Mauritius Holidays - All Inclusive, tailor made and romantic holidays to Mauritius

A little volcanic island in the midst of the Indian Ocean and a glistening jewel with an eclectic mix of cultures, landscapes and even unique climatic conditions (as many as 27 micro climates can be found here!), the nation of Mauritius beckons travellers with its fine collection of white powdery sands, lush vegetation, endless beaches, fabulous scuba diving and snorkelling sites, fascinating history and rich heritage… a world away from the western' world's fast-paced lifestyle and safely away from all worldly cares. The place to truly feel encapsulated in a magical stretch of land where time goes at a slower pace and you're lulled into an immediate sense of wellbeing and inspiration, a time spent in Mauritius, is time invested in the rejuvenation of your mind, body and soul.

Famous for its vibrant colours, exciting contrasts and the sheer beauty of its changing landscapes, Mauritius is so much more than the ideal beach getaway; it's a place to get in touch with your inner self and re-discover the beauty of the world in utter calm and peace.

The ultimate idyllic island paradise with glistening coastal waters lined by gently swaying palm trees, whatever the purpose of your Mauritius holidays, after a stay in this wondrous you're bound to return rejuvenated, energised and in a blissful state of mind, with recharged batteries to take on the stresses of daily life back at home.

In Mauritius you can expect to find extreme pampering at luxurious hotels of unparalleled standards, a new level of relaxed refinement and timeless elegant that is a clear cut above many other tropical holiday destinations in the world.

Mauritius holidays – A Snapshot

An enchanting island oozing character and boasting a stunning landscape of lagoons and sun-kissed beaches, there is plenty to do and see in Mauritius to ensure an unforgettable holiday for your, your family or travelling partner!

A place unlike any other in the world where many religions, traditions and cultures happily coexist in harmony and peace, during Mauritius holidays you can expect to encounter friendly smiles, tantalising flavours, oases of tranquillity and sheer virginal beauty unlike any you may have previously encountered.

Beyond the attractive beaches, Mauritius encircles a world of unique sensations, exotic smells and inspirational sights to be experienced with all the senses. From beautiful temples to the hustle and bustle of the capital city of Port Louis (the wealthiest city in Africa), the pretty town of Quatre Bornes and the dramatic beauty of the Black River Gorges National Park's virginal forest, Mauritius has a long list of special attributes, elements and characteristics that clearly distinguish Mauritius from any other beach destination.

But when it comes to the allure of its beaches, we are simply short of adjectives to do their sheer beauty justice. From spectacular sand-rimmed lagoons to the more popular long beaches and the picturesque coastal towns, there is something for every type of beach-goer in Mauritius!

Having prevailed as one of Africa's rare examples of one of the few social and economically thriving nations that has over the year peacefully maintained one of the world's most respected and admired democracies of the developing world, Mauritius is not only an extremely safe place to visit but also an inspirational land in many more ways than one.

Package holidays in Mauritius

Ideally prepared and packaged for the convenience of the busy traveller in search of a comprehensive and competitive holiday deal that offers good value for money while offering a good range of hotels in Mauritius to choose from, our package deals to Mauritius are your best bet. We put together fantastic holiday packages to Mauritius where the price of the accommodation and the cheapest flight ticket is included, as well as return hotel transfers. Often we're also able to throw in special extras according to seasonal deals to add value to your package deal!

All Inclusive holidays in Mauritius

Everyone loves a holiday in which everything is taken care for in advance from the early morning coffee down to the very last meal, without having to worry about the extra money to spend on drinks and food.

The beauty of all inclusive holidays in Mauritius is that they allow you to spend your pocket cash on things other than the bare necessities of food and drinks, enabling you to spend on special extras such as excursions, special tours, visiting cultural sites or even hiring your own car to get a more real Mauritian experience, riding through its rugged landscape and discovering its inland beauty away from the beach resorts.

