Mauritius. Highlights and Moments

In 2025, Mauritius was named the leading beach and wedding destination in the Indian Ocean, according to the World Travel Awards. What better recommendation? Let's add just a few highlights to enrich your vacation.

Panoramas from above

A helicopter ride allows you to fully appreciate the richness and contrasts of Mauritius's landscapes.

Rise above the sugarcane plantations of Mont Loisir and Mount Rempart, the endless forests of the Black River Gorges National Park and the Seven-Colored Sands of Chamarel, the velvety greenery of the Kanaka Crater and Trou aux Cerfs with its crater lake, Mount Pieter Bot and the Tamarin Falls, tropical islands, lagoons, and beaches. Only from the air can you see the underwater waterfall off the Le Morne Peninsula: admire it on a seaplane excursion along the coast.

Whales and dolphins all year round

When you go out to sea, you'll see whales 90% of the time: sperm whales and pilot whales live here permanently, while humpback whales visit from May to November. Tours to see them are organized along the west coast, and they're the best way to start a morning in Mauritius. Swimming with the whales is prohibited unless you're on a scientific expedition or film crew, but watching them emerge from the water is also unforgettable.

Vintage Boat Cruises

The M/S Lady Lisbeth, the oldest motorboat in Mauritius, has been plying the waters off Grand Baie since 1927, inviting you to experience the romance of a whale cruise. Elegant interiors, a gourmet dinner featuring local cuisine, stars above, and the ocean all around – leave all worries behind. The boat is part of the Relais & Châteaux boutique hotel 20 Degrés Sud, where you can easily immerse yourself in a state of blissful idleness and remain there until check-out.

The Oldest Golf Course in the Southern Hemisphere

British naval officers brought golfing culture to Mauritius. The Gymkhana Club was founded in 1849, but five years earlier, in 1844, the first competition was held on what was then a nine-hole course. Today, it has 18 holes, and the course is floodlit, allowing players to practice their swing even after sunset. In total, the island boasts more than ten courses, designed by leading architects and professional golfers, in picturesque locations, including a course overlooking Le Morne Mountain and a 19-hole course on Cerf Island designed by two-time Masters champion Bernhard Langer.

The largest wine cellar in the Indian Ocean

35,000 bottles from over 2,500 wineries from the Old and New Worlds are showcased in the Blue Penny Cellar at the Constance Belle Mare Plage hotel. It also houses a subterranean bistro restaurant, winner of "Best on the Continent" at the World Luxury Restaurant Awards in 2024.

Sunset Sabrage

At the new The St. Regis Le Morne Resort, the brand's legendary traditions are reimagined with a Mauritian twist. Enjoy sunset sabrage with a sega dance, a local version of a Bloody Mary, and a tea ceremony on the beach. The hotel offers horseback riding along the coast, luxurious wedding ceremonies, a culinary journey through Asia and the Mediterranean, and signature butler service.

The Largest Shell Museum in Africa

There are between 50,000 and 200,000 shellfish species worldwide. Interestingly, the intricate patterns of the shells serve as blueprints for the mollusks, which, like true architects, determine where and how to build their "home." This and much more can be learned at the World of Seashells museum in Bel Ombre, home to the largest collection of shells from around the world—8,000 specimens. Bel Ombre, in the south of the island, is simultaneously a UNESCO-protected nature reserve, an open-air museum, and a luxury hotel and golf complex, built in and around a 19th-century colonial chateau.

What's next

A trip to Mauritius would be incomplete without a long list of things to do. A vanilla tea tasting at Bois Cheri, the island's oldest tea estate, founded in 1892, is a must. Tea is an integral part of Mauritian culture and history. A climb to the Albion Lighthouse, which has been illuminating the sailors at Port Louis since 1910, is a must. 98 steps lead to its lantern room, and as you ascend, you'll discover the best panoramic views of the coastline. A 3.5-kilometer zipline ride in the Domaine de l'Etoile park is a must. Breakfasts on a sandbank and stargazing over Mount Le Morne are also a must. Without feeding the giraffes in Casela Nature Park and driving along the picturesque coastal road to the Makonde lookout... And then you can take a plane ticket to Rodrigues and enjoy the silence of the sandy beaches, swim, go kite surfing in one of the best places for this on the planet, walk among hundreds of giant tortoises of Aldabra and plan a new trip.