Mauritius tours
Grand Baie and the north, Belle Mare and the east, Blue Bay, Bel Ombre, Le Morne and Flic en Flac. Choose the coast by season and wind, then the hotel and trips, and save your wishes for a tour proposal.
The DAMAX guide to Mauritius
How to choose a coast and hotel in Mauritius
Mauritius is a volcanic island in the Indian Ocean with lagoons behind a coral reef along most of its shore. The coasts differ: some are drier in the southern winter, some have longer beaches, some are closer to the mountains and trips. So choose the holiday style and season first, then the coast, the village and the hotel.
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Chapter 1 of 6Your holiday style
A Mauritius holiday: the lagoon, family, two of you or active days
Start with the holiday style: a week by the lagoon, a holiday with children, a honeymoon, kitesurfing and diving, or the sea with trips round the island. You will pick the coast and hotel next.
Beach holiday
A week by the lagoon: white sand, warm water, a snorkel. Coasts differ in wind and the way into the water, so choose the shore first.
Holiday with children
Little ones need a calm lagoon, a gentle sandy way in, a pool and a kids’ club. Choose the coast and season first, then the hotel.
Holiday for two
A honeymoon or quiet time for two: adults-only hotels, villas with a pool, dinners by the water. The quiet depends on neighbours and coast.
Sea and island trips
A seaside base with day trips: a catamaran to the islands, the plateau’s waterfalls and gorges, Port Louis, rum and tea.
Active holiday
Kitesurfing, diving and snorkelling, golf and mountain hikes. Choose the coast for the sport and the windy season.
The island’s nature
The plateau and mountains of the south-west: a national park, gorges, waterfalls and coloured earth. Here you see that Mauritius is more than a beach.
Chapter 2 of 6Where to stay
Where to stay: the north, east, south or west
Choose the coast first: the north with Grand Baie, the east with its long beaches, the south-east by the airport, the south with Bel Ombre, the west with Le Morne and Flic en Flac. Open a card to compare the villages: they differ in lagoon, wind, beach and travel.
Below are the main resort villages and coasts, grouped by geography. The tour search does not split the island into coasts, so you choose the coast through the hotel; saving a wish does not change the search settings.
The villages and beaches inside a card show neighbouring options to compare, not administrative boundaries.
The north: Grand Baie and calm lagoons
The island’s liveliest part: evenings in Grand Baie’s bars and restaurants, flat sandy beaches with calm water, and boats to the northern islets.
Grand Baie
A village on a sheltered horseshoe bay with a lagoon: about 50 cafés and restaurants line the coast road to Pereybère; nightclubs open mostly Friday and Saturday.
Boats and catamarans run from Grand Baie and Pereybère to the islet of Île Gabriel.
Villages and beaches nearby
Pereybère
A beach between Grand Baie and Cap Malheureux, popular with locals, especially in school holidays. The water is deeper than at many beaches, yet calm.
Dive boats leave from the beach; the Silver Star trawler wreck lies about 2 km away.
Pointe aux Canonniers
A historic peninsula facing the northern islets; a family resort’s tropical garden keeps the remains of a fort with cannons.
You can snorkel straight off the Club Med beach, and dive sites are close by.
Cap Malheureux
A fishing village on the island’s northern tip, facing Coin de Mire. Fishermen land their catch by the red-roofed church, where locals buy fish.
Visitors may attend mass or quietly view the holy-water basin made from a giant clam shell.
Villages and beaches nearby
Bain Boeuf
A peaceful beach between Grand Baie and Cap Malheureux facing Coin de Mire. Catamarans leave from here for the lagoon, with a snorkelling stop.
Some hotels sit across the coast road from the beach, so check the hotel map.
Anse la Raie
A large lagoon on the quiet north coast, where the trade winds make it a windsurfing spot.
The public beach here is small, with about 110 m of shoreline.
Grand Gaube
A fishing village with a lagoon and small coves that look out to the northern islets.
For nightlife, head to Grand Baie, the north’s hub of bars and restaurants.
Trou aux Biches
A long beach along the village of the same name, shaded by casuarinas. Snorkel in the lagoon; several dive schools are nearby.
Shallow, calm water over gently shelving sand suits children; street food stalls are close by.
Villages and beaches nearby
Mont Choisy
A long arc of white sand around a turquoise bay, shaded by casuarinas. The water is calm and clear, with water sports and food stalls.
It is popular with visitors and locals alike, yet there is room for everyone.
Balaclava
A village and Turtle Bay in the north-west: the 485 ha Balaclava Marine Park, with a reef, a lagoon along the whole shore and sandy beaches.
Shops and supermarkets are a short drive away in Grand Baie and Port Louis.
Villages and beaches nearby
Pointe aux Piments
A north-west shore facing the sunset, with family resorts and several public beaches, one of them by the fish landing station.
It is a handy base for trips to both Grand Baie and Port Louis.
The east: long beaches and Île aux Cerfs
Long beaches, a large clear lagoon and a breeze most of the year; boats and catamarans run to Île aux Cerfs.
Poste Lafayette
Poste Lafayette beach lies next to Bras d’Eau National Park, with forest, mangroves by Mare Sarcelle lake and easy trails.
The easy forest loop suits everyone, and there is a visitor centre and picnic tables.
Villages and beaches nearby
Roches Noires
A village on the north-east coast with the Azuri complex: restaurants, cafés, shops and golf. The complex’s hotel sits between a turquoise lagoon and mangroves.
