One island with lagoon beaches, forest gorges and Creole cooking, where the coast you choose matters as much as the hotel.
Mauritius is a volcanic island ringed by reef, with calm lagoons on most coasts and green mountains inland. Unlike the Maldives, you can leave your hotel: hike the Black River Gorges, eat dholl puri in Port Louis, visit a tea estate or climb Le Morne. The hotels are large, well run and very good with children.
Choose the coast by season. The west, around Le Morne and Flic en Flac, is sheltered and sunny in the southern winter, with sunsets over the sea. The east, around Belle Mare, has the longest beaches but catches the trade winds from June to September. The north, near Grand Baie, is livelier and more built up.
The caveats: it is a 12-hour flight, the island is busier than its neighbours, and roads between coasts are slow. Summer is hot and humid, with a risk of cyclones.
The experiences we plan most often, with the months they are at their best.
Le Morne Brabant, the basalt mountain on the south-west tip, is a UNESCO World Heritage site: runaway slaves once sheltered on its slopes. A guided hike to the summit takes about three hours return, with a steep, rocky final section. Start at dawn. Below, the lagoon is a well-known kitesurfing spot.
The Black River Gorges National Park protects most of what remains of the island's native forest. Trails lead down through the gorges to waterfalls and viewpoints, and you may see the Mauritius kestrel and pink pigeon, both brought back from the edge of extinction. Hike with a guide in the cooler, drier months.
Île aux Aigrettes is a small coral island off the south-east coast, restored as a nature reserve. Guided walks lead through the coastal ebony forest to see Aldabra giant tortoises, pink pigeons and native geckos. Boats leave from near Mahébourg. It pairs well with snorkelling in nearby Blue Bay Marine Park.
Mauritian food mixes Indian, Creole, Chinese and French cooking. In the capital, Port Louis, the Central Market sells tropical fruit, spices and snacks, and the streets around it are the place for dholl puri, gateaux piments and fresh noodles. Go with a food guide on a weekday morning, then visit the Aapravasi Ghat UNESCO site nearby.
Inland from Le Morne, the village of Chamarel has the Seven Coloured Earths, dunes of red, ochre and violet volcanic soil, and a tall waterfall in the forest nearby. The drive along the south coast is the island at its wildest, with cliffs where the reef breaks. Stop at a rum distillery on the way.
Blue Bay, in the south-east, is a protected lagoon with shallow coral gardens, parrotfish and the occasional turtle. Glass-bottomed boats suit young children; stronger swimmers can snorkel from a boat on the reef edge. Wear reef shoes in the lagoon, as stonefish are rare but dangerous.
Pick the coast for the month. In the southern winter, the west and south-west are calmer and sunnier. In summer, the east coast beaches are at their best. Many families split a stay between two coasts, which also puts more of the island within reach.
A calm, low-rise resort on a sheltered lagoon, with suites on stilts over the mangroves and a floating seafood restaurant.
Plantation-house suites on the unspoilt south coast, with two golf courses, a château restaurant and an adult-only wing.
A breezy, good-humoured resort at the foot of Le Morne mountain, on one of the island's best beaches for sunsets.
The grand old name of Mauritian hotels: 69 sea-facing suites on a sheltered beach at the edge of Grand Baie.
The east coast family favourite, with the island's largest kids club, a guests-only islet and two championship golf courses.
Thatched pavilions and pool villas in 20 acres of gardens on Turtle Bay, a protected marine park on the sunset side of the island.
Sample routes to start from. Every one can be changed.
Five nights on the quiet south coast at Bel Ombre, with spa days and walks in the hills, then four nights on the east coast at Trou d'Eau Douce, where the lagoon is calm and a kids club takes the children for the morning.
Mauritius has a warm, humid summer from November to April and a cooler, drier winter from June to September, with May and October as transition months. Winter is still warm by UK standards, and it is the best time for hiking.
Summer is hot and wetter, and tropical cyclones are possible, most often in the middle of the season. The trade winds set the rest: in winter they blow onto the east coast, so the west is calmer and sunnier.
Five nights on the west coast for Le Morne, the gorges and Chamarel, then five on the east for long beaches, Île aux Aigrettes and Blue Bay. 10 nights.
Land at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International and drive about an hour to the south-west coast.
Climb Le Morne at dawn, hike the Black River Gorges, visit Chamarel and spend an afternoon on the lagoon.
Cross the island to Belle Mare, stopping in Port Louis for lunch. Visit Île aux Aigrettes, snorkel Blue Bay and spend long, quiet days on the beach.
Drive about 45 minutes back to the airport for the direct flight to Gatwick.
Practical notes checked against their sources. For entry and safety, the FCDO advice for Mauritius (opens in a new tab) is always the authority.
British Airways and Air Mauritius fly direct from Gatwick to Mauritius in about 12 hours. One-stop routes through the Gulf and Africa are also easy, and short hops connect with the Seychelles and Madagascar.
UK passport holders can currently visit without a visa but must complete the online Mauritius All in One travel form before arrival. Read the FCDO entry requirements (opens in a new tab) before you book and again before you fly.
Read the FCDO entry requirements for Mauritius (opens in a new tab)
Dengue and chikungunya occur, so use insect repellent. Private healthcare is good but expensive, and some strong painkillers need authorisation before you travel. See TravelHealthPro (opens in a new tab) and the FCDO health page (opens in a new tab). Wear reef shoes in lagoons.
The currency is the Mauritian rupee. There are cash machines and exchange desks at the airport, and cards are accepted in hotels and larger restaurants. Carry rupees for markets and street food.
my.t and Emtel both sell tourist SIMs and eSIMs, which you can pre-book and collect at the airport on arrival. Hotel wifi is reliable.
Tips are not mandatory but are welcome. Some high-end restaurants add a service charge of 10 to 15 per cent, so check the bill first. Guides and drivers appreciate a cash tip.
It depends on the month. From May to October, the west and south-west, around Le Morne and Flic en Flac, are sheltered from the trade winds and sunnier. From November to April, the east coast around Belle Mare has calm water and the longest beaches. The north suits people who want restaurants and bars on foot.
It suits families very well. The big hotels have children's clubs, shallow lagoons and family rooms, and there is plenty to do off the beach, from giant tortoises to waterfalls and glass-bottomed boats.
The [Maldives](/destinations/indian-ocean/maldives) is better for snorkelling from your villa and for total seclusion. Mauritius is better if you want to explore, eat out and have more space for children. It is also easier to vary the budget, with a wider range of hotels. Many couples find the Maldives more romantic; many families prefer Mauritius.
Yes, and it is an easy pairing. Direct flights link Mauritius with Johannesburg and Nairobi, so a week on safari in [South Africa](/destinations/africa/south-africa) or [Kenya](/destinations/africa/kenya) followed by a week on the beach works well. It also pairs with the Seychelles or Réunion.
Tell us a little and a specialist will reply with ideas, dates that work and a price. Best months: April, May and September to November.
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