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Holidays Mauritius  -  Travel information Mauritius.

Island nation in the southwest Indian Ocean.

Districts of Mauritius : Black River, Flacq, Grand Port, Moka, Pamplemousses, Plaines Wilhems, Port Louis, Riviere du Rempart and Savanne.

Dependencies : Agalega Islands, Cargados Carajos and Rodrigues.

Destinations : Cap Malheureux, Curepipe, Domaine Les Pailles, Grand Bai, Grand Bassin [ Lake in a crater] Mahébourg [ on the east side of the island ], Trou anx Cerfs [ forested crater of a ancient vulcano ].

Mauritius is situated at approximately 2000 kilometers to the south-eastern coast of Africa [ east of Madagascar ] with 330 kilometers of coastline. Inland features include a vast central plateau, subtropical forests, rivers, steams and waterfalls. Bordering this tableland are several mountain ranges consisting of diverse shaped masses of basalt testifying the volcanic origins of the island. Three peaks emerge: Piton de la Petite Riviere Noire [ 828mts ] and Le Pouce [ 812 mts. ].

Besides the Island of Mauritius the republic includes the islands of St. Brandon, Rodrigues and the Agalega Islands.

Mauritius is part of the Mascarene Islands, with the French island of Réunion 200 kilometers (125 mi) to the southwest.

Capital City Mauritius : Port Louis.


car hire / rental car, hotels, travel agency, travel guides, transportation / travelling to mauritius

links


Car Rental Mauritius

 Holiday Autos  -   
Holiday Autos offers the best fully inclusive car hire prices. Get cheap car hire quickly and securely online with holidayautos.co.uk, the experts in online car rental.

 Sixt  -   
Pick-Up Station / Return Station : Mauritius Airport, Mauritius Port Louis Waterfront, Mauritius Quatre Bornes.

Holiday Homes / Apartments

 To Escape to
Search their unique selection of holiday villas, boutique apartments, luxury guest houses, hip hotels and safari camps. They offer stylish accommodation as well as your choice of holiday lifestyle.

Hotels in Mauritius

Cosmos 
Cosmos is UK's largest independent tour operator.

  -  Hotels in Flic En Flac and Grand Baie

 
Centrally located hotels ranging from small family run budget accommodation to world-class five star hotels.

 

Hostels / Budget Accommodation

Somewhere2stay.com  -  Cheap Holiday Accommodation Mauritius

 
Hostelbookers.com is one of the worlds largest online booking services for hostels. All hostels you see here are offering realtime prices and availability.

 TFTHostels  -  Seach all hostels, book the cheapest
Hostels, Budget Hotels, Apartments, Guesthouses, B&B, and Campsites.
Hostel search engine. Search all Hostels, find the cheapest. Compare rates, reviews and recommendations. Check availability, specs and location. Book the hostel of your choice by visiting the hostel booking website.

Travel Agents / Tour Operators

Travelsphere  
Travelsphere is the UK's No. 1 operator of escorted holidays

 British Airways  -  Holidays in Mauritius
If your idea of paradise is blue lagoons, white-sand beaches and delectable food, your tropical Mauritius holiday will take you to seventh heaven. From Mauritius' deserted east-coast beaches to the booming resort town of Flic en Flac on the west coast, you'll find picture-perfect beaches everywhere on Mauritius holidays. Foodies should head for the gourmands' haven of Grand Baie.

Kuoni Holidays  
Crystal clear waters and soft white sandy beaches form the ideal surroundings for a superb beach holiday. A unique feature of the landscape is the extinct volcanoes scattered around the island. The history of the island and its cultural variety blend to form a glorious mixture of the Indian, Chinese and Creole religions and cuisine.

Hayes & Jarvis 
Hayes & Jarvis has been making holiday arrangements for discerning travellers since its formation in 1952 [ [ ATOL 1275 ]

Cresta Holidays   
Cheap Breaks Mauritius. 

