Many tourists only come to holiday in Mauritius for 7-8 days. I have to say that this is very little time to get to know this wonderful country. If you come to Mauritius on holiday and don’t go anywhere but hang out on the beach of your hotel, you may be disappointed, as it is a very expensive sun holiday compared to the Maldives in terms of value for money.
Explore Mauritius and you’ll have more adventure and wonder than you can imagine. As many people have asked us, we think these are not to be missed:
Since you can’t do excursions for 6-7 days, it’s worth spending the first day after an 11-15 hour flight relaxing on the beach, then the party starts.
On day 2, you should take a trip to Black River Gorges National Park. Be immediately enchanted by the island.
Here you can get a glimpse of Mauritius’ religious culture with a visit to the Ganga Talao, see the magnificent Jurassic Park landscape from the lookout points, see the Chamarel waterfall cascading 100 metres, taste the famous Mauritian teas at the Bois Cheri tea plantation and sip the distillates of the Chamarel rum factory.
When you’re tired, take a day (day 3 of your holiday) to relax on the beach, then head out on a boat trip (day 4). Which one to choose? Let’s see what you can choose from:
Île aux Cerfs (Deer Island).
A relaxing day on a beautiful white sandy island. The boats depart from the east side of Mauritius from Trou d’Eau Douce. Not so suitable for snorkelling and active relaxation, although there are wonderful sea stars and water sports on the east side of the island, it is more fun to have a cocktail at the bar and swim in the beautiful bay. Book a trip to see the GRSE waterfall, then get an authentic local barbecue lunch and unlimited drinks. It’s a full day and believe me, you’ll have a great day out!
Dolphinwatch.
Mostly from Flic en Flac and Tamarin. This is a really active day as you have to sail early in the morning. The speedboats leave at 7.30 am and around 8-8.30 am you will be with the dolphins, who are watching the tourists with the same interest as you are. You can snorkel and swim with them. An hour later, you continue on to snorkel the coral reefs, and after another cruise, you visit Chrystal Rock. When you’re well and truly tired, you’ll disembark at Benitier Island, where passengers have their own table with a cooler of drinks. They’ll cook you grilled meats with salad and garlic baguette. Also an all-day program, an amazingly good experience.
Northern Islands, Flat Island and Gabriel Island.
This is a mix of the Deer Island and Dolphins program. You won’t see dolphins, but snorkeling in the lagoon between the two islands is an incredible experience. The waters are crystal clear, the wildlife is diverse and beautiful, with plenty of fish species to discover and sea turtles common. It is almost unforgettable, you can swim for hours and watch the bottom of the reef, you can get very tired. If you want to relax, you can relax on the beach, with its white sandy beaches and turquoise lagoon. You can also get a barbecue lunch on the island and the boat crew will bring you a cooler with drinks. A word of advice. However reasonable the price may seem, don’t go here by catamaran. You may have an unpleasant (vomit) experience.
The boat trips can be exhausting, but on day 5 you might want to go sightseeing, which is a more relaxed activity. See the bustling capital of Mauritius, Port Louis. Stroll along the La Cudan Waterfront, see the Central Market, the Citadel and even the Natural History Museum. And to round off the day, visit Eureka House near Port Louis, a unique colonial-style Creole residence built in 1830, which remains in its original state and is a place of a thousand beauties.
Not much left to do, let’s end with a wonderful excursion, as you can’t miss one of Mauritius’ most beautiful sights. For day 6 or 7, choose the 7 Cascades, also known as Tamarin Falls. It’s a half-day excursion, but full of experiences, like a water theme park shaped by nature. Not only do you hike through a magnificent valley, but you can also swim in the pools of waterfalls, pedicure tiny fish in the marsh and picnic in one of the most beautiful places in the world.
That’s the perfect holiday in Mauritius.
If you can still fit it in and are feeling fit enough, be sure to try climbing Le Morne Brabant, one of Mauritius’ most iconic mountains, for unrivalled views of blue lagoons and underwater waterfalls. The latter and the Tamarin Falls are recommended with a local guide only.
If you want a reliable tour operator or guide, contact us and we may be able to recommend you.
