Markets & crafts in Mauritius Island

Mauritian Spices & Traditions Tour with Port Louis

Mauritius may be a small island, but it has so much to offer. This tour packs in the Pamplemousse Botanical Garden, a visit to the citadel, a panoramic tour of Port Louis and free time at the Caudan Waterfront.The morning begins with a trip to explore Pamplemousse Botanical Garden, the oldest botanical gardens in the Southern Hemisphere. Here, you can observe more than 600 rare plant species sprouting among the shady palm avenues and lily ponds.Next, it's on to one of the island's best panoramic viewpoints at 'La Citadelle'. Here, your guide will point out the Champs de Mars racecourse and Port Louis skyline before driving through central Port Louis with views from of Cathedral, Supreme Court and Government House. To finish the tour, we'll enjoy some free time at Caudan Waterfront where you can browse the craft bazaar and the modern boutiques.

Mahebourg walking tour with Biscuiterie Rault visit

Discover the village of Mahebourg, the first capital of Mauritius, with a local guide. Visit Biscuterie Rault and taste traditional cassava biscuits.

Northern Mauritius tour with Sugar World and botanical garden

The north of Mauritius is awash with history, culture and nature – this trip dips into all three in the photogenic north of the island. Visiting Cap Malheureux village and Pamplemousse Gardens, you'll stop for lunch and a rum tasting experience before free time to shop in the Caudan city craft market. Jean, one of our expert local guides, says, ‘Pamplemousse is a unique botanical garden, famous for its big pond full of giant water lilies, the largest leaves of which can support a weight of around 50 kilos.'The morning begins with a photo stop at the pretty village of Cap Malheureux, home to the iconic, red-roofed church of Notre-Dame Auxiliatrice, a bright contrast to the colours of the Indian Ocean beyond. Next, we'll take a trip to Pamplemousse Gardens – the oldest botanical gardens in the southern hemisphere. Explore more than 500 rare plant species sprouting among the shady palm avenues and spice plantations here, then head on to Sugarworld for lunch.This factory and museum won't just see you fed, it's also the place to be schooled in the sugar trade, its history and to sample some sugarcane. There's some special Mauritian rum to wash it all down with too. You'll also visit the Blue Penny Museum, where displays include the famous postage stamps of 1847. Rounding off, we'll head to the city of Port Louis for free time to shop the modern boutiques down at Caudan Waterfront or hit the historic quarter's old craft bazaar.

Mauritius South Island Tour with Chamarel Geopark & Grand Bassin

Wild beauty abounds in Mauritius. But the island's colourful south is absolutely bursting with it. This tour takes you to a roll call of must-sees. Trou aux Cerfs volcano, a sacred lake, the seven-coloured earth of Chamarel and much more await. Sandya, one of our local guides, says, ‘The south is how I imagine my island was 400 years ago. I try to imagine how our animals lived, such as the giant tortoises and extinct dodo, and the now-protected luxuriant forests.'The fun kicks off at Trou aux Cerfs, a dormant volcano with a 90-metre-deep pine-studded crater. Next, we'll visit Voiliers de l'Océan, where artisans handcraft teak models of 18th century galleons. Laurna, another of our local guides, says, ‘It takes about 300 hours to complete a small boat of 70cm, while for larger boats about 1 to 3 months, depending on the size.' At the Takamaka winery, sample lychee wines and find out how discarded skins are used. This visit supports the employment of locals in a traditional business.Then, at Grand Bassin, a lake sacred to Hindus, you'll visit a temple and maybe offer prayers. A drive through Black River Gorges National Park takes you to a restaurant in Chamarel for a lunch made from locally sourced ingredients. Highlights in the park include the 100-metre drop Chamarel waterfalls and the seven-coloured earth of Chamarel. These barren volcanic dunes are surrounded by greenery.