Independently to Mauritius 2021: itinerary for 16 days, hotels, how to get there

The picturesque state of Mauritius is one of the pearls of the Indian Ocean, located in the southeast of the African continent. This is a marvelous land where eternal summer reigns and an atmosphere of absolute serenity reigns. It attracts its guests with its charming tropical nature, luxurious hotel infrastructure and an abundance of opportunities for outdoor activities. Hundreds of kilometers of sandy coast are occupied by resort places offering everything you need for a wonderful holiday. The modern republic is a combination of cultures, traditions and customs of different nations. Snow-white beaches and azure cozy lagoons, coconut palms and emerald forests, mountains and extinct volcano craters, rivers and waterfalls – all this gives the dizzying landscape of the island a special charm. travelers,

How to get on your own

From Russia to Mauritius can be reached by plane. The distant exotic region is located on the other side of the globe, 8664 kilometers from Moscow. It is impossible to find direct flights, but there are a considerable number of routes with transfers. Regular flights via Paris, Frankfurt am Main, Vienna, Istanbul are carried out by such international companies as Air France, Lufthansa, Austrian, Turkish Airlines.
The most optimal and fastest flight option is offered by Emirates Airlines with a connection in Dubai. Travel time takes 16-18 hours. The ticket price for one person starts from 19,584 rubles.

Visa

Citizens of Russia do not need a visa to enter the republic. In this case, the period of stay on the island should not exceed 60 days. It is enough for border guard officers to present a passport, round-trip air tickets, confirmation of hotel reservation, and also provide evidence of financial solvency at the rate of $ 100 for each day of rest. Tourists with children under 14 years of age should attach the birth certificate of the child to the package of basic documents. Children over 14 years old can travel on their own international passport.

Before passing through customs control, it is necessary to fill out an immigration and sanitary card in advance. Forms are issued by flight attendants on board the aircraft. The immigration card should indicate the purpose of the trip, passport details, length of stay and hotel address. The health card or quarantine declaration includes information about the presence or absence of any diseases and pathologies among vacationers.

Where to stay

The most popular and visited resort places of the region are the western and northern coasts, where numerous hotel complexes and entertainments are concentrated. There are excellent conditions for living here. The hotel fund is represented by a wide variety: from comfortable modest bungalows to luxurious villas.

The country does not use the generally accepted global hotel classification system.

The star rating is based on the hotel's own positioning. On this occasion, guests should not worry, because the first-class level of service meets the needs of even the most demanding vacationers. Many guests prefer to stay in modern villas built among dense thickets of tropical vegetation in close proximity to amazing beaches.

Tourists have the opportunity to retire to bungalows, the architecture of which repeats the original huts of local residents. Most hotel complexes have their own territory with swimming pools, restaurants and beaches. Spas, thalassotherapy centers, sports and playgrounds are available to guests. Meals are served according to the “buffet” system with an abundance of various dishes.

Best time to travel

Mauritius welcomes its guests all year round. This is favored by the tropical maritime climate typical of island resorts in the southern hemisphere. The peak of the influx of people falls on the period from November to April. This is the perfect time for swimming in the turquoise lagoons, sunbathing, diving and outdoor activities.

The air temperature is stable at +35°C. Constantly blowing trade winds bring life-giving coolness. The azure waters of the Indian Ocean warm up to +28 °C. The time of tropical short showers falls on the high season. However, precipitation does not affect the temperature regime. Tourists who do not want to endure the heat, but prefer a comfortable beach holiday, have the opportunity to visit the island in the low season. From May to September, moderately warm sunny weather sets in. The thermometers show +25 °С.

The water temperature does not drop below +24°C. The prevailing cyclones provoke strong gusts of wind, as a result of which the evenings can become quite cool. The low season is marked by a number of advantages, among which it is worth noting the absence of numerous crowds of tourists, as well as more affordable prices for accommodation, food and entertainment.

