10 days in Mauritius: What to do and see?
Are you preparing to spend 10 days in Mauritius? Do you need help organizing your vacation? You’re in luck !
In this article, I offer you a complete itinerary to discover Mauritius in 10 days.
This period of time will allow you to discover most of the country’s key places.
On the program: beaches (of course!), cultural visits, outdoor activities and lots of surprises!
From Grand Baie to Morne Brabant, passing through the capital Port-Louis, the sublime beaches of Bellemare and Flic-en-Flac, let’s go for a complete tour of the island!
Without further ado, discover the schedule that I have carefully concocted for you.
Day 1-2: North (Grand Baie / Cap Malheureux / Trou aux Biches)
After several hours of flight, you will land early in the morning at the international airport of Mauritius, near Mahébourg in the southeast.
I suggest you go drop off your luggage at your base and then dedicate your first two days of this 10-day itinerary to Mauritius to discover the northern region of the island.
For the first day of this circuit in Mauritius, take the road to Grand Baie, one of the liveliest cities on the island. It attracts many tourists and is also where the most affluent population of Mauritius has its neighborhoods (as evidenced by the many beautiful villas by the sea).
Start by strolling on the beautiful public beach. Moreover if you go there by bus, you will go down directly in front of the beach. A bus stop facing a beach of white sand and turquoise water, when you’re not used to it, it makes the effect!
I suggest you spend the morning strolling along the beach of Grand Bay with its beautiful colorful boats that float on the water, its hot sand and many small trailers that offer all kinds of snacks, fruits and Mauritian specialties to taste.
Then take a walk on Sunset Boulevard, the shopping street of the city, to do some shopping if the heart tells you.
For lunch, enjoy a good “roti” on the beach (a kind of galette stuffed with various curries), a dholl puri or samosas accompanied by a pineapple cut in the shape of a flower or a coconut dug for you on the spot.
If you prefer to go to the restaurant, you will have a wide choice in Grand Baie by the sea. For my part I had lunch at Eatwithfingers (located on Twenty-Foot Road, you have to go there by bus or car), a new restaurant “trendy” that offers home-made vegetable cuisine, modern and very gourmet, all in a very family atmosphere.
After this half day in Grand Baie, I advise you to continue the discovery of the northern beaches by now going to about ten kilometers from there, towards the beach of Peyrébère. It is a pretty little beach where it is nice to swim, rest and admire the sunset.
Tips for your Mauritius itinerary:
On Saturdays and Sundays, there is a risk of crowds on the beaches (the Mauritians usually meet up with family or friends and camp on the beach at weekends). If you want to be quiet, it is better to schedule beach days in the week.
If on the other hand you like the crowd and the festive atmosphere, to hear the Mauritians sing and dance the sega on the beach, you will be delighted to spend a Sunday there.
The next day, for the second day of this 10 days Mauritius itinerary, we continue with the dream beaches (that’s why we come to Mauritius!) And we go to Trou to Les Biches.
This pleasant little tourist town is located in the northwest of the island and the beach is one of the most beautiful in the region. Ultra fine white sand, turquoise sea, palm trees and bougainvillea: expect a postcard decor.
For this second day of holidays in Mauritius, here is the program that I propose to you at Trou aux Biches:
- laze
- swimming and snorkelling to admire the marine fauna of the lagoon
- water activities offered by the hotels of the beach (diving, parasailing, water skiing, sailing …)
- picnic
In the afternoon, I suggest you change a little decor and go to the northern tip of the island to discover one of my favorite places in Mauritius: the beautiful beach of Cap Malheureux.
It is a unique place and recognizable among all. The beach is dominated by a small bright red wooden church, which contrasts perfectly with the blue of the sky and the sea.
Go around the beach with your feet in the water, sit on the sand and admire the sunset to end this day in style.
Day 3: The Grapefruit Botanical Garden / The Sugar Adventure
The second stage of a 10-day Mauritius itinerary takes you to the Pamplemousse botanical garden, arich botanical reserve created in the 18th century by a French botanist.
