Mauritius Round Trip - All Highlights, Route & Insider Tips

Would you like to travel to Mauritius, but don’t want to spend your time in just one place? How about a varied Mauritius tour with numerous sights, beautiful beaches, and activities? We spent a total of four months on the island and, thanks to our local friends, were able to gain a much deeper insight into life on the island.

In the following article, we would like to introduce you to a possible tour of Mauritius and provide you with lots of tips. Whether lush forests, stunningly beautiful beaches, delicious local food, culture and history, or tropical waterfalls – here in Mauritius you will experience the full spectrum of a fantastic tour. Are you ready? Then let’s get started!

Useful tips for your Mauritius tour
- 1. Best time to travel to Mauritius
- 2. Arrival & entry
- 3. Booking a rental car for your tour
- 4. Driving & left-hand traffic on the island
- 5. Route and duration of the tour
Mauritius tour – The route
1. The East
- Popular tours & excursions in the east
- Beautiful hotels in the east of Mauritius
2. The North
- Popular tours & excursions in the north
- Beautiful hotels in the north of the island
3. The West
- Popular tours & excursions in the west
- Beautiful hotels in the west of the island
4. The South
- Popular tours & Excursions in the South
- Beautiful hotels in the south of the island
Mauritius tour – Our conclusion
- Popular articles on travel planning

Useful tips for your Mauritius tour

Before you start your Mauritius tour, you should familiarize yourself with the island and the local conditions. When is the best time to travel to Mauritius? How much does it cost? Is it easy to book a rental car in Mauritius?

How far are the distances on the island? Where can I find a cheap flight? Which vaccinations do I need in advance? Questions upon questions, some of which we will answer in the following section. Be sure to also check out our Mauritius travel blog, where we answer all your questions in detail.

1. Best time to travel to Mauritius

Mauritius is a popular year-round destination for vacationers from all over the world. However, the months of May to October are often cited as the best time to travel to Mauritius. During these months, it rains less, and temperatures drop slightly. So, it’s neither too hot nor too cold. At a pleasant 25°C, you can enjoy your trip to Mauritius to the fullest.

We were on the island from November to March and also had very good weather. However, it was very hot and also quite humid, which can be quite exhausting. The water temperatures are fairly constant throughout the year, so a beach holiday in Mauritius is possible at any time of year. You can find more on this topic here: The best time to travel to Mauritius.

2. Arrival & Entry

We always search for our cheap flights to Mauritius first on the Skyscanner.de* website. Here you can get a good first impression of the current prices. There are even direct flights with Lufthansa from Frankfurt, which currently cost around €600 (without luggage, seat, etc.). You can find more on this topic here: Book cheap flights to Mauritius.

You do not need to apply for a visa to enter Mauritius. With your valid passport, you can stay on the island for up to 90 days. You should also be able to show a valid return flight ticket and a confirmed accommodation booking. More information here: Entering Mauritius.

3. Booking a rental car for your trip

The easiest way is to book a rental car for Mauritius in advance. This saves you the hassle of searching for a suitable provider on site. On our favorite platform, you can get a car from around €25 per day with no excess.

You can pick it up directly at the airport and drive off. We have already published a detailed article on this topic: Booking a rental car in Mauritius – Our best tips and experiences.

4. Driving & Left-hand traffic on the island

On the island, left-hand traffic prevails. If you’ve never driven on this route before, it’s worth doing a few laps in a quiet corner beforehand. The roads are generally in good condition, and the traffic isn’t as bad as you might imagine.

In towns and cities, you’re allowed to drive a maximum of 50 km/h, on country roads 60 km/h, and on motorways a maximum of 90 km/h. You can find out more about this topic in our article about driving on the island. The island state isn’t particularly large. With an area of just under 1,900 sq km, Mauritius is roughly the size of Munich or Hamburg.

From north to south, it’s around 70 kilometers, and from east to west, around 40. Nevertheless, you shouldn’t underestimate the distances. Since there are still many potholes, you can’t drive that fast on the island anyway. The many curves (especially in the mountainous regions) also prevent you from pressing the accelerator.

