Things To Do In Mauritius You’ve Never Heard Of

Mauritius crams a mountain of magical experiences into its laid-back lagoon-edged landscape, with thrilling surprises awaiting travellers who venture past the island’s sun-baked beaches and beyond.

It may be well known for its clear blue waters, white sandy beaches and relaxed way of life, but there’s far more to the stunning island country of Mauritius than meets the eye.

An island with white sand and trees in the middle of the ocean. — Discover and explore what Mauritius has to offer.

Whether you want to relax, discover the traditional Mauritian way of life, or tackle more adrenaline-fuelled activities, here are 13 wonderful things to do in this slice of paradise.

1. Reunite with Mother Nature

At 100 metres high, Cascade de Chamarel is the tallest single-drop waterfall in Mauritius. Its powerful flow is cradled by a lush tropical forest, edged by cliffs created by millions of years of volcanic activity. Immerse yourself in nature and take the three-hour trek to the waterfall’s base before sliding into the cool pool for an invigorating swim.

A waterfall in nature. — Put on your hiking boots and trek down to the base of Cascade de Chamarel.

2. Do the rum-bar

Tickle your taste buds and try fine Mauritian rum at Rhumerie de Chamarel. At this distillery, set in exquisite grounds 300 metres above sea level, rum connoisseurs can join a behind-the-scenes tour and learn about the production of their premium range. Book a table at the estate’s eco-friendly restaurant, L’Alchimiste, to savour delights sourced from the landscape.

A woman behind a bar with bottles of rhum. — Rhumerie de Chamarel is the place to visit while in Mauritius.

3. Soar on a seaplane

Buckle up and take off from the water for an exciting seaplane flight to discover Mauritius from above. You’ll fly over mountainous valleys and jagged peaks, and glide across turquoise-tinged oceans. Personalised and private, you’ll sit alongside the pilot who’ll furnish you with island folklore as you soar above stunning scenery before a water landing.

Mountains with a town. — Get ready to take off and explore Mauritius from the sky.

4. Rejuvenate your life

Switch off and tune in for some bodywork with Reiki or an auric healing session to balance mind and body, or indulge in an Ayurvedic massage at a holistic care centre. There are luxury spas offering the ancient healing techniques dotted around Mauritius, so revive your senses and de-stress; holiday pampering is an island must.

5. Take an adrenaline-boosting zipline

To discover the island’s wild side, where waterfalls and eye-catching canyons will take your breath away, sign up to Mauritius’ longest zipline at Vallée des Couleurs Park. For a more sedate experience, nature lovers can immerse themselves in the park’s indigenous fauna and flora. The most impressive sight? The 23-coloured earth landmark, where waves of earth curve like the female form.

Red rocks in nature. — See the collection of naturally occurring 23-coloured earth palette, spread over some 450 acres of land.

6. Discover history and heritage

Immerse yourself in Mauritian history and reflect on the island’s darker side. Once part of the international slave trade, imprisoned workers would throw themselves off the surrounding cliffs rather than be subjected to degradation. Slavery was abolished in 1834, and now local museums, monuments and plaques are sobering reminders of a painful past.

A white museum with a red roof. — Pay a visit to local museums for a lesson in Mauritius history.

7. Enjoy traditional crafts and cuisine

Meet the locals and lose yourself in the island’s bright bustling markets dotted throughout the townships, exploring markets for Mauritian handicrafts and spice up your day by trying delicious traditional Creole street food. Be sure to sample table d’hôte, a homemade meal around a communal table with a Mauritian family; traditional dwelling houses Kot Marie Michelle and Escale Créole will welcome you to enjoy a fusion of tasty Creole cuisine in homely surroundings.

A photo of fruits and vegetables on a market. — You don’t know where to look when you wander through the colorful markets of Mauritius.

A photo of different foods on a platter. — Typical Mauritian food is a guaranteed feast for your belly.

8. Do some electro exploration

Steer an electric bike off the beaten path to discover authentic villages untouched by tourism. Cruise through spectacular countryside vistas, stopping at forest habitats where native wildlife roams, and see sugar cane fields and bays offering fanning views of the island’s aqua-green coastline. It’s laid-back adventure at its best, uncovering hidden gems and surprising treasures.

A photo of a village on a lake with mountains in the back. — Discover Mauritius where land, sea and mountains meet.

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9. Take a hike

Tie your laces and head to the hills to hike into the heart of Mauritius. With more than 40 classified trails – ranging from easy for younger families, moderate for lengthy walks with easy terrain, and hard for adept intrepid hikers – there are scenic trails and immersive nature experiences for everyone.

10. Find gods, statues and a sacred lake

Pack a picnic and visit Ganga Talao, the largest natural crater lake in Mauritius. Sacred to Hindus, and surrounded by adorned statues and temples, it’s considered the island’s holiest landmark. Book a guide and learn about the Hindu culture and pilgrimage which occurs annually around February or March; it’s one of the largest Hindu festivals outside India.