I propose you a morning visit, guided or free, to discover many tropical plants, local or imported. You will see several varieties of palm trees of all shapes, baobabs, water lilies, many fruit trees and aromatic plants … Count 1 hour to 2 hours of visit.
Plan a picnic lunch and lunch in the grass, or in one of the kiosks of the park, at the edge of the water, or under the trees!
The program of the afternoon of this Mauritius itinerary, I suggest you stay in the vicinity of Pamplemousse and go for a walk to the Sugar Adventure, the sugar museum that will make you discover very complete way the history of Mauritius and the local exploitation of sugar.
Do not miss at the end of the visit the tasting of different types of sugars, rums and jams Mauritian. Count 1h30 of visit and until 3 pm for the detailed visit.
Day 4: Port Louis
For the third stage of your 10 days vacation in Mauritius, I suggest you to discover the capital of the country: Port Louis.
A bustling and bustling city, Port Louis marks a huge contrast with the heavenly beaches and the verdant nature of Mauritius. Very few green spaces, not always harmonious buildings, concrete and moving crowd, the atmosphere here is very different from what you have seen so far.
Port Louis is a must for anyone wishing to discover the real local life and culture of Mauritius.
On the agenda of things to do and see in Port Louis:
- A short walk to Queen Street Central Market, locally known as “Bazaar”, one of the city’s must-see places.
- Walk in the center of Port Louis to discover the Place d’Armes, the Garden of the Company, the Government Palace, cobbled streets and old Creole houses (which have become rather rare).
- Stroll and shopping at Caudan Waterfront, the oldest shopping center of the island, in the form of a small village and built on the seafront.
- Visit the Blue Penny Museum (located at the entrance of Caudan, near the car park), which will make you discover the history and culture of the island.
- Dinner at Caudan in one of the restaurants by the sea.
Tips for your Mauritius itinerary:
If you travel by car, park at the Caudan car park in the morning and do the rest of the visit on foot. It is difficult to park in Port Louis and everything is easily on foot from the Caudan. In addition, parking is free from 16:00 on weekdays and all day on weekends.
Day 5: Hike 7 Cascades
This hike is without a doubt one of the most beautiful walks to do during your tour in Mauritius. This is one of my favorite days during my 10-day stay in Mauritius.
The starting point for the 7 Cascades hike is near Curepipe, in the center-west of the island. Two circuits are possible : the short circuit of 4 waterfalls (half a day) and the complete circuit of 7 waterfalls (a whole day).
I strongly advise you to take a guide, even if the paths are marked (very discreetly it must be said), it is very difficult to navigate if you do not know the place at all. You will necessarily find a guide at the entrance of the site, they are generally very friendly, provide security and you will learn a lot about the local flora and fauna.
So it’s gone for a day of walking in the rainforest, where you expect several waterfalls all more beautiful than the others. You will be able to bathe there of course, while admiring the sublime surrounding nature.
Tips for your Mauritius itinerary:
In wet or rainy weather, the ride is strongly discouraged (it’s muddy and it slips, the roads are very steep).
Day 6: Flic-en-Flac (West Coast)
To continue to visit Mauritius, now heading to the west coast of the country and specifically the tourist town of Flic en Flac.
It is the liveliest city in the West, where tourists and locals alike rub shoulders all year round. There is also a concentration of luxury hotels.
You can enjoy for this day a very beautiful and very long beach with views of the Morne mountain, but also cafes, restaurants and clubs on the beach to spend a festive evening.
In the program of this day in Flic en Flac I propose:
- to enjoy the beach resting on the white sand or under the filao trees
- to observe the marine fauna (very rich and without going far from the edge!) in snorkelling mode in the lagoon
- to taste the snacks and fresh fruits sold by the beach merchants
- to dine at one of the seaside restaurants
- if you are in a festive mood, spend part of your night in the disco in front of the beach
Tips for your Mauritius itinerary:
Do not miss to taste the “Roti Aka” sold in the trailer of the same name at the very beginning of the beach. They are among the best rotis (galettes stuffed with various curries) that you can eat on the island, and it’s a perfect lunch to enjoy the buttocks in the sand.
