Luxury Mauritius Holidays

Time Difference: Mauritius is 4 hours ahead of the UK (GMT +4 hours).

Flight Duration: The average duration of a flight from London to Mauritius is 12 hours.

Currency: The local currency is the Mauritian rupee (MUR). However, you should take GBP with you and exchange it to the local currency when you arrive for the best conversion rates.

Capital: Port Louis is the capital of Mauritius.

Language: The official languages of Mauritius are English and French. Most local people also speak a Creole language, which combines French, English and influences from African dialects.

Visa Info: British passport holders do not need a visa to travel to Mauritius. When you arrive, your passport will be stamped, allowing you to stay in the country for up to 60 days.

Voltage: The voltage in Mauritius is 220V 50Hz AC.

Best time to travel: Mauritius enjoys a tropical, warm climate throughout the year, making it the perfect destination for travellers in search of winter sun. Generally-speaking, the seasons in Mauritius are the opposite of those in the UK, with summer running from November to April, and winter stretching from May to October. Summer is the hotter, rainy season, whereas winter is still nice and warm, but dry and less humid.

However, as a small island state, Mauritius can experience somewhat unpredictable weather. The topography of the island also cultivates various microclimates, so even if it’s sunny on the beach, it may well be cloudy in the mountains!

May to December is the best time to visit Mauritius, as temperatures are comfortable and the weather is mostly dry. The months between January and March are best avoided, as this is the peak cyclone season.

Location: Mauritius is a small island in the Indian Ocean to the east of Madagascar. It belongs to the Mascarene archipelago, and its nearest continent is Africa. You can reach Mauritius via both direct flights to Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport - the one airport on the mainland - or with a stop at a major transfer airport.

When you arrive at the airport, you will be met by one of our representatives and transferred to your hotel of choice. If you wish to visit the smaller island of Rodrigues, you can either take a 36- hour ferry, which runs once a week, or - the much quicker option - take a short flight to the island’s domestic airport.

Snorkel at Turtle Bay

Any luxury holiday in Mauritius should include time spent experiencing the enchanting underwater world of the Indian Ocean. Mauritius is almost completely encircled by beautiful coral reefs, making it a brilliant destination for scuba diving and snorkelling. Take a trip to Turtle Bay to enjoy world-class snorkelling, or even learn to dive at the PADI-certified Maritim Diving Centre. You will encounter all manner of fascinating creatures, from turtles (of course!) to rare tropical fish and corals.

Seek a thrill with watersports - with the wonder of whale-watching!

Of course, you can also enjoy all manner of watersports activities on the shores of the islands, whether it be a serene afternoon of stand-up paddleboarding, or a thrilling taste of paragliding. With endless untouched islets off the mainland, a whole trip could be spent taking relaxing boat trips between the idyllic isles. Sail around Tamarin in search of friendly bottlenose dolphins, or venture further to spot whales living peacefully in the open ocean.

Hike in spectacular Black River Gorges National Park

Back on dry land, there is much to discover. Take a trip to Black River Gorges National Park to find the country’s most spectacular hiking. Immerse yourself in the hum of nature as you walk through the rolling hills and thick forest past cascading waterfalls, looking out for tropical birds such as the endangered Mauritian kestrel flying high above the treetops.

Marvel at the rainbow dunes of Chamarel

Another absolute must-visit during your luxury trip to Mauritius is a day excursion to the seven-coloured dunes of Chamarel. At this unique geopark, you can observe the other-worldly natural phenomenon of these rainbow-hued dunes, with its undulating sand in shades of red, brown, violet, green, blue, purple and yellow. Spend a day wandering around the stunning park, and make sure to stop off at Chamarel Waterfall - the highest single-drop waterfall in the country, dropping around 100m from the jungle into a dazzling plunge pool.

Thanks to the island’s multicultural history, Mauritius enjoys a rich and varied culinary scene. Over the course of its history, Mauritius has been inhabited by groups from Africa, India, China, France and beyond, with each community contributing flavours and dishes to the national cuisine.

Much of Mauritian food is meat-free to accommodate the large Hindu population, so vegetarians and vegans will find plenty of delectable dishes to enjoy during their stay. However, if you do enjoy meat and fish, you will find some of the most delicious varieties here.

As an island in one of the most bountiful oceans in the world, Mauritius also enjoys fantastic fresh seafood, which you can enjoy as served or in a traditional seafood curry with noodles. Local Mauritians will attest that every dish ought to include at least a little chilli for it to be an authentic affair. But if you’re not a fan of spice, don’t worry - there are endless dishes to choose from - with and without heat!

One dish that you absolutely must try on your luxury Mauritius holiday is ‘dholl puri’. Also called ‘dhal poori’, this tasty item is a soft pancake made with ground yellow split pea flour, stuffed with delicious bean curry, wild herbs, tomatoes and much more.

Across Mauritius, there are countless incredible restaurants to visit. Beach Rouge is one of the highest-rated restaurants in Mauritius, and serves fantastic Mediterannean-inspired seafood with a fine dining twist. For something a little more local-inspired, visit Escale Creole, a family-run restaurant where everything from curries to desserts are cooked fresh using home-grown ingredients.

The street food of Mauritius is also well worth sampling - look out for pineapple slices in a chilli sauce, fried noodles and Indian snacks. For those in search of a tipple, you will find plenty of mouth-watering cocktails mixed using the national drink of rum. The national beer is called Phoenix, and is served in most locations.

Mauritius’ multicultural history also means that the country enjoys a diverse calendar of events and festivals, some of which you will be able to experience during your holiday. Throughout the year, different communities in Mauritius celebrate festivals from a variety of religious backgrounds, whether it be Eid-al-Fitr in the Muslim community, Christmas and Easter among Christians, or Diwali among Hindus.

Grand Bassin Lake pilgrimage and Holi

Hindu festivals are among the most popular in Mauritius. The biggest festival in the country is the Hindu pilgrimage to the sacred Grand Bassin Lake in February of March. During March, you will be able to join in the festivities of Holi, where colourful powders are thrown and celebrations are had on every street in the country.

Thimithi and Cavadee

One of the most popular festivals among visitors is Thimithi. Also known as the Walk of Fire, this Tamil festival involves ten days of fasting, and culminates in devotees walking barefoot across a burning pit of coal outside a temple to prove their dedication. Cavadee is another Tamil festival that enjoys much fervour. If you visit during this period, you are likely to see countless kavadis - wooden boxes decorated with peacock feathers, flowers and idols - being carried to the local temple.

Harvest festival

Among the Chinese community in the Mauritius islands, the harvest festival is a big hit. This celebration occurs in mid-autumn, and is also called the Moon festival, because people often use it to make traditional offerings to the moon goddess. In St. Louis and many other cities across the islands during this festival, you will encounter mooncakes and various other decorations.