We design exclusive tailor-made trips to Mauritius.

Mauritius is believed to have been Mark Twain’s definition of paradise. Jacques-Henri Bernardin de Saint-Pierre was inspired by the lush island to write his poignant lave story, Paul et Virginie, which is why Mauritius has become the ideal choice far romantic weddings and honeymoons. The island unsurprisingly received the Best Wedding and Honeymoon Destination Award at the recent World Travel Awards ceremony.

Honeymooners are definitely attracted by the significant natural heritage of Mauritius. The green side, leisure parks, beaches, the wealth of fauna and flora in general, build up a favorable climate for future brides and grooms to be as well as newly-weds. The proposed activities such as horse riding, golf, and the numerous hikes, namely along the famous Macondé road, ranked by the French guide, Le Petit Futé, among the world’s most beautiful roads, are also good reasons for brides and grooms to choose Mauritius.

Travel Mauritius, world-class golf destination.

Mauritius has a long heritage of golf history with the very first golf course to be constructed and played on in the southern hemisphere. Located at the Gymkhana, it was laid out in 1849 and is the fourth oldest golf course in the world. The island now boasts a dozen magnificent championship layouts from designers such as Ernie Els, Bernhard Langer, Peter Matkovich and Peter Alliss. These courses are scattered all around the island, and even on the iconic lle aux Cerfs, (one of the world’s “must-play” golf courses according to many golf pros) meaning a visitor doesn’t have to drive further than 15 km in any direction to come across a green.

With perfect golfing weather year-round, outstanding accommodation and the world-renown Mauritian hospitality, the destination truly has something for every golf enthusiast, all the more because 1t now proudly hosts the first tri-sanctioned tournament in the world the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open, featuring in the Sunshine Tour, the European Tour and the Asia Tour calendars.

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What is the best coastline in Mauritius?

Southeast Coast.

Your journey to Mauritius starts as your plane prepares to land. You can see the bay of Grand Port, the site of the battle between the French and the British in 1810. lt was the only naval victory of the French over the British in the Napoleonic era and is inscribed on the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. A museum dedicated to this historic event is found in Mahebourg, some six kilometres away from the airport. lt also holds artefacts from the Saint Géran, the famous ship which wrecked off the northeastern coast and inspired Jacques-Henri Bernardin de Saint-Pierre’s novel, Pau/ and Virginie. Mahebourg is a historical village which is worth a stroll. Various sites like the Catholic Church, the old washhouse, and the waterfront are all within a 15-minute walk. You can also venture at sea to Ile aux Aigrettes, a nature conservation site preserved by the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation, where you will meet some endangered species and have an idea of what the island was like before the coming of man. A bit further, Ile de la Passe and Ile au Phare offer another insight into the colonial battle to gain control over the island.

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Moving out of Mahebourg along the East coast, do not miss the Biscuiterie Rault, a cassava biscuit factory that was founded in 1870 by Mr Hilarion Rault. These unique, crispy square-shaped cookies are almost entirely hand-made using a secret recipe passed down from generation to generation. A few kilometres away, at Ferney, is located the first known landing point of the Dutch settlers and Vallée de Ferney, a 200-hectare nature sanctuary which is a recommended spot to discover the flora and fauna of Mauritius and enjoy quality time by yourself or with your friends and family in a highly serene setting. Next is the Frederick Hendrik Museum located at Vieux Grand Port, which is considered a historic site- bearing witness to the Dutch and French colonial settlements on the shores of Mauritius.

East Coast.

lle aux Cerfs, whose iconic image is now world famous, sits on the eastern tip of Mauritius. Lt harbours some of the world’s most beautiful beaches and as such, is a must-visit place. Grand River South East is another major tourist attraction just a few kilometres away. Your journey to the waterfall via winding paths that lead to coastal villages will leave you with unforgettable memories. Also, make it a must to visit the Sagar Shiv Mandir (Temple) built on an islet off the coast of Poste de Flacq. The surrounding water gives the temple an imperturbable atmosphere worth experiencing at sunrise, when the enchanting pink and orange colours of the sky reflect on the unruffled mirrors surrounding Ile aux Goyaviers.

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North Coast.

