04/06/2026
🌴 MAURITIUS: SO MUCH MORE THAN A BEACH HOLIDAY
Crystal clear lagoons, swaying palm trees, and warm Indian Ocean breezes. Yes, Mauritius delivers everything you would expect from a dream island escape. But scratch beneath the surface and you will find a destination of remarkable depth, where dramatic landscapes, fascinating history, spiritual traditions and vibrant Creole culture are waiting to be explored.
Here are six experiences that show a side of Mauritius many visitors never see:
🌋 Le Morne Brabant
Rising dramatically from the island's southwestern tip, Le Morne Brabant is one of Mauritius's most iconic and moving landmarks. This imposing basalt peninsula is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognised not only for its extraordinary beauty but for its profound historical significance as a refuge for escaped slaves in the 18th and 19th centuries. Today you can hike to its summit for breathtaking panoramic views across turquoise lagoons and jagged coastline, or simply admire it from the beach below. It is one of those places that stays with you.
🌈 Chamarel
Head inland to the colourful village of Chamarel and you will find two of the island's most spectacular natural wonders. The famous Seven Coloured Earths are a geological phenomenon unique to this part of the world, where volcanic soil has formed into rippling dunes of red, brown, violet, green, blue, purple and yellow. Nearby, the Chamarel Waterfall plunges over 100 metres into a lush ravine below, framed by dense tropical forest. The surrounding area is also home to giant Aldabra tortoises and the Rhumerie de Chamarel, where you can tour a rum distillery and sample some of the island's finest aged rums.
🌿 Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Gardens, Pamplemousses
Among the oldest botanical gardens in the Southern Hemisphere, the SSR Botanical Gardens are a remarkable living collection of tropical plants and trees gathered from across the globe. Named after Mauritius's first Prime Minister, the gardens are perhaps best known for their spectacular giant Victoria Amazonica water lilies, whose enormous floating pads can reach over a metre in diameter. Ebony trees, spice plants, traveller's palms and a wide variety of indigenous species make this a fascinating and peaceful place to spend a morning.
☕ Bois Cheri Tea Plantation
Perched in the rolling highlands of the island's south, Bois Cheri is the oldest and largest tea estate in Mauritius, producing the island's most celebrated teas since 1892. A guided tour takes you through the entire production process, from the lush green tea fields to the factory floor where leaves are withered, rolled and dried. End the experience with a tasting session overlooking the misty mountains and Mahebourg lagoon below. Pair your tea with a slice of local rum cake for the full effect.
🪔 Grand Bassin, Ganga Talao
Nestled within an extinct volcanic crater deep in the island's interior, Grand Bassin is Mauritius's most sacred Hindu site and one of the most spiritually significant locations in the entire Indian Ocean region. The crater lake is believed by Hindus to be connected to the sacred River Ganges, and each year during the festival of Maha Shivaratri, tens of thousands of pilgrims make the journey on foot to collect its holy water. Giant statues of Hindu deities overlook the site, and the atmosphere here is unlike anywhere else on the island. A visit is humbling, atmospheric and genuinely memorable.
🍍 Domaine de Labourdonnais
Set on a beautifully restored 19th century colonial estate in the north of the island, Domaine de Labourdonnais offers a wonderful window into Mauritius's agricultural and cultural heritage. Wander through orchards of mango, lychee, pineapple and papaya, take a guided tour of the historic manor house, and sample the estate's own range of fruit products, juices and rums in the tasting room. It is charming, unhurried and deeply Mauritian.
From spiritual highlands to lush colonial estates, dramatic coastlines to ancient botanical gardens, Mauritius rewards those who venture beyond the beach in the most wonderful ways.
Is Mauritius on your list? I would love to help you plan the perfect trip. 🌊