Day 7-8: Morne Brabant (South West)
This is the sixth leg of this 10-day Mauritius itinerary. Direction now the south of the island, in the region of Morne Brabant.
Le Morne is an emblematic mountain of Mauritius, symbol of a rich and tragic history linked to the period of slavery. That is why you will see at the foot of the Morne mountain, in front of the beach of the same name, a memorial called “the unknown Slave” erected in honor of dead slaves on the mountain.
For this first day in the South, I propose an expedition to the summit of Le Morne. It is a fairly accessible hike, but I would still not recommend it to children and people with vertigo, because the roads are at times very steep.
You can undertake this climb independently, but preferably with a guide or accompanied by someone who knows the place. The guides are very friendly and you will learn a lot about the region. They will also help you find your way and keep you safe. Allow about 3 to 4 hours for the round trip.
Arriving at the summit of Le Morne, you will discover an exceptional view of the entire South coast and the turquoise ocean. It is truly breathtaking and it is one of the excursions that marked me the most during my 10 days in Mauritius.
Tips for your Mauritius itinerary:
Remember to book in advance if you choose guided shipping, via a travel agency or directly with your hotel. Guided tours are usually scheduled in the morning from 6am and afternoons at 2pm (check locally anyway, as it may vary).
After this rather sporty hike, I went, for my part to relax, on the sublime beach of Le Morne, just at the foot of the mountain, and I recommend doing the same to end the day. Very quiet on weekdays, it is a beautiful white sand beach, as on postcards and you will certainly spend a good time.
The next morning, head towards Chamarel to discover one of the most famous natural curiosities of Mauritius: the Land of the Seven Colors (only a few minutes by bus or taxi from Le Morne). The site is paying (about 3 euros per person).
On arrival, you will first discover a waterfall, in which you can even swim if it tells you. Continuing on the path, you will arrive in front of a large clearing composed of dunes of earth which form an impressive gradient of colors. Hard to believe that this is a natural phenomenon but it is and it is really beautiful to see.
At the end of the site, you can also visit the Rhumerie de Chamarel and know everything about the production of rum Mauritian.
To continue the day, I then propose to spend a fun time at the “Curious Corner”, the museum of optical illusions located just next to the site of the Land of the Seven Colors. Count about 1 hour of visit.
If you still have time and energy, I suggest you take the road back to the Black River Gorges National Park. It is a trekking site where many hiking trails allow you to discover the rainforest of the Gorges, with sublime points of view.
Tips for your Mauritius itinerary:
If you arrive at the Gorges after 3 pm, choose a short path to have time to enjoy the view and not hurry, because the park doors close at 5 pm and I know who have already been stuck at the inside …
Day 9: Belle Mare and Deer Island (East Coast)
For the seventh and penultimate stage of your 10-day drive to Mauritius, you have an appointment with the east coast of the island.
Wild region and still well preserved, the East of Mauritius is full of wonders to discover and it is a must if you want to have a complete overview of the country.
Direction therefore Belle Mare and its splendid beach more than 10 kilometers long. The east coast of the island has the largest lagoons in the country so it is the perfect place for snorkelling and scuba diving.
In the late morning or early afternoon, head to the beach of Trou d’Eau Douce, a few kilometers further south. You can take a boat to Deer Island.
Deer Island is a small paradise island off the coast. As you say right now: it is a very (very) touristy place. But it’s worth seeing because the island is really beautiful and breathtaking landscapes. The boat ride on the translucent waters of the lagoon is one of the best parts of the experience.
You can spend a half-day relaxing on the Ile aux Cerfs to walk, swim or test the sports and water activitiesoffered on site. The island also has several shops and restaurants.
