Beyond the Beaches

Welcome to Mauritius. On arrival, meet our team and enjoy your private transfer to the hotel, taking in your first glimpses of the island along the way.

Today is deliberately easy. Check in, unpack and spend the rest of the day enjoying your surroundings, the lagoon or simply recovering from the journey.

There is plenty of adventure ahead, so we recommend resisting the temptation to schedule anything on arrival day. Tomorrow morning takes you to one of Mauritius' most spectacular landscapes - Le Morne Brabant.

Have a good dinner, prepare comfortable hiking clothes and shoes, and get some rest. The adventure starts tomorrow.

This morning, set out for one of Mauritius' most iconic adventures - the ascent of Le Morne Brabant.

Accompanied by an experienced guide, follow the mountain trail for an approximately four-hour hike, moving through changing terrain as the views open over the south-western coastline, turquoise lagoon and surrounding landscape.

Le Morne is much more than a spectacular viewpoint. The mountain and its Cultural Landscape are deeply connected to the history of slavery and resistance in Mauritius, giving the experience a significance that goes well beyond the climb itself.

Back at the foot of the mountain, the pace changes completely. Enjoy a picnic lunch by Le Morne Beach, take off your hiking shoes and spend the afternoon swimming, relaxing beneath the trees or simply admiring from below the mountain you explored that morning.

Our recommendation: keep the rest of the day free. Four hours on Le Morne is rewarding enough - there is no reason to rush off to another attraction when one of Mauritius' most beautiful beaches is right beside you.

After yesterday's climb, today is deliberately left free.

Sleep a little longer, enjoy breakfast at your own pace and give your legs time to recover. Spend the day at your hotel, swim in the lagoon, relax by the pool or find a quiet spot on the beach and do very little at all.

Building recovery time into an adventure itinerary is important. Rather than moving from one demanding activity to the next, we prefer to create a rhythm that allows you to properly enjoy each experience - and still remember that you are on holiday in Mauritius.

If you are feeling energetic, keep it light: snorkelling in the lagoon, paddleboarding or a gentle walk along the beach are more than enough.

Tomorrow, the hiking shoes come back out as you head inland to discover one of Mauritius' most impressive natural playgrounds - the Seven Cascades.

Today takes you into the green heart of Mauritius for an adventure around the Seven Cascades, also known as Tamarind Falls.

Follow forest trails and natural paths with your guide as you move between waterfalls, rivers and freshwater pools. This is not simply a walk to a viewpoint - there is time to experience the landscape itself, cool off in the water, swim in natural pools and, where conditions allow, stand beneath the refreshing flow of the waterfalls.

After the hike, slow the pace completely. You are already close to Grand Bassin, one of the most important spiritual places in Mauritius, so rather than simply driving past, stop to discover this sacred lake and learn a little about the Hindu traditions that form an important part of Mauritian culture.

Take your time around the temples and, when the opportunity arises, meet a pandit and receive a blessing before continuing your journey. It is a peaceful contrast to the physical adventure of the morning and a chance to experience a very different side of the island.

Then return to your hotel for a well-earned afternoon or evening at leisure.

Today starts early - but this is one morning worth setting the alarm for.

Head to Tamarin Bay while the coastline is still waking up and take to the water by kayak for an approximately 2½-hour experience. Paddling rather than travelling by motorboat creates a quieter and more immersive way to explore the bay while looking for the dolphins that frequent these waters.

As these are wild animals in their natural environment, sightings can never be guaranteed - and that is precisely how a responsible wildlife encounter should be. The experience is as much about being on the ocean in the early morning, paddling beneath the mountains and discovering the bay from water level.

Because of the early start, you may not have time for the usual hotel breakfast. Our tip is to ask your hotel in advance to prepare a picnic breakfast. Once back on shore, find a spot on Tamarin Beach and turn it into a relaxed seaside brunch.

Afterwards, there is no need to fill the rest of the day. Enjoy Tamarin Beach for a while before returning to your hotel, where the afternoon is yours to recover, swim or simply relax.

Today, head south to discover one of the rawest and least polished sides of Mauritius - where tropical forest, rivers and volcanic cliffs meet the Indian Ocean.

Set out on an approximately three-hour guided hike through the Wild South. Follow trails through lush forest and alongside meandering rivers before reaching Cascade Mamzelle, where you can cool off in the freshwater basin. Continue towards a secluded natural pool before emerging onto the dramatic volcanic coastline, with waves crashing below the cliffs and wide views across the ocean.

The route is relatively accessible for an adventure hike, but still gives you the feeling of exploring somewhere far removed from Mauritius' resort coastline. Bring your swimwear - getting into the water is part of the experience.

After the hike, don't rush back to the hotel. You are already in the south, so this is the perfect opportunity to experience another part of Mauritius: its food. Stop at a typical local restaurant for a proper Mauritian lunch and discover some of the flavours that form part of everyday island life.

Then return to your hotel for a well-earned afternoon at leisure. Muddy shoes, salty skin and a full stomach - a pretty good day in the Wild South.

Your final full day in Mauritius is deliberately left open. After mountains, waterfalls, kayaking and the Wild South, today you decide what adventure means.

If you still have energy to spare, we can suggest another experience according to your interests and where you are staying - perhaps kayaking through a peaceful river landscape, getting out on the water, exploring by bike or discovering another corner of the island on foot.

Or change the pace completely. Sleep late, spend the morning at the beach, enjoy your hotel and let your hiking shoes dry in the sun.

We keep this day flexible for a reason. Weather, sea conditions and simply how you feel after several days of exploring can influence what you want to do. Rather than filling the itinerary just because there is space, we prefer to leave room for a recommendation that makes sense at the time.

Adventure does not always mean doing more. Sometimes it means having the freedom to choose.