Positioned roughly 1,200 miles off the southeast coast of Africa, Mauritius possesses a wealthy historical past and swoon-worthy surroundings. Landed by the Portuguese within the 1500s and later by the Dutch, French and British, the island has obtained many cultural imprints over the centuries. In the present day the impartial nation has a various inhabitants mixing Indian, African, Chinese language, and European influences. Greatest recognized for pristine seashores with untouched coral reefs, it additionally incorporates hanging inland areas, parkland, gardens and biosphere reserves. Add in some fascinating wildlife, heat and welcoming native communities and a vibrant culinary scene influenced by the island’s multicultural heritage, and you’ve got a fascinating bucket record vacation spot. That will help you take advantage of your time on the paradise island, Right here’s our information to visiting Mauritius.
Helpful Data
The way to get there
Direct flights into Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Worldwide Airport in Mauritius depart from London and take just below 12 hours. British Airways, Tui and Air Mauritius function from Gatwick Airport. These travellers dwelling elsewhere within the UK might want to prepare journey to the capital or can take connecting flights from main worldwide airports in Europe (KLM and Air France) or the Center East (Emirates). Most motels and resorts will supply airport transfers upon your arrival on the island, or you need to use taxis and automobile rental providers to finish your journey.
When to go to
It will rely upon whether or not your precedence is optimum climate or fewer crowds. The Mauritian summer season runs from November to April, with February and March being particularly scorching and humid, seeing highs of round 27 C and downpours. This tropical depth received’t be to everybody’s liking, but it surely does are likely to proffer the perfect visibility and proliferation of marine life, so is a well-liked time for divers. July is the best month, with temperatures within the low 20s. and the commerce winds blow throughout British summertime, creating choppier seas, however quieter resorts. Consequently, autumn and spring are usually essentially the most sought-after visiting occasions, with dry and sunny days. However do remember the fact that the island has its personal microclimate which differs from coast to coast, so chances are you’ll do properly to time your go to in keeping with your location, or vice versa. Go for the east if you happen to’re departing in the course of the UK winter and the northwest if travelling throughout our summer season.
Eat
Le Château De Bel Ombre
Set inside a Nineteenth-century plantation home on the grounds of Le Chateau Golf Course, this former household residence surrounds its diners with interval class. Wooden-panelled partitions, cornicing, crystal chandeliers, gilt mirrors and vintage picket tables with intricate carvings are paired with linen tablecloths, and plush upholstered cream chairs to make sure patrons are sufficiently comfy to savour many programs in true French superb eating type. The cooking follows a farm-to-plate philosophy and delivers the flavours of Mauritius. A dinner service is offered each day from 7 pm, with lunch on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays and if you wish to keep in a single day you’ll be able to even guide an evening within the first suite, with its cover mattress and butler service to finish this extraordinary and to not be missed expertise on the island.
heritageresorts.mu
Signature
Set inside the gorgeous Anahita Golf and Spa Resort, Signature Restaurant is extra than only a restaurant, it’s an progressive eating idea. Merging cutting-edge 3D visible know-how, picture mapping, and experiential props with superb eating, the culinary expertise turns into a feast for all of the senses. The menu and the story change in accordance with the theme of the ‘present’ however one factor is for certain friends are assured an unforgettable expertise on this intimate and extremely distinctive restaurant. Costume code is sensible informal.
www.anahita.mu
Inti
Peruvian meals might not be what you’d anticipated on arrival in Mauritius, however an abundance of recent fish and southern hemisphere greens ensures its suitability for this a part of the globe. Primarily based inside the Lux Resort, Inti provides a dinner service (day-after-day besides Sunday) by Chef Pedro Burgos. For those who’re staying right here, do bear in mind that Inti just isn’t a part of the half, full board or all-inclusive packages, however it’s discounted for friends and properly value an extra spend. Start your meal with an aperitif and aperitivo reminiscent of empanadas; then feast on South American tapas, skewers and ceviche; adopted by a rib-eye steak, large langoustines, or a inexperienced risotto; and eventually a portion of churros.
www.luxresorts.com
Umami
The phrase umami is Japanese for a ‘nice, savoury style’ and is a part of the 5 established primary tastes. However it’s honest to say that the meals you’ll encounter right here is excess of nice. Reasonably it’s beautiful, providing lunch and dinner in up to date environment (its illuminated blue bar makes for an attention-grabbing centrepiece). On the menu are sashimi, nigiri and maki, Kobe beef and Australian lamb cooked on the in-house robata grill, and teppanyaki dishes heated within the present kitchen over a dramatic flame. Do pair your meals with some saké — there are at the least 30 sorts within the cellar, together with a wealth of Japanese whiskeys.
www.beachcomber-hotels.com
Gin’ja
Gaze previous the palm bushes to the ocean, as you await your poached lobster at Gin’ja. It’s a part of the Heritage Le Telfair Golf & Wellness Resort, serving a complicated Pan-Asian menu nightly. Dishes like sushi, pad Thai, flaming lobster and nasi goreng could be ordered, together with champagne by the glass. A high tip right here to raise your meal to a different stage is to guide your desk to coincide with sundown; the views are the perfect within the advanced, making it a romantic spot for a proposal or special day.
heritageresorts.mu
Learn our full superb eating in Mauritius information right here.
