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Mauritius Holidays
Holidays to Mauritius run circles around other tropical breaks. The island bolsters its soda-white beach count with fusion food and rainforest tours.
Indian Ocean
At first glance, Mauritius looks like a close relative of the Caribbean Islands. Around 1,200 miles from the east coast of Africa, the island is hemmed by 330 kilometres of immaculate white beaches. Take to the waters, meanwhile, and you'll spot pods of dolphins playing. The south, west and east coasts are defined by beaches that wouldn't look out of place in Aruba, while in the north, shallow bays give themselves over to watersports like wind and kite-surfing. Add all this together and you can see why Lonely Planet have chosen it as one of their top places to go on holiday in 2018.
Rainforests and reefs
But Mauritius has plenty more strings to its bow, too. Look beyond the beaches and you'll find a trove of natural history. The 800-metre-high mountains and forests in the interior are home to some of the world’s rarest animals. The island is also ring-fenced by one of the largest unbroken barrier reefs in the world, so the scuba diving opportunities are on a par with the Maldives.
Kaleidoscopic culture
In the 600 years since Mauritius was first discovered, the island has been a cultural sponge. Its proximity to Madagascar has rubbed off on it in the form of creole cooking. Grand Baie, close to Grand Gaube in the north, is the culinary capital of the island. And the island’s time under French rule has added chateaus to its architectural assets, including the Chateaux de Labourdonnais, in northern Mauritius.
At a glance
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Lose track of time on the white sand of Blue Bay
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Catch a catamaran to Ile-aux-Cerfs
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Follow the dodo trail around Black River Gorges National Park
Destinations in Mauritius
Top Destinations
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Le Morne
Holidays to Le Morne are all about white-sand beaches, coral-filled lagoons and laidback village life.
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Trou D'Eau Douce
On Trou d’eau Douce All Inclusive holidays, all eyes are on the beaches. They’re like picture-book paradise brought to life, with proper pinch-yourself scenery.
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Flic En Flac
Holidays to Flic en Flac invite you to down tools and lounge on textbook sands, just steps from a lagoon and coral reefs.
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Belle Mare
The hardest thing about holidays to Belle Mare is deciding what to do first. It packs in a great beach scene, but the activities away from the shoreline are equally as good.
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Grand Gaube
You’re far from the madding crowd with holidays to Grand Gaube. It’s the last proper outpost before the wilderness of the north takes hold, and a world away from the bright lights of the big towns.
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Bel Ombre
Bel Ombre holidays serve up big portions of natural beauty, with a bountiful beach and tonnes of greenery on your doorstep.
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Calodyne
Calodyne holidays slow the pace right down, with its necklace of beaches, all-natural scenery and relaxed vibe.