Ganga Talao Grand Bassin — Visit the sacred crater lake, Ganga Talao, commonly known as Grand Bassin.

11. Learn about colonial life

Step back in time and enjoy a guided tour of an 1830s colonial residence at Maison Eureka. Filled with antiques and photos, the walls hold stories of a bygone era narrated in the onsite museum, while the pretty manicured gardens are home to endemic plants and exotic fruit trees. An onsite restaurant serves traditional Mauritian cuisine on the verandah.

12. Explore the underwater world

For a one-off experience, pop a champagne cork and dine underwater in a submarine. Guests can ogle at the Indian Ocean’s magical sea life some 35 metres below the surface without getting wet; watch for turtles, shipwrecks and exotic species living off healthy coral reef systems.

13. Play in a golf lover’s paradise

Golfers, swing your eyes away from the island’s crystal blue waters and focus on Mauritius’ beautifully laid out golf courses instead. There are 10 of them suitable for all levels. Set between sea and mountains, the Heritage Golf Club in Bel Ombre is one of the finest in the Indian Ocean.

Ancient Egyptian history has been scattered across the globe for decades, admired, preserved, and studied, but it’s rarely seen where it actually belongs. The newly opened Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) brings it home.

From a viewing platform inside the Grand Egyptian Museum, the Great Pyramids of Giza rise from the desert, and for a moment, it feels like modern Egypt and ancient Egypt are shaking hands. The museum, grand in name and reality, has been a long time coming—since 1992, to be exact. Towering pharaohs, relics, and entire chapters of civilisation are on display here, all in full view of the pyramids. And because the GEM is the largest archaeological museum in the world dedicated to a single civilisation, it gets to tell Egypt’s story through its own voice, something many overseas institutions, understandably, haven’t quite managed.

Reshaping Giza

GEM entrance and gardens — The GEM holds its own commanding position. (Image: Natasha Bazika)

You might expect any building beside the Great Pyramids of Giza to fade into the background, but the GEM doesn’t bow to its famous neighbours. Perfectly aligned on the same axis and vast enough to span 70 football fields, the museum is less of an addition to Giza and more of a marker of the shift from a gateway to a cultural district.

Inside, hieroglyphs carved from alabaster sweep across the walls and triangles appear everywhere, yet it’s a 3,200-year-old, 11-metre-tall, statue of Ramesses II who commands the room. His scale dictated the soaring atrium ceilings, which pour in natural light, unusual in museums but safe for the stone artefacts displayed.

Hieroglyphs line the walls of the main entrance of the GEM — Hieroglyphs line the walls of the main entrance. (Image: Natasha Bazika)

Unlike many museums, the GEM has really considered how visitors move through it. The six-storey grand staircase leads you chronologically through Egypt’s history, from the Predynastic era to the Coptic period, flanked by statues that grow in scale and complexity as you climb. Elevators and lifts run alongside, keeping the journey accessible to everyone.

At the top, a viewing wall frames the pyramids before you enter the main gallery to see artefacts rarely seen outside tombs, including the complete contents of Tutankhamun’s tomb, a highlight for many visitors.

Pharaohs, artefacts and everything in between

The GEM's showpiece Ramesses II — The GEM’s showpiece Ramesses II. (Image: Natasha Bazika)

The GEM holds around 100,000 artefacts across seven millennia, but the experience is entirely modern. Digital panels, QR navigation and clear bilingual signage make self-guided wandering easy, while short, glare-free labels in English, Arabic and braille are colour-coded to move you from broad themes to object-level detail.

That said, a guide adds context you don’t get from a panel. I was lucky to have Essam Al Ebd Aziz, an Egyptologist, on board a 12-day Uniworld Nile cruise, walk me through some of the museum’s standout pieces.

Top of the list is, of course, the Tutankhamun exhibit. Almost everything from his tomb, much of it never shown outside the Valley of the Kings, is here, from his golden funerary mask to delicate jewellery and ceremonial objects. But the GEM isn’t just about one boy king.

GEM entrance is guarded by an 11-metre-tall Ramesses II statue. — An 11-metre-tall Ramesses II statue guards the entrance. (Image: Natasha Bazika)

Essam points out the canopic chest of Hetepheres, mother of Khufu, where her organs were stored in alabaster. I loved the forty little marching soldier figurines from the tomb of Mesehti, all lined up and hanging on a wall. And then there’s the statue of Metri, a scribe, with piercing blue eyes carved from lapis lazuli. All these pieces, and thousands more, now sit under one roof. And for the first time, people can see Egypt’s history in one place, told in its own voice, without leaving the shadow of the pyramids. That alone changes everything.

13 amazing things to do in Mauritius that you’ve never heard of