Do
La Reserve Golf Hyperlinks & Le Chateau
The island paints the quintessential image of paradise itself, but it surely’s additionally a paradise for golfers with world-leading services. The most recent of those is La Réserve Golf Hyperlinks at Heritage Golf Membership, a recent course in contrast to every other within the Indian Ocean, that launched in December 2023. Set on a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, it was co-designed by Open Champion Louis Oosthuizen and performed host to the DP World Tour 2023 Mauritius Open. The Membership’s different course, Le Chateau, has hosted many editions of the identical occasion. Set inside the French-style manicured grounds of a Nineteenth-century chateau (in which you’ll dine by candlelight), its 18 holes and follow vary are populated by lakes, streams, and a grand centenary tree.
heritagegolfclub.mu
Bel Ombre Nature Reserve Tour
Enterprise into the wild terrain of the Bel Ombre Nature Reserve for a day, the place you’ll be able to discover a protected territory of 1,300 hectares. There are lots of methods and means to expertise the UNESCO biosphere; 4×4 rides, quad bike and buggy excursions, picnics, guided hikes by botanists, waterfall walks and swims, and sundown wildlife safaris are all common excursions that may be accomplished in a matter of hours, or over a full day.
www.belombrenaturereserve.com
Ile aux Cerfs Golf
An isle all of its personal, this Golf Membership a little bit off Mauritius’ “mainland”, is reached by boat or helicopter, creating a way of exclusivity from the outset. Designed by the championship golfer Bernhard Langer, its 18 holes — all of which have ocean views or glimpses — span the whole thing of Ile aux Cerfs’ 38 hectares. The course is made up of volcanic rock outcrops, lakes, gullies and tropical fauna and was given the prized first place on the record of Prime-20 Golf Programs to play as soon as in your lifetime by Golf World journal. Publish-game, golfers can recline beneath a parasol on a seashore sunbed with cocktails or get pleasure from some native seafood specialties on the Langer’s Bar & Grill.
www.ileauxcerfsgolfclub.com
Black River Gorges Nationwide Park
Positioned within the southwest, that is the most important nationwide park on the island. Based within the Nineties, it’s characterised by lush greenery, dense forests, rolling hills and dramatic landscapes, offering a stark distinction to the island’s famend white sandy seashores — notable landmarks embrace Alexandra Falls and the Black River Peak, the very best level in Mauritius. The biodiverse park serves as an important sanctuary for endemic plant and animal species, together with endangered birds just like the Mauritius kestrel and the echo parakeet. Nicely-maintained mountain climbing trails differ in problem, making the park accessible to each informal walkers and avid hikers. Peaceable and serene, Black River Gorges Nationwide Park exhibits Mauritian dedication to preserving distinctive and fragile ecosystems.
mauritiusattractions.com
Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Backyard
Established in 1735, this is without doubt one of the oldest botanical gardens within the Southern Hemisphere and is broadly revered as probably the greatest on the planet. Named after the primary Prime Minister of Mauritius, Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, it spans 37 hectares and is a chunk of historical past — an exhibition inside the Château de Mon Plaisir (an previous French colonial mansion inside the grounds) tells its story. The gathering of tropical and subtropical vegetation contains palms, spices, medicinal vegetation and aquatic flora. SSR’s most important points of interest are the large Victoria Amazonica water lilies, recognized for his or her monumental floating leaves and The Talipot Palm, which is alleged to bloom each 60 to 100 years. The backyard’s central location within the Pamplemousses district makes it simply accessible for each locals and vacationers.
mauritiusattractions.com
World of Seashells
For those who’d wish to study nature’s jewels of the ocean, go to World of Seashells in Bel Ombre Mauritius, the place the most important assortment of seashells in Africa could be seen. It’s residence to eight,000 specimens of 1500 species and 150 households. The gathering showcases an unbelievable vary of shell shapes, colors and sizes and there may be loads of helpful info to maintain amateurs to professional collectors properly knowledgeable.
heritageresorts.mu
L’Aventure du Sucre
Translated as The Sugar Journey, this museum/attraction is comprised of a former sugar mill and the colonial-era Beau Plan property. The participating and academic immersive expertise takes guests on a journey by means of the island’s colonial previous, to modern-day sugar manufacturing, with the chance to style its fruits. It encompasses the cultivation of sugar cane, the evolution of know-how in sugar manufacturing and the financial and social affect of the sugar trade. Shows, multimedia shows, and artifacts present insights into the labour-intensive practices of the plantations and tackle the problems of slavery within the trade. A restaurant and a boutique for the acquisition of merchandise and souvenirs are additionally discovered onsite.