Nearby, a small lava-cave reserve has a trail, steps down into a cavern and a museum.
Belle Mare
One of the island’s longest beaches: about 10 km of white sand shaded by casuarinas, and a clear lagoon with a coral reef for swimming and snorkelling.
Currents can be a little stronger here than elsewhere, and the wind picks up in the southern winter.
Villages and beaches nearby
Pointe de Flacq
A peninsula at the northern tip of the Belle Mare coast, with white beaches on two sides; a single resort occupies it.
By postal address, the peninsula belongs to Poste de Flacq.
Palmar
Part of the same coastline as Belle Mare, with a lagoon behind a coral reef.
Some hotels here carry the Belle Mare name; Palmar’s main public beach runs for about 1.4 km.
Trou d’Eau Douce
A fishing village with colourful boats and streets lined with restaurants; Île aux Cerfs lies just across the lagoon.
Central Flacq, a short drive away, has the island’s biggest open-air market; go on Wednesday or Sunday.
Beau Champ
A shore facing Île aux Cerfs with the Anahita resort: its golf course runs down to the ocean, and the island has a separate golf club.
The island course is reachable only by boat or helicopter, so allow time for the crossing.
South-east: Blue Bay and Mahébourg
Near the airport: Blue Bay marine park, Mahébourg, La Cambuse beach. In the southern winter the wind rises, with more rainy days than in the west.
Blue Bay
A white-sand beach shaded by casuarinas beside a marine park. To see coral and fish, just wade in from the beach.
The water is shallow and calm; weekdays are quiet, and at weekends locals come for music and picnics.
Mahébourg
A small south-east coast town nearest the airport, with few tourists. The island’s largest fishing fleet is based here, and shops sell fabrics and saris.
Blue Bay marine park is an easy bus or taxi ride from here.
La Cambuse
A wide, unspoilt-looking beach near the airport, with shade trees, picnic tables and views of the lagoon and surf. Currents here can be strong.
In hiking shoes you can walk over the rocks to Le Bouchon and the Pont Naturel rock bridge.
South: Bel Ombre and the wild coast
A wild coast of fishing villages, wide beaches and waves breaking on volcanic cliffs. It is quiet, and strong trade winds blow in the southern winter.
Bel Ombre
A forest-fringed coast with white beaches and turquoise water for swimming and snorkelling. Heritage resorts say their lagoon is shallow and protected by an outer reef.
A choice for peace and golf, with golf courses and a seashell museum nearby.
Villages and beaches nearby
Saint Félix
A wide sandy beach between Souillac and Bel Ombre, with a few hotels and snack bars. Shallow inshore, but strong currents occur; surf breaks on the reef.
One of the island’s quieter beaches; because of the currents, don’t swim far out.
Souillac
A village at the island’s southern tip: a coastal path runs from Telfair Garden to the Gris Gris cliffs. Strong currents and big waves rule out swimming there.
Swim at Riambel instead: currents at neighbouring Pomponette beach can be very strong.
West: Le Morne, Tamarin and Flic en Flac
Sunsets, beach bars, an unhurried pace; strong trade winds draw kitesurfers to Le Morne. Dry and sunny in the southern winter.
Le Morne
A white beach with coconut palms and clear water below Le Morne Brabant, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The trade winds here are strong and steady.
Learners can choose between several kite schools; stay on the beach for sunset.
Villages and beaches nearby
La Gaulette
A village where local fishing boats leave for Île aux Bénitiers, an islet in the lagoon near Le Morne, with a beach, a coconut farm and snorkelling.
Dolphins are sometimes seen on the way over; catamaran day trips with a barbecue lunch also run.
Tamarin
A seaside village with mountain views. At its entrance, below La Tourelle, lie the island’s last working salt pans; come early to watch the harvest.
Surfers from many countries know Tamarin Bay, especially in the southern winter, when the trade winds blow.
Villages and beaches nearby
Black River
Fishing boats moor by La Preneuse beach and its Martello tower; many boat trips start here, and dolphins are often seen along this coast.
Sandbags protect the shore, so the water is not easy to reach everywhere, but the beach is quiet.
Flic en Flac
A beach about 8 km long, shaded by casuarinas, with street food nearby. A warm lagoon with a coral reef; popular dive sites are close by.
The village has several public beaches and the Cascavelle mall with cafés and shops.
Villages and beaches nearby
Wolmar
Flic en Flac’s resort strip: hotels line a white beach and turquoise lagoon, and there are public stretches of Wolmar beach too.
In the evening, watch the sun set over the sea from the beach.
Albion
A quiet village between Port Louis and Flic en Flac: golden sand and calm, clear water for snorkelling. A working lighthouse stands on the rocky point.
Walk or cycle the rocky shore by the lighthouse; in the evening, watch the sunset.
Port Louis, the central plateau and Chamarel
Visitors usually stay at resorts on the coast and come here on outings: to the capital, the central plateau and the village of Chamarel.
Port Louis
The business hub in the island’s north-west: the Central Market beside Chinatown and its street food, UNESCO-listed Aapravasi Ghat and Le Caudan Waterfront with restaurants.
If you stay in the city itself, the centre is easy to explore on foot.
Curepipe
A town at 549 m on the central plateau, with the Trou aux Cerfs crater and a botanical garden. Metro Express links it to the capital.
