Once a month, Luxus Magazine sets sail for a destination in France or elsewhere to discover the most elegant addresses, all experienced and carefully selected. Characterful hotels, fine dining, rare boutiques, cultural getaways… Our guidebook is like a magic key for discerning travelers. After Deauville and its surroundings, we set sail for Mauritius.
With its turquoise waters, Creole charm, and island elegance, Mauritius offers a mosaic of exceptional landscapes and destinations, including translucent lagoons, lush forests, a diverse lifestyle, and warm hospitality.
🔑 Historical key: the diverse history of an island world
Discovered by the Arabs in the Middle Ages, then by the Portuguese in the 16th century, Mauritius was colonized by the Dutch in the 17th century, who named it after Prince Maurice of Nassau. Abandoned, it then came under French rule in 1715 and became Isle de France, prospering thanks to trade and sugar cane cultivation. In 1810, the island was conquered by the British, who maintained French institutions while abolishing slavery in 1835. Independent since 1968, Mauritius is now a multicultural republic, a symbol of coexistence and openness to the world.
🔑 Key to the historical tour: the Aapravasi Ghat immigration site
On the outskirts of Port Louis, Aapravasi Ghat is a major witness to the history of indentured workers who came from India in the 19th century after the abolition of slavery. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this symbolic place traces the arrival of hundreds of thousands of men and women who shaped Mauritian society, founding a plural, mixed, and deeply human identity.
🔑 Key to sleep: Oberoi Mauritius Resort
Nestled on the northwest coast of the island, facing the Indian Ocean, The Oberoi Mauritius offers peaceful and timeless luxury. Surrounded by tropical gardens and a crystal-clear lagoon, the resort charms with its thatched-roof villas, Asian palace-inspired architecture, and impeccably elegant service. A holistic spa, refined cuisine, and preserved privacy make this address a sanctuary dedicated to well-being, contemplation, and the Mauritian art of living.
🔑 Key to the must-see: Chamarel
In Chamarel, the Land of Seven Colors offers a fascinating natural spectacle, unique in the world. These undulating dunes in shades of ochre, red, purple, and blue are the result of ancient volcanic phenomena and thousands of years of erosion. In the changing light, the landscape seems alive, almost unreal, and forms a striking mineral work of art in the heart of lush tropical vegetation, with an impressive waterfall.
🔑 Key to a walk in the heart of nature: Le Morne Brabant
Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Le Morne Brabant offers a spectacular walk between the sea and the mountains. This basalt promontory, steeped in history, was a refuge for maroon slaves. Today, its trails reveal wild nature, breathtaking views of the lagoon, and an almost mystical atmosphere, making the climb a physical, cultural, and deeply moving experience.
🔑 Key to the local flavors market: Flacq
Located in Centre de Flacq on the east coast of Mauritius, the Flacq market is one of the liveliest and most authentic on the island. Every week, colorful stalls selling tropical fruits, spices, textiles, and local street food create a vibrant scene. Here you can discover everyday Mauritian life, amid the scents of curry, warm exchanges, and living traditions.
🔑 Key to Successful Travel: Mariage Frères, Bensimon, Bijou Brigitte
Grown in the heart of the Mauritian highlands, Grand Bois Chéri (Broken Orange Pekoe) tea embodies the soul of Mauritius. Selected by Mariage Frères, this BOP black tea reveals delicate yet intense notes of vanilla, to be savored in the morning while gazing out at the hills shrouded in tropical mist.
Present in Mauritius for decades, Bensimon draws its free and nomadic spirit from the island’s art of living. The Sceau Surplus bag, made of cotton, leather, and unbleached canvas, is the ideal companion for exploring the island, going from beaches to local markets, and getting around with ease, in a style that is practical, sunny, and naturally chic.
© Bensimon
Inspired by the crystal-clear lagoons and pristine beaches of Mauritius, Bijou Brigitte‘s Blue Leaves earrings capture the essence of tropical blue. Their light blue leaves evoke the movement of palm trees in the sea breeze, while the white pearls are reminiscent of foam and warm sand. These luminous and elegant pieces are true signature items, designed to echo the sun-drenched Indian Ocean.
© Bijou Brigitte
🔑 Key to the country: Kingdom of beaches
In Mauritius, the sea is at the heart of life and leisure. With all beaches open to the public, the island offers a rare sense of freedom, inviting visitors to explore the coastline without constraint. You can easily move from one beach to another, alternating between swimming in the calm waters of Pereybère, snorkeling in the protected lagoons of Grand Baie, kitesurfing on Ile aux Cerfs on the east coast, or simply relaxing on the sand at Le Morne as you watch the sun set. Here, the ocean is not just a backdrop: it sets the pace for the day, inspires encounters, and shapes a way of life deeply connected to the water, between contemplation, sport, and tropical bliss.
