7-Day Mauritius Island Escape | Beaches, Culture & Nature
A week that treats Mauritius as several distinct regions rather than one beach, moving from the sheltered lagoons of the north to the wilder south coast and out to Ile aux Cerfs by boat.
Trip Highlights
- Three nights at an eco-certified beach resort in the north, close to Grand Baie
- A day trip to the Pamplemousses botanical garden and Port Louis
- Optional submarine excursion with Blue Safari
- Trou aux Cerfs volcanic crater, Grand Bassin sacred lake, and the Seven Coloured Earth at Chamarel in a single day
- Two nights on the south coast at a beachfront spa resort
- A full-day boat excursion to Ile aux Cerfs, including its championship golf course
- A final night at the foot of Le Morne, Mauritius’ UNESCO-listed mountain
Overview
This itinerary covers more ground than most week-long Mauritius trips, using three different base hotels to do it.
The first three nights sit in the north at Trou aux Biches, the calmest and most beach-forward stretch of the itinerary, with day trips to Pamplemousses and Port Louis breaking up the resort time.
From there, the trip moves south, spending two nights at Shanti Maurice near some of the island’s more dramatic inland scenery, Trou aux Cerfs, Grand Bassin, and Chamarel among them.
The final night is spent at Dinarobin, at the foot of Le Morne in the southwest, reached via a full-day excursion to Ile aux Cerfs on the east coast.
That’s the one day on this itinerary that asks a lot of the traveller logistically, and it’s worth going in with that expectation rather than treating it as a light add-on day.
Moving hotels twice in a week is a genuine trade-off. You see more of the island than a single-resort stay allows, but you also spend real time in transit, and unpacking three times isn’t for everyone.
This itinerary suits travellers who’d rather cover ground than settle into one property for the full week.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome to Mauritius
On arrival, your Petnah Africa Tours representative meets you at the airport and transfers you by private vehicle to Trou aux Biches on the island’s northwest coast.
The resort sits across 35 hectares of tropical garden along a stretch of white sand beach and was Mauritius’ first certified eco-friendly resort, with solar power and its own waste and water recovery systems built into the property.
Nothing is planned for the rest of the day. Check in, settle into the room, and enjoy dinner at the resort.
Accommodation: Trou aux Biches
Meals: Dinner
Day 2: Exploring the North
After breakfast, a full day covers two of the north’s main sights.
The first stop is the Pamplemousses Botanical Garden, known for its collection of giant Victoria water lilies and one of the older botanical gardens in the Indian Ocean region.
From there, the day continues to Port Louis, the capital, for a look at the city’s markets, waterfront, and colonial-era architecture.
Return to Trou aux Biches for dinner and an overnight stay.
Accommodation: Trou aux Biches
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Day 3: A Day at Leisure
A free day at the resort, with breakfast to start.
Travellers who want to add something to the day can book the Blue Safari Submarine excursion, a genuine underwater tour off the coast rather than a snorkel-level activity, as an optional extra.
Otherwise, the day is yours to spend at the beach or around the resort.
Dinner and overnight back at Trou aux Biches.
Accommodation: Trou aux Biches
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Day 4: South Through the Highlands
This is a relocation day as much as a sightseeing one. After breakfast, check out of Trou aux Biches and head south, with four stops along the way rather than a direct transfer.
The first is Trou aux Cerfs, a dormant volcanic crater in the hill town of Curepipe that you can walk around the rim of for a view over the central plateau.
From there, the route continues to Grand Bassin, known locally as Ganga Talao, a crater lake that holds deep significance for Mauritius’ Hindu community and draws large numbers of pilgrims during Maha Shivaratri.
The day continues to Chamarel, for the Seven Coloured Earth and its nearby waterfall, before a final stop in Curepipe town, a reasonable spot to pick up souvenirs before the day winds down.
By evening, you arrive at Shanti Maurice on the south coast, a beachfront resort with ocean-facing villas and a spa built around Ayurvedic treatments and yoga.
Accommodation: Shanti Maurice Resort & Spa
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Day 5: A Day to Relax
An open day at Shanti Maurice after breakfast.
Those who want an activity can add an optional undersea walk, a guided walk along the seabed in a diving helmet that doesn’t require swimming or diving experience. Otherwise, the day is unstructured.
Accommodation: Shanti Maurice Resort & Spa
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Day 6: Ile aux Cerfs and Transfer to Le Morne
This is the longest day of the itinerary, and it’s worth planning for that rather than expecting a light day.
After breakfast, you’re transferred to Trou d’Eau Douce on the east coast, the departure point for Ile aux Cerfs, a small island of roughly 100 hectares known for its beaches and its Bernhard Langer-designed championship golf course.
The crossing takes you across calm lagoon waters, and the island itself has several beaches and a range of water sports options for the time you’re there.
In the late afternoon, you’re transferred from the east coast across to Dinarobin, a resort at the foot of Le Morne mountain in the southwest.
Given the distance involved, this is a genuinely long transfer on top of the day’s activities, and travellers who’d rather trade the island excursion for a shorter, calmer final day should raise that with their Petnah consultant when booking.
Accommodation: Dinarobin Hotel Golf & Spa
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Day 7: Departure
A final breakfast before checking out. Depending on your flight time, use the morning for last-minute shopping, a final walk around the resort grounds, or simply relaxing before your representative transfers you to the airport.
Meals: Breakfast
What’s Included
- 6 nights’ accommodation across three properties
- Meals on a full board basis
- Airport transfers
- Activities and services specifically listed in the day-by-day itinerary
- Applicable hotel and service charges
What’s Not Included
- International airfare
- Personal expenses
- Meals and activities not mentioned in the itinerary
- Visa or entry charges, where applicable
- Travel insurance
- Anything not specifically listed under What’s Included
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is moving between three hotels in one week worth the disruption?
It depends on what you want from the trip. You’ll see meaningfully more of Mauritius this way, north, south, and the east coast island, than a single-resort stay allows, but you are packing and transferring twice. Travellers who value settling into one property more than variety may prefer a simpler two-stop or single-resort itinerary instead.
2. How long is the Ile aux Cerfs day, realistically?
Longer than the name “day excursion” suggests once the return transfer to Dinarobin is added on. Budget for a full day of transit and activity rather than treating it as a half-day trip.
3. Can Day 6 be adjusted to avoid the long transfer?
Worth asking Petnah about at the time of booking. Alternatives include spending the final night back at or near Shanti Maurice instead of relocating to Dinarobin, or dropping the Ile aux Cerfs excursion in favour of a shorter day near the south coast.
4. Is the undersea walk suitable for non-swimmers?
Yes. It’s typically done in a diving helmet that keeps the head dry and supplied with air, and doesn’t require swimming ability, though anyone with certain ear or sinus conditions should check with the operator beforehand.
5. What’s the best time of year for this itinerary?
The cooler, drier months from roughly May to October give the most reliable conditions across all three regions this itinerary covers. November through April is cyclone season, with the highest risk typically between January and March.
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