Luxury Villa Holidays In Mauritius

Mauritius is surrounded by amazing white sandy beaches, blue lagoons, palm trees, coral reefs and private luxury villas, however, not all are available to rent. The beauty of the island is overwhelming. Those who love nature will be absolutely astonished by the radiance of the mountains, nature reserves and wildlife parks, there is something for everyone on this beautiful island. The contrast of a multitude of colours and tastes, the island, set in its turquoise sea, is an oasis of peace and tranquillity. Mauritius, a melting pot where past and present are smoothly blended together.

Mauritius is an island nation which includes the islands of St. Brandon, Rodrigues and the Agalega Islands, known as part of the Mascarene Islands. The island of Mauritius itself is formed around a central plateau, with its highest peak in the southwest, Piton de la Petite Rivière Noire at 828 metres (2,717 ft). Mauritius is 1,864 sq. Km (720 square miles) in area, its capital and largest city is Port Louis, in the Northwest.

Due to the volcanic origin of Mauritius, it is generally sheltered by barriers of coral reefs which have formed natural, safe, crystal clear lagoons, perfect for exploring the multi-coloured fish, providing excellent snorkelling and diving opportunities. A lot of  luxury villas are located right on the beach on the north and west coast, offering excellent sea views and just a few steps from the sand. Experience a unique sight on the Mauritian coast, black dolphins and long beaked dolphins have chosen Tamarin Bay on the west of the island as their home. December and March are the best months for diving, when the waters are at their clearest; June to August is best for surfing; and October to April is excellent for big game fishing, when the large predators feed close to shore.

Mauritius has long been a dream destination. It has been known to the Arabs as early as the 10th century, but was officially discovered in 1505 by the Portuguese navigator Pedro Mascarenhas. The island was occupied successively by the Dutch (1598-1712) and the French (1715-1810), and was ceded to Great Britain in 1814 through the Treaty of Paris. Due to its history of ownership, culture and mixture of religions, English is the official language of the island, though you're bound to hear French, Mauritian Créole and a smattering of Indian languages. Likewise, the cuisine of Mauritius is a blend of Indian Cuisine, Creole, Chinese and European. It is not uncommon for a combination of cuisines to form part of the same meal. The "cari poule" or chicken curry, is a very popular dish as is "mine-frit" (Chinese fried noodles) and "niouk nien" (dumplings) are loved by all and readily bought by the Mauritian community either in restaurants or on the sidewalks of main streets.

Créole séga is a dance invented by Mauritians of African origin with slaves which involves foot-shuffling and swaying of the hips that is generally performed on the beach to the rhythm of Latin American, Caribbean and African pop. There are now several types of sega in Mauritius however, in standard sega use the instruments the ravanne, the maravanne and the triangle.