5. Route and Duration of the Tour

For a varied and exciting Mauritius tour, we recommend at least 12 to 14 days. Friends of ours were only on the island for 7 days and found even that one week beautiful. But the more time you have, the more you can experience and the less you have to rush.

Whether you actually end up doing a tour or exploring the various corners of the island from your accommodation is, of course, up to you. However, Mauritius has many great accommodations, so it would be worthwhile to stay in several hotels anyway.

Mauritius Tour – The Route

We start your Mauritius tour directly at the island’s airport. After picking up your rental car, drive to the east of the island, then to the north, across to the west, and finally to the south.

Of course, some areas in the island’s interior are also on the itinerary. On the map below, we’ve marked the coolest sights and most beautiful beaches for you. You can also see the accommodations we’ve mentioned on the map.

By loading the map, you accept Google’s privacy policy.
Learn more

Load map

Always unblock Google Maps

1. The East

Your dreamy vacation on Mauritius begins in the southeast of the island. From the airport, you drive to your first accommodation in your rental car*. Here, you should recover from your 11-hour flight before embarking on your adventure. With your batteries recharged, your Mauritius tour begins the next day.

In the east, there are several places worth seeing, such as Mahebourg, Centre de Flacq, and Trou d’Eau Douce. Trou d’Eau Douce is the perfect starting point for the popular tour to the island of Île aux Cerfs.

You shouldn’t miss the Blue Bay with its marine park, as well as the beaches of Pointe d’Esny (one of our favorites), Belle Mare, and the beaches around Poste Lafayette. The lush highlands (around La Vallée de Ferney and Kestrel Valley) are also worth a trip and offer some great activities.

A kayaking trip to the small island of Ile D’Ambr (further north) or the cave tour in Roches Noires are also worthwhile. If you enjoy mountain biking or hiking, Bras D’Eau National Park might be of interest to you.

Popular Tours & Excursions in the East

Île aux Cerfs: Full-Day Boat Trip with BBQ Lunch*
Blue Bay: Half-Day Snorkeling Tour & Creole picnic*
Mauritius: 3-hour diving adventure on the east coast*
Amber Island kayak or small boat tour*
Trou d’Eau Douce: island adventure on the southeast coast*
Mahébourg: foodie tour*

Blue-Bay-Mauritius-boat-snorkeling

Beautiful Hotels in the East of Mauritius

To make your search for beautiful hotels in the east of Mauritius easier, we’ve picked out some really great accommodations for you. The areas of Belle Mare and Trou d’Eau Douce are particularly popular places to stay.

2. The North

Our Mauritius round trip continues northward. Here you can expect to see, among other things, the Botanical Garden in Pamplemousses, the red-roofed chapel of Cap Malheureux, the Maheswarnath Mandir Temple in Triolet, the popular area of Grand Baie, and the Van Ann chocolate factory. Boat tours to the offshore islands of Gabriel Island, Flat Island, and Coin de Mire also depart from here in the north of the island. For us, the most beautiful beaches in the north of Mauritius are Trou aux Biches, Moint Choisy, and the beaches in and around Grand Baie. Divers (beginners and advanced) will also find a true underwater paradise with fantastic spots in the north of the island. On good days, you can not only spot hammerhead sharks, but also giant parrotfish, turtles, sea anemones, and clownfish.

Of course, there are also numerous snorkeling spots here, such as around the crystal-clear lagoon of Pereybere and around Trou aux Biches. Don’t miss the bustling and lively capital, Port Louis.

Popular Tours & Excursions in the North

Seabobbing Excursion in Mauritius*
Scuba Diving in Grand Bay, Mauritius*
Day Trip by Catamaran to the Northern Islands*
Port Louis & North Mauritius Day Tour*
Mauritius: Scuba Diving on the North Coast*
Grand Baie: Guided Culinary Tour*

Beautiful Hotels in the North of the Island

To make your search for beautiful hotels in the north of Mauritius easier, we’ve picked out some really great accommodations for you. The areas of Grand Baie, Trou aux Biches, and Pointe aux Piments are particularly popular places to stay.

