Ile Maurice, Mauritius Hotels and City Guide

Ile Maurice - Going Out

Golfing

A paradise for golfers, Mauritius is home to 14 golf courses, some of which host the PGA Tour, Major Championships, the Mauritius Open and the Ryder Cup.

Designed by Bernard Langer, the 18-hole championship One & Only Le Touessrok Golf Course is the most exotic and stunning golf course on Le Touessrok Resort’s island, Ile aux Cerfs. It has nine lakes and golfers are required to make shots across shallow inlets to the fairways.

A selection of other top courses include The Links and The Legend at Belle Mare Plage; Le Paradis’ scenic 18-hole course at Le Morne; Anahita, designed by Ernie Els through spectacular scenery and managed by the Four Seasons Hotel at Beau Champ, Grande Rivière Sud-Est on the east coast; and Le Golf du Chateau at Bel Ombre on the south coast managed by Heritage Awali Golf & Spa Resort.

Watersports

Sailing
Grand Baie is the centre for watersports. Many hotels provide small sailing craft for guests to use in the calm lagoons. Private charters of all types of boats can be hired for day or longer trips, organised by local travel agents. Enjoy a 14km catamaran trip around Coin du Mire Island (sea bird sanctuary) in the extreme north to Ile Gabriel and Ile Plate. Competitive yacht racing takes place in the windy months of June and July.

Deep-sea fishing
Big-game fishing for blue and black marlin, sharks, tuna, bonita and barracuda can be arranged with most hotels which provide fully-equipped boats. Spear fishing is prohibited.

Diving
Many diving centres offer scuba-diving at over 30 dive sites, including wreck sites, at Cap Malheureux, Grand Baie, Flic en Flac, Le Morne, Trou aux Biches and Pointe aux Piments.

Tickets for a two-hour tour can be purchased from hotels and tour companies for a trip on Le Nessee, a semi-submersible, to view the bright corals with optional snorkelling. It departs from Sunset Boulevard jetty at Grand Baie. Blue Safari submarines enable visitors to descend to a depth of 30m to experience close-up encounters with the magical marine world. Tickets obtained at Royal Road, Grand Baie. Many hotels have glass-bottomed boats which provide good views of the coral reefs.

Dolphin Viewing
Board a dinghy along the west coast from Tamarin Bay to the rocky cliffs of Médine.

Sea Kayaking
Various options offer trips from one day to 12 days. A one-day adventure starts in the north with a paddle to Ile d’Ambre in a lagoon offering tropical vegetation with shady channels. Stop for a picnic lunch on the small island of Bernache where you can enjoy a swim. The excursion allows you to see lagoons, islands, rivers, channels and hidden beaches. Kayaks are fully equipped.

Surfing
With high waves, Tamarin Bay, Le Morne and on the west coast and Baie du Cap on the southwest coast offer the best surfing.

Land Activities

Mountain biking in the Chamarel area, hiking in the Black River Gorges National Park, quad-biking, canyoning, zip-lining at Casela Nature and Leisure Park will suit adrenalin junkies.

Horse Riding
See this alluring island on horseback, riding along beaches and clifftops in mountains, through sugar-cane fields and stunning scenery.

Swimming, Tennis, Squash
Most hotels have swimming pools, tennis and squash courts.

Entertainment

The various hotels and resorts arrange their own entertainment that can include resident bands, cocktails on the beach, theme evenings, séga dancers and performances by local artistes.

Casinos include Caudan Waterfront, l’Amicable de Port Louis, Champ de Mar Race Course, Casino du Domaine at Domaine les Pailles, Trou aux Biches, Casino de Maurice in Curepipe, a small casino in Flic en Flac and one at Mahébourg’s waterfront.

Discos and bars are plentiful in the tourist areas, with Grand Baie having the liveliest nightlife.

When to Go - Annual Events

January

Cavadee
During this Tamil Hindu festival on 20 January 2011, after ten days of fasting and praying, devotees pierce their faces, including tongues, and bodies with needles and skewers showing their devotion, often in a trance, to Lord Subramaniam as they drag cavadees, flower-decked wooden arches supporting pots of milk, through the streets to the temples.

February

Chinese New Year/Chinese Spring Festival
Chinese families celebrate their new year with dazzling firework displays to drive out evil spirits. The streets are decorated with red lanterns, and classic dragon dances are highlights of this colourful festival on 3 February 2011.

South Indian Ocean Billfish Competition
This tag-and-release competition attracts international anglers to the west and southwest coasts. Le Morne is acknowledged as one of the best deep-sea fishing places in the world. The competition, arranged by Le Morne Anglers’ Club in partnership with Naiade Resorts, runs from 16-18 February 2011.

