Island Excursion Along the Coast
On our excursion you will get to know the various coastlines of Mauritius in the north, east, south and west all in one day.
In an exclusive private tour, Alain will show you the most gorgeous beaches and fantastic cliffs of Mauritius.
On the North Cape of Mauritius you visit the small beach, Coin de Mire. From here, you have a spectacular view of the protected nature preserve on the island of the same name, Coin de Mire. The great majority of Coin de Mire island is made up of a 163 m high rock/crag, which protrudes imposingly from the sea. With a bit of fantasy, this rock/crag looks a lot like a seal peeking out of the middle of the Indian Ocean.
Then, you will make a short stop at the famous chapel Notre Dame Auxiliatrice with its impressive red gabled roof that can be seen from quite a distance. Once here, you have also reached the northern tip of Mauritius, the Cap Malheureux, also known as the Cape of Misfortune.
The journey continues in the direction of the east coast. The breathtaking coastal road with shimmering turquoise water and snowy white sand beaches, on the east side of the island, is one of the most stunning regions of Mauritius when it comes to landscapes. You will drive through typical little villages such as Belle Mare, French for Beautiful Sea, and Trou d'Eau Douce, which means Sweet Water Hole in English. The scenery of the 521 m high Bergen Pic Grand Fond (giant mountain peak), and its neighbour, the 626 m high Bambou, which also happens to be the hallmark of the east coast, is well worth seeing and will make a lasting impression on you.
Making your way south, you will cross the Grande Rivère Sud-Est (the Great River South East). It is the island's largest river and it flows from the mountainous backcountry down toward the coastal plain.
At the Kap Le Gris Gris (Cape Gris Gris), the southernmost point of the island, or Pont Naturel, which means a natural bridge, you have a phenomenal view of the waves crashing against the rock formations, which jut up out of the sea. Here you will see the amazing cliffs of Mauritius, which will captivate you with a completely different kind of coastal magic than the famous bathing beaches, protected by the coral reefs. The tour then continues toward Souillac in the direction of Bel Ombre where the beaches appear calmer, since the coral reef buffers the powerful waves of the Indian Ocean. You will pass through tiny idyllic villages such as St. Martin, Baie du Cap (Cape Bay) and Le Morne where the 556 m high massive rock colossus Le Morne Brabant shows itself, its sad fame dating back to the end of the slavery period.
In those days, escaped slaves often sought refuge on the remote mountain. Even as a delegation made its way to them to herald/proclaim the end of slavery, many leapt to their deaths, because they did not know the real reason for the visit.
February 1st has been a Creole holiday ever since. In 2008 the mountain and landscape were added by UNESCO to the list of World Cultural Heritage sites.
As you journey toward the west coast, where the backcountry boasts the Black River region and its unique tropical forests, you will encounter a wide variety of splendid coves and beaches that beg for a photo stop. In Tamarin you will pass by the salt basins where salt is still won today through evaporation.
You will stop at lunch time for refreshments with a picnic on the beach or at the bluffs/cliffs.
As the day comes to its inevitable end, we hope that you will take many special memories of our tour and its wonderful impressions of Mauritius with you.
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