Escape to Mauritius (13 days)

Have plenty of time to relax, and explore Mauritius in some depth, on this three-centre tour with experiences that showcase the island’s food, national parks and colonial heritage. Start with four nights at the boutique 20 Degrees Sud hotel, set in a quiet location on the north coast with easy access to the attractions of Grand Baie town. Continue to the southern highlands to the charming rural lodge of Lakaz Chamarel, and spend two days exploring the Black River Gorges National Park area. The holiday finishes in style with five nights at the LUX Le Morne Resort, set on one of the island’s most picturesque white sand beaches.

Guide Price

From £3,650 per person.

Day by Day Itinerary

Click on each day to expand the itinerary detail. Or click on the print itinerary button above to preview the tour in full.

Day 1: Fly from London Heathrow to Mauritius

Flight: MK53 London Heathrow - Mauritius 17.00 - 07.30 (overnight)

Day 2: Arrive Mauritius & transfer to your hotel

Private transfer: Upon arrival in Mauritius you will be welcomed by your local guide and transferred to the 20 Degrees Sud in a chauffeur driven car for a four-night stay.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the 20 Degrees Sud (Charm Room)

Meals: Dinner

Public beach, Grand Baie

Day 3: Day at leisure

Day at leisure: Today is free to relax at your hotel and explore the local area.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the 20 Degrees Sud (Charm Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

20 Degrees Sud

Day 4: Creole Food Adventure

Creole Food Adventure: Your Creole food experience starts with a walking tour of Port Louis, the capital of Mauritius, to explore a melting pot of cultures that reflects the port’s trading heritage. Wander the streets on foot to discover vibrant markets with piles of colourful fruit, vegetables and spices that originate from all corners of the globe. Your guide will point out a selection of the best street food stalls where you can sample some of the nation’s favourite snacks such as dholl purris, maize puddings and chilli cakes. There will also be time to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Aapravasi Ghat, located a short distance from the harbour. Once the arrival depot for labourers from all over the Empire during British colonial rule, this museum is a good place to understand the origins of Mauritius’s Creole culture.

You will then be driven 30km south east to the town of Curepipe, located on the densely populated central plateau region, to the home of a typical Mauritian family for an authentic Creole dining experience. Your host is Marie Michele, who will welcome you in to her simple house and demonstrate the art of Creole cuisine in her open-air kitchen. This is very much a hands-on experience, and you will have the opportunity to put the finishing touches to the lunch that your hosts have been preparing for days. Expect a generous spread of homemade dishes such as curries, breads, pickles, exotic vegetables and spiced rum – all served in a homely setting with the company of this friendly local family.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the 20 Degrees Sud (Charm Room)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Creole food

Day 5: Day at leisure

Day at leisure: Today is free to relax at your hotel and explore the local area.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the 20 Degrees Sud (Charm Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Exotic birds, Mauritius

Day 6: Explore the Pamplemousses area, then drive to Chamarel

Private transfer: This morning you will be met by your guide and transferred to the Pamplemousses area for today’s excursion.

Discovering Pamplemousses: Conveniently located in the centre of the island, the botanical garden at Pamplemousses is the largest in the southern hemisphere and considered to have one of the best collections of plants in the world. On this botanical-themed experience you will be taken on a guided tour of the gardens that were first established in 1770 by the aptly named French botanist Pierre Poivre. One of the highlights is the Victorian pond filled with giant water lilies from Amazonia, which grow vast new leaves within hours and change colour each day. Other notable draws include curiously named species such as the fish poison tree, vast number of spice plants from Asia and over 80 species of palms collected from around the globe. Many of the island’s colourful bird species can be spotted in and amongst the foliage, which adds ornithological interest to the experience. The tour continues with a visit to the local sugar factory of Beau Plan, which was decommissioned in 1999 and since converted into one of the best museums on the island. The interactive exhibits at L’Aventure du Sucre brings the long history of the sugar industry and slavery in Mauritius to life and reveal the complex process of transforming the juice of cane into crystals of sugar. The day concludes with a visit to the neoclassical Château Labourdonnais. Dating from 1758 this mansion is considered the most elegant example of colonial architecture on the island, and guided tours are conducted of the main house and gardens.

This Pamplemousses excursion can also be done as a guided E-bike tour - please ask for more details.

Private transfer: After today’s tour you will continue driving south to the Lakaz Chamarel Lodge to check-in.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Lakaz Chamarel (Kaz Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Pamplemousses

Day 7: Day at leisure

Day at leisure: Today is free to relax and explore the Chamarel area or do one of the many activities that can be arranged through the lodge.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Lakaz Chamarel (Kaz Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Lakaz Chamarel

Day 8: Hiking in the Black River Gorges

Hiking in the Black River Gorges: After breakfast this morning you will be taken on a guided hike in the nearby Black River Gorge National Park. There are dozens of possible routes to take, so the length and intensity of the hike can be tailored to your fitness levels. One of the more popular options is the Machabee Forest Loop, a moderate hike of around 8km in total which starts from the Petrin Visitor Centre and will take around 3 hours. This route starts with a level section through tropical forest and continues to the Pink Pigeon feeding station, where you guide will provide a briefing on the local flora and fauna. Continue along the forest trail which then descend to the crest of a waterfall where you can get spectacular views over the peaks to the west coast. The route then loops around through a different section of forest back towards your starting point. Good balance, fitness and a sturdy pair of shoes are essential on this trek. Expect to come across plenty of macaques, colourful birdlife and wild boar if you are lucky.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Lakaz Chamarel (Kaz Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Monkeys, Black River Gorges

Day 9: Transfer to your beach resort in Le Morne Peninsula

Private transfer: This morning you will be met by your driver and transferred to the Le Morne Peninsula area to check in at the LUX Le Morne Resort.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the LUX Le Morne (Superior Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Le Morne

Days 10-11: Days at leisure

Days at leisure: These days are free to relax at your hotel and explore the local area. Alternatively we can include day trips to explore the culture, history and natural wonders of Mauritius – please ask your travel consultant for ideas.

Accommodation: Stay these nights at LUX Le Morne (Superior Room)

Meals: Breakfast