsafe. Free, about 1 hour.
  4. Chemin des Anglais viewpoints: old routes above the village open broad views over the cane fields to the sea. Early morning gives the clearest air. Free, 1 to 2 hours.
  5. Sunday village market: small stalls with vanilla, lychees in season, samosas and bonbons piment,
… read more 👉
  1. Cascade Bassin Boeuf and Trois Bassins waterfalls: the village is named for its three basins of cascading water along the ravine. Go in the morning after rain for the fullest flow. Free, 1 to 2 hours.
  2. Église Saint-Sacrement: the village church anchors the center, with a calm square beneath tall trees. Visit in the morning when the light is soft. Free, 20 to 30 minutes.
  3. Cap Homard coastline: black volcanic rocks and a rugged shore where Indian Ocean swells break loudly. Late afternoon is best, and swimming is unsafe. Free, about 1 hour.
  4. Chemin des Anglais viewpoints: old routes above the village open broad views over the cane fields to the sea. Early morning gives the clearest air. Free, 1 to 2 hours.
  5. Sunday village market: small stalls with vanilla, lychees in season, samosas and bonbons piment, a good place to taste local snacks. Arrive by 8 a.m. Budget €5 to 10, about 1 hour.
Beyond the village, Saint-Leu with its paragliding takeoffs, the Maïdo viewpoint above Mafate and the beaches of Boucan Canot are all easy day trips. The village market and the church combine well in one relaxed morning.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

🏘️ NeighborhoodsKey areas and districts to know

Trois-Bassins is a hillside commune on Réunion’s west coast, stretched from a rocky shoreline up into cane fields and cool forest, so each area feels different underfoot.
  • Centre-bourg: A compact knot of streets around the church and mairie, flat enough to cross in ten minutes. Boulangeries open early and the smell of warm bread and curry from snack counters hangs in the air. You leave with a cheap samoussa lunch and a seat in the shade.
  • Souris Blanche and the mid-slopes: Steep lanes between cane, mango and litchi trees, with roosters and distant dogs as the soundtrack. Walking is hard work in the heat. The payoff is a wide view down to the Indian Ocean.
  • Les Hauts (Bois de Nèfles side): Cooler, damp and green, with tamarind forest and misty trails. Fog can roll in fast and temperatures drop. You
… read more 👉
Trois-Bassins is a hillside commune on Réunion’s west coast, stretched from a rocky shoreline up into cane fields and cool forest, so each area feels different underfoot.
  • Centre-bourg: A compact knot of streets around the church and mairie, flat enough to cross in ten minutes. Boulangeries open early and the smell of warm bread and curry from snack counters hangs in the air. You leave with a cheap samoussa lunch and a seat in the shade.
  • Souris Blanche and the mid-slopes: Steep lanes between cane, mango and litchi trees, with roosters and distant dogs as the soundtrack. Walking is hard work in the heat. The payoff is a wide view down to the Indian Ocean.
  • Les Hauts (Bois de Nèfles side): Cooler, damp and green, with tamarind forest and misty trails. Fog can roll in fast and temperatures drop. You get quiet and birdsong.
  • Coast at Saint-Gilles side: Black volcanic rock, crashing surf and little shade. You get dramatic sea views and sunsets without the resort crowds.

⌛️ 1 daySeeing the highlights in 24 hours

A slow village morning with a coastal finish.
8:00 AM, Village market: Start with coffee and a samosa among the stalls, then wander the aisles for lychees or vanilla. It takes an hour and sets you among locals.
9:30 AM, Église Saint-Sacrement: Walk to the square, sit under the trees and look into the quiet church. Then head uphill by car or on foot.
11:00 AM, Chemin des Anglais viewpoints: Follow the old track above the cane fields for views toward the sea. It is rarely visited, so you will mostly hear birds and wind.
1:00 PM, Lunch: Find a local table for rougail saucisse with rice and grains.
3:30 PM, Cap Homard: Drive down to the black rocks and watch the surf from a safe distance as the afternoon cools.