Cooler and wetter than the west: bring rainwear, and a sweater in the southern winter.
Chamarel
A village people visit for the Coloured Earth and the rum distillery. You can stay in a lodge set in gardens at 350-400 m.
The lodge restaurant takes outside guests by reservation; a shuttle runs staying guests down to Le Morne beach.
Those words are not in this guide yet. Try a place name or clear the search to see every option.
The airport and the road to your base
The drive from the airport depends on the coast you choose: Blue Bay and Mahébourg are closest, while the longest drives are north, for example to Grand Baie.
From the airport to your base
Each diagram shows a typical route from the airport to your base. Times are a guide for the drive from an official source and depend on traffic; most visitors use a transfer or a hired driver.
Grand Baie
- Mauritius airport (MRU)
- By car
- Grand Baie
About 1 hour 15 minutes by car from the airport, depending on traffic.
Belle Mare
- Mauritius airport (MRU)
- By car
- Belle Mare
Belle Mare, on the east coast, is about a 50-minute drive from the airport.
Blue Bay and Mahébourg
- Mauritius airport (MRU)
- By car or bus
- Blue Bay and Mahébourg
Blue Bay is about 15 minutes by car. Buses 09, 10 and 198 run daily from the airport to Mahébourg.
Bel Ombre
- Mauritius airport (MRU)
- By car
- Bel Ombre
Bel Ombre is about 50 minutes by car, roughly 40 km from the airport.
Le Morne
- Mauritius airport (MRU)
- By car
- Le Morne
About an hour by car from the airport, depending on traffic.
Flic en Flac
- Mauritius airport (MRU)
- By car
- Flic en Flac
About an hour by car from the airport; Flic en Flac itself has taxis and local buses.
Port Louis
- Mauritius airport (MRU)
- By car or bus
- Port Louis
Many flight booking apps place the airport in Port Louis, but it is in the south-east, about 50 minutes by car from the capital. Bus 198 runs daily to Victoria bus station.
Chapter 3 of 6Hotels
Hotels on every coast
From family resorts with a kids’ club to adults-only hotels, villas with a pool, a renovated luxury resort and an upcoming boutique hotel. Each card says who the hotel suits and what to know before booking. This is a selection for comparison, not a ranking or a promise of available rooms.
North: Grand Baie, Trou aux Biches and Balaclava
Grand Baie has beachfront suites and an adults-only boutique; beyond it, family resorts with kids’ clubs, affordable 4-star hotels and Turtle Bay villas.
Royal Palm Beachcomber Luxury
A 5-star hotel in Grand Baie with 69 ocean-facing suites, a villa with its own pool and the free Ti Royal kids’ club for ages 3-11.
La Goélette has an evening dress code: men need collared shirts, long trousers and closed-toe shoes.
La Maison 20 Degrés Sud
An adults-only 5-star boutique hotel on the Grand Baie lagoon: 36 rooms and suites, Australe suites with a jacuzzi or pool, dinners aboard a vintage motor boat.
Charme rooms are about 25 m² and look onto the coconut grove rather than the lagoon.
Club Med La Pointe aux Canonniers
A family all-inclusive resort with bungalows, a pool with fountains, an adults-only Zen zone, and water-skiing and wakeboarding included.
The club for ages 4-10 is included; baby care costs extra and teen clubs are seasonal.
Trou aux Biches Beachcomber
A resort with nearly 2 km of beach: two- and three-bedroom pool villas, plus free clubs for kids aged 3-11 and teens aged 12-17.
Babies aged 1-2 get free babysitting on weekday afternoons; at other times it costs extra.
The Oberoi Beach Resort, Mauritius
A 5-star resort on Turtle Bay with about 8 hectares of gardens, 600 m of beach, villas with private pools and an adults-only pool.
One child aged 6-12 gets a paid extra bed; over-12s need their own room.
Maritim Resort & Spa Mauritius
A 5-star resort on 25 hectares at Turtle Bay: 272 rooms and suites, pool villas, a free 9-hole golf course and 18th-century ruins.
Classic rooms face the park; at best they have a partial sea view.
LUX* Grand Gaube
A 5-star family resort on a peninsula between two coves: the PLAY club for ages 3-11, Studio 17 for teens and The Banyan, an adults-only area.
Only one of the two pools is heated; all-inclusive is an optional package.
Zilwa Attitude
A 4-star hotel in Calodyne near Grand Gaube: a free club for ages 3-12, family rooms with a separate kids’ room and barbecue lunches on an islet.
All-inclusive runs from arrival to departure, even after you check out of your room.
Lagoon Attitude
A 4-star hotel for guests aged 18 and over on the Anse la Raie lagoon: 182 rooms, three pools and snorkelling a few metres off the beach.
Windsurfing on the lagoon is included and suits beginners; kitesurfing and diving are on request.
East: Belle Mare, Trou d’Eau Douce and Beau Champ
A peninsula resort, renovated pool villas, Belle Mare’s 5-star family hotels, adults-only stays in Palmar and a 3-star facing Île aux Cerfs.
One&Only Le Saint Géran
A resort for families and couples: an overwater restaurant, the RIVA beach club, a Guerlain spa, KidsOnly for children, and tennis and padel at Club One.
Watersports at the Boathouse are complimentary, and there are kayak tours through the mangroves.
