FIVE WAYS TO EXPLORE MAURITIUS

candlelit set-up on the beach or in-suite breakfasts, but whatever you do, don’t miss dinner at Le Barachois, its gorgeous floating restaurant among the mangroves. Turquoise Holidays (0149

467 8400; turquoiseholidays. co.uk) offers seven nights at Constance Prince Maurice from £1,949 per person on a B&B basis, including flights and private transfers. Departs May

FOR ADVENTURE LOVERS Mauritius sits head and shoulders above its fly-andflop rivals when it comes to adventure. On top of the usual watersports, there’s everything from hiking and mountain biking to helicopter tours and zip-lining. The wild southern coast remains unspoilt, and the Anantara Iko is both luxurious and serious about sustainability, with direct access to the Blue Bay Marine Park and its pristine underwater playground. Guests have free access to paddleboarding and daily snorkelling trips, as well as cycle trails along the casuarina-fringed coast. Guided tours are available through the La Vallée de Ferney wildlife reserve on foot or by kayak, and to Ile aux Aigrettes – thought to be the last resting place of the dodo – by sunset cruise. Kuoni (0800 088 5957; kuoni.co.uk) offers seven nights at Anantara Iko Mauritius Resort & Villas from £1,499pp, including breakfast, flights and a complimentary 30-minute spa treatment. Departs June

FOR FOODIES

Few destinations on earth can brag about its range of cuisine options the way Mauritius can; with gastronomic influences from Europe, Asia, Africa and beyond. One of the best resorts for encompassing all of these flavours on an all-inclusive basis is the Heritage Awali, on the splendid Bel Ombre Estate, a former sugar plantation. Here you’ll have access to 12 restaurants and eight bars, including the island’s famed Le Château de Bel Ombre, plus beautifully assembled picnics and afternoon tea.

Venture to any coast for reliably fantastic street food (look for the longest line of locals, then order the Mauritius dholl puri and some gateaux piments) and don’t leave without sampling the outrageously good Georgian khinkali at Dumpling Madness (they deliver island-wide).

Virgin Holidays (0344 472 9646; virginholidays.co.uk) has seven nights at Heritage Awali from £2,790pp including all meals and flights. Departs November

FOR UBER LUXURY

The Oberoi Mauritius isn’t just one of the finest hotels on the island; its Royal

Villa is up there with the world’s most lavish resort residences – a 650sq-ft thatched complex boasting sea and mountain views, bedecked with stylish

Asian artefacts, centred around an elegant private pool, with a vast master bedroom and sunken marble bathroom flanking one side and a living room and kitchen on the other. An al fresco dining pavilion, gargantuan hammock and sun loungers galore will keep you from wanting to leave, but the rest of this basalt beachfront retreat, which overlooks the Turtle Bay Marine Park, has plenty to lure you, with mature tropical grounds and excellent dining.

The Oberoi (0800 1234 0101; oberoihotels.com) has seven nights in the Royal Villa from £10,339pp, with flights from London, private transfers and complimentary activities. Departs Nov 7, other dates available

i Pier to paradise: families adore the calm shores of Flic-en-Flac