Ebb and flow

Travelers who have arrived in Mauritius do not get tired of admiring the magnificent wide coastlines, cozy bays and aquamarine waters of the Indian Ocean. The island is surrounded on all sides by coral reefs that protect the coast from strong currents and high waves. Therefore, high and low tides have practically no effect on the quality of rest. The depth in the lagoons changes twice a day, but this phenomenon can only be noticed on some shallow beaches. The tide schedule is especially taken into account by lovers of water sports.

Transport

The transport infrastructure of Mauritius, represented by buses, taxis and ferries, is not very popular among the guests of this marvelous land. Independent tourists prefer to travel around the island in a rental car. This option of the voyage allows you to feel the freedom of comfortable movement, not to depend on public transport schedules and gives you the opportunity to see the most interesting natural attractions.

It is recommended to rent a car in advance through a reliable service Rentalcars.com. The online aggregator compares and sorts the most profitable offers from various trusted companies with which it has been cooperating for more than one year. The cost of car rental starts from $40 per knock. Road travelers should be aware that traffic in the republic is left-handed. Picturesque narrow and winding roads run between green hills, along the sandy coast, mangrove forests and palm alleys. The tracks have an excellent asphalt surface and clear markings for drivers.

Entertainment

Mauritius is one of those resort destinations that offer tourists a wide variety of ways to have fun outside the hotel. A serene beautiful beach holiday is diversified by such activities as visiting natural parks, walking through the jungle, conquering mountain peaks, fishing, swimming with dolphins, helicopter flights and much more. Adherents of outdoor activities have access to all kinds of water sports: kayaking, catamarans, yachts and boats, water skiing and jet skiing.

In national reserves, where tropical thickets of exotic plants have flourished, streams murmur and cascades of waterfalls rumble, you can see tigers, leopards, lions, monkeys, lemurs, ostriches, iguanas and other animals in their natural habitats. A popular attraction is extreme descents on a steel rope that runs over the jungle, gorges and rivers. An exciting route opens the most picturesque and mysterious corners of the republic.

Diving enthusiasts can expect the world‘s third largest barrier reef. Diving into the ocean depths with scuba gear will bring a lot of positive emotions. Picturesque coral gardens, underwater caves, flocks of a variety of bright fish and outlandish sea creatures will appear in all their glory. An unforgettable experience is guaranteed by a trip on a submarine with large windows to the sunken ships.

Excursions

Fascinating excursions to the picturesque places of Mauritius collect rave reviews from tourists from all over the world. Programs of meaningful tours involve getting to know the marvelous exotic nature of the region and the culture of local residents. Expedition members will have the opportunity to enjoy breathtaking views of forests, majestic cliffs and aquamarine lagoons.

Travelers are advised to go to the extinct Trou aux Cerfs volcano. At the bottom of the crater, whose diameter is 200 meters, instead of fiery lava, there is a swampy lake. You should definitely visit the Pamplemousses Botanical Garden, where an amazing collection of rare and unusual tropical plants grows. On the territory of the garden of 25 hectares, you can see more than 80 species of palms, trees with giant roots, fragrant colorful flowers, as well as a pond with lilies, the bowls of which can withstand a load of up to 50 kg.

Sailing on a luxury sailing yacht or speedboat will allow you to enjoy the breathtaking scenery around. The itinerary of the cruise voyage includes stops at the islands of Ile aux Fares and Ile de la Passe. In 1810, these landmasses were the theater of a naval battle between the British and the French. One of the visiting cards of the republic is Chamarel Park.

This fabulous place attracts visitors with dunes, consisting of grains of sand full of various colors. Thanks to the play of light and shadow under the rays of the sun, a riot of colors gives the local landscape a unique flavor and a sense of unearthly reality.

It is impossible to ignore the seven-cascade Tamarin waterfalls, the total height of which reaches 300 meters. Thin streams of water, gathering into a huge stream, flow through seven steps and rush into a deep gorge. The waterfalls are surrounded by mountains covered with dense thickets of emerald vegetation. Participants of the expeditions are expected to swim in natural pools, carved by nature in the rock.

