It is certain, its long sandy beaches are among the most beautiful in the Indian Ocean.
Mauritius, however, has much more to offer to its visitors in search of discovery and change of scenery.
Rich in a history marked by successive flows of migrations, the country presents itself as a fascinating cultural mosaic where Hindu traditions rub shoulders with Chinese customs and British and French heritage.
And if diving remains (rightly) the favorite activity of holidaymakers, the center of the island conceals a thousand natural treasures that invite contemplation and disconnection.
For those who cannot be satisfied with idleness, here are six off the beaten track activities to feel the vibrant heart of Mauritius.
To discover
Mauritius: the Figaro travel guide
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Climb the mountain of Morne Brabant
Le Morne Brabant was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008. Mélanie Rostagnat
From the top of its 555 meters, Morne Brabant sits on its peninsula, at the south-western end of Mauritius.
Surrounded by translucent lagoons, this volcanic mountain, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008, is a reservoir of endemic plants such as
Trochetia Boutoniana
, floral emblem of the country.
It is also a place of memory of the colonial history of the island, having long been a sanctuary for runaway slaves.
Since 2004, the Yanature agency, founded by a Mauritian enthusiast who was one of the first walkers to venture there, has been offering Le Morne climbs.
A hike of nearly four hours that allows you to climb (almost) to the top and discover breathtaking panoramas of the lagoon and the coral reef.
Accessible to anyone in good physical condition and to children from the age of 12, the trail becomes steeper and steeper at the end of the route but allows access to a magical point of view.
In practice
Two departures are organized daily from Monday to Saturday, all year round.
To avoid the hot weather during the Mauritian summer, opt for the 6 a.m.
Group of 15 people maximum, possibility to book a private hike.
Price: 43 € per person.
Agence Yanature, 41, Morcellement Villaze, 90621 Rivière-Noire.
Phone.
: +230 57 85 61 77.
Read alsoMauritius: a new paradise on the Morne Brabant peninsula
Go back in time at the Beau Plan sugar estate
The Sugar Adventure retraces the history of the sugar industry from the 17th century to the present day.
The Sugar Adventure / Press
It is in a former sugar factory, whose production ceased in 1999 after 200 years of activity, that a few minutes from the famous Pamplemousses garden, one of the most successful museums in the world has been established. 'Mauritius: The Sugar Adventure. Thanks to a fun and educational course suitable for all ages, this ecomuseum today reveals to the public all the secrets of this industry which has shaped the history of the country, from the introduction of sugar cane by the Dutch to the middle from the 17th century to the present day. The tour ends with a tasting of around thirty sugar-based products made on the island, including 12 special unrefined sugars and 9 rums from the New Grove distillery, some sold exclusively at Village Boutik. For foodies,it is possible to extend the adventure at Le Fangourin restaurant (open only for lunch) which allows you to discover the richness of Mauritian cuisine, with the added bonus of a particularly tempting dessert menu.
In practice
Guided tour from Monday to Thursday at 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., Friday at 2:30 p.m.
Open every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Price: € 8 for adults, € 4 for children.
L'Aventure du Sucre, B18 Pamplemousses, 21001 Pamplemousses.
Phone.
: +230 243 7900.
Hiking on the colored lands of Chamarel
The Land of Seven Colors is located in the plain of Chamarel, in the southwest of the island.
Balate Dorin / Shutterstock
"A symphony of colors, a cry of dust exalted by a flight of sparks"
.
It is with these words that the Mauritian writer Edwin Michel describes the natural curiosity that is the Earth of the Seven Colors.
Located in the south-west of the island, between Rivière Noire and the Morne peninsula in the Chamarel plain, this unique geological site rich in mineral oxides is in the form of small earth dunes whose colors oscillate between red, ocher, green and purple.
A sublimated color chart at sunrise and sunset.
So that visitors can admire this disconcerting landscape without degrading it, walkways and kiosks have been installed.
While in the region, take the opportunity to take an excursion to the Chamarel waterfall, a waterfall of nearly 100 meters nestled in the heart of lush vegetation.
In practice
Site open Tuesday to Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Price: € 5 for adults, € 3 for children.
The Land of Seven Colors, 7 Colored Earth Road, Chamarel.
Phone.
: +230 483 4298.
Read alsoOur top 10 best hotels in Mauritius, from the east coast to the north of the island
Go on a pilgrimage to the sacred lake of Grand Bassin
Grand Bassin, or Ganga Talao, is the holiest Hindu place in Mauritius.
Myroslava Bozhko / Shutterstock
This lake, considered the holiest Hindu place in Mauritius, fills the crater of an ancient volcano. Each year, in February or March, it welcomes thousands of pilgrims from all over the country on the occasion of the feast of Maha Shivaratree (the night of Lord Shiva). Legend has it that this pilgrimage was undertaken at the end of the 19th century after the vision of a Hindu religious who believed he saw the waters of the Ganges reflected there. Grand Bassin, also known as Ganga Talao, is today lined with two impressive statues of Shiva and the goddess Durga, measuring 33 meters in height, and Hindu temples that can be visited. A walk around the lake, located in a remote mountainous region in the south of the island,will allow you to grasp all the mysticity of the Hindu religion, and to get to know the important colony of monkeys that have taken up residence in the region.
Dive into the heart of local crafts
Take part in a vacoa braiding workshop in a women's cooperative.
MyMoris
You will see them everywhere in the markets of Mauritius, whether in the form of baskets, mats, or decorative objects. But it is in the small village of Vieux Grand Port, south of the east coast, that you can discover all the secrets of vacoa and the methods of weaving this parasol-like plant. An ancestral tradition originating in Madagascar which then spread, over the course of migrations, throughout the Indian Ocean. Within the confines of his cooperative which brings together around ten women, Fabiola Marius continues this family craft and welcomes visitors during a three-hour workshop. From picking to drying the leaves, you will discover all the stages of production,you will learn about braiding and will be able to leave with an object made by your own hands.
In practice
Pandanus Weavers Center, Margeot Lane, Vieux Grand Port.
Activities from 6 years old, in small groups of up to six people.
Price: 40 € for adults, 25 € for children.
Reservation through the MyMoris agency.
Phone.
: +230 57 75 55 16.
Read alsoMauritius: the 10 most paradisiacal beaches of the pearl of the Indian Ocean
Attend a horse race at the Champ de Mars
The Port-Louis racecourse hosts horse races every weekend.
Yahia Nazroo
Inaugurated in 1812 by Colonel Drapper, who participated in the creation of the Mauritius Turf Club, the Champ de Mars is the oldest racetrack in the Indian Ocean.
A heritage from the British administration, which saw it as a symbol of reconciliation with the French colonists, this racecourse, located on the outskirts of Port Louis, attracts nearly 20,000 spectators every weekend in a highly charged atmosphere.
From generation to generation, Mauritians come to bet and attend with their family horse races, which have become the national sport of the island.
Held from March to December, the competitions bring together local and international jockeys and are all open to the public.
The opportunity to immerse yourself in the local culture and experience a moment of popular fervor.
In practice
Free access to the plain, tiered seats from € 4.
Ticket office open on site from Thursday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
The race schedule is available here.
Champ de Mars, 9 Dauphine Street, Port Louis.
Phone.
: +230 212 2212.