Whether you like the idea of all inclusive holidays for budget reasons or for the freedom they give in terms of how to spend your spare cash outside your chosen all inclusive resort or hotel, you are bound a tempting all inclusive holiday offer in Mauritius to seduce you into spending the most unforgettable time in Mauritius!

Tailor-made holidays to Mauritius

For the fussy traveller that likes things to be exactly the way they plan it when they are abroad and for those who travel with a detailed and very specific and strict itinerary to follow during their holiday time, we're here to give them a helping plan in planning their special getaway down to the very last detail.

Because of our years of experience operating in Mauritius and dealing with local hotels, ground-handlers and travel companies, we are able to offer clients with the most highly-customised tailor-made holidays in Mauritius, to include as many special details, excursions and specific requests as they wish.

We are able to easily fill up their itinerary with the kind of activities they would like to do at the sort of places they like to stay. Whatever kind of experience you're looking forward to have in Mauritius we can make it a reality for you.

Twin-centre or multi-centre holidays in Mauritius

If you are the kind of traveller who can't stand the thought of staying in one single place for too long and you like to add variety to your holidays, we can easily custom-make your stay to include more than one destination, whether that is in Mauritius or in a completely different destination. At the moment we already offer two-in-one holiday packages to Mauritius that combines your time in Mauritius with a stay in Dubai.

Our multi-centre holidays in Mauritius and Dubai are for 10 nights where you'll be staying the first seven nights in Mauritius and the remaining three days exploring the cosmopolitan city of Dubai for a totally different change of scene, to add a nice contrast to your holiday and achieve the perfect balance between the fashionable and modern city lifestyle and the laidback relaxation of an idyllic beach getaway.

Where to stay in Mauritius – Top 3 holiday destinations

While it's certainly true that wherever you stay in Mauritius you're guaranteed to have the most fabulous of experiences, there are some resorts in Mauritius that appeal to certain type of travellers more than others, especially if you're planning to come along with that special someone, your best friend, a close relative, a group of friends or the whole family!

Belle Mare and the East

Home to one of Mauritius' most famous beaches, this beach resort is the most idyllic for quiet Mauritius holidays against a striking landscape of vibrant green and blue hues. The beach of Belle Mare is praised as one of the longest and most beautiful beaches in Mauritius, with a panoramic lagoon of changing depths, making for spectacular colour contrasts in the different shades of blues.

With some of the island's most prestigious and luxurious hotels also located here, this is a great base from which to enjoy the best of Mauritius. The lagoons here are fantastic for amazing snorkelling and wreck diving opportunities while many popular tours and excursions depart from this area. The eastern coast boasts three 18-hole championship golf courses while the Water park Leisure Village is a fantastic attraction for children and families, ensuring a fun day out.

Grand Baie and the North

Also known as Grand Bay, this northern region is the number one most popular destination for visitors going on holidays to Mauritius and with very good reason too. Once a tranquil fishing village it is nowadays the trendiest holiday capital of Mauritius.

Besides a great variety of hotels of all categories and price ranges, here you can also expect to find amazing opportunities for shopping and dining with designer boutique stores, colourful craft shops and markets, as well as gourmet restaurants and pumping nightclubs (the best in the island are said to be here).

For relaxation and entertainment Grand Baie is famous for its blue lagoons and calm waters with plenty of water sports to try. This is also the starting point for many tours and excursions while being in close proximity to the capital city of Port Louis and its bustling markets and the sleepy village of Cap Malheureux.

Bel Ombre and the South

Set against the landscape of lush mountain ranges, green vegetation and secluded beaches, this area in Mauritius is ideal for the most soothing of holiday getaways. Famous for its unspoilt beauty and awe-inspiring scenery, this beach resort is ideal for lovers in search of romance and travellers in search of utter calm and peace.

