Destination information
Mauritius Holidays 2012 / 2013
There’s certainly something special about a holiday in Mauritius. If you’ve never had the pleasure of visiting Mauritius before, you’ll be very impressed by the sparkling seas, the vibrant colours and the warmth of the locals.
English is the official language in Mauritius, but you’ll also hear plenty of French, Creole, Hindi, Urdu and a number of other languages. There’s an impressive blend of cultures here, which makes for an incredible culinary experience. Sample authentic Creole, Chinese, European and Indian delicacies - and fresh local seafood is of course the highlight of any Mauritius holiday dining adventure.
For those of you who love the water, Mauritius holidays offer a fantastic range of water sports. There’s windsurfing, diving and sailing, deep sea fishing and snorkelling through the island’s many offshore reefs. If you’d rather keep your feet dry, you can tour the reefs aboard a semi-submersible boat; Grand Baie Reef you must not miss. Back on land, enjoy a round at some of the most impressive golf courses in the Caribbean, with stunning ocean views that can put you off your shot.
Read on to find out more about our incredible Mauritius holiday packages:
The aromas, noises and bustle of the capital Port Louis are never far away.
The Caudan Waterfront has a wide range of shops and restaurants and you
can discover Mauritian expertise in fields such as jewellery and local crafts.
Shopping is excellent here with tourist-only duty-free shops offering very
reasonable prices. Together with leading brands, local artisan items such as
basketwork, embroidery, pottery, cut stones and recycled glass are very
much in demand. Those who love cooking will be able to take home fruit
jellies and chillies, or why not invest in some delicious vanilla teas?
Port Louis
The Caudan Waterfront features a good variety of shops and restaurants, and you’ll get a real sense of the local artisans’ mastery of jewellery making and other handicrafts. The shopping here is fantastic; you can treat yourself in the tourist-only duty-free shops, securing great deals on all sorts of products. You’ll find designer brands that you recognise, as well as unique holiday souvenirs like embroidery, pottery, cut stones, basketwork and recycled glass that is hand-crafted by the locals. Take home the flavour of Mauritius by purchasing some local fruit jellies, dried chillies or hand-cut and blended vanilla tea.
North Coast
Grand Baie is the place to go for a great night out; the town has some excellent bars, restaurants and clubs. The village of Triolet is home to Maheswarnath, the largest Hindu temple on Mauritius. It was built in 1819. Just outside the town of Baie aux Tortues lay the remains of the historic Balaclava estate. The north coast is also where you’ll find the most popular attraction on Mauritius: Pamplemousses Botanic Gardens, famed for its giant Amazon water lilies.
West Coast
The Casela Bird Park is located in the Rivière Noire district. It is spread over 25 hectares and features more than 140 bird species from five continents. You’ll also find fish ponds, tortoises, monkeys, deer and exotic flowers throughout the park. For history buffs, the west coast has the ruins of three of the finest Martello Towers in the world. Some of Mauritius best holiday dive sites can be found just off shore at Flic en Flac.
East Coast
Founded by French colonists on the impressive Grand Port Bay in 1804, the town of Mahebourg is one of Mauritius’ main fishing villages. The village of Flacq is the chief gathering place for residents of the east coast and has the island’s largest open-air market. Your family holiday break wouldn’t be complete without a visit to Leisure Village Waterpark at Belle Mare, and Ile aux Cerfs is a water enthusiast’s paradise - the most beautiful beach on the island is also to be found there.
Additional info
Beautiful Beaches
Mauritius is blessed with miles of beautiful beaches. One of the longest stretches is at Belle Mare - the spotless white sands seem to go on forever. Le Morne and Tamarin with their waterfalls are lovely, and popular for surfing. Flic en Flac's sands are fringed with casuarina trees, and in the southeast, Blue Bay is a popular bathing spot. Don't miss the little cove of Pereybere, a fine place for a dip.
Spas and Well-being
You may think that just being in Mauritius is therapy enough for the body and mind, but you shouldn't pass up the opportunity to visit one of the island's wonderful spas. A couple of the properties we feature, the Hilton and Beau Rivage, are home to 2 of the island's most famous spas. Lie back and put yourself into the hands of capable experts, and you'll feel your everyday cares just drifting away.
Weddings and Honeymoons
What a setting this is for your marriage or honeymoon. You can keep it simple and tie the knot in classic style on a sunny, pristine white sand beach, or in a fragrant garden of hibiscus and palm trees, with the ocean in the background. For something a little different, you could exchange vows while sailing on a dazzlingly white catamaran on the Indian Ocean. water sports Most hotels offer water sports, and there are special hot spots for them on the island. The beaches of Grand Baie and La Cuvette are fantastic for sailing, windsurfing and water-skiing. Join the windsurfers and sailors at Blue Bay, and you must visit the lovely, tiny island of Ile aux Cerfs, a paradise for all kinds of watery activity. For a fun day out, ride the giant chutes at Waterpark Leisure Village.
Golf
Golf is a great game wherever you play it, but with the backdrop of a paradise island, you'll be transported to golfing heaven. The island's courses offer private pro lessons and you can hire clubs, balls and caddies. Golf courses are available at Belle Mare Plage, Le Telfair, Tamassa and Le Touessrok - recently voted one of the 10 best courses in the world.
Families and Kids' Clubs
Families are well catered for at many of Mauritius' hotels with their excellent kids' clubs, and the safe, shallow waters are perfect for the little ones. In this chilled-out environment, you can spend time building sandcastles with them and teaching them to snorkel. When they're demanding thrills, take them to La Vanille Crocodile Park, home to dozens of animals, including Aldabra tortoises.
Weather and climate