A visit to the capital of Mauritius – Port Louis will diversify a walk through reserves and parks. Here, modern high-rise buildings coexist with architectural monuments of past centuries. On the Place of Arms, you can contemplate examples of French colonial architecture. Noteworthy is the Government House, built of dark stone and wood. Of interest is the ancient citadel, the Catholic Cathedral, the Chinese pagoda, the mosque and the Hindu temple.

1 day – flight and accommodation

The flight from Moscow to Mauritius will take 12 hours, in fact the whole day. You will land at the only international airport in Mauritius, which is named after Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, who became the country's first prime minister. The airport is located just 47 kilometers from the capital – Port Louis.

It is worth remembering that before packing your bags, you need to find out what you can and cannot bring into Mauritius. Tourists can bring 1 liter of strong alcohol and no more than 2 liters of beer or wine. You can import no more than 1 bottle of perfume, it is forbidden to import any weapons, drugs or medicines containing narcotic drugs.

After passing customs control, you can take a taxi or a pre-rented car to go to the hotel. When choosing the city in which you want to settle, it is best to stay at La Gaulette, a fairly quiet and beautiful city, close to which all interesting places are located.

Day 2 – Chamarel colored sands and Tamarin waterfall

Having thoroughly slept and rested, we are going to go. Be sure to take mosquito repellent, in winter there are a lot of them. Put on comfortable and loose clothing, grab your camera and hit the road. Today we will go to look at the colored sands of Chamarel, and at the same time we will see the Tamarin waterfall, one of the most famous in Mauritius. It is quite a bit to go from La Gaulette to the colored sands, a little more than 7 km.

First, we will go to the observation deck from where you can see the famous waterfall “Tamarin”. If you are bored looking at the waterfall and you are an adrenaline lover, then you should know that several trails descend to the waterfall, but only the most desperate tourists risk going down to the waterfall.

Next, to finally see the colored land of Chamarel, you need to climb the orange staircase, which is made using Egyptian technology – it was the same that was used during the construction of the Egyptian pyramids. Until today, scientists cannot unravel the mystery of the colored sands, which were nicknamed Chamarel. Until now, no one can figure out and prove how the colored sands created by nature do not mix with each other either in rain or in wind. The sands have seven colors, because of this they were called the seven-colored land of the island.

The dunes occupy a vast territory, which is protected from visitors by a small wooden fence. It is forbidden to walk on the sands, but it is allowed to photograph the dunes as much as you like, and completely free of charge. It is best to visit the seven-colored land either early in the morning or just before sunset, the photos are the most beautiful and fascinating. In the evening, you can go to a local cafe and try the vaunted Noodle – spicy noodles with chicken, cabbage and carrots. If you do not like spicy dishes, you can ask the waiter not to add seasonings.

Day 3 – beach vacation

Flying to Mauritius and not swimming in the Indian Ocean would be an unforgivable mistake. The island is surrounded by coral reefs, which carefully protects the island from sharks and other dangerous fish. Almost all the beaches of Mauritius near the coast and in the depths are inhabited by sea urchins, therefore, in order to protect yourself from trouble, before going to the beach, you should stop by the store and buy special shoes.

Day 4 – La Vanille Reserve

Today we are going to the famous La Vanille Nature Reserve. This reserve in the south of the island is home to hundreds of animals – crocodiles, monkeys, birds, huge turtles and many other animals. Open daily from 9:30 to 17:00, accepts adults and children. An adult ticket costs from 200 to 350 rupees, and for children from 90 to 200. The main entertainment in the park is the opportunity to ride on the shell of a hundred-year-old turtle. But not only this pleases visitors: the park is a real jungle where you can walk looking at the most incredible exotic animals.

After a walk through the La Vanille nature reserve, you can have a bite to eat in one of the local cafes. In La Gaulette, you can find many fairly inexpensive, but cozy eateries where you can have a tasty and hearty meal. Usually these cafes are a family business.

Day 5 – Le Morne beach

After sleeping, we have a hearty breakfast and we are going on a trip. It is better to choose something light, you can take a hat or a baseball cap. Today we go to the beach in a tiny village near La Gaulette, which is located at the very foot of the Morne Brabant cliff, so the place is called Le Morne, quite popular and picturesque.

