Mauritius
A sacred lake nestled in a volcanic crater, then a white-sand islet off the east coast
Mauritius
A journey between two inland and coastal facets of Mauritius, off the usual west-coast circuit: Grand Bassin, a sacred lake nestled in a volcanic crater and a major Hindu pilgrimage site drawing hundreds of thousands of worshippers each year, then Île aux Cerfs, a white-sand islet off the east coast, reachable only by boat and entirely devoted to beachside relaxation.
When
May to Nov
Price
From 2 900€ excl. flights
(based on 2 people sharing)
How long
6 nights
Ideal length
Days 1-2
The first chapter unfolds at Grand Bassin, locally known as Ganga Talao, a crater lake considered by the Mauritian Hindu community to be spiritually connected to India's Ganges River. Each year during the Maha Shivaratri festival, hundreds of thousands of pilgrims converge on foot from across the island, making this site the largest Hindu gathering place outside India and Nepal.
Day 1
The sacred lake and its temples
A visit to Grand Bassin lake and its colourful temples dedicated to Shiva, including a statue over thirty metres tall dominating the site, one of the tallest Hindu statues outside India.
Day 2
Tea plantations and a scenic road
A visit to a tea plantation in the Bois Chéri highlands, a tasting with a view over the island's wild south, then a drive to the Black River Gorges for a coastal sunset.
Days 1-2
The road to the east coast and departure for Île aux Cerfs, a white-sand islet surrounded by a shallow lagoon, long reserved for hunting the deer introduced by Dutch colonists before becoming one of the island's most sought-after beach destinations. A golf course designed by Bernhard Langer, the only island course of its kind in the Indian Ocean, rounds out an offering entirely geared toward relaxation.
Day 1
The crossing and Île aux Cerfs beach
A boat crossing to Île aux Cerfs, a beach day in the shallow lagoon, a seafood lunch with feet in the sand facing the coral reef.
Day 2
Vacoas waterfall and the return
A boat excursion to GRSE waterfall, which plunges directly into the lagoon from a nearby cliff, before the return to the east coast at the end of the day.
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