Mauritius is an Island which is known to have a lot of magical things to see. The tours of Mauritius are divided according to the different regions in the country that is the north, south, south west and south east and all these have a lot of tourist attractions that will captivate your mind and you will be able to enjoy your tour.
This Indian Ocean Island is one place that you will like to take a tour to because of the gorgeous beaches, lagoons and peaceful nature found in the country. There are several tour companies with well-trained tour guides who will take you through the tour all around the Island telling you the different historical stories surrounding the places that you visit.
During the Mauritius tours, you get to see the different tourist attractions in one day for as long as they are all located in the same region where you want to tour that specific day. You also get a chance to get souvenirs to take back home after your trip to Mauritius.
Things to do in Mauritius
Mauritius is a beautiful island country found south east of the Seychelles and east of the Madagascar Island. It is popular for its beautiful beaches met with crystal clear waters and lined with fine water. There are several Mauritius tours & holidays sites worth exploring such as waterfalls, undulating landscapes, dormant volcanoes and various water adventures like snorkeling which make this country a true paradise for holiday and honeymoon tours.
Below are the major Tourist Attractions and the best sightseeing Destinations while on holiday in Mauritius
-
Mauritius Botanical Garden
The Mauritius Botanical Garden, also referred to as Pamplemousses Garden or SSR Botanical Garden, is among Mauritius’ most popular and commonly visited tourist attraction. it is the southern hemisphere’s largest botanical gardens established in 1767 by Pierre Poivre close to Port Louis covering an area of thirty seven hectares (37 ha). The gardens have beautiful large water lilies, a collection of eighty five (85) different types of palm trees from across Africa, Central America, the islands in the Indian Ocean and Asia.
-
Visit the beautiful 7 Colored Earth and Waterfalls in Chamarel Park
The 7 colored Earth is a beautiful geological formation found in Chamarel geo-park on of the most commonly visited sites in Mauritius. The site is very extraordinary as the earth clay in this place has seven (7) different colors which include: yellow, red, purple, brown, blue, violet and green with the most dominant colors being red and purple.
Still within Chamarel park is the breathtaking waterfall of Chamarel found close to the 7 colored earths. As the fall plunges over a depth of 100 meters its separates into three streaming creating a breathtaking view.
-
Eureka Creole House
Constructed in 1830, the Eureka House is a very beautiful house built with the Creole style of architecture. It is found within a splendid garden close to the Moka Range and the lovely falls on River Moka. With a total of 109 windows and doors this is among the largest houses in Mauritius, and after it being well refurbished in 1986 it was opened as a museum to the general public house a wide collection of very old maps, house ware of Indian and Chinese origin, musical instruments, unusual apparatus like a shower used back in the colonial tower as well as different art pieces.
-
Black River Gorges National Park
The Black River Gorges National Park is found in a hilly region within southwestern Mauritius and covers an area of 67.54 square kilometers and was declared a national park in 1994 to conserve the natural vegetation in the area. This park protects the last remaining rainforest on the island which serves as a habitat to various wild animals and birds such as the Mauritius bulbul, Mauritius fody, Mauritian flying fox, Mauritius olive white-eye, Mauritius kestrel, Mauritius grey white-eye, pink pigeon, Mauritius parakeet and Mauritius cuckoo-shrike.. There are guided hikes along the various trails that will take you across the beautiful terrain all the way to the Black River Peak which is the highest peak on this Island country. You can also enjoy remarkable picnics and checkout the visitors’ center.
-
Enjoy the pristine beaches of Gabriel Island
Located on the northern most point of Mauritius close to Flat Island and Round Island, approximately 10km north of the Cap Malheureux, Gabriel Island covers an area of 42 hectares with the highest point on the island being 28 meters above sea level. The Island which is a well protected national nature reserve is best known for its unspoiled yet breathtaking beaches that are met with very clear waters that entirely surround it. This Island is highly recommended for holidaymakers seeking a quite getaway to relax while enjoying the beaches and soaking in the sun and even snorkelers this is a paradise worth exploring.
-
Île aux Cerfs Island
Île aux Cerfs Island, which is also interpreted as the ‘Deer Island’ in English is a beautiful turquoise holiday paradise situated in the Flacq district close to Mauritius’ eastern coast and covers an area of approximately 100 hectares. Ile Aux Cerfs is best known for its breathtaking sandy beaches, with gorgeous lagoon as well as a wide range of activities like snorkeling and swimming in the lagoon that can be enjoyed by holidaymakers. There are a number of fine accommodation facilities as well. this is a beautiful place to enjoy a laid back holiday as you relax on beaches whose immeasurable beauty seem out of the world.
-
Explore the unique wildlife at Ile aux Aigrettes
Ile aux Aigrettes is a small beautiful islet with corals and covers an area of just twenty five hectares (25 ha) off the coastal town of Mahebourg in the east of Mauritius. This beautiful island went under the management of Mauritian Wildlife Foundation after it was declared as a nature reserve. Because of the outstandingly remarkable work done by this foundation, this island is now also used as a research center and receives a very large number of holidaymakers both international and local guests. it is home to a great diversity of some of the rarest bird species in the entire world such as the Kestrel, in addition to other species like the Aldabra huge tortoise, the pink pigeon as well as the green gecko phelsuma, plus a number of some of the few remaining plant species of the coastal forest that once encircled this island country.
