Thursday 4 December 2014

Mauritius Trip: Mauritius Tour

Mauritius Trip: Mauritius Tour: Introducing Mauritius    Mauritius is a fascinating, world-in-one-island slice of paradise. Its very name of conjures up images of tr...

Mauritius Tour

Introducing Mauritius 

 Mauritius is a fascinating, world-in-one-island slice of paradise. Its very name of conjures up images of tropical luxury and stupendous extravagance. While in many destinations famed for cobalt-blue seas, white sandy beaches and luxury hotels, you may eventually find yourself wishing for something to do besides sunbathing and swimming, it’s often hard to know what to do next in Mauritius. The island is loaded with historic sights, cultural diversity, geographic variation and almost limitless activities to distract you from the daily grind of beach and pool. But perhaps its single biggest asset is the relaxed charm of its warm and welcoming people.


Places To Visit 

Grand Baie:-In the 17th century the Dutch used to call Grand Baie 'De Bogt Zonder Eynt', which meant the 'Bay Without End'. Today it appears as though it's the development – not the bay – that's without end. As such, Grand Baie has all the vices and virtues of beach resorts the world over.

 

Rodrigues:-Blissfully isolated over 600km northeast of the mainland, this tiny volcanic outcrop surrounded by a massive turquoise lagoon is a stunning mountainous gem that barely feels connected to its big sister, Mauritius, let alone the wider world.

 Flic en Flac:-As wonderful and whimsical as the name sounds, Flic en Flac isn't quite the picture of paradise you saw on your travel agent's website. The area's moniker is thought to be a corruption of the old Dutch name Fried Landt Flaak (meaning 'Free and Flat Land'); the endless acreage of sandy shoreline was undoubtedly striking when explorers first arrived in the 18th century.

 

Central Plateau:-Home to a large majority of Mauritians, the cool and rainy centre of the island feels, for the most part, like a continuation of the urban chaos in Port Louis. There's very little to see in the corridor of towns that runs almost unbroken from the capital to Curepipe; in fact, it's pretty much the opposite of that postcard your friends sent you from their trip here last year.
  
Trou Aux Biches & Mont Choisy:-Relaxed Trou aux Biches and the neighbouring village of Mont Choisy (also spelt Mon Choisy) are fast-developing tourist destinations full of people seeking better beaches than Grand Baie. Trou aux Biches (Does' Watering Hole) enjoys gorgeous stretches of casuarina-lined sand that continue almost unbroken all the way to sleepy Mont Choisy.

 The East of Mauritius:-Known by the rather romantic sobriquet of La Cote Sauvage (The Wild Coast), the island's east coast is a world away from the touts, nightclubs and souvenir shacks of Flic en Flac in the west and Grand Baie in the north. It does have its resorts, yes, but the east face of Mauritius feels blissfully untouched by mass tourism. Best of all, some of the island's very best beaches line this quiet coast. Not surprisingly, this is the most exclusive side of the island, and the congregation of luxury hotels attracts the kind of crowd likely to take a helicopter transfer from the airport when they arrive. 

 

Mahebourg:-There is something relentlessly charming about bite-size Mahébourg (my-boor), and it seems to have fooled most Mauritians into believing that it's the island's 'second city' (it's not). Although there are stalled plans for a mammoth Caudan-like waterfront complex, for now it's all about simple pleasures: an interesting museum, a buzzing market, spicy street food, good budget lodgings, a pretty backdrop and beautiful beaches to the north and south.

 

Black River:-The large swath of beach-fringed land between Flic en Flac and Le Morne is known to most Mauritians as Rivière Noire (Black River). One of the island's last coastal areas to witness development, this constellation of townships has grown by leaps and bounds over the last few years as unsightly salt flats morph into stylish housing projects for South African expats, and traditional hunting grounds get reimagined as scenic zoos and cycling paths.
 Thanks....