Yes, there is a direct flight operated by Air Mauritius that connects London Heathrow with Mauritius’ Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport. The duration of the flight is only 12 hours.
Although Mauritius is open for business the entire year, the cheapest time to come to Mauritius is in the month of May. This is the time when most tourists are gearing up to visit the island nation, waiting for the summer break to start. Be the early bird and fly to Mauritius before the mob of tourists begins to pack their bags. This way the beaches would be empty and the prices of the airfare and accommodations would be super low. This could become the dream vacation that would not set your bank account on fire.
The best time to visit Mauritius by a British tourist is from June to October. Tourists usually are looking for the warm months when the temperatures remain in the early 20 degrees Celsius. The entire time through the months between June and October, the temperature remains mild and it hovers between 23°C and 27°C. Coming to Mauritius during this time is a relaxing, refreshing and an overall amazing experience.
A British traveller does not require a visa to visit Mauritius. Upon arriving at the island nation, the immigration staff would stamp your passport, allowing you to stay in the country for 60 days. Please visit the immigration offices in Port Louis for an extension, if the need arises.
Mauritius is a gift of Nature to humanity. The island, complete with its diverse people is a wonder that needs to be witnesses, at least once in a lifetime. The island’s history has given it the flavour of Indian, Muslim and European cultures that have evolved into a social ecosystem unlike any other.
- Le Morne Brabant is a monolith hill right at the southern edge of Mauritius Island. The monolith is 500 meters high and it is hugged by a lagoon at its base. The hill is covered in greenery and the lagoon is full of marine life. It is a little piece of paradise, and its beauty and remoteness sheltered the marooned and escaped slaves back in the 17th century. Monuments to their pursuit for happiness and freedom are placed around the base of Le Morne Brabant. Hike up the basalt mountain trails under the shadows of giant ancient trees and peek into the caves on the top, which once protected those who dreamt of freedom.
- The ‘Seven Coloured Earths’ is a spectacle of nature and a site of immense spirituality. Upon visiting the site that attracts tourists by the thousands, one can see seven distinct colours of the exposed sand. The colours of red, brown, violet, green, blue, purple and yellow are all visible like a rainbow, but on the ground. These sand dunes were formed by volcanic activity. As the lava cooled down at different temperature and was exposed to the different atmospheric conditions the elements in the lava reacted differently to create cascading coloured dunes. Tourist can buy these sands from curio shops in test tubes and take a sample of these memories back home.
- Flic en Flac is a small seaside town on the western coast of Mauritius. The name of the town comes from a Dutch phrase that means ‘free, flatland’. This public beach is the longest in Manutius, with the whitest sand and it is protected by a coral reef. On the horizon, where the blue ocean water meets the white sky, the silhouette of the Le Morne Brabant mount gives a mysterious aura, encouraging the traveller to embark on a voyage of discovery. The area hosts 140 species of birds both endangered and abundant.
Mauritius is a tranquil abode for a highly multicultural society and is a community of colourful, joyous and bright people. The jubilations of the year start with the Hindu festival of the Cavadee, in which men possessed by spirits, walk on embers, get pierced with needles and travel a great distance to present a wreath of flowers and milk to their deities. The Chinese Spring Festival clad in red covers the island with flowers of all sorts, in February. Divali, the festival of lights is celebrated in October. As the festival approaches, the flickering fairy lights trail the beaches and resorts of Mauritius. The Eid ul Fitr parties, after the holy month of Ramadan, are celebrated by the Muslim community with great joy and zeal.
The transport network of the country is highly evolved. Since Mauritius is an island country, getting around is easier by bus, taxi and by boats as well. The bus network is vast. The busses are air-conditioned, economical and bus conductors are very helpful to tourists. Metered taxis also zoom through the island and a typical tour can cost around MUR 2500. For USD $900, you can also take a helicopter expedition to the island and get amazed by the surrounding coral reef.