🌤️ When to go?When to go for the best experience

  • May to October (austral winter): Dry and mild, roughly 17 to 26°C (63 to 79°F) on the coast and cooler in the hills. Days are shorter, around 11 to 12 hours of light. Best for hiking, with school-holiday crowds in July and August.
  • November to April (summer): Hot and humid, 24 to 31°C (75 to 88°F), with afternoon downpours. Cyclone risk peaks January to March. Prices for flights and rentals dip outside Christmas and February holidays.
Book car rental early if you arrive in July or August.

source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: fair for travelingFEBFebruary: fair for travelingMARMarch: fair for travelingAPRApril: good for travelingMAYMay: excellent for travelingJUNJune: highly recommended for travelingJULJuly: highly recommended for travelingAUGAugust: highly recommended for travelingSEPSeptember: excellent for travelingOCTOctober: highly recommended for travelingNOVNovember: highly recommended for travelingDECDecember: fair for traveling
when-to-go

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🛏️ Where to stay?Best areas to stay in Réunion

The best budget base is Saint-Gilles-les-Bains, a short ride away, where hostels and budget rooms cluster and buses run into the evening. Dorm beds cost about €25 to 40 in high season. It is lively at night, so expect some noise, though streets near the harbor are busy and feel safe. Saint-Paul is a quieter, cheaper alternative with a market and good bus links. Inside Trois-Bassins itself, beds are mostly guesthouses and gîtes, fewer and pricier per person, best if you have a car. Book ahead in July and August.


Best quality hotels in Réunion

🚌 Getting aroundHow to get from A to B

Trois-Bassins has no train station, and the bus stop by the mairie in the center is the hub, with a short walk to the church and bakeries. The commune climbs steeply from the coast, so traffic is light inland but slow on the main road. Buses are reliable on main routes but sparse in the hills.
  • Walking: Free and fine in the center, brutal on the slopes in midday heat. Start early and you get cooler air and ocean views.
  • Car Canaille buses: Local Car Jaune and Alterbus services link the commune with Saint-Paul and Saint-Gilles for about €1.50 to 2 a ride, with service roughly 6 am to 7 pm and thinner on Sundays. You get windows full of cane fields and sea.
  • Rental car: About €30 to 50 a day, the easiest way to reach the highland trails. Narrow bends and sudden fog demand patience, but you set your
… read more 👉
Trois-Bassins has no train station, and the bus stop by the mairie in the center is the hub, with a short walk to the church and bakeries. The commune climbs steeply from the coast, so traffic is light inland but slow on the main road. Buses are reliable on main routes but sparse in the hills.
  • Walking: Free and fine in the center, brutal on the slopes in midday heat. Start early and you get cooler air and ocean views.
  • Car Canaille buses: Local Car Jaune and Alterbus services link the commune with Saint-Paul and Saint-Gilles for about €1.50 to 2 a ride, with service roughly 6 am to 7 pm and thinner on Sundays. You get windows full of cane fields and sea.
  • Rental car: About €30 to 50 a day, the easiest way to reach the highland trails. Narrow bends and sudden fog demand patience, but you set your own pace.
  • Taxi or ride-hail: €15 to 30 to Saint-Gilles or Saint-Paul, useful after buses stop.
  • Hitchhiking: Common locally for short hops uphill and often quick. You get chatty rides with locals.

👛 Costs (as of 22 October 2026)Money, prices, and spending tips

Trois-Bassins costs a backpacker about €75 a day in high season. Prices follow mainland France levels, which makes Réunion pricier than most of the Indian Ocean.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Dorm accommodation€25 to 40Nearly all hostels are in nearby Saint-Gilles; local gîtes cost more.
Meals€15 to 25Bakery snacks and takeaway rougail or curry cost €5 to 9.
Local transport€3 to 8Buses cost about €1.50 to 2 a ride.
Basic activities/entry fees€0 to 10Hiking and viewpoints are free; snorkel gear rents for a few euros.
Miscellaneous expenses€5 to 10Water, groceries, and sunscreen.
Total Daily Budget€75Based on high-season dorm prices.
Cook from supermarket groceries and fill lunch boxes at market stalls to save €10 a day.
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

