Grand Bassin & Voile de la Mariée

Grand Bassin is a natural amphitheatre at the bottom of a deep ravine in the Cirque de Cilaos area of Réunion, a French island in the Indian Ocean, where two waterfalls, including the Voile de la Mariée (Bridal Veil), drop into a pool ringed by steep cliffs. There is no road in: the hamlet is reached only on foot, either by a steep descent from the trailhead at Bras Sec village or by a longer trail from Bourg-Murat, and a handful of Creole families still live there without vehicle access. Visitors drive from Cilaos village to Bras Sec in about 15 minutes, then hike for roughly an hour down switchbacks that drop several hundred metres. The first full view of the amphitheatre and both waterfalls comes from the Bras Sec rim, one of the best photo spots on the route. At the bottom, small gardens, a chapel-like scattering of houses and the pools beneath the falls reward the effort. The pools are used for swimming when water levels allow. The round trip takes two to three hours at an unhurried pace, though many hikers allow longer for lunch and photographs. The return climb is the hard part, not the descent, so water and an early start matter; hiking out in the heat of the afternoon is tiring. Mornings give the best light on the waterfall, and the trail is generally quieter on weekdays. Crowds peak at weekends and in the dry season, when local families and trekkers share the narrow path. Cloud and rain can arrive in the afternoon, making the stone steps slippery. Sturdy shoes, a hat and plenty of water are essential, as there is little shade on the climb out, and trekkers should factor in extra time if the trail is wet.