hotel6 km
Trois-Bassins, western highlands · ~1,400m
Aires de Vaudeville: wild camping in the forest at Trois-Bassins
A highland spot in the west, at 1,400m, surrounded by cryptomeria and tamarin (native acacia) forest. Shelters, barbecues, wide lawns for pitching a tent, and ONF trails setting off from the site.
~1,400maltitudeSeveralshelters + BBQCardirect accessFreeno booking
The Aires de Vaudeville sit in the highlands of Trois-Bassins, at 1,400m altitude. Surrounded by cryptomeria and tamarin forest, they offer a peaceful setting for camping at altitude without straying far from the west coast. It's a quieter option than Maïdo, ideal for escaping the crowds.
The site has several shelters with picnic tables, built barbecue spots, water points and wide grassy areas. For campervans, the forest road is easy to drive and overnight parking is possible along the site.
At a glance
The Vaudeville camping essentials
How to get there
How to reach the site
From Saint-Leu, take the exit off the RN1 towards the highlands, then the Route Forestière des Tamarins. Follow the ‘Aires de Vaudeville’ signs to the facilities under the forest canopy. Allow 30 minutes from the coast. A standard car is fine, on a tarmacked road followed by a forest track in good condition.
Fill up with fuel in Saint-Leu or Trois-Bassins, as petrol stations are scarce in the highlands. Free parking along the site.
Backpack
What to bring for the night
- A 3-season tent plus a 0°C-rated sleeping bag: night-time temperatures drop below 8°C in the austral winter at 1,400m
- A fleece and a hat: it cools down fast after sunset in the highlands
- A head torch: there's no public lighting at the site
- 1.5L of water per person: water points are available but should be treated as a precaution
- A gas stove: campfires are banned outside the built barbecue spots
- Bin bags: all rubbish leaves with you, including biodegradable waste
- Waterproof clothing: the highlands of Trois-Bassins get orographic rain
The Park rules below say tents must be up before sunset, so aim to drive up from the coast in the late afternoon. The final part of the route is a forest track, and not every rental contract covers unsealed roads: worth reading each company's terms as you shortlist a hire car for the trip.
Regulations
Wild camping in the National Park: the rules
- 'Tents and hammocks must be pitched before sunset and taken down in the morning'
- 'Do not light campfires': only stoves and the built, designated fire spots are permitted
- 'Take all your rubbish away with you', including biodegradable waste
- 'The use of generators is prohibited'
- 'No harm may be done to wildlife or plant life'
- 'Leave the site as you found it'
Source: Parc national de La Réunion: Wild camping in the Park core. The Aires de Vaudeville aren't in a banned zone.
Combine it with
Activities to combine
Tandem paragliding in Saint-Leu
Taking off from the Maïdo cliff, 20 minutes from Vaudeville, gliding above the lagoon.
Discover
Mégavalanche mountain biking from Maïdo
An extreme mountain-bike descent from Maïdo down to the coast, 30 minutes from the Vaudeville site.
Discover
Quad biking at Maïdo
A quad-biking outing in the same highland area of Saint-Paul and Trois-Bassins.
Discover
Also worth combiningAerial view
Mafate from the air, from Trois-Bassins
Camping at Vaudeville gives you the calm of the western highlands, right on the edge of Mafate. A helicopter gives you the entire cirque in five minutes: the îlets of La Nouvelle, Marla, Roche Plate, and the Maïdo cliff seen from above.
Take-off from Saint-Pierre or Saint-Paul, 30 minutes from Vaudeville. Many visitors combine a night at Vaudeville with a morning flight the next day.
From €125 · 210 Manawa reviews · Saint-Pierre / Saint-Paul
See helicopter rates
Stay nearby
Nearby accommodation
hotel6 km
hotel7 km
hotel8 kmOther spots
Other wild-camping spots in the western highlands
Wild camping at Piton Maïdo
30 minutes away, the iconic viewpoint over Mafate, reachable by car for sunrise.
See the spot
Forêt du Tévelave
Another west-coast forest with picnic and camping areas, 30 minutes from Trois-Bassins.
See the spot
Wild camping at Pointe des 3 Bassins
A seaside spot in the same town, a coastal alternative to the highland site.
See the spot
Frequently asked questions
FAQ: Aires de Vaudeville
How do you get to the Aires de Vaudeville?
From Saint-Leu, take the Route Forestière des Tamarins, which climbs up towards the highlands of Trois-Bassins. Follow the 'Aires de Vaudeville' signs along the forest road. Allow 30 minutes from the coast. A standard car is fine, on a tarmacked road followed by a forest track in good condition.
What facilities are there at the site?
Several shelters with picnic tables, built barbecue spots, water points spread across the site, and wide grassy areas for pitching a tent. The cryptomeria and tamarin canopy offers shade. Free parking along the site.
Do you need a permit to camp at Vaudeville?
No, wild camping is unrestricted and free within the core of Reunion Island's National Park, which includes the Aires de Vaudeville. Basic rule: pitch your tent before sunset and take it down in the morning, no fires outside the built spots, and take all your rubbish with you.
What altitude and weather should you expect?
Vaudeville sits at around 1,400m altitude, in the highlands of Trois-Bassins. Night-time temperatures drop to 8-10°C in the dry season, sometimes below 5°C in the austral winter. The highlands get orographic rain in the late afternoon, so a waterproof jacket is essential.
Which hikes start from Vaudeville?
The area is criss-crossed with ONF (forestry office) trails through the tamarin and cryptomeria forests. Several mountain-bike routes also start from the site. Check with the nearest Tamarins gîte for waymarked routes and difficulty levels.
How else can you explore the western highlands without camping?
The Piton Maïdo viewpoint offers the iconic panorama over Mafate, reachable by car. For the widest perspective, a scenic flight lets you see all three cirques in a single flight from Saint-Pierre or Saint-Paul.
Page last updated 18 September 2026.