10 days : the full tour + catamaran and hikes
The ideal format: around the island from three bases (North, East, South-West) with time for the big activities : catamaran to the islands, Ile aux Cerfs, the Morne hike and the Tamarin dolphins.
4 nights North + 2 nights East + 3 nights South-West.
Arrival : settling in the North
~65 km depuis l'aéroport (1h15)Google Maps
Cross the island on the motorway, first quiet hours of left-hand driving. Sunset at Trou aux Biches. North base for 4 nights.
The northern tip
~25 kmGoogle Maps- 1
Grand Baydemi-journée · free - 2
Pereybere Beach2-3h · free - 3
Cap Malheureux Red-Roofed Church30min · free
Short loop of the northern tip: morning swim at Pereybère, Cap Malheureux at noon, back to stroll around Grand Baie. Beach car parks are free.
Pamplemousses and Port Louis
~45 kmGoogle Maps- 1
SSR Botanical Garden, Pamplemousses2-3h · Rs 300 - 2
Port Louis Central Market1h · free - 3
Aapravasi Ghat World Heritage Site1h · free
Botanical garden then the capital. Lunch at the central market. Leave Port Louis before 3:30pm to escape the evening jams.
Catamaran to the northern islands
~10 kmGoogle MapsA day with barely any driving: catamaran cruise from Grand Baie to Coin de Mire and Flat Island (book 2-3 days ahead). Boarding around 8:30am.
East transfer : the wild coast
~55 km (changement de base)Google Maps
Down the east coast on the shoreline road: Bras d'Eau forest (easy walk), windswept Poste Lafayette, the huge Belle Mare beach. East base for 2 nights.
Ile aux Cerfs and waterfall
~30 kmGoogle Maps
Boat shuttle from Trou d'Eau Douce (guarded car parks at the jetty): Ile aux Cerfs lagoon in the morning; most trips pass the Grande Rivière Sud-Est waterfall on the way back.
South-East then on to the West
~80 km (changement de base)Google Maps
Mahebourg market (Monday is the big one), snorkeling at Blue Bay, then the southern road to the South-West base (Le Morne or Flic en Flac) for 3 nights.
Chamarel and the gorges
~70 km en boucleGoogle Maps- 1
Ganga Talao Sacred Lake1h · free - 2
Chamarel Seven Coloured Earth Geopark1h · Rs 400 - 3
Chamarel Waterfall30min · Rs 400 (included with Seven Coloured Earth) - 4
Black River Gorges Viewpoint30min · free
The big highland loop. Hairpin roads: leave with a full tank, there is no petrol station between Case Noyale and the plains. Table d'hôte lunch in Chamarel.
Morne Brabant hike
~30 kmGoogle Maps
Climb at dawn (guide recommended for the summit section), recovery afternoon on Le Morne beach. Photo at the Maconde bend at the end of the day.
Tamarin dolphins and departure
~90 km dont 1h15 vers l'aéroportGoogle Maps
Early-morning dolphin trip in Tamarin bay (6:30-7am), last swim at Flic en Flac, then the road to the airport : allow a 1h30 margin.