The stunning white, sandy beaches lapped by aquamarine seas earn every superlative, and thousands of modern visitors to Mauritius agree that this tiny dot in the Indian Ocean is the stuff of desert-island dreams. With much of its coastline fringed by coral reef, a landscape set off by diminutive mountains, temperatures rarely falling below 20°C (68°F) and some of the world’s finest hotels, Mauritius is a perfect year-round holiday destination.
Cultural diversity
Brightly coloured Hindu temples and shrines pepper the landscape, often seen glistening in the sun, and those of Indian descent can still be seen wearing the traditional clothes of their forbears, but Mauritius is all about a diversity of races and cultures living side by side. Because of the multicultural nature of the society, hardly a week goes by without some celebration or religious ritual taking place, from Tamil fire-walking and Hindu body-piercing ceremonies, to Catholic pilgrimages and Chinese dragon dances. The impact of Christian missionaries can be seen at the Church and Shrine of Pere Laval, while the island's slave history is felt at the Unesco site of Le Morne Brabant.
Explore the stunning beaches
The 330 km long coastline of Mauritius island features pristine white sand beaches, azure blue sea and turquoise blue lagoons fringed by palm trees, limestone rocks and untouched natural beauty. Bring your bathers, a book, a sarong or a towel and get ready to relax!
Had enough of swimming, sunbathing and sipping coconut water? Go explore the rich and colourful underwater life with your snorkelling set or diving gear. The adventurous ones among us will thrill to try out the water sport activities at popular beaches like Grand Baie and Belle Mare. Indeed, the beaches of Mauritius have something for everyone!
Try Mauritian street food
The big market of Port Louis, the island’s capital, might be the place to try out the authentic Mauritian street food! You will be mesmerised by all the scents and colours and (of course) the rich taste of the food itself, ruled by local spices and herbs.
Fusing Indian, African, French, Creole and Chinese influences, Mauritian cuisines are a true explosion of flavours, making every food lover go wild! Make sure to try the most popular local snack ’Dholl Puris’; a pancake-style bread filled with delicious yellow curry, available at the corner of every street in Mauritius.
The island of Mauritius has lots to offer, and it can be difficult to figure out which part to explore. Looking over the beautiful cliffs on the south of the island
See the seven-coloured earth at Chamarel
The magical land of Chamarel, a true wonder of nature, is quite enchanting like a colourful lunar landscape! The 7 coloured earth of Chamarel features shades of red, brown, violet, blue, purple and yellow, and it evolved naturally through the conversion of basaltic lava to clay minerals.
On the way you can make a stop at the Chamarel waterfalls of which one is a 100 meters in height, making it one of the highest waterfalls in all of Africa. Kids will be happy to find a playground at the seven-coloured-earth where they can see giant turtles.
Visit the holy grounds of Ganga Talao
The crater lake of Ganga Talao, located 549 meters above sea level, is the most sacred and peaceful place in all of Mauritius. A Hindu priest once had a dream that the lake is part of the holy Ganges of India, and it became a pilgrimage site for Hindus living on the island since then. The lake is surrounded by majestic mountains and there are temples as well as a 33-meter high Shiva statue to be admired around the lake.
Ganga Talao is one of the places to see in Mauritius that is easiest covered by booking a car for the day or joining a tour.
Spend a day on a boat
There is no better way for me to spend my time than on a boat. So when spending a day on a catamaran with Croisieres Australes, sailing to the beautiful island Ile Aux Cerfs, spending time snorkelling, drinking local rum and having a BBQ on board you can imagine your happiness level.
Experience the Wildlife
Nature lovers will fall in love with the Black River National Park, also known as the Black River Gorge. Sitting on over 6500 hectares of tropical land, dense forests and rolling hills, this park has got great hiking trails through the beautiful nature of this park, passing magnificent panoramic viewpoints and wildlife. There are picnic areas around, so bring some snacks and drinks for the perfect day.
Visit Tea Plantions
At Bois Cheri Tea Factory, the biggest tea farm of Mauritius, you will learn all about tea, tea and more tea. The walking tours through the tea plantations are breath-taking, the visits to the factory and the museum and interesting and of course, you get to sip your favourite cup of hot, flavourful goodness with a lovely tea tasting at the end of the tour.
Taste the Local Rum
The local alcohol, Mauritian Rum, is claimed to be second best, after the world-famous Jamaican rum. Surely it is a must-try while on the island, mixing it in a tropical Pina Colada or a refreshing Mojito. There are several Rum factories on the island, where you can do a rum tasting, infused with vanilla or other local spices. Yum!
Rhumerie de Chamarel is one of the finest distilleries of Mauritius. The road to get there is lined by sugarcane plantations, the ingredient of which the ‘good’ rum is made of.
Flights
There are approximately 25 flights flying daily between Delhi and Mauritius from early morning to late at night. Vistara, Hahn Air, Air Austral, Spicejet, Emirates Airline, Qantas Airways, Air Seychelles, Air India, Air France, Lufthansa and Yute Air are some major airlines that fly between Delhi and Mauritius.
Hotels
Voile Blue Boutique Hotel
LUX Grand Gaube Resort and Villas
Hotel Villa Anakao
Constance Prince Maurice
Heritage Le Telfair Golf & Wellness Resort
Visa
Yes. However, Indian Nationals do not need to apply for a Mauritius visa in advance. They can get a Mauritius visa upon arrival atMauritius International Airport provided they have the valid travel documents. Visa on arrival is issued for a stay of up to 60 days with a single entry facility only.
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