5 Reasons to Choose Mauritius for your Luxury Holiday.
This guest post was written by Victoria Brewood is a writer, video producer, and author of Pommie Travels.
Mauritius has long been a destination for those seeking winter sun, paradise-white beaches, pampering and luxury accommodation. Tropical beaches with powder-white sand, cobalt blue seas as clear as crystal, and scores of luxury hotels make Mauritius the ideal romantic honeymoon location. Mauritius lies just east from Madagascar off the coast of Africa, with a tropical climate and year-round heat, attracting tourists looking to top-up their tan and have the ultimate luxury holiday. If you can pull yourself away from the heavenly beaches for just a second, there are also lots of activities, natural beauty spots, mountains, hiking trails and historic sites to keep you busy. If you’re choosing your next luxury holiday and all of the ‘tropical island’ destinations seem to be a bit the same, then here are 5 reasons why you should pick Mauritius.
Luxury hotels & Spas
photo credit: Plassen
The island of Mauritius is full of luxury hotels, but with so many to choose from it’s not always easy to pick one. Two of the most luxurious hotels that spring to mind are the Touessrok and the Four Seasons. Le Touessrok Mauritius is one of the world’s most romantic 5-star resorts, and lies on Trou d’Eau Douce bay opposite the stunning island of Ile Aux Cerfs. The hotel’s luxurious suites and facilities are situated on the mainland, whilst the Bernard Langer 18-hole golf course sits on the island. The hotel also boasts a Givenchy Spa where you can unwind with treatments such as massages, facials, body wraps and beauty treatments. The Four Seasons Mauritius is built upon 6km of private shoreline in the Beau Champ area and is set amongst lush vegetation and trees. This huge luxury resort sits alongside a beautiful blue lagoon and some of its villas, including the Ocean Villas, Beach Villas and the Presidential Suite, lie on a private island called Isle aux Chats. The rest of the villas lie on the mainland, where there is also an Overwater Spa and the Ernie Els championship golf course.
Paradise White Beaches
photo credit: Plassen
It goes without saying, Mauritius beaches are a little slice of paradise. As Mark Twain put it best, “You gather the idea that Mauritius was made first and then heaven, and that heaven was copied after Mauritius.” The beaches are heavenly all right, with white sand, turquoise water, casuarina trees and swaying palms. All of the bays are beautiful and many are protected by coral reefs, making them ideal for snorkeling. Mauritius has a range of beaches from secluded Robinson Crusoe type beaches, to “party” beaches with a livelier atmosphere. If you’re into your boogie boarding and surfing you might want to head over to Tamarin, which occasionally gets huge waves when there’s a big swell.
Plenty of Activities
Unlike many other tropical islands, which really do feel like you’ve been abandoned on a desert island, you won’t get bored on the island of Mauritius. If you find yourself tired of the sun, sea and sand, then Mauritius has cosmopolitan towns like Grand Baie with restaurants, boutique shops, bars and nightlife. There are plenty of water sports for more active holidaymakers, including snorkeling, parasailing, windsurfing, diving, fishing and even surfing if there’s enough swell. If you find the time you can take trips over to other islands like the Ile Aux Cerfs, which has a stunning blue lagoon and an unspoiled white beach. If you’re a thrill seeker you could even go tandem skydiving over the coastline for the ultimate adrenaline rush. Families can take their children to animal parks such as Casela Bird Park and Le Vanille Crocodile Park.
Sumptuous Food
Mauritius is culturally diverse and the cuisine served on the island includes Creole, Chinese, French and Indian. Ingredients used by the locals in Mauritian food include tomato, garlic, chilli and ginger and a popular dish is the Biryani curry which is a rice dish prepared with aromatic spices, oil and meat. During your visit to Mauritius you may also try various stews, octopus salads, and a variety of prawn dishes. The Chinese like to cook Szechuan dishes, and the French have brought over red wine dishes like coq au vin. The people in Mauritius are extremely friendly and have a party spirit. With the infectious beat of the séga music, you will be sure to have a good time.
Stunning Scenery
photo credit: matze_ott
Not only does Mauritius have those postcard-perfect beaches, it also has mountains, waterfalls and forests perfect for hiking. You can go on long treks in the Black River Gorges National Park to see breathtaking vistas, gorges, peaks and waterfalls, plus you might even spot rare birds such as the famous pink pigeon. Stand on the viewing platform of the highest waterfall in Mauritius, Chamarel, and visit the ‘Seven Coloured Earth’, which is made up of sand dunes with strikingly different colours. Take a stroll through the 60-acre ‘Jardin Botanique de Pamplemousses’ to take a look at giant lily pads, fruit bat trees, lakes with giant turtles, and trees planted by famous figures such as Nelson Mandela.
Victoria Brewood is a writer, video producer, and author of Pommie Travels, a site offering tips and advice for independent travelers. Originally from Manchester, she packed her journalism degree in her suitcase and left the UK to explore the world. She has backpacked extensively around Australia from the ocean to the outback and everywhere in between.
*Please remember all photos on this website are copyrighted and property of BeersandBeans.com, NarikosNest.com & Bethany Salvon. Please do not use them without my permission. If you want to use one of them please contact me first because I do love to share and I would be flattered. Thanks!
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(1) awesome folk have had something to say...
Tanvir -
December 15, 2011 at 8:55 am
Great post by Victoria Brewood. This place will be great to have a luxurious holiday. I really love to travel and I have traveled a lot of places around the Globe. This place will be in the choice of mine in the next time. 🙂