Too much to experience on one island in the Indian Ocean 

Mauritian culture is a melange of European, African, Indian and Malay and people speak English, French and Creole. This gives the island an array of cultural influences for travellers to explore.

Creole culture gives people a love of life that adds colour to the streets. There are brightly painted Hindu temples, Catholic churches, Chinese temples and soccer stadiums throughout the island!

Mauritius has a 300-year-old history of dancing on beaches. The national popular music, Sega music, once danced by slaves, is a gentle fusion of east African rhythms with blues and reggae sounds.

Mauritian chefs have been combining French, Asian and tropical flavours for more than 200 years. Smorgasbord breakfasts are an extravagant speciality. Afternoon tea is taken with vanilla. White rum is steeped with fruits, herbs and spices. Colourful markets sell tropical fruits and Aryuvedic herbs. Resort restaurants overlook white beaches, azure seas and honey moons.

Mauritius is a romantic island and many Australian couples are married on a yacht or on one of the off shore deserted islands with bonfires at a reception on the beach.

Mauritius is a world-class destination for diving, fishing, sailing, kitesurfing and surfing. There is as much to do below water as above the water.

The sheltered coral lagoon that rings the island is great for beginners to try sailing, windsurfing, snorkelling, water skiing or wakeboarding. Consistent winds, wide reef passes and deep ocean drop offs also give Mauritius the conditions for world-class game fishing, kitesurfing, surfing and diving.

There are 46 scuba diving centres in Mauritius and for beginners there are undersea tours in submarines, semi-submersibles and sub-scooters. Mauritius also holds world records for game fish caught on rod and reel.

Mauritius was the third country in the world to start playing golf after the UK and then India. The Mauritius Gymkhana Golf Club, built in 1844, is the oldest golf club in the Southern Hemisphere. Bernhard Langer’s Le Touessrok golf course occupies a tiny island off shore and makes for one of the classic aerial photographs in world golf.

Inland there are bushwalks, volcanic hills and valleys, rivers, waterfalls and sightseeing activities. There is great nightlife in Grand Baie and the capital, Port Louis, and too many things to do during the days.

There’s really no excuse to laze in the sun on a white coral beach beside the most brilliant blue lagoon in the world.

No excuse at all.

For detail on any of the experiences mentioned in this release contact:

MTPA agents in Australia: The Wren Partnership: 03 9685 2600

Mauritius on the net: www.tourism-mauritius.mu

Air Mauritius operates the direct flights from Perth, Sydney and Melbourne, with connectivity via Virgin Airlines. For travel bookings contact your local travel agent.