🚌 Day tripsShort trips worth adding

Trois-Bassins sits close to several of the west’s best sights, and with a car or the bus to Saint-Paul most are easy loops back by evening.Saint-Gilles-les-Bains: The beach town is 15 to 20 minutes by car or about 40 minutes by bus, with a lagoon for snorkeling and sunset bars. Budget €5 to 15 without gear rental. Go in winter, when the sea is calmer.
👉 Explore Saint-Gilles-les-BainsMaïdo Viewpoint: A road climbs to roughly 2,200 meters above the Mafate cirque, about 1 to 1.5 hours by car. Go before 9 am, since cloud fills the cirque by midmorning. First-timers often arrive at noon and see only fog. Costs are fuel and parking only.
Saint-Paul Market: Held Friday and Saturday mornings by the seafront, about 25 minutes away, with fruit, spices and cheap lunch for €5 to 10. Arrive by 8 am.
Cap Méchant … read more 👉
Trois-Bassins sits close to several of the west’s best sights, and with a car or the bus to Saint-Paul most are easy loops back by evening.Saint-Gilles-les-Bains: The beach town is 15 to 20 minutes by car or about 40 minutes by bus, with a lagoon for snorkeling and sunset bars. Budget €5 to 15 without gear rental. Go in winter, when the sea is calmer.
👉 Explore Saint-Gilles-les-BainsMaïdo Viewpoint: A road climbs to roughly 2,200 meters above the Mafate cirque, about 1 to 1.5 hours by car. Go before 9 am, since cloud fills the cirque by midmorning. First-timers often arrive at noon and see only fog. Costs are fuel and parking only.
Saint-Paul Market: Held Friday and Saturday mornings by the seafront, about 25 minutes away, with fruit, spices and cheap lunch for €5 to 10. Arrive by 8 am.
Cap Méchant and Saint-Leu: Saint-Leu is about 25 minutes south, with paragliding launch spots and a coastal path. Allow €10 to 20 for a snack and a short walk.
👉 Explore Saint-Leu

🛡️ SafetyTraveler Safety Guide

Trois-Bassins is calm and low in crime. The main nuisance is theft from parked rental cars at trailheads and beaches, so leave nothing visible. Sea conditions on the rocky coast can be rough, so swim only inside the lagoon at protected spots. Mountain fog and sudden rain make hill roads and trails slippery, so carry a layer and water. Solo travelers, including women, generally feel comfortable at night in the center, though the lanes are poorly lit and hitching after dark is best avoided.
Check Country Safety

FAQCommon questions from travelers

Trois-Bassins is worth a short visit rather than a stopover, especially for slow, green hillside scenery away from beach crowds. You can walk forest trails in the Hauts, taste local snacks in the center, and reach Saint-Gilles in 20 minutes by car. It lacks big sights, so it suits travelers wanting a quiet side of Réunion.
One to two days is enough for Trois-Bassins itself, covering the center, a hillside walk and a coastal viewpoint. Add a third day if you want to use it as a base for Maïdo, which is 1 to 1.5 hours by car. Beds are scarce locally, so many people stay in Saint-Gilles.
Yes, Trois-Bassins works well as a half-day outing from Saint-Gilles or Saint-Paul, about 20 to 25 minutes by car or 40 to 60 minutes by bus. Buses cost about €1.50 to 2, but service thins in the evening, so check the last return. A car makes it far easier to reach the highland trails.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

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We 💚 feedbackIs it worth it?

Trois-Bassins deserves two nights, not a quick pass. Spend the first morning at the market and the second on the high trails. I would bring a rain jacket, because clouds roll up the slopes by afternoon, and I would book a gîte with a car nearby.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on in-depth research, insights shared by experienced travelers, and feedback from the local travel community in Réunion. While every effort is made to keep the information accurate and current, conditions can change — so if you spot anything incorrect or outdated, please get in touch.



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Johan, backpacker and founder of TakeYourBackpackHi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.

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