Four Seasons Resort Mauritius at Anahita
A resort between the lagoon and Bambou Mountain: 136 villas and residences with private pools, a kids’ club for ages 4-9, free daily golf on two courses.
A speedboat runs guests to the hotel’s Île aux Cerfs beach grill; you step off into the water.
LUX* Belle Mare
A 5-star resort on Belle Mare beach: the PLAY kids’ club, Studio 17 for ages 12-17, villas with heated private pools and adults-only zones.
Rates range from breakfast-only to all-inclusive; golf is on nearby courses, and the concierge arranges transfers.
Long Beach Mauritius
A large 5-star Belle Mare beach resort: 255 rooms and suites, free kids’ club for ages 2-11, teens’ club for 12-17, adults-only pool.
Toddlers not yet toilet-trained need an adult at the club; the pools are unheated.
The Residence Mauritius
A resort styled on colonial plantation houses along a mile-long beach: 135 rooms and 28 suites, for couples and families alike.
A personal butler is an option: unpacking, running a bath, laundry and ironing.
SALT of Palmar
An adults-only 5-star boutique hotel in Palmar: no buffets, as dishes are cooked to order, no TVs in the rooms and a rooftop bar overlooking the lagoon.
Kayaks, SUP and guided snorkelling are free; kitesurfing and diving cost extra.
Ambre Mauritius
A 4-star all-inclusive hotel for guests aged 16 and over: 297 rooms and suites on the beach and an infinity pool overlooking the ocean.
The package includes non-motorised water sports and minibar refills.
Friday Attitude
A 3-star beach hotel near Trou d’Eau Douce: 50 rooms, 15 of them family rooms with a separate kids’ bedroom, and a free club for ages 4-12.
The kids’ club runs only in the daytime; a free hotel shuttle boat goes to Île aux Cerfs.
South and south-east: Blue Bay and Bel Ombre
A family 4-star by Blue Bay Marine Park, a 5-star with an adults-only wing, pool villas, all-inclusive and an upcoming boutique hotel.
Shandrani Beachcomber Resort & Spa
A 4-star resort on a peninsula by the Blue Bay Marine Park: three beaches, a free kids’ club for ages 3-11 and two-bedroom family apartments.
The Shandrani for 2 wing is adults-only, with its own restaurant and beach bar.
Heritage Le Telfair Golf & Wellness Resort
A 5-star, all-suite resort styled on plantation houses; its adults-only wing has a heated pool with butler service and its own beach bar.
The Timomo baby club for ages 0-3 is free; nappies and formula are bought on site.
Botanica by Heritage Resorts & Golf
A 45-room boutique hotel is planned in Bel Ombre, in restored homes of the sugar estate’s senior staff and newer buildings, with its own pool.
The beach will be at C Beach Club, minutes away; breakfast will be included, half board extra.
Shanti Maurice Resort & Spa
A 5-star resort on 16 hectares of gardens: 61 suites and pool villas, a 7,500 m² spa and a kids’ club from 4 months to 12 years.
Green fees and transfers at Avalon Golf Estate are free; for a package tour, check the terms.
SO Sofitel Mauritius
A 5-star hotel designed by Lek Bunnag and Kenzo Takada: 70 m² suites and beach villas; some suites have a private garden and an open-air tub.
Beach villas: a garden and a heated plunge pool. The main pool is heated in the southern winter.
Tamassa Bel Ombre
A 4-star, 214-room resort with four pools, the TamTam club for ages 3-11 and the Studio 17 club for teens aged 12-17.
Meals range from half board to all-inclusive; family rooms up to 59 m² have bunk beds.
Le Morne peninsula
Below Le Morne Brabant: resorts with kids’ clubs, a boutique hotel, an all-suite St. Regis and all-inclusive for adults or families.
Dinarobin Beachcomber Golf Resort & Spa
A 5-star resort of suites and villas; the sixth crescent of buildings is adults-only, with its own pool.
There is an IKO-affiliated kite school, and all facilities of neighbouring Paradis are open to guests.
Paradis Beachcomber Golf Resort & Spa
A 5-star resort between the lagoon and its own 18-hole golf course, with 13 villas and two-bedroom family suites.
The kids’ club with a pool is free for ages 3-11; all-inclusive is optional.
LUX* Le Morne
A 5-star boutique resort with five pools, two of them heated; a wooden treehouse by the sea hosts paid breakfasts and movie nights.
Families get the PLAY kids’ club and 120 m² family suites with adjoining rooms.
The St. Regis Le Morne Resort
An all-suite St. Regis resort in colonial style on the beach below Le Morne Brabant.
As at every St. Regis, the resort has its own afternoon tea ritual.
Hotel Riu Palace Mauritius
An adults-only Riu hotel: 24-hour all-inclusive, themed restaurants, a pool bar, a sports bar and a spa.
Elite Club rooms come with better views, access to special facilities and personalised check-in.
Hotel Riu Turquoise
A family-friendly 4-star Riu with 390 rooms, 24-hour all-inclusive, the RiuLand kids’ club, a children’s pool and family rooms.
For active guests, Riu partners with Scuba Caribe for diving and ION CLUB for kitesurfing.
West: Wolmar, Flic en Flac and Albion
A manor-style resort and cottages in Wolmar, pool villas, a 5-star Sofitel, Club Med in Albion and a hotel in central Flic en Flac.
