The final pass that stands before us is steep and rocky. The 556-metre high Le Morne Brabant does not make it easy to reach its summit. After a demanding climb, even for experienced hikers, we reach our destination – the (almost) highest point of this striking mountain, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. What a view! At our feet lie lush green forests and palm groves, lined with white sandy beaches and surrounded by the turquoise of the Indian Ocean. Mauritius has everything you could wish for from a paradisiacal dream island – and even more: it invites you to discover its many facets and rich experiences in an active way and to dance at many a wedding.
Mauritius is different. Unlike similar destinations in the Indian Ocean like the Seychelles or the Maldives. Here too, off the east coast of Africa, coral white sand, lagoons and reefs meet all the requirements for the perfect island holiday. But the size of the island state brings with it a variety of landscapes and cultures. The mountain tour to Le Morne Brabant is just one of the rewarding activities that provide unique holiday moments in Mauritius: in the capital Port Louis, lively traditional markets and modern shopping centres are tempting, while inland you can marvel at natural spectacles such as the volcanic Seven Coloured Earths or magnificent waterfalls. My stay at the luxurious The St. Regis Mauritius Resort on the south-western peninsula Le Morne offers all kinds of water sports – kayak tours or paddleboarding, snorkelling, diving, kitesurfing or boat trips. The morning excursion to see the dolphins was wonderful: the intelligent animals danced exuberantly through the crystal-clear turquoise water – as if they wanted to ask us to put the cameras away and swim with them.
Not only because of its privileged location at the foot of the mighty mountain and the endless idyllic beaches, The St. Regis Mauritius is an exceptional place. The renowned 5-star resort with its high-quality concept and excellent service invites you to an all-round successful time-out and has already welcomed many distinguished guests. With their colonial-style architecture, the buildings blend elegantly and discreetly into the lush green nature of their surroundings. The suites, villas and The St. Regis Villa extend along the fine sandy beach and offer a pleasant sense of privacy. My Manor House Suite immediately reveals the high standards of the resort: the beautifully designed rooms, equipped with noble interiors, inspire with their open generosity and comfortable ambience – including breathtaking panoramic views of the beach and sea from the living/sleeping area and from the wide veranda. Relaxing in a cabana by the pool or watching the rhythmic dance of the waves under palm trees on the beach will make you forget the hustle and bustle of everyday life and create a feeling of peace and perfection. This is a good thing, because in the evening everything comes alive again: I had the honour of being awarded the Confrérie du Sabre d’Or. This Diplôme de Sabreur was preceded by my successful sabre-rattling of a magnum bottle of champagne, an exclusive tradition that brings the colonial heritage of Mauritius to life. French influences also play the main role in the gourmet restaurant Le Manoir Dining Room – although I can also highly recommend the freshly caught seafood specialities in the Boathouse Grill, the Asian dishes of the Floating Market or the Signature Menu in the Chef’s Table, where you can experience the preparation before your very eyes. No matter which culinary direction you want to follow, the restaurant always offers a first-class selection of international wines. At the «»1904 Bar” Mary has her own local character in her blood: Aloe Vera, coconut and rum – the St. Regis New York is the mother of all Bloody Marys. The next day begins with a sporty start: after powerful strokes through the pool and a breakfast of delicious fresh fruits, I take one of the hotel’s own bikes on a discovery tour. Now in the morning the atmosphere is wonderful, a light breeze accompanies the ride, which continuously offers new and beautiful perspectives. After a relaxing massage in my suite there is a special programme on the agenda: a visit to the horse race on the Champs de Mars in the capital Port Louis. A coincidence has opened the doors to this event for us: a conversation with an employee of the Mauritius Turf Club led us to the secretary of this third oldest club in the world and prompted him to invite us spontaneously as VIP guests. A gesture that is yet another example of the great hospitality of Mauritius. It is not for nothing that the event is described as the most important of the year – it is a magnet for around 25,000 spectators who scream at the top of their lungs, get behind their favourites and cheer on the winning horses. A spectacle with an incomparable atmosphere! Of course, we also put on a bet and achieved a remarkable return of 20 percent with the winning horse White River. After this exciting afternoon, we enjoy the calm serenity that awaits us at the hotel. Now a walk on the beach, then barefoot with a cocktail in your hand watching the sunset – what more could you ask for? Maybe even to the spa which, with its sauna, steam bath, jacuzzi and numerous massage and beauty treatments, leaves nothing to be desired. That’s the beauty of it here: active experience and relaxation go hand in hand.
Those who talk about resorts on Mauritius that are worth a visit should not forget to mention the sister hotel of the luxury resort St. Regis Mauritius: the Westin Turtle Bay Resort and Spa is also located on the island’s more popular west coast, north of Port Louis, adjacent to the «Baie aux Tortues» nature reserve. The elegant hotel in the premium segment presents itself in a modern, contemporary design and offers numerous amenities, including two pools, tennis courts and a fitness area. Several restaurants – Asian, Indian, international or beach grill – provide for sophisticated culinary variety. Especially families who want a relaxed beach life with sophisticated comfort will feel at home here. This much I can say: whether an active holiday or a relaxing break, whether couple or family, Mauritius always sets the right pace to dance directly into paradise.
Air France
From some European airports, there are direct flights to Mauritius, but mostly with set flight days and little flexibility in travel planning. In case of flight connections with a stopover, this is mostly in the United Arab Emirates or in Oman, whereby the whole flight route is virtually split into two medium-haul sections. Air France offers convincing advantages for travellers to Mauritius: the experienced airline, which has a broad network of routes in Africa, flies daily to Mauritius via Paris. The flight route is ideal: as the French capital is easily reached by a short flight from most European metropolises, there are no nightly interruptions halfway along the route. Boarding at Paris Charles de Gaulle, you can comfortably lean back until you land at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport of Mauritius. Air France offers both Economy and Business Class flights on this route – including friendly service, good food with many local products and an excellent selection of wines and champagnes. The French and English spoken on board is a good introduction to the destination: these two languages are the most common on Mauritius. A further advantage of this dream destination: due to the small time difference – only three time zones – there’s no fear of jetlag.
