Luxury Holidays to Mauritius 2024 & 2025

Time difference: Mauritius is 4 hours ahead of the UK (GMT +4 hours).

Flight duration: The average duration of a flight from London to Mauritius is 12 hours.

Currency: The local currency is the Mauritian rupee (MUR). However, you should take GBP with you and exchange it to the local currency when you arrive for the best conversion rates.

Capital: Port Louis is the capital of Mauritius.

Language: The official languages of Mauritius are English and French. Most local people also speak a Creole language, which combines French, English and influences from African dialects.

Telephone Code: +230

Tipping: Although you're not required to tip, the general tipping amount for good service is around 10-15%.

Etiquette: In Mauritius, you must remove leather shoes and belts before visiting places of worship and accept any food and drink when offered.

Religions: There is no official religion. But Hinduism, Christianity and Islam are the most practiced.

Visa Information: British passport holders do not need a visa to travel to Mauritius. When you arrive, your passport will be stamped, allowing you to stay in the country for up to 60 days.

Vaccinations: Ensure your primary courses and boosters are up to date, such as the flu vaccine. Tetanus shots are advised by travel health specialists and you should also consider Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B and Typhoid vaccines as well.

Transport and Getting Around Mauritius

There are plenty of transport options for experiencing the wonderful sights and sounds. The idyllic island is neither too small nor too large, meaning you can explore via car, bike, foot or boat trip across turquoise waters.

Our Travel Specialists organise every element of your luxury holiday in Mauritius. This includes private transfers to and from your hotel or various areas you'd like to visit during your time in the Indian Ocean.

It's best to spend more than one week in Mauritius. This way, you'll get to experience the island's different activities, from strolling through Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden to visiting the charming fishing village of Mahebourg. Plus, if you'd rather relax, this allows plenty of time to unwind after the long-haul flight.

However, Mauritius holidays from the UK are worth extending beyond this with a twin-centre. Combinations of the Indian Ocean and Arabian Gulf or Africa can easily planned by a Travel Specialist. 

Mauritius enjoys a tropical, warm climate throughout the year, making it the perfect place for travellers in search of azure waters and winter sun. Generally-speaking, the seasons in Mauritius are the opposite of those in the UK, with summer running from November to April and winter stretching from May to October. Summer is the hotter, rainy season, whereas winter is nice and warm, but dry and less humid.

However, as a small island state, Mauritius can experience somewhat unpredictable weather. The topography of the island also cultivates various microclimates, so even if it’s sunny on the white sandy beaches, it may well be cloudy in the mountains!

May to December is the best time to visit Mauritius, as temperatures are comfortable and the weather mostly dry. Between January and March is peak cyclone season. So, we'd recommend a holiday in Mauritius in December for areas like Bel Ombre Nature Reserve in search of endemic wildlife. Similarly, Mauritius November holidays are wonderful for the wide scope of watersports adventures.

Thanks to the island’s multicultural history, Mauritius enjoys a rich and varied culinary scene. Over the course of its history, it's been inhabited by groups from Africa to India, China, France and beyond, each community contributing flavours and dishes to the amazing cuisine.

Much of Mauritian cuisine is meat-free to accommodate the large Hindu population. So, if you're vegetarian or vegan, you'll discover plenty of delectable dishes to enjoy during your stay. However, if you do enjoy meat and fish, there are many mouth-watering varieties available.

As an island in one of the most bountiful oceans in the world, Mauritius enjoys fantastic fresh seafood, which you can enjoy as served or in a traditional seafood curry with noodles. Local Mauritians will attest that every dish ought to include at least a little chilli for it to be an authentic affair. But if you’re not a fan of spice, don’t worry – there are endless dishes to choose from, with and without the heat!

One dish that you absolutely must try during your luxury Mauritius trip, though, is ‘dholl puri’. Also called ‘dhal poori’, this tasty treat is a soft pancake made with ground yellow split pea flour, stuffed with flavoursome bean curry, wild herbs, tomatoes and much more.

Across Mauritius, there are countless incredible restaurants that serve delicious cuisine too. Beach Rouge is one of the highest-rated restaurants in Mauritius, featuring fabulous Mediterranean-inspired seafood with a fine dining twist. For something a little more locally-inspired, visit Escale Creole, a family-run restaurant where everything from curries to desserts are cooked fresh using home-grown ingredients.

The street food of Mauritius is also worth sampling – look out for pineapple slices in a chilli sauce, fried noodles and Indian snacks. If you're in search of a tipple, you'll find plenty of colourful cocktails mixed using the national drink of rum. The national beer is called Phoenix, and is served in most locations.

Whether it's a day trip to admire historic colonial architecture or simply relaxing on Constance Belle Mare Plage's white sand beach, there's an array of experiences to enjoy.

Snorkel at Turtle Bay

Any luxury holiday in Mauritius should include time spent experiencing the enchanting underwater world of the Indian Ocean. The island is almost completely encircled by beautiful blue waters and coral reefs, making it a brilliant destination for scuba diving and snorkelling.

Take a trip to Turtle Bay to enjoy world-class snorkelling or learn to dive at the PADI-certified Maritim Diving Centre. You'll encounter all manner of fascinating creatures, from turtles to rare tropical fish.

Seek a thrill with watersports - with the wonder of whale-watching!

Of course, you can also enjoy various watersports activities on the shores of the islands, whether it be a serene afternoon of stand-up paddleboarding or thrilling taste of paragliding.

With endless untouched islets off the mainland, a whole experience could be spent taking relaxing boat trips between the idyllic isles. Sail around Tamarin in search of friendly bottlenose dolphins or venture further to spot whales living peacefully in the open ocean.

Hike in spectacular Black River Gorges National Park

Take a trip to Black River Gorges National Park to discover the country’s most spectacular hiking. Immerse yourself in the hum of nature as you stroll through the rolling hills and thick forest past cascading waterfalls. Along the way, be on the lookout for resident tropical birds such as the endangered Mauritian kestrel flying high above the treetops.

Marvel at the rainbow dunes of Chamarel

Another absolute must-visit during your trip is a day excursion to the seven-coloured dunes of Chamarel. At this unique geopark, you can observe the natural beauty of these rainbow-hued dunes, with its undulating sand in shades of red, brown, violet, green, blue, purple and yellow.

Spend a day wandering around the stunning park, and make a stop off at Chamarel Waterfall – the highest single-drop waterfall in the country, dropping 100m from the jungle into a dazzling plunge pool.