Sugar Beach
A 5-star, manor-style resort with 238 rooms in the Manor House and 16 Creole-style villa houses along over 1 km of white sand.
The kids’ club takes ages 2-11; toddlers in nappies need a parent or nanny present.
La Pirogue
A 4-star resort of separate single-storey thatched cottages, each with a private terrace; family bungalows split into two connecting rooms.
All-inclusive can be booked, and guests may use the restaurants and pool of neighbouring Sugar Beach.
Maradiva Villas Resort & Spa
An all-villa resort with 750 m of beach: villas from 163 m² each have a heated private pool, and some have two bedrooms.
The Peter Pan club for ages 4-12 has a shallow pool; a butler is available on request.
Sofitel Mauritius L’Impérial Resort & Spa
A 5-star resort on 9 hectares of gardens in an East Asian architectural style: two pools, one with a swim-up bar, and a Sofitel Spa.
The kids’ club for ages 4-12 has its own pool; Le Flamboyant is an adults’ quiet zone.
La Plantation d’Albion Club Med
An all-inclusive Club Med on a sandy cove in Albion: kids’ clubs for ages 4-17 are included, plus a sailing school and an adults-only zen pool.
There is no Baby Club; Petit Club Med for ages 2-3 costs extra and places are limited.
Aanari Hotel & Spa
A 50-room hotel in two wings in the centre of Flic en Flac village: the beach is across the road, with a Cantonese restaurant and a spa.
Only Club and Family Club rooms face the sea; the rest look out to the mountains.
Chapter 4 of 6Experiences and trips
What to see and where to set off from
Crystal Rock and the islands, a flight over the “underwater waterfall”, dolphins and sperm whales, kitesurfing and wingfoiling, diving and golf, the coloured earth of Chamarel, Port Louis, tortoises and an oceanarium for children, Mauritian food, tea and rum. Each card says where to set off from, what to book ahead and, where it matters, how long to allow.
The tag above a card shows how long the trip or activity itself lasts according to its organiser or Mauritius tourism; add the journey from your hotel and back separately.
Lagoon, islands and sea
Île aux Cerfs, the northern islets, Blue Bay Marine Park, Crystal Rock, a helicopter flight and a submarine: trips that depend on the weather.
A day on Île aux Cerfs
An island with no hotels off the east coast: white beaches and bars in the north, water sports in the shallow lagoon, golf in the south-east.
The shuttle boat from Pointe Maurice jetty is quickest; the island is popular, so walk further along its east shore.
Flat Island (Île Plate) and Île Gabriel
Both islets are nature reserves with quiet beaches and a narrow lagoon between them; at Coin de Mire you snorkel, but landing is not allowed.
Choose a licensed catamaran or boat; when the weather service issues a high-wave warning, trips are cancelled.
Blue Bay Marine Park
A protected 353 ha of sea in the south-east: a coral garden you can snorkel to straight from the beach.
Non-swimmers can take a glass-bottom boat; breaking or taking coral is against the law.
Crystal Rock near Le Morne
Crystal Rock stands in the lagoon off Île aux Bénitiers, within snorkelling reach of the island.
West-coast catamaran cruises: dolphins in the morning, then the island and the rock; never stand on coral.
Helicopter over the “underwater waterfall”
Off Le Morne, currents push sand off the shelf edge, which looks like a waterfall from above; Corail Hélicoptères flies here from the south and north.
Keep a spare day: in bad weather flights are postponed or cancelled, and seats are assigned by passenger weight.
Submarine dive off Trou aux Biches
A 10-seat submarine dives to 35 m past coral reefs, fish, a 17th-century anchor and the Star Hope wreck, spending about 40 minutes underwater.
Suits the whole family, children from 9 months old; after a shore briefing, a boat takes you to the submarine.
Dolphins and whales
Dolphins off the west coast, sperm and humpback whales: where and when to look for them, and the rules on the water.
Dolphins off the west coast
Dolphins keep to the west coast and trips head for Tamarin Bay, a full day from the north; the law allows paid watching only in the morning.
Choose a licensed boat: it approaches from the side and never circles, and feeding or touching dolphins is banned.
Sperm and humpback whales
Whales are spotted around the island, especially off the west coast: sperm whales live here all year, humpbacks migrate past in the southern winter and spring.
Sightings are not guaranteed even in season, but seeing sperm whales at sea is unforgettable.
Active holidays
Kitesurfing and wingfoiling at Le Morne, diving, golf, the Le Morne Brabant climb and deep-sea fishing: what, where and for whom.
Kitesurfing and wingfoiling on Le Morne peninsula
A shallow lagoon inside the reef with flat, waist-deep water suits beginners, while reef waves range from learner breaks to One Eye for experts.
Wind is stronger in the southern winter; ION CLUB teaches kitesurfing from age 12, and wingfoiling depends on the tides.
Diving around the island
Over 100 dive sites, wrecks included; centres on the north, west, south and east coasts teach from scratch, and diving runs all year.
Pick an MSDA-accredited centre; minors need a medical certificate, and a 5 mm wetsuit suits the southern winter.
Golf courses
Over a dozen courses across the island: Mont Choisy, Île aux Cerfs island, two Heritage courses in the south, Tamarin and the Le Morne peninsula.
Dress code: collared shirts, no jeans or beachwear; clubs and shoes can be hired.
Le Morne Brabant hike
A UNESCO World Heritage mountain that sheltered people who escaped slavery; the final stretch to the summit is a rocky scramble.
