Are you looking for a place to relax, to walk along a golden beach, be pampered with soothing massages and find harmony? Well, more than 1.5 million people do find it every year. Where? On the island of Mauritius.
This volcanic island in the middle of the Indian Ocean, to the east of Madagascar, has become the hottest destination for those seeking a top-drawer wellbeing getaway. In fact, Mauritius even has its own local spa and cosmetics brand, Seven Colours, which has carved out a space among the more traditional brands like Clarins, Givenchy and Guerlain.
Photo: Shanti Maurice, Nira Spa-Resorts
The blend of cultures—African, Chinese and Indian—that reigns on the islands has given rise to an extensive range of therapies. There are massages inspired by the Ayurveda technique, based on the ancient system of traditional Indian medicine. You can also find treatments that harness the ocean, or those with local flowers and herbs as their main ingredient. Spoiling yourself from head to toe, while relaxing in the best spas could become the main activity on your trip. Travelling through Mauritius also means enjoying the warm hospitality of the people who live on the “Pearl of the Indian Ocean”, and tasting the culinary delicacies of three continents, flowing through a single space.
It helps that there are warm temperatures all year round. This wonderful climate has led some spas to move their treatments outside, into gardens and arbours on the beach. Victoria Beachcomber Resort & Spa is one of them. Found on the west coast of Mauritius, it is part of the tourist resort of Grand Baie and Port Louis, the island’s capital. Known for its spacious rooms with sea views, calm atmosphere and wide variety of family activities, the resort has a tropical garden and a beach protected from the wind. The same chain also owns the five-star Shandrani resort, with its 16 massage cabins, two shiatsu and Thai massage rooms and a hammam comprise its relaxation space.
Photo: Shanti Maurice, Nira Spa-Resorts
Outrigger Mauritius Beach Resort is another of these exquisite coastal hotels, with tropical gardens, rooms with ocean views and an impeccable spa. It also has a cellar stocked with more than 700 different wines, an international food market, beachside swimming pools, and a cocktail bar with live Creole jazz. What’s more, the area where it is located, Bel Ombre, is home to a nature reserve, with stunning grasslands and waterfalls.
Photo: Shanti Maurice, Nira Spa-Resorts
Nira Spa, in the Shanti Maurice resort, defines itself as “the peaceful paradise”. Its work centres on mixing treatments – including exclusive post-sunbathing indulgences – with yoga and healthy eating. Meanwhile, Hilton Mauritius Resort & Spa has an infinity pool that invites you to forget about the world. It also offers cruises on a glass-bottomed boat, and the chance to see dolphins. Located in Flic-en-Flac, to the west, its beaches are protected by reefs.
Although numerous spas are connected to hotels (with services for non-guests), there are also spaces like Iridium, a spa-cum-gym, which offers a journey through a wide range of sensory experiences. Positioned on Le Morne peninsular, it has 12 rooms providing different treatments to suit your individual needs. These include one specially designed to calm the sensations after a long flight, and another, exclusively for couples, which, after exfoliation and hydration, ends at a private suite, with its own steam room. Saunas, Jacuzzis and relaxation terraces to disconnect, reset, and reach paradise, both literally and metaphorically.
Good to know:
Wedding stress comedown
Alongside Bali, the Bahamas, Fiji and the Seychelles, Mauritius is known as a place to disconnect after the stress of getting married. Freedom and dreamy landscapes mean that nearly every hotel offers packages with a special suite for the bride and groom to enjoy their honeymoon.