aventuredusucre.com
Helicopter Flight
See the island’s landscapes, coral reefs, and turquoise waters from a distinct perspective. A number of corporations supply helicopter excursions, offering a hen’s-eye view of Mauritius’ various geography — some supply personal charters, permitting you to customize your itinerary or get pleasure from a extra intimate expertise suiting a special day. The period of flights can differ, starting from quick excursions of round quarter-hour to extra prolonged excursions lasting an hour or extra. They’re additionally weather-dependent, so it’s value contemplating the time of 12 months for viability (yow will discover out extra about seasonal modifications additional alongside in our information).
www.airmauritius.com
Sleep
Heritage Le Telfair Golf & Wellness Resort
A member of Small Luxurious Motels of the World, this gorgeous 2500-acre property takes its cues from the French plantations of previous, emulating their refined grandeur, whereas weaving in a recent, barefoot stylish really feel. On the grounds, you’ll discover the Seven Colors Spa, two 18-hole championship golf programs together with the brand new La Reserve Hyperlinks course, sports activities and video games services, alfresco film screenings and 4 eating places. These staying right here may make use of the facilities at sister resort, the Heritage Awali. A part of UNESCO-protected forests and coastlines, Heritage Le Telfair is an unspoilt paradise, with all-suite lodging making it the right selection for a luxurious vacation in Mauritius.
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Anahita Golf & Spa Resort
Anahita Golf & Spa Resort situated in Grande Rivière Sud Est, Beau Champ, on the east coast of Mauritius, provides friends each luxurious lodging and an expertise of genuine Mauritian appeal. The resort is about amongst 213 hectares of lovely tropical gardens, and presents a spread of lodging, from Junior suites to 3 to five-bedroom deluxe villas, all that includes spacious dwelling areas and totally geared up kitchens. The suites and villas present gorgeous views and are designed with a mix of luxurious and luxury. The resort is well-known for its two distinctive 18-hole championship golf programs, designed by Ernie Els and Bernhard Langer, providing friends a premium {golfing} expertise. Different facilities embrace a well-equipped health centre, the Anahita Spa by Thémaé Paris with a spread of enjoyable and reviving remedies, and for the younger ones there are children’ golf equipment and outside play gear. Anahita Golf & Spa Resort can be residence to 2 seashores: the Seaside Resort situated close to the bar and eating places, and an unique seashore at Ile aux Cerfs, in entrance of the resort, accessible by a free boat shuttle each half-hour. Positioned roughly 12.6 miles from The Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Worldwide Airport the resort is a handy selection for travellers.
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Heritage Awali Golf & Spa Resort
A UNESCO nature reserve, beside a sandy seashore and preserved lagoon, is the setting for Heritage Awali. This creates a shocking backdrop for Le Château, an 18-hole championship golf course, the one 9-hole with Par-3s and footgolf course on the island and the brand new La Réserve Golf Hyperlinks, unique to friends. The grounds are additionally residence to the Seven Colors Spa, constructed within the type of an African village, a seashore membership and bar and the principle resort, a Nineteenth-century plantation-style home. There are 163 bedrooms in complete, together with coastal villas with swimming pools, jacuzzis and butlers readily available to raise your keep. Heritage Awali’s all-inclusive package deal offers entry to many onsite eating places, providing Italian, Indian, BBQ, locavore idea and buffet fare. Learn our highlight on concerning the Heritage Awali Resort.
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Preferrred Vacation Sorts
The best vacation kind in Mauritius can differ enormously relying in your pursuits and preferences, however listed here are some common choices (do keep in mind you’ll be able to mix a number of of those)…
Seaside retreats
Select a five-star resort or a beachfront villa to benefit from among the world’s most interesting shoreline. Well-liked areas embrace Flic en Flac, Bel Mare and Le Morne.
Lively adventures
Discover the colourful marine lifetime of the coral reefs by participating in water actions like snorkelling, scuba diving and glass-bottom boat excursions. Or plan a mountain climbing, climbing, or self-drive itinerary with some off-road experiences within the extra rugged terrain.
Golf and Spa Breaks
Mauritius is residence to ultra-luxurious spa and golf resorts with world-class services, so you’ll be able to keep and play, or keep and spa.
Household-Pleasant Holidays
Many resorts right here cater particularly to households. Get pleasure from water parks, family-friendly seashores, wildlife nature parks and points of interest for all ages.
Romantic Getaways
Candlelit dinners for 2 barefoot on the seashore, sundown cruises, picnics in secret coves and intimate adult-only resorts designed with lovers in thoughts, Mauritius is an apparent selection on your honeymoon, anniversary or romantic escape.
