Mauritius —
2-week road trip

Visa: no visa required for EU passport holders for a tourist stay of up to 90 days. You need a valid passport, a return ticket, and that's it. Immigration is quick on arrival.

Health: no mandatory vaccinations to enter Mauritius. DTP and hepatitis A are recommended. Consult a doctor a few weeks before departure. Check my complete pre-trip checklist so you don't forget anything.

Packing: Mauritius means beaches, hikes, restaurants and evenings out — pack light and practical. Quick-dry lightweight clothing, biodegradable sunscreen for snorkelling, hiking shoes for Le Morne, a light jacket for cooler evenings. See everything I pack for a tropical trip.

Week 1: base in Flic en Flac (west coast) → Black River & Chamarel excursion → dolphin & Île aux Bénitiers excursion → Grand Bassin & Bois Chéri → ascent of Le Morne Brabant

Week 2: new base in Grand Baie (north) → Port Louis → Cap Malheureux → catamaran excursion to Îlot Gabriel → Mahebourg

Flic en Flac is the perfect starting point. It's quiet, natural, not overly commercial, with a long gorgeous beach lining the whole town. We settled here for the entire first week.

Walking barefoot for several kilometres on white sand with a turquoise lagoon in front of you, swimming in 28°C water, lying down until sunset. The sunsets here are spectacular, facing the ocean, with colours setting the sky on fire. We went back every single evening.

Sunset in Tamarin: about ten minutes by car, the village of Tamarin has small relaxed beach clubs by the sea. The vibe is gentle, local, not touristy. Exactly as we like it.

An unforgettable encounter: one evening at a restaurant, we met a local who offered to show us around the neighbourhood bars and taught us the séga, the traditional Mauritian dance. Rhythmic, festive, infectious. The warmth of Mauritian people stays with you long after the trip.

Taxi from Flic en Flac for the day — negotiate the price for multiple stops, it works out much cheaper than separate rides. Chamarel is about 30 km from Flic en Flac, roughly 40 minutes by road.

We start with a short jungle hike to the viewpoint over the Chamarel waterfall, which plunges 83 metres into tropical vegetation below. Impressive. The trail is short and accessible, the vegetation lush, the sounds of the jungle all around.

Right next door, the Seven Coloured Earths is a geological phenomenon unique in the world: volcanic sand dunes that naturally display seven different shades. The peculiarity? No matter how much rain falls, the colours never mix. We walk around the site, see the giant tortoises in the adjacent enclosure, and leave with incredible photos.

Along the way, we meet Arnaud, who is crushing sugar cane to make juice. He offers us a taste — fresh, sweet, slightly grassy, surprising. One of those unplanned travel moments you remember for a long time.

On the way back, a stop at George Viewpoint — a lookout over the jungle where we find ourselves surrounded by lots of monkeys. It was adorable.

A memorable day — in both senses of the word.

We set off early morning by boat with a small group to swim with dolphins off the west coast. From the surface you can see them well, graceful and present. But underwater it's trickier, and the activity can feel like a chase. Honestly, having done similar experiences in Indonesia with small local fishermen who were more respectful of the animals, I found this one too touristy. Worth keeping in mind before you book.

But the rest of the day more than makes up for it. Île aux Bénitiers is stunning. Open-air barbecue lunch: grilled fish, plantain banana with rum, punch flowing freely. We walk along the beach, spot Le Morne in the distance silhouetted on the horizon, the water is crystal clear. Then snorkelling around a rock with impressive colourful fish. Back to Flic en Flac, fresh coconut on the beach and sunset. A day like that, you don't forget.

For a slightly different day, head to Grand Bassin — Mauritius's sacred lake and a major Hindu pilgrimage site. You can walk around the lake, climb to the viewpoint, observe the offerings and small temples, spot monkeys in the trees. It's eye-opening, colourful, peaceful, and a great way to learn about the Hindu traditions that are such an integral part of Mauritian culture.

On the way back, we stop at Bois Chéri — and that's the real discovery of the day. An entirely lush tea plantation. We walk through the tea fields to reach the small café-restaurant-shop by the water. A tea tasting awaits: dozens of flavours, all excellent, with a lovely view over the lake.