Conveniently located in the historical southern region of Mauritius, this retreat is also ideal for those who want to get more than the typical beach holiday experience. Places of interest to visit nearby include the Black Gorges National Park reserve with many excursions and nature sports on offer here, including quad-biking, mountain-biking, hiking and golf.

From here holidaymakers can get easy access to the attractions of Vieux Grand Port, Mahebourg and the picturesque village of Souillac, all of which are places of great historical and cultural value. Rochester Falls and the Vanilla Crocodile Park are also easily accessible from this region.

Things to do in Mauritius and things to see

Whatever kind of holidaymaker or explorer you are, in Mauritius you're bound to find something that sparks your interest, whether that's spending all-day-long by a glorious beach, discovering the best beaches in the island, learning about the country's culture, folklore and history or embarking on enriching nature adventures. On Mauritius holidays you can do it all, or do nothing at all, it is ultimately up to you.

Mauritius beaches

Probably Mauritius' most notable assets; the beaches in this island are absolutely spectacular and have been made world famous not only for their virtually virginal pristine condition but also for their sparkly white sands, and the thriving marine life that can be found beneath them.

Whichever coastal resort in Mauritius you choose to stay at you can expect to find small and virtually isolated bays and coves, long stretches of undisturbed beach with adjacent filao forests, at time interrupted by lava rocks and an ever-present sunshine glow.

If you want to experience all the different beaches that are there to be discovered in Mauritius we could try and give you a list of the most strikingly beautiful, but aren't they all?

With a total of 13 beaches to choose from you might struggle to see them all in one single visit, but on your list of must-see beaches in Mauritius you should include Tamarin if you're a surf lover (one of the few beaches in Mauritius where you'll actually find some waves), head to Flic and Flac to find a long stretch of calm, shallow and reef-protected waters, walk all along Belle Mare until you come across Blue Bay for a sightseeing journey like no other, where you'll see the changing landscape between one beach and another.

Wherever you go in the island (or islands, as although you might not be aware of it, Mauritius actually comprises 20 little keys and adjacent islets), all Mauritius beaches have a few things in common: fine coral sands, bright sunshine, thriving coral reefs, warm waters that never drop below 23 oC and virtually no waves (except in some beaches like Tamarin mentioned above), making them extremely safe for children and non-swimmers.

In Mauritius all beaches are public and they each have something for everyone, from lively beach spots to isolated stretches of sands that feel as remote as a Robinson Crusoe island. If you're a passionate beach lover, make time on your Mauritius holidays to visit them all!

Culture

Known for its unique multi-cultural appeal and multiple festivals, you might not know it but the small island of Mauritius is home two 2 outstanding World Heritage Sites, the Aapravasi Ghat in Port Louis and Le Morne Cultural Landscape, which are both a must-see for culture and nature lovers.

With such a strikingly diverse ethnic composition, Mauritius has numerous religious and cultural festivals going on throughout the year and to find out which dates are the best to go to the island to participate in these festivals make sure to check the event calendar below (in the Public holidays section).

Dates for most religious festivals in Mauritius change slightly and fall on different days each year, as many are guided by the lunar calendar which follows the phases of the moon, so it's always worth checking online the exact dates on which certain festivals will fall on the year you plan to visit.

Places of rich cultural value include the small but picturesque towns of Quatre Bornes and Rose Hill, with its lively markets and colourful streets. For a different, culturally-enriching experience head to Ile Aux Cerfs, a short 20-minute boat ride from Pointe Maurice and visit Curepie, the islet's main residential town, bursting with fabulous shops, restaurants and home to an extinct volcano from which you can enjoy panoramic views of this small Mauritian island.

Don't skip a visit to Chinatown if you're in Port Louis and a stop at Champ de Mars is also obligatory, especially during the racing season running from May to December, in order to see the oldest race course in the Indian Ocean and the second oldest in the southern hemisphere. This area becomes very lively during weekends, when the races attract a large crowd of locals and visitors for a thrilling experience not to miss.