The trail is open to all: start early to beat the crowds, and take a guide if unsure on rock.
Deep-sea fishing
The island is volcanic and deep water starts close to shore: full-day trips for marlin, tuna and mahi-mahi go about 25 nautical miles out.
Boats go out all year, spots vary by season; beginners can book taster trips, and tackle is on board.
The island’s nature
A botanic garden in the north, an islet reserve in the south-east, a national park and coloured earth in the south-west, and faraway Rodrigues.
SSR Botanic Garden, Pamplemousses
An 18th-century garden 10 km from Port Louis: 33 hectares and over 800 plant species, including 80 palms and spices.
Giant water lilies are at their best roughly November-April; guides and a chauffeured golf cart are available.
Île aux Aigrettes nature reserve
A nature reserve since 1965 off the south-east coast: an islet ringed by coral, with ebony forest, pink pigeons, Mauritius fodies and tortoises.
Visits are guided; the trip is shortest from bases on the south-east coast.
Black River Gorges National Park
The island’s largest national park: 6,574 hectares around Mauritius’s highest summit, Black River Peak (828 m), with some 60 km of trails for all levels.
The uplands are damp and often rainy, the lowlands drier; signs lead to the Alexandra Falls viewpoint.
Chamarel Coloured Earth and waterfall
Dunes in seven colours in Mauritius’s first geopark; the ticket covers two viewpoints over the nearly 100 m waterfall and a giant tortoise park.
Pay in rupees only, cash or card; hiking down to the falls unguided or walking on the dunes is banned.
A trip to Rodrigues Island
Part of the Republic of Mauritius, 580 km north-east, about 90 minutes by air: a vast lagoon, a slow pace of life and a giant tortoise reserve.
Add Rodrigues at the end of your holiday; reefs suit snorkelling and diving, the south-east suits kitesurfing.
Port Louis and history
A northern sugar museum, the first settlement in the south-east, sacred Grand Bassin lake, and Port Louis’s market, Aapravasi Ghat and natural history museum.
L’Aventure du Sucre sugar museum
A museum in a Pamplemousses sugar factory that ran for 200 years: old machinery, island history and sugar and rum tastings included in the ticket.
Closed on Sundays; pushchairs go everywhere, the audio guide has 9 languages, and it works on a rainy day.
Frederik Hendrik Museum
A south-east coast museum where the Dutch built a fort and founded the island’s first settlement in 1638: French buildings on its ruins and excavation finds.
Entry is free; closed on public holidays, mornings only on Sundays, and opens later on Wednesdays.
Grand Bassin (Ganga Talao) sacred lake
An important Hindu holy site: a crater lake high in the mountains, with a shoreline path past colourful shrines and monkeys at play.
Dress appropriately and remove your shoes in temples; at Maha Shivaratri, in February-March, pilgrims walk here.
Port Louis Central Market
The island’s oldest market, opened in 1844: within stone walls traders sell meat, spices, vegetables, medicinal herbs and goods for religious rites.
Local crafts are upstairs; the market is on the Aapravasi Ghat Trust Fund’s heritage trail, booked ahead.
Aapravasi Ghat, UNESCO site
The remains of an 1849 immigration depot where indentured labourers, mostly from India, arrived after slavery was abolished; on the UNESCO list since 2006.
Free entry; mornings only on Saturdays, closed on Sundays and public holidays; guides by prior booking.
Natural History Museum, Port Louis
The island’s oldest museum: a dodo skeleton assembled from one bird’s bones, a giant tortoise and marine galleries of fish, corals and shells.
Free entry; mornings only on Saturdays, closed on Sundays and public holidays, and opens later on Wednesdays.
For the whole family
Giant tortoises in the south, a forest walkway above the ground in Chamarel and an oceanarium in Port Louis.
La Vanille Nature Park
A 5.5-hectare park that breeds Aldabra giant tortoises, with Nile crocodiles, lemurs and museums of fossils, insects and the dodo.
Self-guided and open daily except 25 December and 1 January; arrive well before closing to see everything.
Ebony Forest reserve, Chamarel
Forest restoration here dates from 2006: a guide leads along a 300 m raised walkway through old ebony forest, and a trail leads to views of Le Morne.
Trails are easy, but the walkway is over 4 m high with steps, so pushchair and wheelchair access is limited.
Odysseo Oceanarium, Port Louis
Mauritius’s first oceanarium, in the capital’s harbour: 45 indoor tanks of Indian Ocean species, a good plan for a rainy day.
About 5 minutes’ walk from Victoria bus station; pushchair-friendly, but no outside food or drink.
Food, tea and rum
Street and restaurant dishes, tastings at a northern estate, the Tea Route in the south and a rum distillery in Chamarel.
What to try: dholl puri, rougaille, biryani
On the street: dholl puri, a stuffed split-pea flatbread, and spicy gateaux piments fritters; classics include tomato rougaille and fish vindaye, a mustard curry.
Biryani here is its own dish: spices are usually the same, but each cook doses them differently.
Domaine de Labourdonnais in the north
A restored 19th-century mansion amid gardens, with tastings of rum, juices and fruit jellies, an orchard of heritage fruit trees and an underground sugar-factory museum.
Grounds are free, the château and tastings are paid; tours run in English and French, walk-ins welcome.