  -  Create your perfect trip to Mauritius - Flight, Hotel and Car

 If Only Travel
 Mauritius & More = Scantours
 Rainbow Tours  -  Small Group Tours
 Tropical Locations  -  specialist travel organiser
 Imbel Travel  -  UK-based Travel Agent - Main Agent of Air Mauritius



 Voyages Jules Verne  -  Great Journeys for the discerning traveller

 AHRIM  -  Association des Hoteliers et Restaurateurs de l'Ile Maurice
Represent the accommodation and tourism facilities of Mauritius. Membership includes hotels, restaurants, inbound handling services, tourism-related sports acitivities, leisure and entertainment companies

Travel Guides Mauritius / Related books

Travel Guides Mauritius [ Amazon.co.uk ]

Mauritius, Reunion and the Seychelles - Lonely Planet  -  Jan Dodd, Madeleine Philippe
Paperback 304 pages (December 2004); Publisher: Lonely Planet Publications; Language: English; ISBN: 1740593014
Mauritius - Globetrotter Travel Guides  -  Martine Maurel
The handy pocket-size guide is packed with useful information, tips and recommendations, accompanied by colour photographs, charts and maps for the first-time traveller who wants to experience the major highlights that Mauritius has to offer. This travel book surpasses other guides in that it incorporates essential information in an easy-to-carry and easy-to-read format that is attractive and useful at the same time. It provides a visitor with an invaluable introduction to Mauritius by concisely highlighting the region's 'must see' areas in a practical and user-friendly format, thus encouraging the tourist to make the most of his/her available time. All the essential information you need to get around an unfamiliar region is compacted into useful and practical 'At-a -Glance' sections at the end of each chapter. The fold-out map of Mauritius is ideal for tourists and visitors. In addition to the main map of Mauritius, which highlights scenic routes, it features 11 detailed area maps and 3 town plans.
Paperback 128 pages (April 1, 2005); Publisher: New Holland Publishers (UK); Language: English; ISBN: 1843308401

Transport / How do I travel to Mauritius

 Port Louis Airport
 Rodrigues Airport

 British Airways  -  Flight tickets to Mauritius

  Opodo  -   
Flight tickets Mauritius.

 
Book cheap flights to Mauritius at ebookers and benefit from discounted airfares. View their latest offers and book your flights, accommodation, car hire and insurance online

 Air Mauritius  -  Flights to Mauritius

Indian Ocean Pass - created jointly by Air Seychelles, Air Mauritius and Air Austral. The participating airlines have merged their regional networks to enable you to create your own circuit to discover the gems of the Indian Ocean

 Airline Tickets / Bargain Flights  -  Flights mauritius / Price comparison possible

 Maps International  -  Guides Mauritius  
Mapsinternational.co.uk is one of the largest map shops online.
 Map Mauritius [ Uni Texas  -  Perry-Castañeda Library  -  Map Collection ]


Links 

 Travel Insurance

 Mauritius.net  -  Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority [ MTPA ]
Quick facts, flying to Mauritius, what to visit, where to stay, what's new

 Government of Mauritius

 Port Louis  -  Capital city Mauritius  -  named after France's Louis XV
It is a port on the Indian Ocean, and the nation's largest city and main port.
Founded by the French governor, Mahe de Labourdonnais, in 1935. The harbour lies sheltered in a semi-circle of mountains. The town has plenty of character, and proudly signs of its historical elegance.

