Things to Do
THINGS TO DO
Places to Go
KEY TOWN TRANSFERS
Grand Baie (Grand Bay)
20 Minutes Away Grand Baie is the main tourist resort on Mauritius and well worth a visit. It is located in the north of the island and famed for its great nightlife, shopping opportunities and restaurants. Water sports enthusiasts will enjoy visiting Grand Baie, where various activities are available including sailing, diving, jet skiing, water skiing and windsurfing. The area is famed for its lagoons and the clarity of the azure seas, although bathers from Grand Baie beach will find the frequent boat traffic can make it difficult to get into the sea.
Port Louis – Mauritius capital
45 minutes away Port Louis is the capital city of Mauritius, known for its French colonial architecture and the 19th-century Champ de Mars horse-racing track. The Caudan Waterfront is a modern, lively dining and shopping precinct. Nearby, vendors sell local produce and handicrafts at the huge Central Market. The Blue Penny Museum focuses on the island’s colonial and maritime history, along with its cultural heritage.
DAY TRIPS AVAILABLE
Ile Aux Cerfs
Back in the days of English colonisation, the Ile aux Cerfs island featured lots of wild deer. There aren't deer on this beautiful island any longer but it is well worth visiting for the day. The island features some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, alongside a spectacular lagoon that's perfect for swimming and snorkelling. There are plenty of restaurants on the island, as well as a popular golf course, the Bernard Langer.
Grand Bassin Lake
Take a trip up to Grand Bassin lake, also known as Ganga Talao by the Hindu population of the island. The lake is located high in the mountains and is believed to be the most sacred Hindu place in Mauritius. A temple dedicated to Lord Shiva is situated at the lake and you'll also discover gigantic statues dedicated to Lord Shiva and Lord Durga on your arrival at this holy site. Hindus believe the lake is filled with waters from the River Ganges and make pilgrimages to the beautiful location on a regular basis. The lake area is home to wild monkeys, and you'll also spot lots of native birds during your trip. Admission to the lake and temple is free, and visitors are welcome any time of year. A modest dress code is in operation, so ideally no revealing tops or shorts should be worn.
Chamarel waterfall and the Seven Coloured Earth dunes
An enjoyable Mauritius day trip for any holidaymaker is a tour to beautiful Chamarel waterfall and the unique Seven Coloured Earth Reserve. The almost 100-metre waterfall drop of Chamarel is a spectacular sight for visitors and is located in the midst of the tropical vegetation of the Black River Gorges. This is the highest waterfall on Mauritius and well worth a visit. You can climb the steps to the upper viewing platform, where you can see the waterfall in all its glory as it cascades to the pool below. Views of River St Denis as it meanders its way to the nearby ocean are also breathtakingly beautiful. Climb the stairs to the viewing platform at the top and take a look at the breathtaking waterfall as it hits the pool 100 metres below. The upper platform is also the location for the Seven Coloured Earth Reserve, a stunning desert site which is made up of sand dunes of varying colours including reds, purples and browns.
Black River Gorges National Park
More active holidaymakers will discover there's ample opportunity to hike the many trails of the 6,574 Black River Gorges National Park. The verdant and lush forested park is home to more than 300 different species of flowering plant and is famed for its native pink pigeon population. The bird only lives on Mauritius and is virtually extinct, but hikers stand the best opportunity of seeing this rare bird in its natural habitat. There are 50km of trails through the park, but it's wise to be prepared for some rough hiking if you do decide to spend the day walking these forests in the south of the island.
Pamplemousses Botanical Garden
The Pamplemousses Botanical Garden is one of the oldest botanical gardens in the world and renowned for its giant pond with water lilies. The garden is officially known as Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolan Botanic Garden and has around 37 hectares of land, featuring a range of palm trees from around the world, spices, sugar canes and ebonies. It is located close to Port Louis.
Crocodile and Giant Turtle Park
The Mauritius Crocodile and Giant Turtle Park is situated in the south of the island and well worth a visit. You'll get to see lots of giant Nile crocodiles in this rainforest location, alongside giant turtles. Head to the tortoise nursery to feed baby tortoises and spend time wandering around the peaceful walkways in the park and looking at the variety of animals on display, including giant bats, monkeys and a wide range of insects.
Festivals and culture of Mauritius
1. Thaipoosam Cavadee held in January in honour of the Tamil god Lord Murugam 2. Thimithi, a Tamil fire walking ceremony which lasts ten days and is celebrated in October 3. Holi, the Indian Festival of Colours held in March 4. Mid Autumn Festival a Chinese celebration held in autumn 5. Chinese Spring Festival to mark the Chinese New Year, held in the China Town area of St Louis in early February 6. Eid-ul-Fitr is celebrated by the island's large community of Muslims and held in June