The Tea Route in the south
A route through three estates: Domaine des Aubineaux, Bois Chéri with the island’s oldest tea plantation, and Saint Aubin with a rum distillery and vanilla orchids.
Lunch and tea tastings take place in old houses; join a coach tour or hire a driver-guide.
Chamarel rum distillery
A valley distillery next to the Coloured Earth makes rum only from its own cane; guides show the copper stills and cellars, then a tasting follows.
Closed on Sundays; no booking needed for a standard visit, but private tours are booked ahead.
Chapter 5 of 6Seasons, entry and travel
When to go to Mauritius, entry and travel
Rain, trade winds and cyclones by month, entry with a Ukrainian passport, the journey with a connection and the local rules. Rules checked on 5 November 2026; confirm them for your dates and route before paying.
Season: rain, trade winds and cyclones
Rainfall by month
best: September-November; possible: May-August; wettest: December-April
Rain is heaviest from December to April, 164-322 mm a month, peaking in February. September to November is the driest, at 75-87 mm, and May to August gets 108-149 mm (island-wide 1991-2020 normals).
Trade winds and kitesurfing
best: July, August; possible: April-June, September-November
Trade winds blow from the south-east and pick up from May to October. Kitesurfing season runs from April to November, windiest in July-August; Le Morne is the most popular spot.
Whales
best: July-November; possible: December-June
Humpback whales migrate past Mauritius from July to November, and sperm whales can be seen all year.
Cyclone season
Cyclones: 1 November to 15 May
This is the official season, though storms can form outside it. Warnings run from class I to IV; class III comes, where practicable, 6 daylight hours before 120 km/h gusts, and normal activity then stops. Follow the bulletins.
Summer heat and humidity
Hottest: January-February
Island-wide average highs then reach 29.2 °C. Summer, November to April, is warm and humid; winter, June to September, is relatively cool and dry, and mean seasonal temperatures differ by only 4.3 °C.
Entry with a Ukrainian passport
For Ukrainian citizens
No visa needed for tourism
The immigration officer at the airport sets the length of each stay, and in total a tourist may be granted up to 6 months per calendar year. Extensions at the Passport and Immigration Office are free, while overstaying is an offence that goes to court.
All-in-One form and health declaration
Online form before departure
Every passenger fills in both on one official portal, no earlier than 15 days before arrival; proof is checked at boarding. Both forms are free, and refusing or knowingly giving false details is an offence.
Cash and valuables at the border
Declare over Rs 500,000
Cash in any currency, cheques, gold, jewellery and other high-value items count together. Declare them to customs at the airport or online on the MRA website, on entry, exit or transit. Not declaring means a fine of at least 20% of the sum.
Alcohol and tobacco from age 18
Duty-free: 1 L of spirits
Plus 2 L of wine or beer, or 2 L of spirits alone, or 4 L of wine or beer alone. Tobacco: up to 250 g either way. Other goods: up to Rs 15,000 per person of any age; excess pays duty and VAT.
Passport, ticket and accommodation Your passport must outlast your stay; you need a return ticket, a confirmed accommodation booking and funds. The airport specifies over 6 months of spare validity and at least USD 100 a day. Ukrainian Border Guard rules cover a child’s exit, including the other parent’s consent.
Yellow fever vaccination Travellers over 1 year old arriving from risk countries in Africa (including Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania) and Latin America need a certificate, valid from 10 days after vaccination. Flying from Ukraine, no shot is needed; discuss any stopover in such a country with your manager.
Medicines in your luggage Bring your doctor’s prescription and keep medicines in their original packaging, up to 3 months’ supply. Controlled drugs are limited to one month’s supply and need approval from the Government Pharmacist at the Mauritius Ministry of Health.
Medical insurance No policy is required for entry, but Mauritius’s official tourism body advises having travel insurance.
Flights and onward travel
By air with a connection
- Overland to a neighbouring country’s airport
- Flight with a connection at a hub
- Mauritius airport (MRU)
No direct flights leave Ukraine: travel overland to a neighbouring country’s airport and fly with a connection. Emirates, for example, flies from Warsaw via Dubai, over 12 hours in the air; Istanbul, Paris, Frankfurt, Zurich and Vienna also have flights to Mauritius, on seasonal schedules.
Arrival airport
International flights land at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MRU) in Plaine Magnien. Level 0 of the terminal has 12 car hire desks, from international chains to local firms.
Airport transfers and taxis
If your transfer is part of your tour, find it at the tour operator and hotel desks in the arrivals hall. The official airport taxi desk is there too, opposite the customs exit; fares by area are in the airport’s official list.
Metro Express light rail
Metro Express runs between Port Louis and Curepipe. Buy a ticket or MECard from a station machine and tap it on entry and on exit: travelling without paying can cost a fine of up to Rs 5,000.
Time compared with Ukraine
Mauritius is on UTC+4: 2 hours ahead of Ukraine on Ukrainian winter time, 1 hour on summer time.
Sockets and voltage
220 V, 50 Hz; British three- and two-pin sockets: pack an adapter.
If you drive
Driving on the left and licences Traffic drives on the left, and vehicles coming from the right have priority. The law lets you drive on an international driving permit, while a foreign licence counts only if regulations under the Act recognise it, so bring your Ukrainian licence and an international permit.
Speed limits and cameras Car limits are 110 km/h on motorways, 80 on A roads, 60 on B roads, 40 on other roads and 30 in streets. Fixed speed cameras operate across the island, with fines of Rs 2,500-10,000 depending on the excess.