This beach is often visited not only by residents living in the local village, but also by tourists. Here you can buy a lot of colorful things: jewelry made of natural stones, souvenirs and handkerchiefs made of organic cotton. Also, a hundred meters from the beach there is a small cafe where you can have a tasty snack and take food to go.

Usually, they spend the whole day on the beach, but if a beach holiday for some reason does not appeal to you, then you can chat with the locals, who will definitely invite you to visit real Creole pies. In the evening, after a beach holiday, try to have a good rest and prepare for tomorrow, because we are finally going to one of the most famous plantations in the world – the Mauritian tea plantation, which is located high in the mountains.

Day 6 – Bois Cherie tea plantation

When going to a tea plantation, it is necessary to dress comfortably, in a sporty way, because we have a rather long way to go. The tea plantation includes a restaurant, a couple of viewing platforms and a tea museum called Bois Cheri. Interestingly enough, the tea is also produced under the name of Bois Chery, which is very popular on the island. If you live in a hotel, then for sure you will be treated to this particular tea more than once. But if you want to buy really real tea (which can be exported from the country in almost unlimited quantities), then you should go to a tea plantation, where you can taste and taste it before buying tea.

Bois Cherie plantations are part of the Mauritian Tea Road route. This route has three stops, the first of which is at the colonial Domaine des Aubineaux. The second stop takes place just on the territory of the Bois Cherie tea plantations. The easiest way to get there is by rented car, but you can also take a taxi.

You will be stopped at the plantation gate and you can buy tickets. Upon entering the plantation, you must leave the car and make a short journey. Here you will see plantations, a tea museum and a restaurant. First, you should visit the plantations and see with your own eyes how tea grows. This is quite an interesting sight, so be sure to take a camera or camcorder with you. Here, if you walk a little through the plantation, you can find a couple of observation platforms from which a picturesque view opens.

After carefully examining the plantations and having plenty of conversation with local residents or tourists, we go further – straight to the Bois-Cheri tea museum! It is here that you will be told the story of Mauritian tea, which is compared to the tea of ​​the Ceylon Islands. In these unpretentious rooms, you will be shown all the stages of tea production – from simple sorting to drying and packaging.

And finally, it is worth going to a restaurant where you can taste all types of tea that are produced here. This is coconut, and fruity, and jasmine, and even vanilla. In addition to tea, visitors are also offered a menu with various, mostly sweet dishes. You should definitely try the local waffles with ice cream, which will be prepared right in front of you.

Having visited the so-called “tea road”, you should not immediately leave the mountainous areas. It is worth carefully viewing all the surroundings, you can even take a walk. On the roads among exotic plants you can see small ponds with black swans, monkeys on the trees and the road, as well as various exotic birds and insects.

Day 7 – to the capital Port Louis

Today we will go to the capital of Mauritius – Port Louis, and on the way we will stop at the rather famous Grand Baie. We will also take a walk through the shops of the island, where you can buy not only souvenirs and colorful things, but also clothes at quite reasonable prices. Port Louis is quite far from La Gaulette, the journey by car will be 2-3 hours.

The first stop will take place in Grand Baie, and the second in the capital. You can have a good meal in Grand Baie: there are many decent restaurants and bars. It is also worth stopping by the famous Harley Davidson store, which sells not only motorcycles and bikes, but also clothes, accessories, and souvenirs.

Having walked a lot in one of the most beautiful cities of the island, we again get into the car and go to the capital. Here, in Port Louis, you can walk along the promenades, go to the casino, go to the hippodrome or go shopping. So, you should go to the central market, where you can buy almost everything!

There are also all the most exotic fruits, vegetables, as well as amusing little things that are perfect as a souvenir for your friends. Not only Mauritians trade here, but also Indians and Chinese, who will offer you various spices and spices. The Indians will offer you saris, the traditional clothing of India, while the Chinese also sell models of sailboats and wicker hats.

