Mauritius
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 It is difficult to write about Mauritius without resorting to clichéd images. The palm trees, the trade winds, the white sands and turquoise seas, and the 100 miles of coastline protected by the world's third largest coral reef makes it the perfect picture-postcard tropical island. It is a sun kissed paradise.
From the air it looks like a teardrop in the ocean, a patchwork of volcanic rock, green vegetation, and white sands, the whole ringed by sea that changes from cerulean blue to deepest aquamarine. The original home of the dodo and dating back 10 million years, the island has a varied cultural history that encompasses colonisation by the Portuguese, the Dutch, the French and the English. Mauritius is renowned for its combination of luxury and style, making it a natural choice for the discerning traveller. There is no better place in which to de-stress than in one of the island's luxurious resorts that offer everything from barefoot luxury to quiet sophistication. Added to which it is increasingly becoming known for the quality of a cuisine in which its rich cultural history is reflected. You may find the surroundings so attractive that you won't want to move from the hotel and the enticing draw of sea, pool, and garden, but it would be a pity to miss out on what this jewel of an island has to offer. Self-drive can be tiring but there is an alternative if you are determined to have a totally relaxed holiday - hire a taxi; it's inexpensive, you have a guide thrown in and you preserve some independence of movement. Your hotel will be able to arrange this for you. The diverse inner landscapes range from awesome to exquisite, from the lunar outcrops of the volcanic terrain to tumbling waterfalls, dramatic chasms, spectacular peaks, dun coloured dusty villages with hidden temples and pagodas, and miles and miles of sugar cane and coconut groves. The drive along the coastline to the amazing Gris-Gris cliffs is recommended. Its grand parks are justly famed, the best of which are the Black River Gorges National Park in the south west of the island where you may see wild monkeys and deer, and the Domaine du Chasseur. There is also a commercial Bird Park, a Crocodile Park, and Le Waterpark for non-stop action and fun.  Of course you won't want to miss the market in the island's capital, Port Louis, where the stalls sell everything from fresh fruit and pungent spices to exquisite silks saris and handicrafts. It's a steaming, bewildering, bustling venue, a profusion of colours and sounds, un-missible if you love local colour but slightly intimidating if you don't.
But it's the calm, safe, waters of the Indian Ocean that most people come here for, waters that are the warmest of any ocean in the world by virtue of the encircling barrier reef. Hours can be spent snorkelling in the shallow lagoons, floating above a myriad of brightly coloured fish that brush your skin as you drift on the waves. It's a place just made for watersports, from a gentle paddle in a kayak to water-skiing or sailing. But if you want adventure, then hop on a 'plane for the short flight to the island of Reunion (a Departement of France) and have an adrenalin rush by flying over the still slumbering volcano in a micro-light, do some mountain trekking or go horse riding into the hills and up the volcano’s slopes. Reunion is for the active holiday maker: intrepid travellers shouldn't miss it. If the micro-light trip sounds just a tad dangerous, you can stay on terra firma along the coast and watch the lava ooze down the mountainside in steady rivulets. Mauritius was granted independence in 1968 and the population of around 1,000,000 is a mix of English-speaking African, European and Asian. French is spoken in preference to English alongside Creole and Hindi, but you'll have no difficulty in communicating with this smiling island race.
Click here for a few suggestions from our
extensive portfolio of hotels.
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