Visit Maison Eureka to see an interesting old Creole house with a spectacular garden complete with waterfall and head to Maison de St. Aubin for a tea tasting session at the Tea Museum of Bois Cheri, followed by a Creole at the St Aubin colonial mansion. While you are there you can stroll along the adjacent fields past the atriums and vanilla green house.

Mauritius' eclectic and contrasting landscape means that you'll stumble upon churches, temples and mosque jostling each other for space. You will find one of the most popular and most visited temples in Mauritius at Grand Bassin, but wherever you go in Mauritius you are bound to a find a Buddhist temple, Christian church or Muslim mosque in every corner.

History

With most of Mauritius' historical landmarks located in the capital city of Port Louis, travellers interested in learning a bit about the island's history should make a visit to this town obligatory.

One of the most important sights to see here include the fortress of the Citadel Fort Adelaide built during the time of William IV and offering spectacular views over the race tracks, the Supreme Court from which you'll be able to see 18th century barracks and a history museum and La Reduit, a colonial residence located in the south of the capital city, surrounded by spectacular gardens.

Port Louis itself if full of history remnants all around the city and the best way to absorb the historical riches of this town is to walk around it at a slow pace to take everything in.

The second most important city in Mauritius in terms of historical value also used to be the nation's former capital under the French colonisers. The town of Mahebourg is a must-see for history lovers as it happens to be the only village beside Port Louis that has managed to retain traces of its colonial past and old architecture. Here you can visit the Naval Museum to learn about the great naval battle between the French in the English in the early 1800s and enjoy the charm of this tranquil coastal village.

To round your historical tour up visit the oldest settlement in Mauritius at Vieux Grand Port and stop by the Frederik Hendrik Museum, built on a historical site and often overlooked by visitors, but definitely worth a visit.

Oh and while you're there don't miss local performances of Sega dance to experience an entertaining display of Mauritian dancing and the island's infectious musical rhythms.

Nature

Just ten minutes from the capital city of Port Louis you will find Domaine Les Pails, a spectacular nature reserve to be admired with all the senses. If you're thirsty for more green landscapes, you'll never have to travel too far in Mauritius, as this island exhibits lush greenery all around.

In Grand Bassin you will find one of the two natural lakes in Mauritius, spectacularly located inside the crater of a volcano and it also happens to be a major pilgrimage site for Hindu locals. Go to see the spectacular Rochester Falls in Souillac, walk along the rugged landscape of Le Mourne Cultural Landscape to admire the most inspiring views.

The Pamplemousses Botanical Gardens are yet another iconic attraction in Mauritius here and all nature lovers shouldn't skip a visit to this beautifully kept nature site.

To give a grand finish to your nature tour in Mauritius, visit the famous coloured earths of Chamarel; yet another natural wonder not to miss. The different colours of these volcanic sands make for a striking sight.

Extra tips and other attractions in Mauritius

Money and Currency

The local currency in Mauritius is the Mauritius Rupee, abbreviated as MUR which is its official code or Rs. This is the national currency and the only one that is accepted as adequate form of payment at all establishments, hotels, shops, museums, etc. Despite it being popular belief that some places in Mauritius might accept foreign currency, don't bring Euros, British pounds or U.S to Mauritius and if you do exchange them to the local currency first, as if you don't any change they might give you will be in Mauritius Rupees and the exchange rate will be at a clear disadvantage.

As with most places around the world, our advice is never to exchange money at home prior to travelling, unless you don't mind getting a far poorer rate than you would if you exchanged at your holiday destination. You will find that the rate offered in Mauritius is much better, whether you choose to exchange upon arrival at an exchange corner or at one of the many available ATM in the airport.

Alternatively, in Mauritius' largest cities you will find plenty of bank branches and exchange places. As a tip, always go for private moneychangers in Mauritius, as they usually have better rates than those offered at banks and they also have longer, more convenient opening hours.