The next morning, take the road again and walk along the coast to the north towards Bras d’Eau National Park. This forest nature reserve is about 500 hectares and is a very refreshing place. Quiet and uncrowded,you will find yourself immersed in nature.
To get there by car is very easy and you can park at the park entrance. If you travel by bus, get off at Flacq and take a taxi to the park entrance.
I advise you to arrive early in the morning to observe and hear local endemic birds such as Gray White Eye, Coq des Bois or Kestrel. You can also see monkeys, bats and wild boars. During the walk, you will discover the ruins of an old sugar refinery and a lime kiln, an old railroad track, and several ponds.
Plan a picnic lunch on site, and enjoy the charm of the place.
Day 10: Mahébourg and Blue Bay (South East)
For your last day of vacation in Mauritius, I suggest you go back South to complete the visit and at the same time be close to the airport.
You have already visited the south-west, so now go towards the southeast and the city of Mahébourg. It is the old capital of Mauritius and is a small port and tourist town where life is good.
The program of things to do in Mahébourg:
- Stroll in the center of Mahébourg to discover the daily life of the Mauritians, small typical Creole “huts”, picturesque alleys and the view from the seafront.
- Visit the Rault biscuit factory which manufactures traditional Mauritian cassava biscuits.
- A short walk to the covered market to bring back some souvenirs
Then take the road towards Blue Bay, just a few kilometers away. It is a pretty rich and tourist town that has a nice beach.
This is your last opportunity to enjoy the sea before your departure so I suggest you spend the rest of the day relaxing on the sand, swim and why not go for a glass bottom boat ride to observe the funds sailors.
If you have time, I also recommend the boat trip to Île aux Aigrettes, a bird sanctuary worth a visit (departure is from Pointe Jérôme).
Accommodation in Mauritius
2 options to stay in Mauritius:
- Mauritius being a very small country, you can choose to book only one hotel for the duration of your stay. You will then do a little more car every day to reach your hotel every night. The advantage is still not to have to do and undo the suitcases!
- Book several hotels according to each stage of our 9-10 day itinerary to Mauritius. You will lose less time on the road and it will be an opportunity to discover several different accommodations just as beautiful as each other.
Here is our selection of the best hotels for each stage, according to your budget. Book now because Mauritius is a popular tourist destination and the most beautiful rooms leave very quickly!
Accommodation in the North of Mauritius:
- Residence Peramal: comfortable and fully equipped apart-hotel, with sea view, very close to the beach of Grand Baie. Nice terrace for breakfast. Count a minimum of 50€ per night for 2 people.
- Cosi Dolce: villa with pool 700m from Peyrébère beach, with bar and garden. From €80 per night for a group of 5 people (2 bedrooms with 2 double beds and an extra bed).
- Océan V Hôtel: 4-star hotel in Peyrébère, located 50m from the beach. Presence of an infinity pool, a gym, a jacuzzi and a restaurant. Double room from €150 per night, breakfast included.
- Sakoa Boutik Hotel: charming and luxurious small hotel in Trou-aux-biches, located on the beach. The establishment has a swimming pool, a bar-restaurant and a spa. Double room from night.
- LUX* Grand Baie Resort & Residences: magnificent hotel at the height of luxury, with spacious and ultra-comfortable double rooms from €450/night (+ breakfast at €25).
Accommodation in the West of Mauritius:
- Lariad BnB: beautiful residence 5min walk from Flic-en-Flac beach, with 2 swimming pools and tropical garden. Double room from €50, breakfast included.
- Shanti Ghar Guest House: very nicely decorated guest house located less than 2km from the beach of Rivière Noire Tamarin. Outdoor swimming pool, garden, bar and shared lounge. Double room with balcony from €95/night.
- La Mariposa Mauritius: hotel located in Black River 10km from Chamarel, in a peaceful setting with magnificent views of the Morne Brabant mountain. Private beach, swimming pool and garden. Double room from €120/night, breakfast included.
