Gîte de La Caverne Dufour

Gîte de La Caverne Dufour is a mountain refuge managed by the ONF (Office National des Forêts) near Piton des Neiges, Réunion's highest peak at just over 3,000 metres, reached only on foot from trailheads in the Cirque de Cilaos, typically Cilaos village itself. There's no road access, the refuge exists solely to serve hikers making the ascent, most of whom arrive in the afternoon after several hours' walk and set off before dawn the next morning to reach the summit for sunrise. The building is basic mountain-refuge construction, not a hotel in any conventional sense, with dormitory-style bunk accommodation as the main option and a small number of basic double rooms for those wanting more privacy. There's no restaurant in the usual sense, but the gîte serves hot communal meals, typically a simple hearty dinner and breakfast, included or available for purchase alongside the bunk. Facilities are limited to toilets and water, there's no hot shower, spa, pool, or Wi-Fi to speak of, matching its function as a functional stopover rather than a destination stay. Its location right on the Piton des Neiges trail makes it the only realistic overnight option for hikers attempting the summit over two days rather than one, and bunks should be reserved in advance since capacity is limited and demand high in peak hiking season.