Mauritius Holidays | Mauritius Honeymoons | Holiday Specials Mauritius

A tropical haven of white sand beaches, shallow azure lagoons, coral reefs, cane fields and forested mountains – Ile Maurice is paradise. Mauritius is a beautiful holiday island located in the Indian Ocean. Though close to Africa, it's more influenced by its British and French history and a large Indian community.

The capital of Mauritius, Port Louis, bustles with commercial activity during the day. By night it is a laid back place perhaps, with the exception of new Le Caudan Waterfront with a casino, cinemas, shops, bars and restaurants.

The city centre is easily covered on foot. A good place to get a feel for city life is the Port Louis Market in the heart of downtown. While in the neighbourhood most visitors drop by the Natural History Museum to see a stuffed replica of the dodo, an extinct bird that was home to these shores.

The food choice while on your Mauritius holidays is amazing with Indian, Chinese, French, British and Creole all available. The Port Louis Market has fruit, vegetables, meats and fish, crafts, clothing and spices and offers a glimpse in to the island life of Mauritius.

The island’s interior is lined with spectacular volcanic peaks, waterfalls and ebony forests offers. The outdoor enthusiast will find the hiking trails especially rewarding as the panoramic views over the island are simply sublime.

The many resorts offer a wide range of activities including golf, water-sports, diving and big game fishing. Those who simply want to relax and revitalise may prefer to indulge in a rejuvenating treatment at one of the many spas. Perhaps the most enduring memory of your holiday to Mauritius will be of relaxing on a tranquil beach admiring the golden hues of an Indian Ocean sunset.

The island is an ideal location for those who have just tied the knot. Unlike its Caribbean counterparts, Mauritius still has an air of exclusivity and seclusion about it, making your honeymoon so much more special and unique.

You gather the idea that Mauritius was made first and then heaven and that heaven was a copy of Mauritius. These words of Mark Twain are high praise indeed!

Key Facts

• Currency: Mauritius Rupee
• Population: 1 300 000
• Capital City: Port Louis
• Religion: Hindi, Christian, Islam
• Languages: French, English, Hindi, Urdu, Bhojpuri
• Time Zone: GMT +4
• Summer temperature: 27C
• Winter temperature: 23C
• Best time to visit: All year

Attractions

Black River Gorges
National Park of 6,574 hectares created in 1994 for the protection of Mauritius' remaining native forests. Visitors can enjoy magnificent landscapes full of tropical plants and rare bird species.

Domaine du Chasseur
Nestling in the Anse Jonchйe hills, the Domaine des Grand Bois covers an area of 900 hectares. Stags, monkeys and boars live amidst the lush vegetation. Endangered birds to be seen include the kestrel.

Dutch Ruins
At Vieux Grand Port, the oldest settlements in Mauritius, you can see the ruins of the first Dutch fortifications. Excavation work is underway to explore this part of Mauritian history.

Grand Bay
The first area of the island to fully experience the tourist bonanza. Mauritians head here for the restaurants, bars and discos. La Cuvette beach is a highlight.

Balaclava Ruins
17th century sailors named the area after the local tortoises. The old Balaclava estate includes ancient sea walls.

L'Aventure du Sucre Museum
Museum in the former Beau Plan sugar factory tells the story of sugar, slavery and the rum trade. Includes sugar-tasting session and visit to the stylish restaurant.

Accommodation and Resorts
Mauritius is the perfect destination for a relaxing holiday. The island is sheltered by barriers of coral reefs forming natural, safe, crystal clear lagoons. There are a wide choice of superb hotel accomodations, beach villas and tasteful resort complexes throughout the island as well as smaller family holiday bungalows. From June to September and during the Christmas period it is best to make reservations well in advance. The island's main resorts are along the coastline with the capital Port Louis on the west coast being the main centre for many visitors. The bulk of the island's population lives on the central plateau around the town of Curepipe.

Geography

Mauritius lies east of Madagascar just south of the Equator. Mauritius is located approximately 2000 kilometres to the south eastern coast of Africa. The island is 45km in width and 65km in length and holds 330 km of coastline.

When taking into consideration all that can be discovered, a journey to Mauritius exemplifies a truly exhilarating island holiday experience. Drommedaris Holidays offers a selection of exclusive Mauritius holiday packages for your perusal.

Did you know using a well-respected, certified and Bonded tour operator such as Drommedaris Holidays gives you peace of mind of having one expert central point of contact in organising your entire Mauritius holiday and offers better rates than booking directly at the hotels, car hire companies, safari guides and all other holiday components.