08/06/2026
I still can’t believe a place like this exists just 4 hours away from India - an island where you can safely watch an active volcano erupt… 🤯
This is Réunion Island - at tiny French island in the Indian Ocean that honestly doesn’t get talked about enough.
✈️ HOW TO REACH
There are direct flights from Chennai to Réunion.
If you’re flexible with dates, tickets can often be found for around ₹26,000. I usually use .India’s Flexible Dates feature and set price alerts a few months in advance.
📄 VISA INFORMATION
This is probably the best part - you do NOT need a Schengen visa to visit Réunion Island.
However, you do need a travel authorisation certificate arranged through a local Réunion-based agency before departure.
🚗 HOW MANY DAYS?
At least 7 days.
And definitely rent a car.
Réunion is much bigger than it looks on a map and some of the island’s best spots are impossible to properly explore without your own vehicle.
I’ve been lucky enough to visit a lot of islands over the years.
But Réunion remains one of those rare places that genuinely surprised me, mostly because every single day felt like I had landed in a completely different country. ♥️