An island country in the Indian Ocean, Mauritius is nothing short of paradise on earth. Endowed with gorgeous white-sand beaches, volcanic mountains, and crystal-clear waters, Mauritius is the perfect location to enjoy a leisure holiday in the lap of nature. While lounging on the beach with a cocktail (or a mocktail) in your hand may seem your ideal holiday, this is not the only thing that awaits you in Mauritius. Apart from nature, Mauritius offers you history, culture, and adventure. In short, there is plenty to do in this beautiful country. If you are confused about the places to visit and things to do in this African country, here is a 7-days Mauritius itinerary that will help you decide.
Day 01: Arrival and Settling
While you may be raring to start your holiday and begin your sightseeing tour, it is important not to rush your Mauritius holiday. The first day is when you arrive in the country. Depending on the time you land in Mauritius’ Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport, you can plan the rest of your day. You can check into your hotel in Port Louis and enjoy a day of leisure. You can go beach hopping, visit the local markets, enjoy a pampering session at the spa, check out the cafes, try the local food, and watch a phenomenal sunset. The Central Market is one of the best places to visit to enjoy the vibe of the city and the local life. In short, give a rest to your body and mind and get familiarized with the place before starting the actual exploration.
Day 02: Explore North Mauritius
The second day of your 7 days in Mauritius can be dedicated to North Island, starting from the capital, Port Louis.
Port Louis: The capital city is an amalgamation of historical sites and cultural attractions juxtaposed with modern buildings and attractions.
- The Aparvasi Ghat, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a place you should not miss. An important historical landmark, the Apravasi Ghat is where bonded laborers arrived from different parts of the world.
- The 19th century Fort Adelaide is a must visit, as you will get to see a panoramic view of Port Louis and the harbor as well.
- Blue Penny Museum, Odysseo Oceanarium Mauritius, and Natural History Museum are some of the indoor attractions to check out here.
- You must also visit Caudan Waterfront, which has an eclectic mix of retail stores, cafes, restaurants, etc. The place also has casinos and numerous other entertainment avenues. It is one of the coolest places to hang out in the city.
Grand Baie: Grand Baie is a leisurely and relaxed place that should be a part of the first day of your seven-day Mauritius itinerary. Located 28 kilometers away from Port Louis, the city is a 30-minute drive.
- Grand Baie is home to some of the loveliest beaches in Mauritius. Grand Baie Beach, La Cuvette Beach, and Pereybere Beach are best for swimming, sunbathing, and even thrilling water sports.
- Apart from beaches, Grand Baie is also known for its shopping scene, with the area dotted with local stores that sell innumerable handicrafts, souvenirs, and more.
- Sunset Boulevard is a great place to hang out in the evening, as the place is teeming with restaurants, stores, and cafes.
- Grand Baie is also popular for its nightlife. You will find plenty of bars and nightclubs to enjoy a happening night in Mauritius.
Day 03: Nature and Heritage
Image Credit : mauritiusattractions.com
Spend the third day of your Mauritius holiday in Pamplemousses, the first area on the island that was colonized by the French. Apart from heritage buildings, Pamplemousses is also known for its natural beauty.
Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden: This is one of the best places to visit in Pamplemousses and can be found in almost all Mauritius packages.
- Built in the 18th century, SSR is one of the oldest botanical gardens not just in Mauritius but also in the Southern Hemisphere.
- Spread around 40 acres of land, you will get to see a vast variety of indigenous and unique plant species here.
- The star attraction of this botanical garden is the giant water lily display, right at its center.
- The exotic plants you can find here include the marmalade box tree, fish poison tree, and more.
- The garden also has a palm tree exhibit, which is home to more than 85 species of palm trees from India and Africa.
- Apart from these, the botanical garden has several medicinal plants as well.
Chateau de Labourdonnais: To admire the colonial architecture of Pamplemousses, a visit to Chateau de Labourdonnais is a must.
- This 19th century, two-storied building is a classic example of neoclassical architecture.
- Apart from exploring the building, you can also walk around its beautiful gardens and orchards that house mango trees that are more than 100 years old. The gardens also have plenty of native and exotic plants like nutmeg, clove, etc.
