Plaine des Sables, Volcanic landscape in Sainte-Rose, France.
Plaine des Sables is a bare volcanic plateau in the highlands of Reunion Island, located between the communes of Saint-Joseph and Sainte-Rose. The ground is made up of dark basalt rock, loose stones, and fine volcanic sand that gives the terrain an open, flat appearance at high elevation.
The plateau was shaped by lava flows from Piton de la Fournaise over hundreds of thousands of years. Each eruption added new layers of rock and ash, gradually building up the flat highland that exists today.
The plain sits along the main route that hikers and drivers take when heading toward the Piton de la Fournaise volcano. The stark contrast between its dark, bare ground and the green forests found lower on the island makes it a natural stopping point where people pause to look around.
The plateau sits above 6,500 feet (2,000 m) and is fully exposed to wind and sun, so warm layers and water are necessary. Starting the visit in the morning gives better visibility and helps avoid the clouds and rain that often roll in during the afternoon.
Patches of red and golden mineral deposits, caused by oxidized iron, appear across the dark basalt of the plain. These colors are especially visible in direct sunlight and give parts of the ground a look that many visitors compare to photos of Mars.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