🔑 Champagne sun key: Sun Club by Veuve Cliquot
Veuve Clicquot inaugurates its very first Sun Club in Africa-Middle East (at the Shangri-La Le Touessrok hotel), an exceptional venue designed as a sunny experience facing the Mauritian lagoon. Inspired by the House’s iconic yellow, the space invites guests to enjoy the RICH Blanc cuvée, served on ice, under the parasols on the terrace. Custom-made furniture, local touches, and breathtaking sea views create a contemporary atmosphere. Open all year round, the Sun Club also offers Carte Jaune and La Grande Dame.
🔑 The key to the green and sporting elegance: Héritage Le Telfair Golf & Wellness Resort
Nestled in the south of the island, the Héritage Telfair estate combines colonial heritage and contemporary lifestyle around one of the most beautiful golf courses in the Indian Ocean. Designed between mountains and lagoons, this exceptional golf course seduces with its manicured fairways, spectacular natural setting, and peaceful atmosphere, the signature of discreet and refined luxury.
🔑 Architectural highlight: Eureka Estate
The Eureka Estate, nestled in Moka, is one of the most beautiful colonial residences in Mauritius. Built in the 19th century, this house with its vast verandas is home to elegant Creole furniture and period objects. Surrounded by lush gardens and rivers, it immerses visitors in the refined and peaceful atmosphere of Mauritian colonial life.
🔑 Key to a nature walk: Black River Gorges National Park
The Black River Gorges National Park is the green and wild heart of Mauritius. Steep trails, hidden waterfalls, and ebony forests make up a spectacular setting. The lookout points offer breathtaking views of volcanic reliefs and deep valleys, making this nature reserve a precious refuge for biodiversity and lovers of the great outdoors.
🔑 Key to sensory well-being: Oseyan Spa at Four Seasons Resort Mauritius at Anahita
The Oseyan Spa at Four Seasons Resort Mauritius at Anahita, built on stilts facing the ocean, invites guests to deeply reconnect with their body and mind. Carried by the murmur of the waves, it combines holistic rituals, treatments inspired by ancestral traditions, and soothing gestures in a setting suspended between sky, water, and absolute serenity.
🔑 Key to lunch in town: at the central market
The beating heart of Port Louis, the central market offers a lively immersion in Mauritian culture. Freshly squeezed cane juice, iconic dholl puri, fragrant spices, and warm exchanges create an authentic, colorful, and deeply indulgent scene.
🔑 Key to absolute island luxury: Shangri-La Le Touessrok
Set between a turquoise lagoon and private islets, Shangri-La Le Touessrok embodies the iconic elegance of Mauritius. Oceanfront villas, pristine beaches, refined cuisine, and an overwater spa combine to create an exceptional experience, where international sophistication meets Mauritian charm in a naturally spectacular and deeply soothing setting.
🔑 Key to local shopping: Anbalaboutik in Baie du Cap
A showcase dedicated to local creativity, Anbalaboutik presents the Kreol Republic, Body & Soul, Island Haze, Indya Vogue, Le Dressing by Boubou collections, and other gems from the Made in Mauritius label.
🔑 Key to Happy Hour: Lux* Grand Baie
Perched at the top of Lux* Grand Baie, the bar offers one of the most beautiful panoramas on the island at sunset. Facing the horizon tinged with pink and orange, you can enjoy inventive tropical cocktails, combining exotic fruits and exceptional rums, in a chic, relaxed and resolutely contemporary atmosphere.
🔑 Key to a musical dinner: Le Château de Bel Ombre
The Château de Bel Ombre is a sumptuous 19th-century colonial mansion set in a park offering contemporary Mauritian cuisine accompanied by jazz under the tamarind trees.
🔑 Key to a romantic dinner: One&Only Le Saint Géran
At One&Only Le Saint Géran, dinner is a timeless experience. Elegantly set tables facing the lagoon, moonlight, and refined cuisine combine to create a romantic and decidedly chic experience, where luxury is discreet and deeply sensory.
🔑 Secret key: Island Plate and Gabriel Island to the north
Departing from Grand Baie, Ile Plate and Gabriel Island offer an idyllic marine getaway. Pristine beaches, translucent lagoons, and preserved wildlife, including the majestic white-tailed tropicbird, make up a natural sanctuary popular for swimming and snorkeling.
To read :
Proto-historic, folkloric, and legendary Mauritius｜ Malcolm de Chazal ｜1973 ｜ Published by Guillemette De Spéville
Once Upon a Time in Mauritius ｜Danielle Fossette ｜Joëlle Betsey Maestracci (illustrations) ｜ 2025 ｜ Published by Orphie G.doyen Editions
Discover Mauritius through the prism of cinema :
Resort to Love (2021) by Steven K. Tsuchida
No Chains, No Masters (2024) by Simon Moutairou
The Blue Penny (2023) by Jon Rabaud
GOOD TO KNOW 💡
- Pareo and sandals, plus mosquito repellent suitable for tropical areas
- Southern summer: December to March (average temperature 30°C)
- Southern winter: May to September (25°C, dry and sunny)
- No vaccinations required
- Currency: Mauritian rupee (MUR)
Next stop: Megève
Read also > An iconic stopover… Deauville and its surroundings
Featured photo: © Four Seasons Mauritius Anahita
