MAGNIFICENT MAURITIUS

Pe This istand in the ut 7% Indian Ocean feels Sa: like paradise, says Charlotte Richards

- CHARLOTTE RICHARDS

Watching the sun set over the white sand and turquoise sea, cocktail in hand, it felt like the classic beachside break. But the arrival of a troupe of dancers, performing the local Sega in the shadow of the jawdropping Le Morne mountain, made the experience uniquely Mauritian. Blessed with idyllic beaches and turquoise waters, the island enjoys a tropical climate with consistent temperatures year-round. There’s no bad time to visit!

RICH HERITAGE

This haven, east of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean, packs quite the punch for an island that’s just 65km long. Its rich culture is all around. Mauritius began as an uninhabited volcanic paradise (famously home to the now-extinct dodo), until the first of many European colonists arrived, bringing slaves and labourers from across the globe. The result today is a culture that blends French, English, Indian, African and Chinese influences.

ELEGANT RETREATS