Indian Ocean
Mauritius holidaysAn island with an interior
Lagoon beaches and reef, but also mountains, waterfalls, rum distilleries and a Creole food culture worth travelling for.
About Mauritius
Mauritius answers the objection people raise about island holidays — that after three days there is nothing to do. The island has a genuine interior: the Black River Gorges rainforest, the basalt column of Le Morne Brabant rising off the south-west coast, tea plantations in the highlands and the coloured earths at Chamarel.
The coastline is protected by an almost continuous coral reef, which makes the lagoons calm and swimmable. The north around Grand Baie is livelier; the east and south-west are quieter and more scenic.
Food is the underrated part. Mauritian cooking layers Indian, Creole, Chinese and French traditions, and the street food in Port Louis is as memorable as anything on a resort menu.
What to see
Things to do in Mauritius
The places we send travellers first — and the ones we film.
NatureLe Morne BrabantA UNESCO-listed basalt monolith with a hard hike to the summit and the island’s best kitesurfing at its foot.
NatureChamarel Seven Coloured EarthsVolcanic dunes of naturally separated mineral sands, alongside a 100-metre waterfall and Mauritius’s best rum distillery.
AdventureBlack River GorgesThe island’s last significant native forest — 60km of trails, endemic pink pigeons and long views to the coast.
BeachÎle aux CerfsA sheltered islet off the east coast with the calmest water on the island, reached by catamaran.
CulturePort Louis Central MarketThe capital’s covered market — dholl puri, gateaux piments, vanilla and spice stalls. Go in the morning.
NightlifeGrand BaieThe northern hub for boat trips, diving, restaurants and the island’s most active nightlife.Cinematic Mauritius holidays
Mauritius CinemaTrip experiences
Why go
What Mauritius does better than anywhere else
Lagoon beaches and reef, but also mountains, waterfalls, rum distilleries and a Creole food culture worth travelling for.
- 01
Le Morne Brabant
A UNESCO-listed basalt monolith with a hard hike to the summit and the island’s best kitesurfing at its foot.
- 02
Chamarel Seven Coloured Earths
Volcanic dunes of naturally separated mineral sands, alongside a 100-metre waterfall and Mauritius’s best rum distillery.
- 03
Black River Gorges
The island’s last significant native forest — 60km of trails, endemic pink pigeons and long views to the coast.
- 04
Île aux Cerfs
A sheltered islet off the east coast with the calmest water on the island, reached by catamaran.
Practical
Planning your visit
- Best time to visit
- May to December is drier and cooler. September to November balances good weather with lower rates. January to March is cyclone season — hot, humid and occasionally disrupted.
- Getting there
- 6h 30m non-stop to Port Louis (MRU)
- Currency
- Mauritian Rupee (MUR)
- Languages
- English and French (official), Mauritian Creole widely spoken
- Time zone
- MUT (UTC+4) — no time difference from the UAE
- Entry requirements
- Requirements vary by passport and UAE residence visa status. We confirm current entry rules and handle the application as part of your package.
Entry rules, tourism taxes and health requirements change without notice and depend on your passport. Everything above is confirmed by our operations desk before your booking is finalised.
Gallery
Mauritius in frames
Questions
Before you book
Do you offer Mauritius holiday packages from Dubai?
Yes, tailor-made rather than off the shelf. Mauritius rewards a split — a few nights on the west coast for Le Morne and the lagoon, then the south or east for Chamarel and Black River Gorges. We plan the routing, the car and the hotels and quote the whole thing in AED.
Mauritius or the Maldives for a honeymoon from Dubai?
The Maldives if you want one island and nothing to decide. Mauritius if you would rather have somewhere to go — mountains, a working capital, botanical gardens and beaches, with a hire car to reach them. Mauritius is 6h 30m non-stop; the Maldives is 4h 15m.
When is the best time to travel from the UAE?
May to December is drier and cooler, and September to November is the quietest stretch with good sea conditions. It is a year-round destination, but the January to March cyclone season is the one window we steer people away from.
Mauritius or Maldives for a honeymoon?
Maldives if you want pure resort seclusion and the overwater villa. Mauritius if you want a beach holiday with things to do — hiking, food, culture and a hire car. Several couples do both, as they are a 45-minute connection apart.
Do we need a car?
It helps considerably. The island is compact and the road network is good, and it turns the interior from a day-tour into something you can explore at your own pace.
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