Ornately decorated, pastel coloured buildings by the roadside, lushly
carpeted volcanic peaks, fields of swaying sugar cane and powder-white
beaches mark out this Indian Ocean island, whose people are a friendly
mix of Indian and Creole, with a past peppered with Dutch, French and
British colonial influence.
At a glance
Time zone: GMT +4 hours
Currency: The Mauritian Rupee (MUR). It's sensible to order currency in
advance of your trip, but ATMs are widespread on the island and credit
cards generally accepted.
Languages: English is generally accepted as the official language, but
Creole is most widely spoken. You will also hear French. Hindi.
Bhojpuri, Urdu and Chinese.
Take the time to visit Black River Gorges National Park, which offers
wonderful scenery for you and shelter for endangered bird species, such
as the pink pigeon.
Experiences
Its peaceful atmosphere makes Mauritius a popular spot for sleepy
holidays, but beyond its beautiful beaches and luxury hotels lies a
growing range of fun and adrenaline-fuelled activities.
Board a comfortable well-appointed Catamaran Cruise that sails
to different islands and swim or snorkel and feast on a barbeque
lunch.
Discover the beauty of Mauritius’ marine life with the World of
Silence-Undersea Adventure underwater sea-walk. Wearing an
air-filled helmet, you can walk on the seabed amongst a host of
exotic and friendly fish.
Take the Scenic South full-day tour to one of the prettiest parts of
the island. Sights include the waterfalls and seven coloured earth at
Chamarel, the native forest at Black River Gorges National Park
and end with a visit to Casela Nature Park.
On a full-day 1001 Fragrances and Colours Tour, visit Domalne
des Aubineaux’s colonial houses with their ancient charm and local
Bois Cheri Tea factory. Tour Le Saint Aubln distillery and end the
day with a romantic view from Gris Gris sea cliff.