If your trip to the country's capital fell on a weekend, then you should visit the local hippodrome, which has been operating for several years. Paying only 70 euros, you can get to the VIP stand, where absolutely everyone is offered champagne, which is included in the ticket price. Shoppers should visit the local shops, which are concentrated mainly in the city center. There are brands that are completely unknown to us, as well as world brands: Armani, Lacoste, Re: store and others.

A huge number of local shops are dedicated specifically to cosmetics, so it is better to buy natural shampoos, oils, shower gels and creams in the capital. If you are hungry, you can have a bite to eat in a cafe or restaurant, which can be found on almost every corner of the embankment or right in the shopping center. After a long walk, we head home to La Gaulette, a quiet harbor.

Day 8 – Pamplemousses garden

Today we will go to the famous Pamplemousses Garden, one of the oldest and most famous botanical gardens in the whole world. The area of ​​the garden is a little more than 25 hectares, and at least 500 species of exotic plants grow on its territory. Previously, vegetables were grown on the site of the botanical garden, which were constantly bought by the governor of the island himself.

The botanical garden itself was created at the end of the 18th century under the guidance of the famous French botanist Pierre Poivre, who began to grow plants here to get spices from them. The garden is located quite far from the town of La Gaulette, but we will drive along a quite comfortable route along the Indian Ocean. The Botanical Garden is open daily from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm and the entrance fee is 3 euros. Several dozen tourists visit Pamplemousses every day, but you won't even notice it, because the garden, as mentioned earlier, is located on a vast territory.

The Botanical Garden can be recognized not only by the inscription, but also by the elegant forged gates, which are decorated with coats of arms with figures of unicorns and a lion. Crossing the threshold of the gate, you can see breadfruit, nutmeg, clove, tea tree, camphor tree and many others of extraordinary beauty. You can not only see, but also smell the magnolia, cinnamon, cloves and lotuses growing here.

The main attraction of the garden is the famous water lily, which was called “Amazonian Victoria”, it grows right in the reservoir located on the territory of Pamplemousses. It impresses not only with its extraordinary beauty, but also with its power – guides often offer tourists to sit on a water lily, but on condition that your weight reaches no more than 50 kg. There are also very small water lilies here, but they, of course, are no less beautiful.

Having seen enough of the graceful exotic plants, we go to La Gaulette. In the evening, you can take a great walk here, have a bite to eat in a cafe, sit on the ocean or relax before a new amazing day at the hotel, sharing photos with friends or reading an entertaining book.

Day 9 – Elite beach Flic-en-Flac

Today we will go to one of the most elite beaches of the island – to Flic-en-Flac. You are especially lucky if you are diving – this beach is known for its extraordinary underwater world. But do not despair if you just want a relaxing holiday: Flic-en-Flac is suitable for that too.

The beach is very close to La Gaulette, so you do not have to spend a lot of time on an exhausting road. Don't forget to bring your sunglasses, panama hat, swimsuit and sunscreen, which you will definitely need if you want to get an even and proper tan. You can take a fruit basket with you, having previously bought tropical sweets at one of the local markets – there are plenty of them at La Gaulette. Now you can hit the road!

Keep in mind that Flic-en-Flac is a fishing village, so if you want to meet the locals who love fishing, then this is the perfect place! Many residents are so friendly that they will gladly take you fishing or boating with them. If you get bored on the beach, then it's worth a little walk and you will find areas for outdoor activities.

Day 10 – Grand Bassin

The place that we invite you to visit today is the Grand Bassin, a place created for lovers of color and true connoisseurs of art. Grand Bassin is a sacred natural lake for Hindus, which was formed in a volcanic crater. An interesting attraction that is definitely worth a visit. Finding Grand Bassin will not be difficult for you – it is located very close to the La Vanille nature reserve and the Bois Cherie tea plantation.

Moreover, you can navigate by the most beautiful architectural monument in the form of Shiva – its height is just over 50 meters. A few meters from the statue you can see the temple dedicated to Shiva and, in fact, the Grand Bassin itself. This is a very beautiful sight, especially when local residents come here with baskets in their hands, in which there are “gifts” for sacrifice. After that, we suggest you go to Gris Gris beach, which is less than 5 kilometers from Grand Bassin.

