Picture waking up in a beachfront villa with open glass doors leading to a private infinity pool. Beyond the pool, the white sands stretch out to the turquoise lagoon. Palms sway, and breakfast is served on your terrace with fresh mango, croissants, and espresso. In the distance, a sailboat drifts past as the sun rises over the Indian Ocean.

 

From One & Only Le Sainte Géran

“Mauritius, land of rainbows, waterfalls and shooting stars, was first sighted by passing Arab dhows as early as the 10th century. The Portuguese visited around 1510, but it was the Dutch who took possession in 1598, giving the island its name in honour of their head of state, Prince Maurice of Nassau.

The island was a port of call for ships en route to India and the East Indies, as well as a land base for pirates in the Indian Ocean. The Dutch introduced sugar cane which, in addition to tourism, remains a pillar of the Mauritian economy, yet they deemed their colonisation efforts unsuccessful, and abandoned the island in 1710.

In 1715 the French took over, renaming it “Ile de France” and eventually importing labour from Africa to work on the sugar plantations. With this, a love for rhythmic music and dancing was introduced to Mauritius and the ‘sega’ was born, a performance that is still a national tradition.

Nearly five centuries after its discovery, this jewel in the Indian Ocean has evolved into a harmonious mosaic of cultures and religions and is home to just over 1.2 million inhabitants.”

 

Mauritius is a small island nation located east of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean. It’s known for:

• Pristine white-sand beaches

• Turquoise lagoons

• Coral reefs

• Luxurious resorts and private villas

• A multicultural population with Indian, African, European, and Chinese heritage

• Friendly and hospitable locals

• Tropical climate, ideal year-round

• Cuisine: A melting pot of influences — from Indian curries and Creole dishes to fresh seafood and French pastries.

 

The island is just over 2,000 square kilometres—easy to explore in a short stay—and offers both vibrant coastal towns and quiet inland retreats.