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TRAVEL GUIDE FOR MAURITIUS: By Raju Salvi Visit: 26th Aug to 2nd Sept 2015.
Expensive Tour. Excellent & worth to see scenic beaches, gratifying
landscapes, amazing nature trails & water sports full of enjoyment.
Currency & its Equivalent: Mauritian Rupee (MUR).
1 Euro= 39.09, 1 USD = 36.10, OMR = 93.77 MUR, 1 MUR = 1.88 INR
ATMs, commercial outlets accepts international debit cards.
I used international debit card of Bank Muscat & SBI.
CONTACT DETAILS:
Phone & Watsapp: +91 9011909452
Email: [email protected]
1. VISA:
On arrival, to all the nationals.
2. PASSPORT:
6 months validity.
Given below are links of “Mauritius Consulates” in Mumbai & Delhi for latest info on entry requirements.
http://mfa.govmu.org/portal/sites/mfamission/mumbai/contact.htm
http://mfa.govmu.org/portal/sites/mfamission/newdelhi/contact.htm
NB: Traveller should always check for latest info on entry requirements. I wrote email to Mumbai
Consulate, they asked me submit copy of passport & my Oman resident card as I was travelling from
Oman to Mauritius. Then phone no. of visa section was provided, on which I called & got the required info
on Mauritius entry requirements.
3. TRAVEL DOCUMENT:
Return ticket is a must.
NB: If you think you may decide to extend your stay then you must request immigration officer to stamp
visa for more days from the return ticket date. I requested & he stamped visa for 1 month.
Travel insurance policy is upto you, to take it or not. It is not at all a prerequisite for immigration.
4. HOTEL ACCOMODATION:
This also is a must. Before travelling to Mauritius, need to have confirmed hotel booking. I had booked
thru email. Immigration officer checked hotel owner’s email in my case. My stay was more than 7 days so
they noted my hotel address. Reason is government health department depute their person to your hotel
address to collect your blood sample for tests to know you are not suffering from any disease. If you are
suffering then they inform the hotel owner on it. On 4th day, a young girl visited my hotel to collect blood
sample from me.
NB:
If you are without confirmed hotel booking then you will not get visa.
There are hotels that will ask:- a) Advance or full payment b) Your card details
There are also hotels that will not ask advance payment or card details, I chose this type of hotel.
5. SUFFICIENT FUNDS:
Immigration officer may ask to provide the proof of funds to take care of your stay / sightseeing in
Mauritius. I was with following proofs:
a) 1K USD in cash b) International debit card (2 nos.) c) Bank statement (2 banks)
In my case, immigration officer didn’t ask anything on it before stamping visa on my passport.
NB: 100 to 150 Euro per day will be the basis for immigration officer to arrive at a total sufficient funds
figure for one’s entire stay.
MAURITIUS AIRPORT LOUNGE:
It is a small international airport with a foreign exchange office.
TRAVEL PREREQUISITES:
ROOM RENT PER NIGHT: Starting from INR 1500/-.
1. PREFER CITY LIFE: Then look for hotel in Port Louis
2. PREFER BEACH LIFE: Then look for hotel in Grand Baie, Blue Bay, Flic En Flac, Mahebourg
3. PREFER LUXURY: Then plenty of star hotels, resorts with spa options available
4. PREFER TO SAVE MONEY: Choose Mahebourg. I stayed at Les Residence Bambous in Mahebourg. Owner
Mr. Ritesh is of Indian origin from Bihar, can’t speak Hindi. He has father, mother & his twin brother. His
contact details are: [email protected] & +230 5429 9077. He does responds to email communication on daily basis
on getting free time from his busy schedule. I don’t recommend this hotel for family. Please read the trip
advisor link below where I have provided detailed info on the hotel from the traveller’s point of view. I would
surely recommend this hotel for solo traveller or bachelors, but do read the link before making decision.
https://www.tripadvisor.in/ShowUserReviews-g481079-d6614829-r311789366-Residence_Les_Bambous-
Mahebourg.html
NB: Normally I am choosing hotels from booking.com, tripadvisor.com, hotels.com websites. After knowing
the name of the hotel, I check its website if applicable then I contact then owner directly to get the best deal.
In the other websites the cost is little high when compared to the owner’s own website.
Look for the hotels near Mahebourg bus depot or Waterfront that is adjacent to sea shore. It is very beautiful
place. See the attached photos of the Waterfront sea shore. Daily in the evening & on week ends, Mahebourg
residents spent time here. There is small fast food stall, portable ice cream and coconut water stall.