The largest bank companies in Mauritius all have ATMs across many cities and beach resorts as well as shopping centres and most Maestro/Debit cards are accepted (call your bank prior to getting there just to make sure). When it comes to credit cards, most are widely accepted in Mauritius, including Visa and MasterCard.

Taking out money during your Mauritius holidays by using an ATM card may work out to be more convenient and cost-effective to you, but your bank may charge a fee for processing your card withdrawal, check with them before travelling so that you know the costs involved in withdrawing money from your bank account while in Mauritius.

Mauritian currency comes in notes of Rs 2000, 1000, 500, 200, 100, 50 and 25 with £1 amounting to around 45 Rupees. Coins in Mauritius come in 20s, 10s, 5s and 1. Anything below 1 Rupee is called "cents" which are available in coins of 50, 20 and 5 cents.

Eating Out

With Mauritian cuisine being a fusion of Chinese, European, Indian and Creole influences, it is in Mauritius common to experience this combination of cuisines as part of the same meal. Indian favourites such as curry are given Mauritian versions which have a distinctive local flavour and sometimes differ considerably from the original Indian recipes. Chinese flavours also play a big role on Mauritian cuisine, and again you can enjoy Asian favourites with a delectable Mauritian twist.

Mauritian food is so delicious you simply cannot miss the opportunity to try the island's authentic and tantalising flavours. While most hotels will feature Mauritian dishes as well as international dishes to please all palates, the best and most authentic Mauritian cuisine is often best experienced at local restaurants.

Nightlife

A fairly quiet island, chosen for many for its relaxed atmosphere, don't be fooled into thinking you won't find any night time action in Mauritius as there are plenty of discos and bars to choose from, most of which are found in Grand Bay, the main cities and the coastal beach resorts. While many hotels in Mauritius's most popular beach resorts may have their own clubs and discos, you can find some outside your hotel.

The most popular night time hangout spots in Mauritius include Le Bamboo Nightclub, Zeclaire Nightclub, the Stardance and Godz disco and The Buddha Club in Grand Bay. If staying in Flic en Flac, the Arena Nightclub and the Buddha Beach Bar are the places to be at for nigh time fun.

Public holidays and national festivities in Mauritius

Most public and national state holidays in Mauritius are celebrated for religious and historical motives. With such an eclectic mixture of cultures coexisting in harmony, there are national public holidays for Muslims, Christians, Hindus and Buddhists. Not only are Mauritian inhabitants extremely respectful of all of the country's religions and religious festivals, but they also welcome visitors during their celebrations, where you'll be asked to join in to absorb the local culture and learn about the many different beliefs and traditions.

Below we give you a list of all the current public holidays in Mauritius, observed nationwide.

As you will see many Muslim festivals and celebrations have no exact dates and fall on different dates each year. This is because they are timed according to various phases of the moon and the dates listed below are only approximations. Likewise Hindu festivals and some Chinese Buddhist celebrations are timed according to local astronomical observations, which change every year and therefore it is not possible to give an accurate exact date.

If you want to find out when the exact dates for each holiday will take place it's always a good idea to check online before your travel.

