Grande Montagne Nature Reserve
Rodrigues
One of the last remaining stands of forest on Rodrigues, this nature reserve crowns the island's summit. The Mauritian Wildlife Foundation has planted…
Must-see attractions in Mauritius, Réunion & Seychelles
La Digue
This wonderfully scenic beach of salt-white sand and turquoise water curves gracefully between distant granitic outcrops. What sets it apart from others…
Mauritius
Île des Deux Cocos sits at the edge of the azure lagoon and was once used by flamboyant British governor Sir Hesketh Bell to entertain guests. Today the…
The East
This sugar refinery is on the coast 3km north of St-André. During the cane harvest (July to early December) visitors are shown around the huge, high-tech…
Morne Seychellois National Park
Mahé
One of Mahé's highlights, the splendid Morne Seychellois National Park encompasses an impressive 20% of Mahé's land area and contains a wide variety of…
Réunion
Boucan Canot's main beach has been listed as one of Réunion's best, and once you get a glimpse of the gentle curve of the bright white sand, lined with…
Morne Seychellois National Park
Close to the highest point you can reach on Mahé by road, Mission Lodge has a superb lookout with spectacular views of central Mahé and the west coast,…
Réunion
Plage des Roches Noires, in the heart of town, is crowded and neatly striped with sunbeds and parasols, but, beneath all this, it remains an attractive…
Mahé
This pristine curve of white sand is accessible via the Four Seasons Resort; wait at the gate and a buggy will take you down to the beach. Come late…
Réunion
In April 2007, in one of the most violent eruptions ever recorded, an impressive lava flow was formed, about 2km north of Pointe du Tremblet. The road was…
Mahé
Most of the Seychelles' postcard-stunning beaches are on Praslin and La Digue, but Fairyland Beach when seen from the south is a real looker, with a…
The East
Temple of Colosse is, by far, the most striking Tamil temple in Réunion. With its brightly painted decor, it's very photogenic. Since it's not open to the…
Réunion
A narrow road follows the wide stony bed of the Rivière Langevin and leads to Cascade de la Grande Ravine, a majestic waterfall that drops into a broad…
Réunion
Lined with casuarina trees, Plage de L'Hermitage is an alluring place to fry in the sun. It is safe for swimming – it's protected by a barrier reef and is…
Mahé
Grande Anse is an immense swathe of sand that glimmers with a fierce but utterly enchanting beauty. No other beach provides the same opportunities for…
Mahé
Close to the Constance Ephelia, just 50m beyond Port Launay Bus Terminal, this gorgeous circle of sand can feel like paradise with its overhanging trees,…
Mauritius
The resort hotels of Le Morne may have grabbed long stretches of ocean frontage here, but this public beach, between Dinarobin and Lux Le Morne is just as…
Black River Gorges National Park
The stunning Macchabée Viewpoint is in the heart of the Black River Gorges National Park, where some of the best trails meet.
Flic en Flac
When you arrive at this 14-hectare nature park, you're greeted with a bewildering range of options – in addition to being a zoo (with big cats, rhinos,…
Mauritius
This half-formed grotto on the side of a cliff spouts a geyser-like fountain (up to 20m high!) when seas are rough. You'll need a bit of gumption (and a…
Mauritius
This 250-hectare tea factory and museum is located about 12km north of Rivière des Anguilles amid a vast expanse of cane. Hour-long tours of the tea…
Black River Gorges National Park
Mauritius
A network of hiking trails crisscrosses the wild and empty Black River Gorges National Park. Unfortunately, they're not always well marked, so check the…
Chamarel
About halfway (1.5km) between the entrance gate to Terres de 7 Couleurs and the colourful sands is a scenic viewpoint over the waterfall, which plunges…
La Digue
On the southeast coast is La Digue's longest beach, Grand Anse. It's a stunning place to sun yourself, and while busier than nearby Petite Anse and Anse…
Mahé
Located 2km up in the hills above Anse Royale, this lush spice garden owes its existence to Pierre Poivre, the French spice entrepreneur. There is a self…
La Digue
This dramatic crescent of bleached white sand sits between Grande Anse and Anse Cocos on La Digue's southeast coast. Although less than a 300m walk (along…
Natural History Museum & Mauritius Institute
Port Louis
The major attraction at this small museum – which was closed for much-needed renovations when we visited – used to be the famous reconstruction of a dodo…
Victoria
The manicured botanical gardens, full of streams and birdsong, are about a 10-minute walk south of the centre. Star attractions are the coco de mer palms…
Mauritius
In 1870 the Rault family started producing manioc biscuits at its little biscuit factory on the northern outskirts of Mahébourg, and the factory has…
The North
The former Beau Plan sugar factory houses one of the best museums in Mauritius. It not only tells the story of sugar in great detail but also covers the…
Réunion
This museum is set in the former home of the wealthy and very powerful Madame Panon-Desbassayns, a coffee and sugar baroness who, among other things,…
Chamarel
Chamarel Coloured Earths have become one of the sights on the island's usual tourist circuit. Some travellers (and we're among them) find them quite…
Port Louis
Aapravasi Ghat, a small complex of buildings located on the seafront, served as the island's main immigration depot for indentured labourers from India…
Réunion
Entirely modernised in 2014, the Maison de la Broderie is home to an association of 30 or so local women dedicated to keeping Cilaos' embroidery tradition…
Rodrigues
Caverne Patate, in the island's southwestern corner, is an impressive cave system with a few stalagmite and stalactite formations. Visit is by guided tour…
Mauritius
The manor house of the Domaine des Aubineaux was built in 1872 in a classic colonial style; in 1889 it was the first residence on the island to be…
The East
If you need to cool off, the Bassin Boeuf waterfall beckons with its enticing natural pools fringed with stone slabs, ideal for picnicking and sunbathing…
Frederik Hendrik Museum & Vieux Grand Port Historic Site
Mauritius
The battered ruins of Fort Frederik Hendrik stand in a park near the church at the northern end of Vieux Grand Port and include the remains of an old…
Bassin La Paix & Bassin La Mer
The East
A blissful site is Bassin La Paix, in the Rivière des Roches valley, about 2.5km west from Bras-Panon (it's signposted). From the car park, a path quickly…
The East
Very few visitors have heard about Îlet Bethléem, a magical spot by the Rivière des Marsouins that locals would like to keep for themselves. Reached after…
