It’s housed in a building of French origin from the 18th century and the site is home to the ruins of Fort Frederik Hendrik, which was built by the Dutch in 1698.

The French building has its own historical significance, featuring a lodge, a prison, a bakery, a blacksmith workshop and a church in the grounds nearby. Inside the museum, find historic artefacts and intriguing objects from archaeological excavations that have taken place in the local area.

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Located in Vacoas-Phoenix in the central part of the island, the gallery also gives visitors the opportunity to leave their own imprint on a piece of glassware. Get a glass model made from an imprint of your hand and you’ll be able to take home a unique memento to remember your trip by.

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You can follow the Roches Noires Cave Trail to the network of volcanic underground caves and discover the main cavern, Princess Margaret Cave, with its wide staircase that leads you down to a subterranean entrance where interconnecting chambers, freshwater pools and fascinating rock formations await. No visit is complete without stopping by the museum to learn about how and why these intriguing lava tubes were formed.

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Step inside Kwan Tee Pagoda and leave an offering at the alters or stroll through the gardens and admire the view. In keeping with the principles of spirituality, the pagoda faces the sea and is backed by mountains. It’s painted bright red with elements of yellow and green. Coconut trees sway gently in the breeze at the front while seasonal fruit trees add cool shade among the grounds at the back.

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Golf lovers can hit the fairways at The Nine at Azuri Golf. Alternatively, relax on the beach at Roches Noires or Pointe des Lascars. For a deep dive into Mauritian history, La Cave Madame, also known as the Women’s Cave or Grande Cave, has an underground lake where the women of Roches Noires Village used to wash their clothes. It now has a wooden railing and path for safe access.

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The Dutch made their first attempt at a settlement in 1638, with the famous Dutch navigator, Tasman, using the island as a base to discover the Western part of Australia. Today, you’ll see artefacts and ruins from the Dutch period at the Frederik Hendrik Museum and you can take time to visit the Dutch First Landing memorial in Ferney. This National Heritage Site sits at the base of Lion Mountain and overlooks a large bay, which saw a historic battle between the British and the French in 1810.

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Built in honour of the wife of King William IV, the construction of the fort began in 1830 and ended 10 years later in 1840. Boasting 360-degree views of Port Louis, it’s now a popular spot to watch the sunset or take pictures (and kids will love playing around the old cannons)!

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Albion’s craggy shores are famous for its 19th-century Lighthouse of Pointe aux Caves, also known as Albion Lighthouse, which stands 30 metres tall and is still in operation today. Its red stripes cut a dramatic image against the crashing waves below. Enjoy the spectacular, windswept views with a walk or bike ride along this beautiful coastline.

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As well as getting an insight into the importance of salt to the island and seeing how the salt is harvested, you can visit the small shop. Go early in the morning to see the workers in action. Visitors to the seaside community of Tamarin can also enjoy incredible mountain views.

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Head to the food court for refreshments where you’ll find a varied international selection to tuck into, from Asian noodles to American burgers. There’s also a large supermarket, which serves as a handy pitstop to stock up on any essentials.

As for little ones, the mall also has a play area and frequently runs children’s events throughout the year, including games, crafts and educational activities.

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You can discover our island’s tea history when you follow The Tea Route, also known as La Route du Thé. It passes through three estates: Domaine des Aubineaux, Bois Chéri and Saint Aubin and is a fantastic way to see tea plantations, visit a tea museum and stroll through spice gardens.

Bois Cheri is home to the island’s oldest tea plantation. During a guided walk in this beautiful lush green region, you can learn about the age-old processes of tea production and its heritage on the island. You could also have lunch here and a tea-tasting session at one of the old houses en-route. One of the most popular flavours in Mauritius is vanilla tea, so give it a try!

You can experience The Tea Route on an organised coach trip or opt for a private driver-guide for a more personalised experience.

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Explore the oceans like never before with this visually arresting exhibit. There are seashells of every hue, size and texture imaginable here. You can learn about their uses throughout history both by humans and the creatures that once inhabited them. Little explorers can design their own shells at the mini children’s laboratory, too.

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The estate is close to the south coast of the island, near Riviere des Anguilles. Here, walk around the grounds at your own pace or take a tour and find tropical spice gardens, vanilla orchids and anthurium nurseries. Rum tastings are available, too.

No visit is complete without a stop by the old house, which has been preserved as a National Heritage Site. Inside, you’ll find a traditional dining room serving lunch with beautiful garden views.

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The volcano’s crater sits 605 metres above sea level, with a small lake at its centre. A fantastic spot for a hike, the viewpoint gives a sweeping panorama of the island – including Rempart mountain, Trois Mamelles and the Moka mountain range.

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Make sure you explore each section of the market. If you’re feeling peckish, head to the street food kiosks for snacks such as samosas and dholl puri. You’ll also be rewarded with tasty sweet pastries and a thirst-quenching glass of the island’s creamy alouda drink.

Just outside the market, you’ll find stalls selling clothes and bags, while the first floor is where you can pick up some locally-made crafts. The market is a short walk from Caudan Waterfront and next to Chinatown, so take the time to explore the area’s architecture and cool street art during your time in the city.

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Le Caudan Waterfront is recognised as a cultural destination in Port Louis. The Caudan Arts Centre regularly hosts Mauritian artists and international theatre productions. Another must-visit is L’Allée des Artistes (The Artists Corner), where artists showcase their talent alongside performers and musicians. Moviegoers can catch the latest screenings at the cinema complex, while the Blue Penny Museum is a great place to learn about the history of Mauritius and its rare blue penny stamps. Keep an eye out for the remains of the Indian Ocean’s first meteorological and astronomical observatory, too!

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Aapravasi Ghat was part of the ‘Great Experiment’ initiated by the British Government after the abolition of slavery in the British Empire in 1834. The ‘Great Experiment’ demonstrated the superiority of ‘free’ labour over slave labour in its plantation colonies. Aapravasi Ghat depicts the story of more than 462,000 indentured labourers coming mainly from India (97.5%) but also from China, the Comoros, Madagascar, Mozambique and South East Asia. They were recruited to work on the sugar plantations in Mauritius for a period of five years.

The success of the Mauritian experiment led to the migration of more than 2.2 million indentured labourers around the world, including the Caribbean, South America, the South Pacific and Southeast Asia, which represent not only the development of the modern system of contractual labour, but also the memories, traditions and values that these men, women and children carried with them.

Two-thirds of these indentured labourers remained permanently in Mauritius. The other third returned to their homeland or migrated to other lands. Approximately 70% of modern Mauritians are descendants of these indentured labourers.

These days, you can visit the partial remains of three stone buildings from the original Aapravasi Ghat, peruse documentation and artefacts including pipes and medicine, as well as watch a ten-minute film featuring the testimonials of the workers’ descendants.

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