-
Explore the beautiful Capital Port Louis
Mauritius’ capital city is Port Louis. It was established in 1638, became a British Administrative center, gained the status of a city in 2011 and today is the main city in this island country. It is encircled by a beautiful mountain range – the Port Louis Moka Range. During your visit, you will be able to see a number of spectacular historical as well as colonial architecture including Fort Adelaide (La Citadelle) – a fortification that was constructed back in 1835 by the British, in addition to a number of places that attract a large number of tourists like: Mauritius’ China Town, the Caudan Waterfront, the ancient Port Louis theatre, Port Louis Bazaar, and the three main museum which include: the Mauritius Stamp Museum, Blue Penny Museum and the Mauritius Natural History Museum
-
Trou aux Cerfs
The 605 meter high Trou aux Cerfs is an extinct volcano found within Curepipe, with a precise crater and cone, believed to have been active until pproximate700,000 years back. Its crater has a depth of 85 meters and a diameter of 300 meters with a small lake on its crater floor. This is the main tourist attraction in Curepipe and while on the crater rim you will enjoy uninterrupted views of this island country below.
-
Visit the ‘Holy’ Grand Bassin
The Grand Bassin is considered a holy lake according to the Hindu faith in Mauritius. They claim that the water in this lake directly communicates with that of India’s Holy Ganges. It is said that the water inside the lake communicates with the waters of the holy Ganges of India. It is for that reason that Grand Bassin is also locally referred to as Ganga Talao. It is found 600m above sea level within the isolated mountainous region in Savanne District with Central Mauritius.
Each year, the Hindu community in Mauritius makes a pilgrimage on the Maha Sivaratri to pay respect to their lord Shiva. On your visit you will see the temple Hindu temple dedicated to their lord Shiva, lord Lakshmi and Hanuman, as well as the 33 meter tall Shiva statue (which is the highest across the island country) that overlooks the Grand Bassin.
-
Go Diving
Mauritius offers very thrilling diving excursions for all persons interested in exploring the underwater world of this island country which is met by crystal clear waters and beautiful corals. Irrespective of your expertise, experienced and novice divers can all enjoy this activity since there are also short diving courses conducted there.
-
swim with the Dolphins and Watch the giant whales
More adventurous holidaymakers can set out on a swimming excursion with the dolphins and also get a chance to watch the whales within their natural habitat. This can be done when in the open sea or while on board of a lavish cruising vessel.
-
Horse Riding
This is another fascinating outdoor you can enjoy as a couple on a lovely getaway, as a group of friends or as a family. There are various trips organized along the white sandy beaches, along the spectacular blue lagoon or on the lower slopes of the mountain ranges. Don’t miss out on the evening expeditions during which you will watch the sun set beyond the horizon.
-
Take a Hiking and Trekking Tour
The varied landscape in Mauritius that includes forest, mountains, canyons, waterfalls and rivers all offer amazing trekking and hiking adventures during which you will explore and have up-close encounters with the gifts of Mother Nature. These activities are commonly conducted in Black River, Tamarind falls, Piton du Riviere Noire and Le Pouce Mountain. A number of these adventures end with a zip lining.
-
Catch a speed boat to the Islands
For holidaymakers interested in exploring the waters, well set out on a cruising speed boat to explore the smaller islands like Coin de Mire and Gabriel Island. You will be able to also meet the local people who stay on these smaller islands and learn about their way of life.
Frequently asked Questions on Mauritius
Below are a number of questions that are commonly asked by holidaymakers that visit destination Mauritius. These have been professionally answer to help you better understand this destination.
Do I need a Visa when going to Mauritius?
In case you are visiting the country for tourism, you will not need a visa to enter Mauritius and on arrival you will be granted a visa for sixty (60) days. However you will be required to show proof of onward travel from Mauritius. Travelers should have a passport valid for the duration of stay in Mauritius and no additional validity time is needed.
What vaccines are recommended when visiting Mauritius?
According the World Health Organization, all travelers visiting the country are required to get the following vaccines: yellow fever, Hepatitis A, Meningitis, Hepatitis B, polio, typhoid, measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), rabies, chickenpox, tetanus, pneumonia, shingles and yellow fever.
What is the local Currency in Mauritius?
The rupee (Rs) is the official currency used in Mauritius and its divided in 100 cents. it presents in banknotes and coins. Banknotes are in denominations of 2,000, 1,000, 500, 200, 100, 50 and 25 while coins are in 5, 10, 20, 25 and 50 cents, together with 10, 5 and 1 Rupees.
What is the electricity current for Mauritius?
Mauritius runs on an electricity voltage of 220V
What is the local time in Mauritius?
Mauritius is GMT +4 which means that it is four hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time
What to wear while in Mauritius?
Holidaymakers visiting Mauritius are advised to wear casual clothes and also pack beach wear. During the winter months from June to September, you are advised to park some warm clothing including jackets, a scarf, sweaters, socking and closed shoes.
Best time to visit Mauritius
Mauritius is one of those destinations on the African continent that can be visited all year round. This is because the weather is extremely pleasant and comfortable making it ideal to enjoy your holiday throughout the year. This island country is located close to the Tropic of Capricorn where the sun is usually at their highest a thing that best explains why the country experiences longer hours of sunshine throughout the year.
The Mauritius Summer (October to April)
The days are long, humid and hot however you should expect large tourist crowds on the beaches as this is the best tie for swimming. Activities to do in summer include: swimming, angling, various water sports and diving can best be done from December to March when there is good water clarity.
Winter in Mauritius (July to September)
During this time of the year the temperature are cooler, the rains are light and normally fall in the evening. This is the off peak tourist season with fewer holidaymakers in the country and many accommodations offer good discounts on their fares. Activities to do in the winter include inland activities like quad biking, trekking and hiking.