March

Maha Shivaratree
The most important Hindu festival in honour of Lord Shiva takes place over four days from 2 March 2011. Dressed in white and carrying arches covered in flowers, many will walk to the sacred volcanic lake of Grand Bassin.

April – July

Indian Ocean Rowing Race
This biennial rowing race attracts sailors from around the world on a daunting voyage of over 3,000 nautical miles, departing from Geraldton in Western Australia on 17 April 2011, ending in Mauritius on 5 July 2011. As the race was held in 2011, the next Indian Ocean Rowing Race will only take place in 2013.

May

Royal Raid
The annual 80km ultra marathon around the island on 14 May 2011 starts at the Yemen Nature Reserve, ending at the sugar-cane fields of Bel Ombre Estate. A 35km marathon is also run.

Crossroads of Flavour
International chefs dish up their culinary delights at various resorts.

June

Mauritius Marathon
This annual 42km coastal race is run through stunning scenery starting at Tamarin and finishing on the beach of St Felix, on 19 June 2011.

July

Mauritius Ocean Classic
The annual 20km kayak race on 3 July 2011 from Souillac to Le Morne is part of the World Surf Ski Series.

The Barbé Cup
The annual horserace takes place at the Champ de Mars Racecourse, the oldest in the southern hemisphere, in Port Louis on 16 July 2011.

INDEXPO Trade Fair
The trade fair runs from 29 July – 7 August at Trianon Shopping Park in Quatre Borne.

August

Beach Rugby Tournament
This popular touch-rugby annual event takes place on Bel Ombre beach on 6/7 August 2011.

Kiteival
The kite-surfing competition is held in the lagoons on the eastern and southern coasts.

Eid ul Fitre
Muslims celebrate the end of Ramadan with family feasts and prayers at their mosques on 31 August 2011.

September

Ganesh Chaturthi
On 2 September 2011 Hindus observe the birthday of the elephant-headed god Ganesh, the son of Lord Shiva, by dipping statuettes of him in the sea or rivers.

Père Laval Day
Devotees of the French Catholic missionary who fought against slavery, travel from all over the world to Sainte Croix to pray for miracle cures at the shrine of this holy man on 9 September 2011.

Mauritius Ballroom Dance Competition
This spectacular show is performed annually in September at the Swami Vivekananda International Convention Centre.

October

Ferney Trail – Le Domaine de l’Etoile Challenge
A 10km race on 1 October 2011 helps generate awareness of the fragile wildlife and flora of the island, threatened by the tourist onslaught.

But if running is not your forte, you can simply hike through the breathtaking La Vallee de Ferney in the Bambou mountains where a preservation project is underway to save this rare pocket of indigenous forest. There are 28km, 15km and 10km trails.

Opera Mauritius
Operas are staged at the J&J Auditorium in Phoenix with international and local opera singers. Recitals take place at the Conservatoire de Musique François Mitterand and other venues.

Diwali
The Hindu Festival of Lights is celebrated on 26 October 2011 with clay lamps and fireworks.

November

Indian Ocean Triathlon
Undoubtedly the most scenic triathlon in the world, the race starts at Les Pavilions Hotel in the southwest of the island on 13 November 2011. Distances raced in the three disciplines are: swimming 1.8km in a stunning lagoon, biking 55km through Chamarel village as you climb, and running 12km alongside a perfect beach.

Air Mauritius International Golf Trophy
This annual event takes place from 21-27 November 2011 at the elite Le Touessrok Golf Course on Ile aux Cerfs. The hotel is one of the top five in the world.

December

Marlin World Cup Fishing Competition
Hosted by La Pirogue Hotel.

Mauritius Commercial Bank Golf Open
International players on the European Senior Golf Tour compete on the stunning course at Constance Belle Mare Plage Resort from 9-11 December 2011.

Mauritius Golf Masters
Four Seasons Golf Club hosts this event at magnificent Anahita from 11-18 December 2011.

International Creole Festival
The vibrant, colourful annual festival of song, dance, and music celebrates Creole culture. It takes place on 5/6 December 2011 on beaches, in parks and at various other venues in Port Louis. Watch the sega dancers’ skirts swirl to the rhythm of drums as the islanders party away the nights.

The Standard Bank Mauritius Open
The table of Mauritian annual events finishes with yet another major golf competition on 10 December 2011, attracting international professional golfers as well as amateurs. It is played at the magnificent Le Touessrok Golf Course on Ile aux Cerfs.

Value for Money Packages

Hotels, in conjunction with airlines and tour companies, offer all-inclusive deals, golf packages and ‘specials’.

Hotels in Ile Maurice, Mauritius