• New Year — like most of the occidental world, Mauritian celebrate the 1st January as the first day of the year, and usually the 1st and 2nd January ar public holidays.
• Thaipoosam Cavadee — this Hindu festival takes place between January and February each year, and is celebrated by the Tamil community in Mauritius. Expect to see amazing fire-walking and sword-climbing performances as well as walks in procession to the temple bearing the "Cavadee" offering, place before the deity. This is one of Mauritius' most spectacular festivals and one not to miss if you travel to Mauritius at the start of the year.
• Chinese New Year — also known as Chinese Spring Festival, this date changes according to the lunar calendar and is celebrated somewhere between late January and early February.
• Abolition of Slavery — this national holiday is celebrated on 1st February each year.
• National Day — celebrated on 12th March every year, this day marks Independence Day for Mauritians.
• Ougadi — this is a Hindu festival that celebrates the Hindu New Year.
• Labour Day — like many other countries in the Western and Asian hemisphere, on 1st May Mauritian celebrate International Worker's Day.
• Assumption of the Blessed Virgin — taking place on 15th August each year, this peculiar holiday becomes a public national holiday only during even years. During odd years, the holiday is replaced by All Saints' Day, celebrated in November. The Mauritian government did this to avoid increasing the number of unworked days after Arrival of Indentured Labours (on 2nd November) and the Abolition of Slavery (on 1st February) were declared public holidays in the early 2000s.
• Eid al Fitr — held at some point between October and November each year, this Muslim celebration marks the end of Ramadan, the holy month of fasting.
• Ganesh Chaturthi — celebrated between August and September each year, or on the 4th day of the lunar month, this festivity marks the birthday of Ganesha, the God of Wisdom according to Hindu mythology.
• Diwali — this Hindu celebration also known as the "Festival of Lights" is celebrated in September each year.
• All Saints Day — taking place on 1st November each year, this public holiday is alternated with the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, so it is only celebrated during odd years.
• Arrival of Indentured Labourers — celebrated on 2nd November each year.
• Christmas — like the rest of the Christian world, Mauritian Christmas is celebrated on 25th December and is a public holiday.

The weather in Mauritius

Due to its geographical location in the southwest Indian Ocean, to the east of the African continent, the island of Mauritius enjoys a mild tropical maritime climate all year long, with pleasantly warm temperatures that are often cooled by gentle breezes from the southeast trade winds. Temperatures in Mauritius' coast average.

Typically, the summer season in Mauritius runs from December to April with average temperatures oscillating between 25 oC and 33 oC in coastal areas and around five degrees cooler on the inland plateau. This is also the most humid season and Mauritius' highlands are the wettest part of the country where it rains any time of year and even when it's not raining you can see the area being cloaked in low-lying cloud.

The warm and dry winter season in Mauritius runs from May to November, with seasonal temperatures never dropping below 21 degrees Celsius along the coast or 15 degrees Celsius on the inland plateau. Average temperatures in winter range between This is the reason why the winter time is a highly recommended time for visiting Mauritius, as temperatures are nice and warm without being excruciatingly hot, which means that on most days you probably won't use the air conditioning in your room.

Regardless of the cooler temperatures during winter in Mauritius, the sun will shine so bright that you will still be able to achieve a sun tan around midday. As this time period also sees much less tourists arriving to the island, you are also bound to find better prices on Mauritius holidays with many hotels in Mauritius charging less during this off-peak period. Likewise you'll also be able to haggle more in shops or with taxis as locals will be more flexible with prices knowing that during this time there won't be many tourists around.

So if you plan a Mauritius holiday during this time, use this piece of information to give you an advantage. The mean winter temperature during Mauritian winter is 20.4 oC. October and May are known as transitional months between the seasons.

Thus you can see that Mauritius enjoys pleasantly warm temperatures all year long, with a very slight variation of only 4.3 degrees Celsius between seasons. Be wary of the strong winds in July and August, which can be blustery on the east coast, however for many this breeze gives islanders a welcome relief from the hot weather.

This blessed island receives between 6.5 to 8 hours of radiant sunshine daily with coastal areas exposed to over 8 hours of bright sunshine. During the winter, the coast gets over 7.5 hours of sunshine while the Central Plateau receives around five hours of bright sunshine. With the difference in temperatures within the island, it might not be that surprising to learn that Mauritius has over 27 different micro-climates.

Apart from the peak busy tourism period between Christmas and New Year, Mauritius doesn't really have clearly marked low and high tourism seasons. In fact tourism is more independent on outside factors such as the French school holidays with drive hotel prices up in August.

Tropical cyclones in Mauritius are possible from November through April, but they are a rare occurrence.