Thirteen ways to fill a day without golf.
Every excursion is its own module in Build the trip — add it on whichever day you like, or not at all. Prices below are per person.
From the hotel
Catamaran and Chamarel.
-
Half day, from the hotel
Catamaran, northern islands
Sailing out to the islands off Grand Baie with a skipper and crew. A stop for snorkelling over the reef, a light lunch and drinks on board. Shared boat of roughly 20–30 guests, or private for a surcharge.
Pickup includedLunch included2 400 kr
Departure around 09:00 from the hotel's jetty or the nearest harbour, back around 15:00. Bring swimwear, a towel and sun protection — nothing to buy on board. Children under 12 travel at a reduced price.
-
Full day, guided
Chamarel and the south-west
Minibus to Chamarel’s Seven Coloured Earths and waterfall, through Black River Gorges National Park, with tasting at a local rum distillery and lunch at a table d’hôte along the way.
Guide includedLunch included1 900 kr
Departure around 08:30, back around 16:00. Comfortable shoes are recommended for the walk by the waterfall. The rum distillery sells bottles to take home, if you want to buy afterwards.
Guided
Le Morne and Port Louis.
-
Half day, guided
Le Morne
A guided walk at the foot of Le Morne Brabant, a UNESCO World Heritage site and former refuge for escaped slaves, with the story of the site’s history and time on the beach. Climbing the mountain itself is not included.
Guide included1 700 kr
Departure around 09:00, back around 13:00. The walk is on level ground and suits most fitness levels. Anyone who wants to climb the peak — roughly three hours return, steep — can book that separately with a local guide.
-
Half day, guided
Port Louis
A tour of the capital: Caudan Waterfront, Central Market for spices and textiles, the Champ de Mars racecourse — the oldest in the Southern Hemisphere — and the colonial architecture of the old town.
Guide included1 100 kr
Departure around 09:00, back around 13:00. Central Market is at its best in the morning, before the heat sets in. Cash in Mauritian rupees is recommended for purchases at the market.
Nature and sea
Waterfalls, sugar and dolphins.
-
Full day, guided hike
Tamarin Falls
A hike through rainforest in the highlands above Tamarin to a series of seven waterfalls, with swims in natural pools along the way. Moderate fitness required — the trails are steep and can be slippery.
Guide includedLunch included2 100 kr
Departure around 07:30, back around 14:00. Swimming ability required. Bring a change of clothes, grippy shoes and a towel. Not suitable for anyone uncomfortable with heights or scrambling.
-
Half day, guided
Pamplemousses and the sugar museum
A visit to L'Aventure du Sucre, a museum in a former sugar mill telling the island's sugarcane history, followed by a walk through the Pamplemousses botanical garden with its giant water lilies and over 80 species of palm.
Guide includedEntry included1 400 kr
Departure around 09:00, back around 13:00. The museum has a tasting station with different sugars and rums. The garden is mostly shaded, but bring sun protection for the open areas.
-
Half day, by boat
Dolphins and Île aux Bénitiers
An early departure from the west coast to meet wild dolphins in Tamarin Bay, followed by snorkelling and lunch on a sandbank off Île aux Bénitiers. Weather-dependent — the dolphins are wild and not guaranteed to appear.
Lunch includedSnorkel gear included2 600 kr
Departure around 06:30 for the best chance of seeing the dolphins, back around 12:00. A respectful distance is kept from the animals in line with local guidelines. Children welcome, though the early start can be tough on the youngest ones.
Below the surface
Diving, snorkelling and fishing.
-
Half day, PADI instructor
Diving on the reef
Two dives with a PADI instructor on the reef off the west coast, taking in caves, canyons and wrecks depending on your level. Certified divers head straight out; beginners get an introductory pool session first.
Instructor includedEquipment includedBeginners welcome2 800 kr
Departure around 08:00, back around 12:00. Bring your certification if you have one. At least 12 hours between the last dive and the flight home — we never schedule diving on the second-to-last day. Best visibility November to April.
-
Half day, guided
Snorkelling in Blue Bay Marine Park
Guided snorkelling in the marine park at Blue Bay, a protected area with a coral garden and over fifty fish species in shallow water. Glass-bottom boat out, guide in the water. Suitable even if you have never snorkelled.
Guide includedEquipment includedBeginners welcome1 200 kr
Departure around 09:00, back around 12:00. Buoyancy vests available on request. Use reef-safe sun protection — ordinary sunscreen is not permitted in the marine park, and we hand out an alternative on board.
-
Half day, charter
Deep-sea fishing
A skippered charter from the west coast out to deep water, where marlin, tuna and dorado run. Equipment and crew included. Your catch can be cooked at the hotel the same evening if you like.
Crew includedEquipment included3 400 kr
Departure around 07:00, back around 13:00. The price is per person on a shared charter of up to six; the whole boat can be booked for a supplement. Marlin season runs November to March. Bring seasickness tablets if you are prone to it.
On foot and on wheels
Mountains, national park and nature reserve.
-
Full day, guided hike
Black River Gorges
A hike with a nature guide through the island's largest national park, with endemic forest, viewpoints over the gorges and a chance of spotting the pink pigeon and the Mauritius kestrel — two of the rarest birds in the world.
Nature guide includedLunch included1 800 kr
Departure around 08:00, back around 14:00. About 8 kilometres on trail, moderate climb. Hiking boots or sturdy shoes required. The highlands are cooler and wetter than the coast — bring a light rain layer.
-
Half day, mountain guide
Climbing Le Morne Brabant
A climb to the summit of the UNESCO mountain with a certified mountain guide, 556 metres above the lagoon. The final stretch is a scramble with a fixed rope. The view over the underwater waterfall at Le Morne is the most photographed of the trip.
Mountain guide includedDemanding1 900 kr
Departure around 06:30 to avoid the heat, back around 11:30. Requires good fitness and being comfortable with heights. Not suitable for children under 12. Hiking boots required — we advise against trainers.
-
Full day, nature park
Casela nature park
A nature park on the west coast with a safari drive among zebra, antelope and ostrich, plus ziplining across the gorge and a suspension bridge through the canopy. The most child-friendly day on the whole list.
Entry includedZipline includedChild-friendly2 200 kr
Departure around 09:00, back around 15:00. The safari runs in an open jeep with a ranger. Ziplining has a 120 kg weight limit and requires closed shoes. Lunch is bought on site and is not included.