When it comes to history and culture, this Mauritius highlights tour is just the ticket. You'll visit colonial estates, tea plantations, and a rum distillery, with plenty of local flavour along the way. A Creole lunch, fragrant gardens, and a stop at the former home of one of Mauritius's best-known poets round off the experience. Aurelie, one of our expert local guides, says, “You'll follow the story of the island through its monuments and most important products – sugar, tea, rum and vanilla. It's a fascinating story that I love to tell our guests.”
The day begins at 19th-century Domaine des Aubineaux, a colonial manor with an attic of antiques. At the Bois Chéri tea factory, you'll tour the plantations, explore the museum, and pause for a tasting with sweeping views. Next up is Domaine de Saint Aubin, where you'll discover the secrets of rum-making before enjoying a traditional Mauritian lunch on the colonial house veranda.
Afterwards, stroll through gardens filled with anthurium and vanilla plants, stop at the old sugar factory for insights into production, and explore the mini-farm and La Maison de la Vanille. In the afternoon, visit La Nef, the coral-built home of poet Robert Edward Hart, now a museum dedicated to his life and work. The day ends with a photo stop at Gris Gris, one of the island's most scenic viewpoints where you'll see waves crashing against the cliffs.