 Black River  -  Tamarin
 Flacq  -  Centre de Flacq
 Grand Port  -  Mahebourg
 Moka  -  Moka, 
 Pamplemousses  -  Triolet
 Plaines Wilhems  -  Rose-Hill
 Port Louis  -  Port Louis
 Rivière du Rempart  -  Poudre d'Or
 Savanne  -  Souillac 

 Anse La Raie
 Baie du Tombeau
 Balaclava  
 Bambous [ Black River District ]
 Belle Mare
 Black River  - district on the western side of the island  -
Black River 's famous areas include Tamarin Falls and the Chamarel coloured Earth. Tourist areas : Flic en Flac, Tamarin and Le Morne.
 Blue Bay
 Cap Malheureux  -  village in the Rivière du Rempart district
 Chemin Grenier
 Coin de Mire
 Flic-en-Flac [ Black River District ]  -  longest beach on the island
 Grand Baie
 Grand Gaube  -  in the northeastern part of Mauritius
 Le Morne 
Top kite surfing / wind surfing destination because of unique constant wind effects.
 Mahébourg  -  small city on the southeastern coast of the island of Mauritius
Capital of the Grand Port District.
 Pamplemousses  -  botanical gardens
 Palmar
 Péreybère 
 Pointe aux Canonniers  
 Pointe aux Piments
 Poste de Flacq (Choisy)
 Pointe de Flacq
 Poste Lafayette 
 Quartier Militaire  -  town in the centre of Mauritius, in the Moka District
Capital of Moka-Flacq district.
 Tamarin 
 Trou aux Biches
 Trou d'Eau Douce
 Wolmar

 Dodo [ former didus ineptus, now raphus cocullatus ] = extinct bird
The Dodo is the most famous extinct species in the history of Planet Earth. Its first contact with Europeans was in 1598, when a Dutch expedition headed by Admiral Jacob Cornelius van Neck landed on an island, thick with dense forests of bamboo and ebony, off the East coast of Africa. The island was named Mauritius by the adventurous and artistic Admiral – the first man to draw the extraordinary and unique flightless bird, now universally known as the Dodo (from the Dutch word 'dodoor' meaning sluggard). The demise of the Dodo has been attributed to hungry Dutch sailors en route to the Spice Islands of Indonesia. They would take a dinner break on the tropical island and consume the defenceless Dodo, but it was clearly an acquired taste as the sailors named it 'valghvogel'- meaning disgusting bird.
Nowadays it is thought that pigs, brought in by the Dutch, were to blame. Run away pigs ate most of the food the Dodo also was after. See for fun stuff Dodopad.
 Fort Frederik Hendrik [ VOC ]
Built by the Dutch in 1638
 Martello Toweres
 Tamarin Falls

Cuisine - Mauritian Foods / Recipes

Genuine Cuisine of Mauritius - Guy Felix
Paperback 111 pages (March 1992); Publisher: African Books Collective; Language: English; ISBN: 9990300631
Best of Mauritian Cooking - Barry Andrews, Paul Jones, Gerald Gay (Photographer)
Hardcover 168 pages (August 30, 2000); Publisher: Times Editions; ISBN: 9971400715

History of Mauritius

Independence: 12 March 1968 (from UK)

Of volcanic origin and sheltered for its major part by barriers of coral reefs forming natural, safe, crystal clear lagoons, Mauritius has for long been a dream destination. Known to Arabs as early as the 10th Century, but officially "discovered" in 1505 by the Portugese navigator Pedro Mascarenhas, the island was occupied successively by the Dutch (1598-1712), the French (1715-1810), and was ceded to Great Britain in 1814 through the Treaty of Paris. On March 12, 1968 Mauritius acceded to Independence. Republic Day was proclaimed on 12 March 1992.

 History of Mauritius - Wikipedia 
Colonization [ Discovery, Portuguese Sailors (1507-1513), Dutch Sailors (1598-1637), Dutch colonization (1638-1710), Treatment of slaves, Legacy of the Dutch, French rule (1715-1810), British rule (1810-1968) ], Towards independence, Independence [ From Independence - 1994, 1995 - Present Day ].
 History of Mauritius - The French Settlement 1715-1810
In 1710 the Dutch abandoned for good the island after two unsuccessful attempts at colonisation. In September 1715, Guillaume Dufresne d'Arsel took possession of Mauritius in the name of King Louis XV of France. He named it the Isle de France, placed the French flag near what is now Port Louis, drew a document witnessed by his officers declaring the island French and sailed away after three days...
 Mauritius Museums Council 
The Mauritius Museums Council has two National and six Specialised museums under its purview : Natural History Museum, National History Museum, Robert Edward Hart Memorial Museum, Sookdeo Bissoondoyal Memorial Museum, Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Memorial, Centre for Culture [ Frederik Hendrik Museum, Mauritius Postal Museum, Museum of Indian Immigration ].