- The place has a museum that will give you a glimpse at the colonial history of the place along with the knowledge about the sugar industry in the area.
- The estate also has its agricultural section, and you will get to enjoy its local produce in the form of fruit jellies, Labourdonnais rums, jams, juices, and more.
- You can also visit the distillery here and learn about the rum-making process and taste some delicious rum as well.
Featured 
Featured Day 04: Island Adventure
Head over to Ile aux Cerfs, a gorgeous island located off the east coast, on the fourth day of your Mauritius holiday.
- Ile aux Cerfs, also known as Deer Island, is home to some of the most pristine beaches.
- Apart from lounging on the beaches, a visit to Ile aux Cerfs is also an opportunity to indulge in an array of water sports and activities.
- Ile aux Cerfs is popular for parasailing, cave sea kayaking, water skiing, tube riding, wakeboarding, banana boat riding, etc.
- You can also enjoy some underwater adventures here like a submarine safari, cruising, undersea walking, snorkeling, and more.
- A few other things that the island has to offer include ziplining, golfing, boating, and more.
- Do take the time to check out the Mauritian Folkloric Sega Dance, where musicians and dancers entertain you in traditional Mauritian outfits.
- Ile aux Cerfs is also a great place to try some delicious seafood.
Day 05: Enjoy in the Lap of Nature
Image Credit : mauritiusattractions.com
Wander a little more towards the south of the island after a fun day at Ile aur Cerfs. Spend the fifth day of your 7-days Mauritius itinerary at Black River Gorges National Park and Chamarel.
Black River Gorges National Park: The Black River Gorges National Park is largest national park in Mauritius and also home to the largest protected forest in the country.
- The national park is home to rolling hills, valleys, gorges, and waterfalls. There are plenty of trails for you to trek here, right from simple ones to the most challenging ones.
- Apart from splendid waterfalls and landscapes, you will also get to see a large amount of flora and fauna while trekking in this national park.
- The Black River Gorges National Park is the perfect place for birdwatching, as it is home to a huge variety of exotic bird species, some of them being endangered. Some of the birds you can see here are echo parakeet, Mauritius kestrel, pink pigeon, etc.
- One of the best things to see here is Alexandra Waterfall, which falls from a height of 700 meters.
Chamarel: This little village in Mauritius is packed with some of the nature’s marvelous wonders among other things.
- The biggest highlight that put Chamarel on the tourist map is the Geopark, where you will find the 7-colored earth. Visiting this natural geological formation is one of the best things to do in Mauritius. Here you will get to see the earth here with seven colors of the rainbow.
- The glorious Chamarel Waterfall is another attraction that you must check here.
- The Geopark also offers you a Coffee Tour experience, complete with exploring the coffee plantation, learning about the Arabica beans, and sampling different flavors of coffee.
- The place also has a Tortoise Park, where you will get to meet some of the friendliest giant tortoises. The tortoises here are of the Aldabra species, which is considered to be the second largest tortoises in the world.
Day 06: South Island Tour
On the sixth day of your tour, go further down and explore the beautiful sights of the southern part of the island country.
- Begin your tour with a hike up to Trou aur Cerfs, a dormant volcanic crater. While climbing up a volcanic site is interesting, the view of the southern coast from the top is even more incredible.
- The southern part of the country is where you will find the Grand Bassin. Known as the Ganga Talao, it is a sacred place for the Hindus in Mauritius. You will get to see huge statues of Goddess Durga and Lord Shiva here.
- Le Morne, a small fishing village in the southwestern part of the country, is also a great place to add to your itinerary. The place is known for the Le Morne Brabant Mountain and stunning beaches. You can indulge in water sports and relax here.
Day 07: Day of Departure
You can plan the last day of your vacation in Mauritius depending on the time of your flight. Enjoy a relaxed day at the pool or lounging on the nearby beach. You can also visit some of the local markets for last minute souvenir shopping. Take this day to pack your bags and check out of your hotel, before reaching the airport to catch your homebound flight.
Conclusion
Your 7-day Mauritius itinerary will give you the chance to enjoy the country in all its glory. You can customize the itinerary to include places and activities that interest you more.
