Grand Bassin

Grand Bassin is a hamlet at the junction of three valleys deep below the Bois Court viewpoint, reached only by a footpath that drops around six hundred metres in an hour and a half and takes considerably longer coming back. A handful of families live there and run gîtes and tables d'hôtes. The Cascade du Bras Rouge falls into the valley near the village, and the whole basin is enclosed by walls on all sides.

What's there

• The descent - a drop of around six hundred metres on foot from the viewpoint.
• The hamlet - a few families living at the junction of three valleys.
• The Bras Rouge waterfall - a substantial fall into the basin near the village.
• The Bois Court viewpoint - the platform above from which the valley is seen.

When to go

May to November is the dry season. Early starts are advisable for the climb back out. The path is dangerous in heavy rain and after cyclones.

What to expect

The climb back out is hard: six hundred metres of ascent in heat, which many underestimate. There is no vehicle access of any kind. Gites must be booked in advance.

Nearby

Bois Court is above, and Le Tampon is north.

Key facts