We then have lunch at the restaurant with tea-infused specialities — outstanding. And we get a surprise visit: deer wander past the terrace, calmly. We also spot wild boar in the bushes. We're truly in the countryside here, in preserved nature.

On the way back, several stops to look for waterfalls — we find pretty little streams in vegetation that looks like savanna. Beautiful and a welcome change from the beaches.

Up early that morning. Destination: Le Morne Brabant, the iconic mountain of Mauritius, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2008. Le Morne is about 25 km from Flic en Flac, roughly 30-40 minutes by road.

The first part of the ascent is pleasant — a trail climbing gradually through dense tropical vegetation, with macaques in the trees. The second part is a different story: the path becomes steep, exposed, and you sometimes climb on all fours over the rock.

We were alone, without a guide. It's doable if you're comfortable with scrambling — but if you have any doubts or feel uncertain about the technical sections, take a guide. That's not the moment to have regrets.

Reaching the summit at 9:30am. The view over the turquoise lagoon, the south-west beaches and the vast expanse of the Indian Ocean is breathtaking. Absolutely worth every step.

After the descent, a well-deserved stop at Le Morne beach. White sand, warm water, a stunning view of the mountain from below. Just as beautiful from the beach as from the summit.

We change base for the second week. Flic en Flac was nature and calm — Grand Baie is its exact opposite: touristy, lively, with a port, shops, restaurants and activity everywhere. An excellent choice for a change of pace and a more festive atmosphere.

Péreybère Beach a few minutes north — crystal clear water, fine sand, less crowded than Grand Baie centre. Don't miss it.

The Cloud: our favourite sunset spot of the week. A bar-restaurant perched in a tree facing the sea, run by an incredibly friendly French owner. Live music, cocktails, tapas, convivial atmosphere. We went back every evening — that says it all.

Pizzeria Felicità: an absolute gem. The best pizza we had in Mauritius. A must if you're passing through Grand Baie.

The Cap Malheureux chapel with its iconic red roof is even prettier in real life than in photos. Cap Malheureux is only 7 km from Grand Baie, less than 15 minutes by road. A peaceful village with lovely lanes to wander.

The address not to miss: right next to the chapel, Lakaz Sandrine — a small, wonderfully authentic beach shack. You choose your fish directly from the fisherman, he cooks it for you, and you eat with your feet in the sand at the water's edge. One of my best food memories of the whole trip.

Mont Choisy Beach on the way back — a large wild beach with almost no one on it, shallow turquoise water. One of the most beautiful and peaceful spots on the entire island.

An essential morning. Port Louis central market is huge, bustling, colourful and fascinating. Port Louis is 26 km from Grand Baie, about 30-40 minutes by road. Spices in every colour, local souvenirs, culinary specialities, exotic fruits you've never seen, unknown vegetables, vendors calling to you in Creole. It's immense, it buzzes with life everywhere — a genuine immersion in local life.

On the way back, a stop in Triolet to admire the beautiful mosaic church, one of the largest on the island, entirely decorated in colourful mosaics. Then paddleboating at Grand Baie beach in the afternoon.

That evening: dinner at Domaine de Vale — a slightly hidden little restaurant but their fish curry was an absolute revelation. Then the casino, and dancing at N Joy in Grand Baie. A great night.

A small storm the night before, a still-cloudy sky at departure. Bad luck with the weather. But it didn't ruin the day.

We eventually reach Îlot Gabriel where the water is clear and the snorkelling is lovely, with turtles to spot. We eat on the catamaran — and that's when the sun finally shows up. Rum, reggae, jumping off the deck. The kind of excursion where even with fickle weather you come back smiling.

Last accommodation before the airport. Mahebourg is only 9 km from the airport, about 15 minutes by road. The town is pleasant to explore, with its seafront and laid-back atmosphere. For food, Coin Casse-Croûte is a good local address, simple and solid.

Take the bus to Grand Port beach — stunning, with the bonus of a direct view of planes taking off from the airport just opposite. The water is warm, the sun is shining. It really makes you not want to leave.

Unfortunately it's already the end. Two weeks pass far too quickly in Mauritius.