- Veranda Tamarin Hôte & Spa: superb hotel in the bay of Tamarin with 2 swimming pools, 2 restaurants and a spa. Double room with balcony sea or mountain view from 150€ per night .
- Sugar Beach A Sun Resort: luxurious hotel located on the beach of Flic-en-Flac. Count around 390€/night to stay in a small independent villa with all the comforts, with a view of the ocean.
Accommodation in the East of Mauritius:
- EvaZion: located 20 minutes from Bellemare beach in a natural and calm setting. Access to the outdoor pool, restaurant, kayaks and direct shuttles to Ile aux Cerfs. Double room from 80€/night.
- Otentic Eco Tent Experience: sleep in a comfortable tent in luxury camping mode. Each tent can accommodate 2 to 5 people, for around €130 per night. Delicious restaurant based on local products. My favorite place to stay in an unusual way in Mauritius!
- Veranda Palmar Beach Hotel: magnificent hotel facing the lagoon in Bellemare with swimming pool and spa. Sleep in a double room with balcony from € 175 /night, meal included.
- Le Touessrok: luxury hotel on the seafront at Trou d’Eau Douce in a heavenly setting. Several swimming pools, restaurants, a wellness center and even a small private island! Double room with balcony and sea view from €450 /night, breakfast included.
Accommodation in the South West of Mauritius:
- La Vieille Cheminée: comfortable accommodation surrounded by nature in this charming hotel in Chamarel, with mountain views. Stay in an independent chalet with a double bedroom, bathroom and equipped kitchen for 125€/night, (delicious) breakfast included.
- LUX Le Morne Resort: one of the most luxurious hotels in the South West, located at the foot of Le Morne mountain with direct access to the beach. Double room from €295 per night.
- Hotel Chalets Chamarel: hotel located in the heights of Chamarel, with breathtaking views of the mountains and the coast. Small independent pavilions where to sleep for 340€ per night, including breakfast and dinner (homemade with local products).
Accommodation in the South-East of Mauritius:
- Le Jardin de Beauvallon: charming hotel in Mahébourg, just 10 minutes from the airport. Stay in a comfortable individual bungalow for 2 from €61 per night. Outdoor swimming pool, tropical garden and restaurant.
- La Peninsula Bay Beach Resort & Spa: hotel with private beach 200m from Blue Bay beach and 1km from Pointe d’Esny beach. Family room (1 double bed and 2 single beds) from €160 per night.
- Ferney Nature Lodge: eco-lodges 10km from the airport, in the heart of the Ferney valley. You will stay in a superb suite with double bed, bathroom and terrace from €295 per night. Outdoor pool and restaurant.
Organize Your Trip to Mauritius Easily
Here are all my other travel guides to Mauritius: Just click on the links below to read the articles.
- 22 Best things to do in Mauritius – The complete guide, with all the most beautiful places and the best activities!
Routes
- Itinerary: 5 days in Mauritius – Ideal for organizing a short stay in Mauritius
- Itinerary: a week in Mauritius – My detailed itinerary to discover Mauritius in 7-8 days
- Itinerary: 2 weeks in Mauritius – How to visit Mauritius in 14-15 days?
- Itinerary: 3 weeks in Mauritius – Complete guide for a 20-21 day stay in Mauritius
Regions to visit + Where to stay
- Best Accommodation in Mauritius
- Chamarel (South-West): Must-see visits and activities
- Bellemare (East): Top 11 things to see and do
- Flic-en-Flac (West): The 12 best tours and activities
- Grand Baie (North): The Ultimate Guide
- Mahébourg (South-East): Top 12 places and activities
- Le Morne Brabant (South West): The 11 best things to do and see
Unmissable visits
- Grand Bassin: What to do and see?
- Ile aux Cerfs: A complete guide to planning your visit
- Black River Gorges National Park: how to visit it?
- The most beautiful beaches in Mauritius – Top 11 + interactive map to locate them
