You know we can’t resist a good trail, and Ile des Pins certainly didn’t disappoint! We decide to climb the highest mountain, Pic N’Ga, walk the ridgeline to the next highest mountain peak, then complete the loop back to the dock.
Starting from the shoreline, we climbed to Pic N’Ga, then continued along the scenic ridgeline to the second summit on the Pic Meunier Trail. The hike served up everything we love—towering pines, rugged terrain, a healthy dose of uphill, and views that made every sweaty step worthwhile.
A whopping 6.9 miles, 900′ elevation, and over 12,000 steps!
To get a visualization: we climbed to the top of the first mountain (right hump) and then we climbed to the top of Pic N’Ga (second hump on left), then we continued on to the next mountain and then down and around.
The bottom photo is toward the end of the hike looking back at the two peaks.
Getting Started on this Massive Hike
Carolyn and Andrew from Askari join us for the day.
It is an easy walk along the street from the dinghy dock (left) to Igesa (the Military Camp) where you turn right and follow the road to the path.
As you approach Pic N’Ga you face the straight incline up the mountain. It is a bit daunting, but forge ahead as it is totally worth it!
Before we reached the top, we turned right and walked an 1/4 mile to see “Point de Vue” (the view point).
After a short rest, we continued on to the Pic N’Ga peak.
The views are simply stunning and take your breath away. We stop for another little rest and turn toward the ridge to see our next route.
Forging Ahead
The first 200′ down the mountain were very steep. It made it challenging to get off the top of the mountain.
But once you reach the ridgeline it is an easy path up and over the smaller mountains.
We make it to the 2nd mountain with yet more stunning views.
From the peaks, the famous turquoise lagoon stretched out below us, with coral reefs, tiny motus, and our floating home looking surprisingly small from above. It’s one of those hikes that reminds you just how spectacular this little corner of the South Pacific really is.
If you enjoy stretching your legs as much as your sea legs, this hike is a must. Bring sturdy shoes, plenty of water, and your camera—you’ll want proof that the views really are this incredible. (Your calves will probably remind you tomorrow anyway!)
Our blog post runs 7-8 weeks behind actual live events.
We did this hike in Isle des Pins toward the end of June 2026.
Find Pic N’Ga Hike on No Foreign Land.
Do you know what the unusual characteristics are of Isle des Pins?