Rice & curry, biryani veg as well as non veg is a common item. There are many Indian restaurants in
Mauritius. Please click the link below:
http://restaurants.mu/mauritius-indian-restaurants.html
1. HIRING A CAR / TAXI FOR FULL DAY: Relax & explore destinations while driver takes efforts of driving.
Standard charges are MUR 2000 to 3000 per day from 9 am to 5 or 6 pm. I hired my hotel owner for
MUR 2000 per day.
2. TOURIST BUS:
Some hotels conduct sightseeing tours for their customers in their bus. If you are in one such hotel then
you have this option.
The Mauritius Island is 65 x 45 km.
Following is a sightseeing norm per day in Mauritius thru a hired car / taxi as well as tourist bus:
a) East b) West c) South d) North e) South east f) South west i) Central
WHERE TO STAY
WHERE & WHAT TO EAT
HOW TO DO SIGHTSEEING
I did sightseeing in following manner:
Day 1: South
1st Place Visited: The most gratifying hindu temple in Mauritius at Grand Bassin / Ganga Talao.
It is crater lake. This temple has an excellent eye pleasing scenic beauty. You will find plenty of God idols
eg. Gautam Buddha, Ganpati, Shankar, Saibaba, Hanuman, Durga etc. Temple is maintained very neat &
clean. See the photos of scenic temple & gratifying serene lake. Temple has car parking space.
Scenic photos of temple & surrounding from top of hill adjacent to the temple. See the hill in the 1st
photo of the 2nd row above. It takes 10 to 15 minutes to climb the steps up to the hill. Please do climb
up the hill to see eye pleasing scenic beauty of temple & surrounding from the top.
NB: The scenic beauty of temple & scenic view from hill top is more beautiful than you see in photos.
2nd Place Visited: Giant idol of Lord Shiva at Ganga Bassin.
It is at couple of minutes drive from the temple. It is an alluring giant idol. Construction work of giant
idol of Goddess Durga was in progress as can be seen in 4th photo below. Roads are too neat & clean.
3rd Place Visited: Black Gorges Mountain Trail
It is at 30 minutes drive from the temple. Scenic views of mountain trails are excellent. There is a car
parking area. In the parking area, small stalls of ice cream, drinking water & coconut water. Toilet is also
there. From parking area, walk of 5 minutes to the spot. See the photos below:
4th Place Visited: Impressive Chamarel / Black Gorges Water Fall
It is at 30 minutes drive from the Black Gorges Mountain Trail. Water fall view is very impressive. There are
2 spots to see water fall. 1st is near the parking area & for 2nd spot you have to climb up for a couple of
minutes. See the photos below:
5th Place Visited: Chamarel – A nature’s amazing wonder, seven coloured volcanic earth
Entrance fee is MUR 200. It is at 10 minutes drive from Black Gorges Water Fall. This is the most beautiful
place I visited on my day 1 tour. There are giant tortoises, another wonder. Small restaurant & toilet
facility is also available at this place. See the photos below:
6th Place Visited: South sea coast
We started at Maconde a very very beautiful spot, then Bel Ombre, Souillac & day 1 ended at Gris Gris.
See the photos below:
Day 2: North
1st Place Visited: Caudan Waterfront in Port Louis the capital of Mauritius
Most busy place in the Mauritius. Best for shopping as well as Indian food. Scenic beauty of landscape is
excellent. See the photos below:
2nd Place Visited: Pamplemousses Botanical Garden
This is the best place for those who love green nature. The entrance fee is 700 MUR. This is the one place
which can be reached by public transport bus. The garden is very beautiful. Main attraction is the pond with
Giant Lotus Flowers. It will take more than 2 hours to see the complete garden. After paying the entrance fee
botanical map is given showing the route map of the botanical garden as well location of the botanical plants
in the garden. Pictures below will say everything of this garden.
3rd Place Visited: Grand Baie
This is the favourite place for most of the tourist & also most famous place for sea beaches, water sports &
activities etc. This is also the busy place like Port Louis. Photos of the beautiful beaches.
Day 3: West
1st Place Visited: Trou Aux Cerf
This place is known for dormant volcanic crater of 350m dia into 80m deep. Please see the photos below:
From Trou Aux Cerf the scenic view of mountain series is the ultimate gratifying your senses. Scenic view of
mountain series appears as if it is real painting of nature. See the photos below:
2nd Place Visited: Flic En Flac & Tamarin Beach
Both are long beautiful stretch of white sand sea beach with beautiful lagoons. Scattered trees along the
coastline offers a place for complete relaxation. These places does attracts tourists as well as Mauritians.
There are shops, restaurants & hotels along the beach.
Flic En Flac beach photos:
Tamarin Bay Beach photos:
3rd Place Visited: Casella Nature Park
Entrance Fee is 700 MUR. There are safari buses taking to various places inside Casela park where you will
see rhinoceros, deers, camels, giraffes, peacocks, ostriches etc from very near. The scenic beauty all around
& in front of the Casela nature park entrance is very magnificent.
