Mauritius is more than just a beach...

When I say Mauritius, what images do you conjure up in your mind? Beautiful beaches, snorkelling, honeymoon's and weddings? Well you would be correct, but I’ll admit there is a huge amount more activities and things to do in Mauritius than you might think. I’ve been lucky enough to visit the beautiful island of Mauritius 3 times in the last 10 years. In this blog I’ll give you hints and tips on places to visit and information on the things you can do and where to stay depending on the type of trip you are after. It’s a 12 hour flight if you want to go direct from Gatwick or Heathrow or to break it up you could fly via Dubai and have two holidays in one and make it a twin centre. Mauritius is quite a small island with it only taking a couple of hours to drive from North to South. From the airport located on the East Coast you are never more than about 1.5hrs away from your hotel. Wherever you choose to stay in Mauritius you’ll be sure to see the view of the beautiful lagoon, the nearby islands and stunning beaches. What coast should I stay on? The North coast is where Grand Baie is located. This is a quaint harbour town in a sheltered cove. The village has restaurants and lively bars if you are after a bit of local nightlife. You will also find lots of vendors at the Grand Baie Bazaar selling handicrafts. You’ve got a few hotels within walking distance and a few about 20 minutes drive away so it’s easily accessible if you are in the North East or North West of the island. ‘West is best’ – you may have heard this before. I don’t totally agree with this as the whole of Mauritius is beautiful however, this mainly applies to the fact that the West Coast is very sheltered from the winds coming in from the East. This will mainly apply if you are travelling in the UK summer months as this is when it is Winter in Mauritius. So, any other time of the year and you won’t be overly affected. The West coast is where the Capital city of Port Louis lies. This is worth a visit for the day to check out the markets selling everything from fabrics to spices and just getting a feel for the busiest part of the island. The sleepy south as it’s known is a great location for people looking to stay within their hotel for meal times and make use of their all inclusive and all the activities the hotel has to offer. There isn’t a busy town in this area but there is the Heritage Nature Reserve (Formerly known as Frederica Nature Reserve). Here you will find breath taking views, vast plains where stags parade majestically, impressive waterfalls and intact natural beauty all on your doorstep. In the East you will find is the perfect location for surfers and kite surfers especially in the UK Summer month’s as this is when it is more windy in Mauritius and this is the coast you are likely to feel it. The rest of the year it is still a good location to stay in and is close to the airport so transfers are shorter. What can I do in Mauritius? You may now have a bit of an idea on the location you would like to stay in but what would you like to do on your holiday? Mauritius is an ideal destination if you are looking to stop, relax and unwind. With many hotels having a very comprehensive all inclusive you will be sure to find the perfect one for you. If you like the idea of relaxing on a sunbed letting your indulgent breakfast go down before heading out for an afternoon snorkel trip then sipping on your cocktails while watching the sunset then that’s what you can do. Most hotels located on the coast will have direct access onto the beach with some even being beachfront rooms. If you’re an early riser and like to head out after breakfast for a day of adventure then maybe Half board will be better for you offering breakfast and your evening meal ready for when you return from your day trips. Here is a list of some of the things you can do while in Mauritius: • Casela World of Adventures – This is like a nature park rather than a zoo, offering the chance to walk with lions, have breakfast with the giraffes, take a trip on the toboggan and zip wire across the Mauritius forest. • Snorkelling and diving around the lagoon as well as boat trips to take you out deeper. • Sunset boat trips. Some of my favourite sunset snaps have been in Mauritius. • Grand Baie – For the harbour town, Bazaars, local nightlife with restaurants and bars. • Port Louis - Why not see the capital city of the destination you have chosen to visit. • Waterfalls – There are quite a few different spots for checking out the waterfalls, mainly down the South and South West of the island. • Adrenaline activities – These include Canyoning, Mountain Climbing, Rock Climbing and Hiking. • Swimming with wild dolphins – It’s not like other places, these are wild Dolphins, so you don’t get to touch them. You snorkel around in the ocean while a pod or pods of dolphins jump and click happily around you. • Seven Coloured Earth - The Seven Coloured Earths are a geological formation and prominent tourist attraction found in the Chamarel plain. It is a relatively small area of sand dunes comprising sand of seven distinct colours. • Pamplemousses Botanical Garden – This is the oldest botanical garden in the Southern Hemisphere. • Helicopter trip over the island – Discover what Mauritius looks like with a bird’s eye view. There are still many more things for you do in Mauritius but they are some of the one’s I have experienced myself and the one’s I would recommend. Mauritius is a destination for all the family, whether you are wanting to travel as a group and have a villa, travelling as a family with younger or older children, going away as friends or a romantic getaway/ honeymoon or even getting married there is a hotel for everyone. Please feel free to get in touch if you would like to discuss the possible options for you to go to this stunning island and I will help suggest the most suitable hotel and location to meet your needs.