Trou d'eau Douce Holidays

You’ll find the fishing town of Trou d’Eau Douce perched on Mauritius’ eastern coast. It’s one of the biggest tourist hubs on this side of the island, with most of its cottages, villas and hotels lined up along Royal Road – a restaurant-filled street that hugs the shoreline. These modern touches don’t get in the way of the town’s laidback atmosphere, though. Just look at the waterfront – it’s lined with bar-laden beaches, where you can relax with a drink at sunset and watch dainty fishing boats bob in the water.

Trou d’Eau Douce translates to ‘sweet water hole’ in English, which is a name well-earned considering how good the shoreline is in this part of Mauritius. You’ve got a handful of sandy swathes at your fingertips, a few of which boast a scattering of watersports centres. They offer everything from speedboat and pedalo rentals to sailing and paddle-boarding. Take a trip to the Quatre Cocos district – a 10-minute drive north – and the water’s more snorkeller-friendly, thanks to the area’s colourful coral reef.

Nature fans have it made during a stay at Trou d’Eau Douce. The town’s a jumping-off point to reach Île aux Cerfs, a nearby island that lines up 100 hectares of undisturbed beaches, animal-roamed rainforests and a postcard-worthy lagoon. Plus, you can play a round of golf on the isle’s 18-hole course, and tuck in to a seafood platter in one of the sand-side eateries. You can get there in a 15-minute catamaran ride from Trou d’Eau Douce’s marina.