Money, beaches and local rules
Exchange, ATMs and VAT
Currency: rupee (MUR)
ATMs and exchange desks are in arrivals; on departure, change rupees in the check-in halls: there is no exchange after passport control. Paper and new polymer notes are both legal tender. VAT on DF5-voucher purchases is refunded at the airport.
Tourist fee
Fee: €3 a night
Every tourist aged 12 or over pays it for each night in a hotel, guesthouse or other tourist accommodation on the island of Mauritius. The property collects it, in any currency; there is currently no fee on Rodrigues.
Emergency services
Police 999, ambulance 114
You can also reach the police on 112 and the fire service on 115. The tourist police (Police du Tourisme) work from the Grand Baie, La Gaulette, Blue Bay and Belle Mare police stations and in Port Louis; call 213 1740 or 210 3894.
Beaches in front of hotels
Beaches are open to all
In front of hotels and private homes, the public may only stand or walk below the high-water mark. By law, the coastal strip of at least 81 m from the highest tide line is state land, only ever leased.
Public beach rules
Yellow buoys mark the swim zone
Red buoys 10 m beyond it mark the line boats, kayaks, pedalos and boards must not cross. Dogs need a leash of up to 2 m, fires are lit only in designated spots and no cars or bikes are allowed; fines reach Rs 10,000.
Coral, shells and turtles
Fixed fine: Rs 5,000
It is issued for possessing local coral, live or dead; if unpaid, the court fine is at least double. Breaking coral, swimming with turtles for fun or feeding them is banned, and shells and coral need a permit to export.
Dolphins and whales
Boats keep 50 m from dolphins
Whales: 100 m. No feeding or touching; trips run until noon.
Smoking and vapes
Fine: Rs 5,000-10,000
Smoking is banned in places including indoor cafés, bars, clubs and restaurants, shopping centres, markets, stations, the airport terminal, places of worship, parks and cars carrying passengers. Vapes, e-cigarettes and hookahs may not be imported or sold.
Swimming safely Never swim alone or where no one is watching, and keep children under adult supervision even in shallow water. Mind the currents and tides; waves are dangerous during and after a cyclone, and so is alcohol before swimming.
Stonefish and sea urchins Stonefish and lionfish with extremely painful stings, sea urchins and occasional jellyfish live in the water; see a doctor if stung.
Plastic bags, drones and drugs
Plastic bags Plastic bags, including non-woven polypropylene ones, are banned on the island of Mauritius, even to carry or use, with fines up to Rs 2,000. A clear resealable bag for liquids at the airport and on board is exempt. Bring your own shopping bag.
Drones Camera drones must be registered with the Department of Civil Aviation, which takes 3 months or more locally, and need an external Remote ID module. Fly only by day, up to 400 ft, over private land with the owner’s consent, never over beaches or parks.
Drugs Unlawfully importing, exporting or carrying drugs in transit, including cannabis and buprenorphine (Subutex), is punishable by a fine of up to Rs 1 million and imprisonment. Never carry anything for someone else unless you are sure it holds no drugs: customs may search anyone.
Chapter 6 of 6Comfort and comparison
Comfort details: children, room, transfer
Mark the conditions you need for a comfortable holiday. These are preferences for planning, not a guaranteed service: the offer for your dates will show what is actually possible.
Quiet room
Away from the bar, the evening shows and the road. We will ask about the building, floor and side.
Room by the beach
A room or villa that opens onto the beach, without long walks across the whole resort. Tick it and we will check where the room is.
Gentle way into the lagoon
A gentle sandy way in, with no coral or stones at the shore, is easier for little ones. Tick it and we will find the beach.
Step-free route
Large resorts stretch along the shore, so distances and steps matter. Tick it if someone finds long walks hard.
Meal plan
Breakfast, half board or all inclusive. Tick what you want and we will check exactly what the chosen hotel includes.
Private transfer
After a long flight a car of your own is easier than a shared transfer with several stops.
Child seat for the transfer
Give the children’s ages and number so the car has the right seats.
Family room layout
Separate bedrooms, a family room or a villa instead of one room. Tick how many beds you need.
Late check-out
If your flight home leaves in the evening, we will ask for a late check-out or a day room where the hotel offers one.
Questions before your request
Can we save several options while we decide?
Yes. Save, say, Grand Baie and Belle Mare with hotels on both while you choose dates. In your request, say what the choice depends on: the lagoon, the wind in your season or the budget.
What should I put in a request?
Your dates and how flexible they are, who is travelling and the children’s ages, the coast you want or a few, the meal plan and what matters in a hotel. The wishes saved here go with it.
Wishes on your list: 0
Your Mauritius trip is taking shape
Your saved options will carry over to the request form. There you can add a budget and your own wishes, then enter dates and your group at the details step.
Your list is empty for now. You can go ahead with a request and describe the Mauritius holiday you need.
Wishes stay in this browser until you reset them or the form’s submission is confirmed.
Destination search: Mauritius
Search opens with your chosen country. You choose the dates, travellers, meals and transport.
Send an enquiry to discuss the trip and current terms with DAMAX. An enquiry does not reserve a tour or require payment.
Questions about your choice?
Tell us what matters for your trip in your preferred messaging app. A hotel name or offer link will help us discuss the actual details.