For beachside bliss, Mauritius is hard to beat. It’s a wonderful holiday destination for those seeking a digital detox – an opportunity to set aside your smartphone and let yourself unwind on white sandy beaches surrounded by turquoise lagoons. And when it comes to luxurious accommodation, there are options to entice even the most discerning of travellers, from chic boutique hotels to all-inclusive, adult-only resorts.
The perfect holiday for honeymooning couples, it's also a wonderful choice for families, with its calm, warm waters and growing number of family-friendly hotels. For those who wish to stay active, there are a host of activities to enjoy on a holiday to Mauritius, including water sports, hiking trails, cultural excursions and top-tier golf courses.
Luxury resorts in Mauritius
Mauritius is home to a wealth of luxury hotels where you can expect flawless service and sumptuous accommodation. Many of the hotels and resorts put a strong focus on gastronomy; you’ll often have a choice of exquisite dining options, from international haute cuisine to relaxed beachside gills, and some places can arrange private dining experiences, such as candlelit dinners on a floating pavilion in the Indian Ocean.
For seclusion and personalised service, Maradiva Villas Resort & Spa makes a great choice. Set on the sheltered west coast, this all-villa property is surrounded by 10 hectares of lush tropical gardens. Its elegant villas offer total privacy and feature decor and toiletries by Hermès. The ayurvedic spa is like a temple, with its cascading pools and Indian artefacts.
At LUX* Le Morne, every inch of the boutique hotel is Instagram-worthy – from the stylish, understated decor of its interiors, to its coconut-studded beach. Its location on the exclusive Le Morne Peninsula to the south-west makes it one of the best spots on the island to try kitesurfing and to enjoy incredibly beautiful sunsets.
Things to do on a luxury holiday to Mauritius
Wherever you stay on the island, you’ll have access to a wide range of water sports, from snorkelling and diving, to water-skiing and parasailing. The less developed east coast of Mauritius is where you’ll find some of the island’s best beaches and clearest waters. Picture-perfect Belle Mare is a ten-kilometre stretch of white sand bordered by casuarina trees, and is also an excellent diving site.
Bel Ombre in the southwest is known for its first-rate golf courses, with several 9- and 18-hole courses to choose from. It also has a protected nature reserve and a coral reef that’s perfect for swimming and snorkelling.
In the island’s forest-cloaked interior, Black River Gorges National Park offers more than 50 kilometres of walking trails, ranging from easy strolls to more demanding hikes. The routes go through lush forests and past thundering waterfalls.
Visit L'Aventure du Sucre in the north of Mauritius to learn how sugar has shaped the island’s history. And to the south, Ganga Talao is a place of pilgrimage for Hindus, with a lakeside temple and several smaller shrines to explore.
On your luxury holiday to Mauritius, leave some time to explore the capital, Port Louis, with its bustling markets, wide choice of restaurants, and great shopping on the Caudan Waterfront. And don’t miss the nearby Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Gardens, home to an astonishing array of tropical plant species and abundant birdlife.
