Mauritius Holidays

This Indian Ocean nation boasts more than 300 kilometres of beach, making it a great alternative to the Caribbean. The beaches up north in places like Calodyne are breezy and rugged, making them great for watersports. For beaches that are soft and sandy, head to destinations on the west coast, like Le Morne and Flic en Flac.

Away from the beaches, the Mauritian landscape is mountainous. Piton de la Petite Rivière Noire is the tallest peak, standing at 828 metres. The shortest 3.2-kilometre trail is muddy and steep, but shouldn’t pose too big a challenge for experienced hikers. For those wanting to enjoy the island’s natural history without the ascent, Mauritius is also home to one of the biggest coral reefs in the world, covering 150 kilometres of coastline.

Mauritius has been greatly influenced by its Dutch, French, and British colonial history. Up in the country’s north, you’ll find French chateaus like Chateau de Labourdonnais and Le Chateau de Mon Plaisir, which is now a history museum. The Martello Tower, built in the 1800s as a British defence, is also a local history museum. You can drive there in 30 minutes from Flic en Flac beach. And in terms of food, the popular French stew daube, which originated in Provence, is a staple of the Mauritian diet.