Mauritius from Its Origin - C. C. G. Le Comte
Mauritius from its origin aims to transmit the cultural heritage of Mauritius in a visual and inviting way with a high quality presentation.
The text is a history of Mauritius with an emphasis on historic sources, like accounts of travellers (Darwin, Twain, etc) government officers (Mahe de Labourdonnais, Cossigny, etc) and other eye witnesses (Bernardin de Saint Pierre).
Apart from the history, this book also includes chapters on subjects like: Geology, The Dodo, Creole, Sega, Paul and Virginia, Architecture and Immigration.
Mauritius from its Origin is also profusely illustrated with rare iconography and old as well as new photographs.
Hardcover 80 pages (May 2005); Publisher: Christian le Comte; Language: English; ISBN: 0955028507 
A Concise History of Dutch Mauritius 1598-1710 - Moree
Paperback (February 27, 2002); Publisher: Kegan Paul; Language: English; ISBN: 0710307616
Dodo: From Extinction to Icon - Errol Fuller
A comprehensive illustrated guide to the dodo: its history, natural history, and its literary and cultural legacy. The extinction of the dodo from the shores of Mauritius followed closely on the arrival of Dutch and Portuguese sailors on the island in the 16th century. Using a diverse number of sources, the author describes the behaviour and myths surrounding this unusual and iconic bird. The first three chapters investigate the dodo's natural history through the use of historical documents, illustrations, paintings, old drawings and literary sources. Its behaviour is examined in the quotes from 16 of the written reports by travellers to the island, and the anatomy of the dodo is investigated from the bone records kept by anatomists and naturalists from the 16th to the 19th centuries. The mythology surrounding the dodo has grown ever since it became extinct. Lewis Carroll's use of the dodo in "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" elevated the bird to iconic status and sparked a spate of Dodo characters in newspapers, adverts and cartoons. In chapter four, the author investigates how man incorporated the image of the dodo into literature and the arts to become the powerful cultural icon that it is today. He then looks more closely at two other species: the Solitary Dodo, from the island of Rodrigues in the Indian Ocean and the White Dodo of the Reunion Island. Both are now extinct, but are thought to have been related to the Mauritian Dodo.
Hardcover 192 pages (October 7, 2002); Publisher: Collins; Language: English; ISBN: 0007145721

Music, Culture & Entertainment

An estimated 10% of the Mauritian population of 1.2 million are Tamils.
Tamil festivals in Mauritius are the Cavadee, Tamizh Poottaandou (New Year) in April, Teemeedhi, and Thai Pongal.

Culture Shock! Mauritius: A Guide to Customs and Etiquette - Roseline Lum
Paperback 280 pages (May 31, 1997); Publisher: Kuperard; Language: English; ISBN: 1857331893

Web Portal / Search Engine / Directories

 Isla-mauricia.com  -  Mauritius travel portal
Your Villa right at the beach ? Who doesn't dream of that, especially on the island of mauritius! We make it possible, find the best rates for best service right here!
 Mauritiuspages.com  -  Guide to Mauritius Business and Tourist Directory
 Mauritiusdelight - Travel Links
 Mandarin Productions  -  small company specializing in bird song CD's
Birds of Mauritius. CD of the Birds and a few animals that can be seen and heard in Mauritius while on holiday. Many of the birds are very rare and hard to see or hear.

 Tamil Nation & beyond

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