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Beach Front Self Catering Apartment

Should you be asked to design a tropical island paradise, you would probably end up with something looking remarkably like Mauritius. Situated in the Indian Ocean between the Equator and the Tropic of Capricorn, Mauritius lies about 500 miles east of Madagascar. It is compact - just 720 square miles - has a population of 1.2 million and looks fabulous, all blinding white sandy beaches azure sea, nodding palm trees, wonderful wild flowers and gently rolling mountains.

Just as impressive is the warmth of the local people, an extraordinary mix of Indians, Africans, Europeans and Chinese. The official language is English with a lot of people speaking French and Creole. The weather that befits a tropical paradise is nearly always heavenly. During summer, which runs from November To April, you can expect temperatures to reach 35C in seaside places ;during the winter - May to October - they will hit 25C.

Trou-aux-Biches is by far one of the most sought after beach resorts in Mauritius it owes its popularity with discerning regular visitors mainly owing to its safe bathing for children, perfect conditions for snorkelling and diving (either in its lagoons or along its reefs) the friendly atmosphere its amazing fine silver sand and beautiful sunsets to be relished on the 2 mile long beach every evening.

Trou-aux-Biches boast numerous restaurants, from the very popular snack-come-restaurant, where many tourists enjoy the local fare at local prices, to the gourmet restaurant all within easy reach by foot a cycle ride or a short bus ride.

The séga - the rhythm of the island

The Sega, a dance unique to Mauritius, best expresses the ‘joie de vivre’ of its people. Derived mostly from African music dating back from slavery days, the traditional séga is accompanied by traditional instruments, the ravane, a wooden hoop over which a length of goatskin has been stretched tight; the maravane, which is a sort of wooden box filled with dried seeds which makes a grating sound when shaken; and the triangle, a triangular piece of metal which makes a tinkling sound when taped with an iron rod. The original instruments are fast disappearing, making way for the more contemporary instruments.

The dance, itself is the rhythmic swaying of the hips to the pulsating rhythm of the ravane. It starts with a gentle swaying accelerating an exhilarating crescendo

Mauritian Beaches

The beaches of Mauritius are close to perfect, with fine white sand and clear water running to heavenly shades of blue. Some of the island’s best beaches on the west coast are easily reached from Port Louis. Flic and Flacq is the longest beach in Mauritius and features a beautiful lagoon. Grand Baie, 12 miles (20km) to the north of the capital, is a major tourist centre, offering water sports, shops, nightlife and restaurants to complement its splendid beach and deep sheltered bay. Also on the north coast road is Perebere, one of the island’s favoured swimming spots. The Baie du Tamarin is at the mouth of the Tamarin River in a beautiful setting, and is popular for surfing with Indian Ocean rollers washing the beach all year. In the southwest is Le Morne Brabant, characterised by a basaltic outcrop and beaches shaded by casuarinas and coconut trees. Snorkellers enjoy Trou-aux-Biches with its shallow waters and coral reefs.