On arrival at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport in Mauritius, after customs and immigration, you will be met and transferred by private vehicle to Lux Grand Baie for your three-night stay!
Enjoy two full days at the gorgeous beach resort overlooking the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean! Relax by the rooftop infinity pool, experience unique water excursions (including windsurfing, stand-up paddle boards, kayaks, snorkeling, glass bottom boat trips and more), take advantage of the indoor and outdoor fitness and wellness facilities, or simply take in the extraordinary views! Scuba dive or snorkel at the many incredible dive spots in the north, which is also home to Hawksbill and Green Sea turtles.
Mauritian Food Lab Experience at the resort. To get there, you have to walk through the labyrinth that is the kitchen, the behind-the-scenes, heart of the action. Inside the lab, you will meet a Mauritian chef who will cook a fabulous Mauritian meal – right in front of your eyes – with all the goodness of the island. Dining at the Chef’s Table is a chance to enjoy a meal crafted by an in-the-know local who supports nearby farmers, fishermen, and artisans. The chef loves low-impact cuisine and cooks only with local, fresh ingredients.
The resort is involved in a number of practical and educational partnerships to reduce its impact on the environment and support the local community: beach clean-ups, cookery classes and food hygiene courses feature. Food waste is a major focus: as well as having its own composting program, Lux Grand Baie donates meals to schoolchildren every week and food scraps go to a local dog shelter.
The northeast coast of Mauritius is renowned for beaches and activities. From the iconic red-roof church to the island’s biggest Hindu temple, the north has many of the island’s hidden gems.
Additional activities you may want to consider (additional cost):
Pamplemousses: The small, sleepy one-street town of Pamplemousse got its name from the grapefruit-like trees introduced by the Dutch, and here you can enoy the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanic Gardens. Known as Pamplemousses Gardens to the locals, these are the third-oldest botanical gardens in the world. Started in 1729, as governor Mahé de Labourdonnais’ private vegetable garden, the gardens were then taken over by administrator and naturalist Pierre Poivre in 1770 who was employed to seize the spice trade from the Dutch. He planted the gardens with spice trees such as camphor and clove, and ornamental trees shipped from the colonies. Today, the 60 acres are home to 500 different indigenous and exotic species, including over eighty species of palm, such as the unusual Talipot palm from Sri Lanka which blooms once every thirty to one hundred years and then dies; pick up a useful guide from the entrance to find your way around the shady tree-lined avenues.
The excellent L’Aventure du Sucre museum is also interesting, covering Mauritius’s multiculturalism via a journey through the three-hundred-year history of sugar, while the beautifully restored Château Labourdonnais and its extensive orchards is also worth a visit. The whole estate, especially the Château, constitutes a real immersion in the 19th-century art of living in Mauritius. Lined on both sides by Intendance trees (Ficus Retusa), the path leading up to the Château invites visitors to discover a magical and cultural place where history, nature, gastronomy and Mauritian history merge.
Romantics might also like to track down the “grave” of Paul and Virginie. The garden’s stunning centerpiece is a pond with floating giant Amazon lilies opposite a bust of Mahé de Labourdonnais; his reconstructed colonial mansion, Château Mon Plaisir, oversees the gardens and aches to be renovated.
Built in 1758, the colonnaded Creole mansion of Château Labourdonnais was modelled on Versailles, with a tree-lined avenue and fountains, and opened to the public in 2010. The garden has the largest banyan tree on the island, but it’s most famous for its 150-year-old orchards that once supplied the island with fruit and where over fifty different types of mangos are still grown. The 45-minute tour includes a nip of the excellent artisanal rum and fruit jellies produced here.
The excellent, interactive L’Aventure du Sucre Museum in the old Beau Plan sugar factory uses stories, art, documentaries and games to bring the island’s history alive, following the story of its sugar industry and its impact on everything from the island’s economy to its population. The guided tour takes you through the production process, from chopping the sugar cane to exploring a real-life sugar barge – and usually includes a rum tasting at the end.
This morning at a time to be determined, a driver will meet you at the resort to transfer you to Sugar Beach Resort. The drive takes approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes.
You may want to stop at the capital en route.
Port Louis, the capital city of Mauritius, is a vibrant town located in the northwest of the country. Founded by French Governor Bertrand-François Mahé de Labourdonnais in 1735, the city is the economic hub of the island and is very lively during the day.
The islands’ Dutch, French and British legacy is reflected in colonial architecture and botanical gardens, while more importantly, hospitable locals of African, Indian and Chinese heritage give the island an authentic feel, with colorful markets and temples, fusion cuisine, and the sashaying séga.
In Port-Louis, every corner reveals something different, a scent, a style, a period, and above all, the diversity of the Mauritian population. A visit to the Port-Louis market is a highlight. Mauritian street food is famous - dholl puris and faratas – large pancakes made with flour and split peas served with various spicy sauces and currys, chilli cakes - small crispy chickpeas cakes with chilli, Chinese dumplings - tasty meat and vegetable balls, Chinese-style stir-fried noodles, and bryani!
Stop for lunch - optional and paid directly.
Continue on to the beautiful Sugar Beach Resort! Sugar Beach Mauritius is located on the west coast of Mauritius in Wolmar, along the shores of Flic en Flac Bay, on the sunset side of the longest white sand beach on the island,
Built in the style of an historic sugar plantation, Sugar Beach is set in 30 acres of tropical gardens. The architecture is reminiscent of a colonial mansion with exotic Creole charm. Rooms and villas are scattered amidst the lovely gardens. They are elegant, stylishly furnished and provide all the modern comforts.
Facilities included in your rate: kayaks, laser sails, glass-bottom boat trips, snorkelling, windsurfing, fun boat, aqua gym classes, water polo, volley polo and basket polo.
This morning at a time to be determined, a driver will meet you at the resort to transfer you back to Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport for your flight to London Heathrow.
This is the end of your memorable Mauritius sojourn.
