A hypnotic blend of Indian, Chinese, African, French and British influences, Mauritius is a dazzling Indian Ocean Island that enchants all who visit. Mauritius is blessed with stunning beaches, historical sites, cultural diversity, geographical variation, and almost limitless activities. It is a multicultural society where the friendly co-existence of peoples and religions expresses itself in croissants for breakfast and curry for dinner, with brightly painted Indian temples rubbing shoulders with churches, mosques, golf courses and luxury beach resorts.

Must experience

• A once in a lifetime full-day experience with nature. Swimming with dolphins in the open sea at sunrise, breakfast with giraffes and a walk on the wild side with lions. The ideal combo for the adventure seeker and nature lover.
• An offshore helicopter flip to the south-western tip of the island to see a breathtaking and unique sight that seems to defy the laws of physics, an underwater waterfall.
• Join a Reef Expedition to assist in the re-planting of corals in a nursery. Leave a positive footprint, adopt a coral, and support local communities to fight global warming.
• Catamaran sailing along the Mauritius shoreline. Explore the natural beauty of the lagoon, cruising in the turquoise sea and snorkeling in crystal clear water. Soak up the picturesque beauty and inspiring beaches of Islets as you sip champagne at sunset.
• After dark, enjoy a vibrant, pop-up dining experience. Feet in the sand, you will discover the exciting flavors of authentic Mauritian Creole cuisine, learn the movements of the Mauritian traditional dance as local dancers move to the rhythm of the Ravanne!

Must eat

• Gato Pima (Chilli bites) – These crunchy, spicy lentil balls, like falafel, are one of the most popular street food snacks in Mauritius. They are packed with the flavors of tangy spring onion, fresh coriander and fiery green chilli.
• Dholl Puri – Known as Mauritian pancakes, Dholl Puri is wrapped around any variety of delicious curries and pickled vegetables.
• Alouda – Perfect on hot days to cool the body down and quench your thirst. Alouda is considered the Mauritian milkshake and is typically prepared with a combination of basil seeds, agar jelly, milk, and vanilla.

Best nightlife: The lively villages of Grand Bay and Flic en Flac host the best nightclubs and bars on the island. Nightclubs are mainly open on Friday and Saturday nights with a few open on Wednesday nights and for jam band sessions. After sundowners at the lively Beach Club Bar overlooking the Grand Bay lagoon, you can dance the night away at Les Enfants Terrible or move on to KenziBar in Flic en Flac.

Best time to visit: Mauritius is truly a year-round destination. The warmer period is October to April with cooling winds on the East coast, and it gets cooler between May to September with temperatures around 20°C.

Top Tip: Join the locals in November and celebrate Diwali, the Festival of Lights, which is the celebration of the victory of light over darkness. It is one of the biggest Hindu festivals and across Mauritius, houses, streets and temples are decorated with spectacular light displays, colorful garlands and most nights you can see fireworks going off. Some say “West is Best”. Choosing your resort on the West coast is less windy and the sun sets into the ocean but the cooling breezes of the East coast are welcome in the warmer summer months.

Our recommended DMC: The friendly team at Indibleu DMC in Mauritius, led by Robert Ambroise, has extensive local knowledge to make your visit a memorable experience.