Mahé
A top-end resort lines the northern portion of this high-profile beach. The southern end is almost deserted and offers good swimming and snorkelling. The…
Must-see attractions in Mauritius, Réunion & Seychelles
Réunion
On the southern outskirts of Salazie, along the road to Hell-Bourg and just north of the turnoff to Grand Îlet, are these spectacular waterfalls on your…
Réunion
The sculptor, painter and printmaker Philippe Turpin, who etches on copper and then rolls the prints off the inky plates, has a studio that is open to the…
Espace Culturel Muséographique du Dimitile – Camp Marron
Réunion
Just before the viewpoint of Le Dimitile, this modest yet well-organised museum does a good job of explaining marronage (the act of escaping plantation…
Mauritius
Perhaps Mauritius' most striking modern architectural creation is the MCB Building in Quatre Bornes, an eye-like structure by the M1 motorway as you…
Réunion
Created in 1763, the attractive Jardin de l'État, at the southern end of Rue de Paris, is a good place to recharge the batteries and be introduced to a…
La Digue
Petite, picture perfect and ideal for a splash or snorkel, this boulder-framed beach sits tucked into the northern tip of the island.
Seychelles
This ribbon of white sand is the most beautiful beach on Félicité, though shallow waters make swimming difficult. It's also the least visited, simply…
Mahé
To the north of Anse à la Mouche the coast is a bit less glamorous but appealing nonetheless. If you can find access to Anse Louis, where the superswish…
Plage de L'Étang-Salé-les-Bains
Réunion
The generous stretch of ash-coloured beach on the northern outskirts of town is great for sunbathing and swimming, and offers excellent sunset vistas…
Mahé
Worth a look if you're in the area, this lovely vivid garden, overseen by a retired Seychelles diplomat, has all manner of exotic, tropical flowers on…
Réunion
If you're in St-Pierre on a Saturday morning, be sure to browse around the joyous, thriving main market, which sprawls along the seafront at the west end…
Réunion
It's well worth exploring this quaint neighbourhood, situated to the east of the centre. Though no longer the traditional fishing village it used to be,…
Réunion
Ambling down Ave de la Victoire, you'll come across the Tuscan-style Cathédrale de St-Denis, which was constructed between 1829 and 1832. As a cathedral…
Port Louis
One of Mauritius' premier art institutions, this fine space is designed to increase local exposure to high-quality art, with four temporary exhibitions…
Réunion
Cap Méchant is one of the eeriest landscapes in the south, with huge lava fields, windswept black cliffs, rows of vacoa trees and the mandatory picnic…
Réunion
Visitors can see the ruins of the old baths, which were in use until 1948. They are found in a ravine a 10-minute walk west of town (walk past Le Relais…
Mauritius
The slightly shabby gardens of Curepipe were created in 1870 to foster foliage that thrived in cooler weather – the grounds in Pamplemousses proved far…
Réunion
Housed in a metallic structure dating from 1856, the small covered market is a great place to wander if you're after fresh fruit, vegetables, local spices…
La Digue
With its striking yellow facade and white trim, this unmissable Catholic church is well worth a gander, particularly on Sunday mornings when it is…
Anse Petite Police & Police Bay
Mahé
From the village of Quatre Bornes, a road leads to Police Bay, a splendid, blissfully isolated spot at the southern tip of the island. Sadly, the currents…
Mauritius
This white Hindu temple sits on a teeny islet tenuously tethered to the mainland by a thin land bridge. The views of the dazzling bastion are best…
Réunion
This colonial structure dating from the 1830s was the family home of former French prime minister Raymond Barre and the birthplace of the poet and painter…
Réunion
About 3.5km from Hell-Bourg, Bé Mahot is a cute hamlet that's well worth visiting. With its clunky, colourful Creole houses clinging on the hillside and…
Réunion
A highlight (and a major landmark, with its big chimneys) near St-Louis is this old sugar refinery, about 1.5km west of the centre. You can tour the…
Rodrigues
This pretty little botanical garden of indigenous Rodriguan plants is an interesting way to spend an hour, not to mention a good initiative. Time your…
Réunion
From Îlet-à-Vidot, the asphalted road continues for about 2km to a small parking lot. From here, a steep footpath leads in about 15 minutes to the Rivière…
Port Louis
Government House is a beautiful French-colonial structure dating from 1738, although it was added to in later years. Outside it stands a typically solemn…
Réunion
A narrow road follows the wide stony bed of the Rivière Langevin and leads to Cascade de la Grande Ravine, a majestic waterfall that drops into a broad…
Réunion
Many consider the neoclassical Former Hôtel de Ville, at the north end of Rue de Paris, to be the city's most beautiful building. It's certainly very…
Mauritius
A monument marks the site where the Dutch (and indeed the first people ever) first landed on the island on 20 September 1598. It's a fairly low-key site…
Réunion
Lined with casuarina trees, Plage de L'Hermitage is an alluring place to fry in the sun. It is safe for swimming – it's protected by a barrier reef and is…
Sentier Botanique de Mare Longue
Réunion
This pristine forest has an end-of-the-world feeling that will appeal to those in search of hush. From the car park you can tackle one of the three…
Mahé
Grande Anse is an immense swathe of sand that glimmers with a fierce but utterly enchanting beauty. No other beach provides the same opportunities for…
Réunion
You'll be impressed by the massive proportions of St-Pierre's mosque, which extends an entire block. Its slender minaret is particularly striking…
Réunion
Leaving St-Philippe to the east, you'll first come across Puits Arabe (Wells of the Arabs), a hole that has been excavated in the basaltic rock. It's a…
Réunion
Go eye to eye with lemurs and other stuffed specimens in this museum located in the Jardin de l'État. Besides impressive lemurs, you'll see a good insect…
Mauritius
This monument commemorates the sinking of the British steamer Trevassa in 1923. She went down 2600km off Mauritius. Sixteen survivors were eventually…
Black River Gorges National Park
From the Alexandra Falls Viewpoint, you can admire the cloud forest of Mt Cocotte (771m) and the view down to the south coast. The falls themselves are…
Seychelles
The rocky crown of the island (125m) proffers incredible views west, and is a surreal spot for sunset. It's a 1.6km return hike along a well-marked trail…
