Mauritius

Mark Twain once wrote that ‘Mauritius was made first and then heaven, heaven being copied after Mauritius’. For the most part, it’s true: Mauritius is rightly famed for its sapphire waters, powder-white beaches and luxury resorts. But there’s so much more attraction to Mauritius than the beach, and it's the kind of place that rewards even the smallest attempts at exploration. There’s hiking in the forested and mountainous interior and world-class diving and snorkelling offshore. There are boat trips to near-perfect islets and excursions to botanical gardens and colonial plantation houses. Mauritius is a fabulous culinary destination with great wildlife watching thrown in. And the real Mauritius away from the beach resorts – a hot curry of different cultures and quiet fishing villages – is never far away.

At first thought, Mauritius conjures images of gently swaying palm trees, whiter than white beaches, crystal clear waters and luxury resorts. While completely true there is much more to be found on this fantastic island with Indian temples, colonial houses, botanical gardens and wonderful wildlife. Remnants of the British colonial era linger such as driving on the left and copious tea plantations. There is a touch of the exotic though that runs throughout Mauritius with dhal puri stalls at markets and hip-wiggling sega performances abound. Visitors are spoilt for choice without even knowing it and those willing to explore are rewarded handsomely. Many of our trip suggestions combine two of Mauritius’s landscapes, pairing the highlands with the beach. We want to make sure you can experience the biodiversity of the island, as well as a touch of its more luxurious side, depending on where your interests lie.