You have to pay additional money for following activities in the park starting from 1500 MUR depending on
the activity & duration:
i) Walk with the lions ii) Quad biking iii) Segway iv)Zipline or canyon swing
Day 4: South east
1st Place Visited: Blue Bay Sea Beach
It is a beautiful beach, famous for glass bottom boat tour, snorkelling & water sports activities in south.
2nd Place Visited: Slave’s Memorial adjacent to Waterfront in Mahebourg
This place offers a very good scenic view around. See the pictures below:
3rd Place Visited: Ruins of 1st building of Mauritius. It has an excellent scenic greenery.
4th Place Visited: 1st Seaport of Mauritius: It has an excellent scenic beauty.
5th Place Visited: Kestrel Valley
Trek lovers spot. It is a private property, hence closed for tourist. We took a chance & it worked. During trek,
we came across plenty of deers. From top, magnificent views of sea & surrounding.
6th Place Visited: Leval Park
A small beautiful green garden with serene pond & a hall for marriage or social gatherings. During my visit
marriage was going on.
Day 5: East
Place visited: Ille Aux Cerf. The most beautiful island & beach in Mauritius.
Please book your trip thru “Pirates” named boat instead of other boat or cruise ship. Price from 1000 to 1500
MUR. My guide negotiated at 800 MUR. The most enjoyable part of it is you get to see tradition saga dance of
Mauritius done by a girl on music (guitar & drum) played by other two men with a Mauritian song. Girl will
approach all the passenger on the boat for dance to enjoy the trip. You are served with water, wine, barbeque
lunch on your trip. It is a one & half hour trip by boat to the Ille Aux Cerf Island. On the way you are taking to
parasailing spot. If you are interested you can do it at MUR 1000. You are left on the Ille Aux Cerf at your
leisure to swim or relax or stroll on the long beautiful beach. On the return journey you are taken to a
waterfall. The scenic beauty on route is magnificent. See the photos:
NB: Do carry swimming costume & towels if you want to enjoy swimming on the Ille Aux Cerf island beach.
Day 6: West
Place Visited: Tamarin Seven Water Fall.
It is a trek lovers spot. I have added detailed info on it in the link below. Please click & read.
https://www.tripadvisor.in/ShowUserReviews-g480207-d3704491-r341964181-Tamarin_Falls-Curepipe.html
Miscellaneous Photos Taken of Scenic Landscapes on route to east, west, south & north during my tour.
Must see places are: Chamarel, Chamarel Water Fall, Trou Aux Cerf, Ille Aux Cerf, Ganga Bassin, Grand Baie
Beaches, Casella Park, Pamplemousses Garden, Port Louis, Maconde, Flic En Flac Beach, Tamarin Bay Beach,
Gris Gris, Blue Bay, Rochester Water Fall, Tamarin View Point etc
ITEM DESCRIPTION AMT
(INR)
TIPS FOR SAVING VITAMIN M IF
ANY.
Ticket Muscat to Dubai to
Mauritius to Dubai to
Mumbai OMR 522
89000 Book well in advance for most
economical deal.
Hotel MUR 650 x 7 days =4550 8554 Try to negotiate on rent without
breakfast. Breakfast of bread
sandwich with tea or juice is not
worth for MUR 200 or 250.
My hotel rent quoted was MUR 850
with breakfast. I finalised at MUR
650 without breakfast.
NB: Few hotels accept it & few don’t.
Taxi in Mahe MUR 2000 x 6 days = 12000
MUR 1500 x half day = 1500
25380
Boat ticket Trou D Eau Douce to Ille Aux
Cerf MUR 800
1504 Normal ticket is in the range of MUR
1000 to 1500. My hotel owner
negotiated MUR 800 for me.
Entrance ticket Chamarel: MUR 200
Pamplemousses Garden:
MUR 300
Casella Park: MUR 700
Total = 200+300+700=
MUR 1200
2256
Food
Water & Juice
MUR 4000
MUR 500
Total MUR 4500
8460
Mobile Sim
Internet
MUR 25
MUR 25
Total MUR 50
94 Most hotels provide free wifi.
Total expenses excluding my air ticket 46248
TIP:
If you are 2 or family with 1 kid or 2 kids then accordingly take quote from travel agent for 5 days.
Then compare your estimated budget & travel agent quote for 5 days to know what the best is.
I feel travel agent quote may work out most economical.
It is an expensive tour but worth spending.
LAST & MOST IMPORTANT THING BUDGET: My expenses below will enable you to budget the tour.