Day 11 – History Museum in Maheburg

Today we go to the famous history museum, which is located in Maheburg, not far from the airport. The museum is open daily, except Tuesday from 9:00 to 16:00, but it is worth considering that on Sunday the museum is open until 12:00. Entrance is completely free. The Museum of History is simply created for lovers of mysteries, old maps, ships and engravings.

Corsair weapons, cannons, colonial furniture and shipwrecks are stored here. A huge stand here is dedicated to the naval battle between the French and the British, at the beginning of the 19th century, where the French fought for Mauritius, which in the past was a French colony. The museum attracts many tourists from all over the world with ship models sold here. Here they will be carefully packed, so they will not suffer in any way during the flight. We suggest you spend the rest of the day relaxing on the beach or in the hotel. Tomorrow you will have a very active and eventful day.

Day 12 – around the island on a boat

Today is the most eventful day of your stay in Mauritius, because today we are going by boat to travel around the island. It is worth renting a boat in advance or agreeing with the locals who will kindly agree to lend you their transport or personally guide the tour.

If you are staying at a hotel, then there will definitely not be any problems with these: almost all hotels in La Gaulette offer boat trips to their customers. Such trips are suitable for lovers of fishing, diving and beautiful places. It is best to go in the morning to have time to go around as many places as possible.

Food is worth taking if you are traveling without local residents, if they are with you, then you should not worry about food: they catch sea urchins and eat them as edibles, by the way, this is a delicacy. For lovers of fishermen, this trip is essential – not every day there is a chance to catch a huge marlin. It is very difficult to catch a marlin, it is much easier to catch an octopus, which falls into the bait of every third tourist. Most often, tourists release the octopus, but locals advise cooking delicious fried or boiled dishes from them.

The ideal option for a boat trip would be to stay in the ocean for the whole day, it is beautiful here both during the day and in the evening, closer to sunset.

Day 13 – we go to the Goodlands

We will devote the last days of our stay on the island to traveling around the cities of Mauritius. Today we offer you a trip to the city of Goodlands – one of the most populated cities of the island. Goodlands is quite a distance from La Gaulette, but that's for the best: you'll see a lot of beautiful places along the way. The best time to travel is Wednesday or Saturday. It is on these days that a vegetable market is open here, where you can buy the freshest products on the entire island. Goodlane has plenty of cafes and restaurants, as well as great shopping spots.

Day 14 – Casela Park

If you are a wildlife and wildlife lover, then you should definitely visit Casela Park, which many people confuse with La Vanille Reserve. The territory of the park is 14 hectares and is home to ostriches, zebras, lemurs, monkeys, tigers, turtles and many other animals. Casela Park is open daily from 9:00 to 17:00, an adult ticket costs 320 rupees, and a child ticket up to 210 rupees. The park is definitely worth a visit because you can enjoy photo safari, fishing, segway trips, hanging bridges, walking with tigers and much more.

Day 15 – swim with dolphins in Tamarin Bay

Today we will drive to Tamarin Bay, near Casela Park and Tamarin Falls. Tamarin Bay is a small bay favored by many dolphins. Therefore, boat trips or a swim with dolphins are available here for absolutely everyone. This entertainment is quite popular among tourists, so it's worth coming here early. A boat trip costs 30 euros, and a swim with marine mammals 45 euros. In the evening, you can return home a little early, because tomorrow morning we will go to Curepipe, perhaps one of the most beautiful cities on the island.

Day 16 – visiting the city of Kurip

Curepipe is the business capital of Mauritius. It reminds some tourists of India, others of China, and still others of England. You can see the whole city if you climb a high hill or any other hill, and there are also a lot of unique buildings, shops and even a botanical garden.

Dedicate the last days to the Mauritian beaches and the Indian Ocean. Before leaving, do not forget to throw a coin into the Indian Ocean “for luck”.

How and what to save

Traveling to Mauritius is not a budget holiday. There are several options that can significantly save money for independent tourists. You should pay attention to the following factors: