Things To Do In Mauritius You’ve Never Heard Of

Mauritius crams a mountain of magical experiences into its laid-back lagoon-edged landscape, with thrilling surprises awaiting travellers who venture past the island’s sun-baked beaches and beyond.

It may be well known for its clear blue waters, white sandy beaches and relaxed way of life, but there’s far more to the stunning island country of Mauritius than meets the eye.

An island with white sand and trees in the middle of the ocean. — Discover and explore what Mauritius has to offer.

Whether you want to relax, discover the traditional Mauritian way of life, or tackle more adrenaline-fuelled activities, here are 13 wonderful things to do in this slice of paradise.

1. Reunite with Mother Nature

At 100 metres high, Cascade de Chamarel is the tallest single-drop waterfall in Mauritius. Its powerful flow is cradled by a lush tropical forest, edged by cliffs created by millions of years of volcanic activity. Immerse yourself in nature and take the three-hour trek to the waterfall’s base before sliding into the cool pool for an invigorating swim.

A waterfall in nature. — Put on your hiking boots and trek down to the base of Cascade de Chamarel.

2. Do the rum-bar

Tickle your taste buds and try fine Mauritian rum at Rhumerie de Chamarel. At this distillery, set in exquisite grounds 300 metres above sea level, rum connoisseurs can join a behind-the-scenes tour and learn about the production of their premium range. Book a table at the estate’s eco-friendly restaurant, L’Alchimiste, to savour delights sourced from the landscape.

A woman behind a bar with bottles of rhum. — Rhumerie de Chamarel is the place to visit while in Mauritius.

3. Soar on a seaplane

Buckle up and take off from the water for an exciting seaplane flight to discover Mauritius from above. You’ll fly over mountainous valleys and jagged peaks, and glide across turquoise-tinged oceans. Personalised and private, you’ll sit alongside the pilot who’ll furnish you with island folklore as you soar above stunning scenery before a water landing.

Mountains with a town. — Get ready to take off and explore Mauritius from the sky.

4. Rejuvenate your life

Switch off and tune in for some bodywork with Reiki or an auric healing session to balance mind and body, or indulge in an Ayurvedic massage at a holistic care centre. There are luxury spas offering the ancient healing techniques dotted around Mauritius, so revive your senses and de-stress; holiday pampering is an island must.

5. Take an adrenaline-boosting zipline

To discover the island’s wild side, where waterfalls and eye-catching canyons will take your breath away, sign up to Mauritius’ longest zipline at Vallée des Couleurs Park. For a more sedate experience, nature lovers can immerse themselves in the park’s indigenous fauna and flora. The most impressive sight? The 23-coloured earth landmark, where waves of earth curve like the female form.

Red rocks in nature. — See the collection of naturally occurring 23-coloured earth palette, spread over some 450 acres of land.

6. Discover history and heritage

Immerse yourself in Mauritian history and reflect on the island’s darker side. Once part of the international slave trade, imprisoned workers would throw themselves off the surrounding cliffs rather than be subjected to degradation. Slavery was abolished in 1834, and now local museums, monuments and plaques are sobering reminders of a painful past.

A white museum with a red roof. — Pay a visit to local museums for a lesson in Mauritius history.

7. Enjoy traditional crafts and cuisine

Meet the locals and lose yourself in the island’s bright bustling markets dotted throughout the townships, exploring markets for Mauritian handicrafts and spice up your day by trying delicious traditional Creole street food. Be sure to sample table d’hôte, a homemade meal around a communal table with a Mauritian family; traditional dwelling houses Kot Marie Michelle and Escale Créole will welcome you to enjoy a fusion of tasty Creole cuisine in homely surroundings.

A photo of fruits and vegetables on a market. — You don’t know where to look when you wander through the colorful markets of Mauritius.

A photo of different foods on a platter. — Typical Mauritian food is a guaranteed feast for your belly.

8. Do some electro exploration

Steer an electric bike off the beaten path to discover authentic villages untouched by tourism. Cruise through spectacular countryside vistas, stopping at forest habitats where native wildlife roams, and see sugar cane fields and bays offering fanning views of the island’s aqua-green coastline. It’s laid-back adventure at its best, uncovering hidden gems and surprising treasures.

A photo of a village on a lake with mountains in the back. — Discover Mauritius where land, sea and mountains meet.

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9. Take a hike

Tie your laces and head to the hills to hike into the heart of Mauritius. With more than 40 classified trails – ranging from easy for younger families, moderate for lengthy walks with easy terrain, and hard for adept intrepid hikers – there are scenic trails and immersive nature experiences for everyone.

10. Find gods, statues and a sacred lake

Pack a picnic and visit Ganga Talao, the largest natural crater lake in Mauritius. Sacred to Hindus, and surrounded by adorned statues and temples, it’s considered the island’s holiest landmark. Book a guide and learn about the Hindu culture and pilgrimage which occurs annually around February or March; it’s one of the largest Hindu festivals outside India.

Ganga Talao Grand Bassin — Visit the sacred crater lake, Ganga Talao, commonly known as Grand Bassin.

11. Learn about colonial life

Step back in time and enjoy a guided tour of an 1830s colonial residence at Maison Eureka. Filled with antiques and photos, the walls hold stories of a bygone era narrated in the onsite museum, while the pretty manicured gardens are home to endemic plants and exotic fruit trees. An onsite restaurant serves traditional Mauritian cuisine on the verandah.

12. Explore the underwater world

For a one-off experience, pop a champagne cork and dine underwater in a submarine. Guests can ogle at the Indian Ocean’s magical sea life some 35 metres below the surface without getting wet; watch for turtles, shipwrecks and exotic species living off healthy coral reef systems.

13. Play in a golf lover’s paradise

Golfers, swing your eyes away from the island’s crystal blue waters and focus on Mauritius’ beautifully laid out golf courses instead. There are 10 of them suitable for all levels. Set between sea and mountains, the Heritage Golf Club in Bel Ombre is one of the finest in the Indian Ocean.

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.

13 amazing things to do in Mauritius that you’ve never heard of