Luxury Mauritius Holidays

Chic Indian Ocean hideaway

Mauritius

Colours come in HD in Mauritius, from the creamy white-sand beaches and bright turquoise lagoons to the bottle-green jungle that coats the island's mountainous spine. Its waters are teeming with sea life and scattered with shipwrecks, making it spot on for snorkellers and scuba divers. The lagoons, meanwhile, are ideal for trying windsurfing and paddle-boarding.

The jungle isn't the only greenery here. Mauritius is also home to some fantastic (and challenging) golf courses, including the 18 holes on the islet of Ile aux Cerfs, named one of the world's top 10 courses by Golf World Magazine.

The island blends Indian, French, Creole, Chinese and English influences, a reflection of its colourful past. It's most evident in the cuisine, which features everything from spicy samosas cooked up at roadside stalls to plates of coq au vin served in upscale restaurants. This diversity also means that the island's festival calendar is jam-packed. If you're visiting in January or February, look out for processions carrying flower-covered wooden arches and pots of milk for Cavadee. In February or March there's a colourful Hindu festival celebrating Lord Shiva, and in October or November many islanders celebrate Diwali.

When it comes to day trips, you've got plenty to choose from. Explore the bustling markets and chic waterfront area of the capital, Port Louis, tour a sugar cane plantation, or marvel at the giant water lily pads at Pamplemousses Botanical Gardens. The Seven Coloured Earths at Chamarel make a great photo opportunity - the sands here comes in hues of red, orange, purple and grey, thanks to volcanic minerals.

Nadia Milne

Mauritius is home to beaches you can only dream about, with pristine white sands and turquoise waters. For the more adventurous, there’s Grand Baie beach with its variety of watersports and lively buzz. For that dreamy beach, head to Belle Mare Plage, where you’ll find 10 kilometres of talc-white sands.

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Louise Burling

You are in for an exotic treat in Mauritius. Dishes come with a variety of Creole, Chinese, French and Indian influences. Being an island, the seafood is, of course, to die for. Creole curries are popular as are spicy, Indian-inspired curries; just ask for an extra dollop of sour cream with them if you prefer to cool things down. To wash it all down, Mauritian rum is right for the job! You can find it in all sorts of delicious flavours, including vanilla and cinnamon.

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Destinations in Mauritius

Belle Mare

Belle Mare’s beach is shaped like cresting waves, so there’s plenty of sand to go around. A coral reef shadows the coastline, creating snorkel-friendly waters for the exclusive oceanfront hotels.

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Bel Ombre

The slow pace of south-westerly Bel Ombre harks back to its village roots. Just a handful of top-class hotels and a golf course stretch between the beach and countryside.

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Bois Cheri

Petite Bois Cheri is home to a world-class tea plantation and headline-grabbing hotel. You’ll find it in the southerly Savanne District, where orderly tea hills meet wild backcountry.

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Chamarel

Set on the fringes of a national park, Chamarel delivers lush scenery, sugarcane plantations, and photogenic sand dunes. The coast is only a 10-minute drive away, too.

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Flic En Flac

Flic en Flac is one of the most wanted towns in Mauritius, reeling in an ocean-loving crowd with a long, sandy shoreline of beachfront hotels and watersports outfits.

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Trou d'Eau Douce

Trou d’eau Douce curves around a deep-cut bay on the east coast. Its trump card? Neighbouring Île aux Cerfs. This tropical-postcard island is one of the most-visited places in Mauritius.

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Turtle Bay

Turtle Bay is a sandy beach that straddles the north-westerly Citron River and lagoon. It’s also just up the road from the colourful Mauritian capital, Port Louis.

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Things to do in MauritiusExplore by boat

Islands are scattered around Mauritius like pearls. Cruise on a catamaran to the nature reserve of Ile aux Aigrettes, where you'll see pink pigeons and Aldabra giant tortoises. Alternatively, board a ferry to Ile aux Cerfs, where you'll find postcard-perfect beaches and turquoise waters made for snorkelling and swimming.

Fancy upping the tempo a little? Then go on a speedboat trip to Gabriel Island. The rocky isle has the silhouette of a sinking ship, and its beaches are some of Mauritius’ most unspoiled sands.

Things to do in MauritiusMarvel at the Seven Coloured Earths

The Seven Coloured Earths in south-west Mauritius is one of nature’s best pieces of work. The science behind this geological phenomenon is based around the conversion of basaltic lava to clay minerals – but all you really need to know is that these multi-coloured dunes are a sight to behold.

Surrounded by a bottle-green ebony forest, they are striped with seven colours: red, brown, violet, green, blue, purple and yellow. A walkway loops around the dunes, so you can see the Seven Coloured Earths from all angles.

Things to do in MauritiusPlay a game of golf

Nestled in tropical landscapes and curled along crystal-clear lagoons, golf courses in Mauritius are big on natural beauty.

Practise your swing at the championship Four Seasons Golf Club Mauritius at Anahita. Designed by Ernie Els, it’s built to USGA standards and offers a world-class golfing experience. Meanwhile, the Long Beach looks watches over the pearly beaches of Belle Mare. Or there’s always the course at the Heritage Awali Golf and Spa Resort. It lays out 18 holes in the south of the island.

Flight Information

Flight time from the UK to Mauritius is 11 hours 50 minutes.

When to go

Mauritius is a year-round destination, with summer and winter months offering something different. The summer months, from October through to April, are perfect for beach lovers - days are long and temperatures are in the high 20s. There is the odd chance of a cyclone in the south of the island, though. The winter months (during the UK summer) are a little cooler, in the early 20s, so are ideal for hiking and exploring. If you’re planning on diving, the summer months are your best bet – the waters are warmer and (usually) calmer, and there’s more sea life around.

Visa Information

Visas are not required for Mauritius. You will receive a stamp in your passport valid for 60 days.

Tipping

Tipping in Mauritius is appreciated, but not expected. In restaurants you can leave the small change or round the bill up if you received excellent service. Ensure you give your tip directly to the person whom you wish to receive it.

Introduction to languages

The official language of Mauritius is English.

Health

No vaccines are required or recommended for Mauritius, however all routine immunisations should be up-to-date. For full details, please contact your GP.

Mauritian specialities From Creole to Chinese, French to Indian, Mauritian cuisine is an exotic blend of its culinary past. Curries are fragrant and spicy, often incorporating unusual ingredients such as duck and octopus. Most are tomato based, although a popular local choice is the coconut-based Creole curry. A must-try dish is a millionaire’s salad, featuring the heart of the Palmiste Palm, a Mauritian delicacy. The heart is diced finely and eaten raw in a salad with oysters, shrimp, crayfish, prawns, smoked marlin, and crab.

Mauritian specialities

Street food is readily available, too. Indulge in Chinese-inspired boulet (Mauritian-style dim sum), dholl puns (a thin, fried bread stuffed with split peas), gateaux piment (falafel-like, fried split pea cakes) and roti chaud (filled pancakes).

Don’t leave the island without sampling Mauritian rum – it’s made from sugar cane juice and infused with flavours such as vanilla, coffee and kumquat.