The North of the island is known to be a preferred region for tourism and Grand Bay is the island’s most popular holiday destination. It owes its popularity to the enchanting quality of its emerald waters and its lively atmosphere day and night. Less bustling and way more romantic is Cap Malheureux and its Notre Dame Auxiliatrice Chapel, a Roman Catholic religious building famous for its bright red roof contrasting with the turquoise blue sea and azure sky. From there you have a breathtaking view of Coin de Mire (Gunner´s Quion), a huge basaltic rock in the sea resembling a capsized ship and of Flat Island a little further.

There are also various inland attractions. The Pamplemousses Botanical Gardens are the oldest of their kind in the southern hemisphere and are famous for their long pond of giant water lilies (Victoria amazonica). Domaine de Labourdonnais, a privately-owned 540-hectare estate surrounded by spectacular green sugar cane fields houses the Chateau de Labourdonnais, an imposingly majestic colonial-style mansion turned into a museum that invites you to discover the nineteenth-century Mauritian lifestyle as well as its history. You can go deeper into the history of Mauritius at L’Aventure du Sucre on the opposite side of the motorway where the museum does an excellent job of conveying how the complex story of sugar is intertwined with the roots of the Mauritian people going back four centuries, all woven into the very fabric of the island.

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West Coast.

The West coast of Mauritius is renowned for its fabulous sunsets and kilometres of white beaches. There are also several interesting spots like the Salt Pans in Tamarin, the Martello Tower in La Preneuse (a replica of a tower near Punta Mortella in Corsica) built by the British to protect their newly conquered colony from the French and finally, Le Morne Brabant Mountain, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that bears enormous cultural and historical significance for the islanders, for it symbolises resistance against slavery. Searching for hikes and nature encounters? You will be fully satisfied at the Black River Gorges National Park, the largest protected forest of Mauritius, providing over 50 km of trails, and Casela World of Adventures, offering thrilling activities ranging from zip lines, quad biking, trail running, canyoning and more. Those looking for a fun time with their family can visit the impressive African safari animals including big cats, monkeys, giraffes, rhinos, impalas and zebras.

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South Coast of Mauritius

lf you are looking for unspoiled sites, then you should head down South, along a winding scenic road that will bring you to Maconde, set on a curved portian of the coastal road, atop a small rocky outcrop from which you can enjoy breathtaking views of the Indian Ocean. Higher above, in the mountains, the villa of Chamarel offers some authentic Creole cuisine and, of course, the now world famous Seven Coloured Earth Geopark. The Curious Corner of Chamarel is a new stunning attraction which should be a delight for the whole family.

Back on the coast, Domaine de Bel Ombre is a 2500-hectare private estate with a wide array of experiences ranging from golf courses to Heritage Nature Reserve and a Chateau set in typical French gardens. A rugged landscape awaits you at Gris Gris and la Roche qui Pleure in Souillac, where lofty cliffs plunge abruptly into the sea and the refreshing winds of the lndian Ocean gently caress your face all year round. Don’t miss the beautiful waterfall at Rochester Falls, which is an astonishing cascade well worth the journey across sugar cane fields.

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The Capital, Port Louis and the Centre of Mauritius.

lt’s hard to imagine leaving Mauritius without visiting the capital. Port Louis is a bustling and joyous city where all strata of the population meet and mingle every day. This atmosphere is epitomised by the Central Market with its vibrant and colourful ambiance and loads of vegetable and fruit arrangements, traditional foodstuff local handicraft, spices and so much more. This atmosphere can also be found in Chinatown and the nearer part of Plaine Verte with its old traditional shops firmly resisting and contrasting with the modern trend that had spread over the city centre and Le Caudan Waterfront. The Mauritius lnstitute, the Blue Penny Museum, the 3A Art Gallery, and the Photography Museum are other indispensable cultural venues, together with the Champ de Mars (on race meeting days), the oldest racecourse in the southern hemisphere, and the second oldest in the world.

The centre of the island is more residential but some sites worthy of note are the Botanical Gardens and the dormant crater of Trou aux Cerfs in Curepipe, the Siva Subramanian Kovil (Temple) on Corps de Garde Mountain and the Quatre Bornes Fair, and the Sacred Lake of Grand Bassin high up in Plaine Champagne which also offers great trail running routes.

If you are inspired by our travel proposals to Mauritius, please contact our Destinations Specialists in Mauritius Holidays and together we will design your dream trip.