Réunion is an island located in the Indian Ocean, to the east of Madagascar. It is a French overseas department. The landscape of the island is dominated by two massive shield volcanoes, one of which: the Piton de la Fournaise (2631 m), is active (last eruption in 2009). The second volcano: the Piton des Neiges (3070 m) is the highest but extinct.

There are marked hiking trails up the Piton des Neiges, and there is a mountain hut some distance below the peak. It is also possible to climb the active Piton de la Fournaise, and there are marked trails into the caldera, although these are closed occasionally preceding and during eruptions.