3. The West

Now we’re off to the diverse and exciting west of the island. After taking a closer look at the capital, Port Louis, the lively village of Flic en Flac, the lush Black River Gorges National Park with waterfalls and fantastic viewpoints, and the impressive Tamarind Falls await you.

Not to mention the endless sandy beaches, the 556-meter-high Le Morne Brabant, the Seven Colored Earth, the Casela Nature and Leisure Park, the Domaine les Pailles recreation area, and the Grand Bassin pilgrimage site. We spent most of our time in the west, as there is so much to explore. Our favorite beaches in this part of the island are definitely Le Morne Beach and Flic en Flac Beach.

A trip to the Chamarel Waterfalls, which plunge 100 meters into the depths, and the Chamarel Viewpoint are highly recommended. The wilder coastline of Tamarin is popular with surfers, where you can even spot dolphins on some days.

For us, the west is also the ideal starting point for excursions and tours if you don’t want to change your accommodation. It’s relatively easy to get to all corners of the island.

Popular tours & Excursions in the West

Mauritius: Street Food Tour in Port Louis*
Guided Tour of Le Morne Brabant Mountain*
Hiking in the Black River Gorges National Park*
Chamarel: Entrance Ticket to the Seven Colored Earth Geopark*
Day Tour through the Wild Southwest*
Hiking to Tamarind Falls*

Beautiful Hotels in the West of the Island

To make your search for beautiful hotels in the west of Mauritius easier, we have selected some really great accommodations for you. The areas of Flic en Flac, Albion, and Le Morne are particularly popular places to stay in one of the hotels.

4. The South

The south of Mauritius also has a lot to offer. The landscape of this region is characterized by the central highlands, the many sugar cane fields, and the beautiful coastline. Don’t miss the nature reserve on the Ile aux Aigrettes island, the Gris-Gris viewpoint with its wild and rugged coastline, the Rochester Falls north of Souillac, and the Maconde viewpoint at Baie du Cap.

Also popular with vacationers are the La Vallée Des Couleurs Nature Park, the hike to the Cascade 500 Pieds, and the charming Chateau Le Domaine de Saint Aubin. We also recommend the tour to the Bois Cheri tea plantations, including a tasting, as well as a trip to the small Eau Bleu Waterfall with its natural pool and the Leon Waterfall.

A beautiful and wild beach in the southeast is Savinia Beach, with its large black stones and smaller natural pools. Families will especially enjoy the La Vanille Crocodile Farm, with its over 2,000 animals, numerous banana plants, and palm trees.

Popular Tours & Excursions in the South

Seaplane flight over Mauritius*
Cool quad tour in the south of the island*
Mauritius: Catamaran ride from Blue Bay to Île aux Cerfs*
Hiking in the wild south of the island*
Tour to La Vanille Nature Park and the beaches*

Beautiful Hotels in the South of the Island

To make your search for beautiful hotels in the south of Mauritius easier, we’ve picked out some really great accommodations for you. The areas of Bel Ombre, St. Felix, and Souillac are particularly popular places to stay.

Mauritius Tour – Our Conclusion

As you can see, there’s plenty to see and experience on this small island in the Indian Ocean. During your Mauritius tour, you’ll not only discover stunningly beautiful beaches, but also picturesque waterfalls and viewpoints, bustling markets, a diverse underwater world, great hotels and restaurants, and numerous cool activities.

We highly recommend a tour of Mauritius, as it’s so much fun to explore the island on your own. Our suggestion for your tour: Book 3 nights for the east, 3 nights for the north, 3 nights for the west, and 3 nights for the south. Alternatively, you can stay 7 days in the northwest and then 7 nights in the south of the island.

With a rental car, you’re very flexible and can easily reach the many different highlights. We also recommend listening to our podcast episode about Mauritius to listen in. In the following section, we’ll link you to a few more articles that might be of interest to you: