Luxury Mauritius holidays usually mean a week or more at a five-star beach resort on a reef-protected lagoon, with an overnight flight from London at each end. The island’s four coasts behave very differently from month to month.
The decision that shapes the trip is which coast suits which month. This guide covers that first, then seasons, board basis, flights, costs and the paperwork a UK passport holder needs.
Quick answer
Luxury Mauritius holidays from the UK start with a non-stop overnight flight from Gatwick of about 12 hours. Our 10-night Dubai and Mauritius twin-centres start from £1,579pp with return flights. The drier months are May, June and September to November, with October the driest. UK passports need no visa for stays up to 60 days. ATOL 10713 protected.
- Flight time from London
- About 12 hours non-stop from Gatwick. There is no non-stop from Heathrow.
- Time difference
- UTC+4 all year: 3 hours ahead of the UK in summer, 4 hours in winter.
- Visa for UK passports
- Not needed for stays of up to 60 days.
- Currency
- Mauritian rupee (MUR).
- Driving
- On the left.
Which coast of Mauritius should you stay on?
Mauritius has no bad coast, but each one has a season. The south-east trade winds blow hardest in the southern winter, roughly late June to early September. They hit the east and south coasts most, while the central mountains shelter the north and west.
| Coast | Feel | Best months | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| North (Grand Baie, Pereybère, Cap Malheureux). | The liveliest coast, with restaurants, bars and shops outside the resorts. | All year. | Busier beaches and more traffic around Grand Baie. |
| West (Flic en Flac, Tamarin, Le Morne). | Calm lagoons, sunset views and deep water close to shore for boat trips. | All year, and the strongest choice June to September. | Hotter and more humid in January and February. |
| East (Belle Mare, Palmar, Trou d’Eau Douce). | Long white beaches, wide lagoons and fewer towns. | October to May. | Fresh onshore winds and choppier water in winter. |
| South and south-east (Le Chaland, Blue Bay, Bel Ombre). | Quieter and more rugged, with cliffs, sugar estates and the airport close by. | October to May. | The most exposed coast in winter, with some beaches unsuitable for swimming. |
The north
Grand Baie is the closest Mauritius gets to a resort town. You can walk or take a short taxi to independent restaurants, which matters for anyone who dislikes eating every meal in the hotel. Pereybère has a small public beach, and Cap Malheureux looks out to the islets off the northern tip, with its red-roofed church on the shore.
The west
The west coast is the sunset side. Flic en Flac has a long public beach and a local feel at weekends. Further south, the Le Morne peninsula sits beneath a basalt mountain that UNESCO listed as a World Heritage Site in 2008. It is recognised for its history as a refuge for escaped slaves.
Tamarin and Black River are the bases for deep-water boat trips, and the Black River Gorges and Chamarel are a short drive inland. The west is also the longest road transfer from the airport.
The east
Belle Mare and Palmar have some of the longest beaches on the island and a broad, shallow lagoon. The breeze that makes July brisk at breakfast is welcome in the heat of February. SALT of Palmar, an adults-only hotel with 59 rooms, sits on this coast.
The south and south-east
This is the least developed part of Mauritius. Blue Bay has a sheltered lagoon, and Bel Ombre backs onto old sugar estates and hills. Le Chaland, home of the Anantara Iko resort, is a short drive from the airport, which shortens the first and last day of the holiday.
When is the best time for a Mauritius holiday?
Mauritius sits in the southern hemisphere, so its seasons run opposite to the UK’s. The Mauritius Meteorological Services define summer as November to April, winter as June to September, and May and October as transition months. The coasts average more than 7.5 hours of sunshine a day.
| Months | Weather | Rain and storms | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| November to April. | Hot and humid. January and February are the warmest months, with daytime highs around 29°C. | February and March are the wettest months. Cyclone season usually runs from November to May. | Lighter winds and warm lagoons for snorkelling. |
| May. | Transition month, with cooler and drier air arriving. | The tail end of the cyclone season. | Winds begin to build. |
| June to September. | Dry and mild, with warm days. July and August nights can drop to about 16°C. | Little rain on the coasts. | Humpback whales pass the west coast roughly from July to September. |
| October. | The driest month of the year. | Before the cyclone season. | Winds easing on every coast. |
For Mauritius holidays in late 2026 or 2027, October is the safest single month to book, as it is dry and falls before the storm window. November and December are hotter but still work on any coast. January to March brings the heaviest rain, so choose travel insurance that covers weather disruption.
A cyclone warning closes beaches and cancels boat trips for a day or two. Pick a resort with a good spa, indoor restaurants and a kids’ club if travelling in February or March.
Is all inclusive worth it in Mauritius?
All inclusive Mauritius holidays make most sense at an isolated resort on the east or south coast. There, the nearest independent restaurant may be a taxi ride away, so most meals end up in the hotel anyway. Paying for them upfront removes the resort drinks bill from the end of the stay.
Bed and breakfast or half board suits the north and west better. Grand Baie, Pereybère and Flic en Flac have local restaurants within easy reach, and eating out is a large part of the appeal of those coasts. Half board is a sensible middle ground if you plan to eat out two or three nights a week.
Check what a hotel’s all-inclusive plan covers before paying for it. Plans vary on premium spirits, à la carte restaurants, motorised water sports and minibar contents. Some limit the number of speciality dinners per stay, and others charge extra for beach service.
On either of our current holidays, half board or all inclusive can be quoted on request, depending on the hotel.
Adding Dubai: how a twin-centre with Mauritius works
Our current Mauritius holidays pair it with Dubai, and a Mauritius-only stay is quoted on request. The pairing works because Dubai and Mauritius share the same time zone, so the second flight adds no jet lag. The Dubai to Mauritius leg takes about 6 hours 35 minutes non-stop.
The Dubai and Mauritius twin-centre starts at the Fairmont Dubai, a city hotel on Sheikh Zayed Road, before moving to SALT of Palmar. Private transfers and honeymoon extras at SALT are part of the package.
The Dubai and Mauritius beach holiday uses a resort in both places: the Al Habtoor Grand on Jumeirah Beach, then the Anantara Iko Mauritius Resort and Villas. The split of nights between the two is set when you get your quote.
The city stop suits couples who want restaurants, souks and a desert trip before a week of rest. Two beach resorts suit anyone who wants to be by the sea for the whole trip. Our Dubai guide covers the city in more depth, and there are other twin-centre pairings beyond this route.
How do you get to Mauritius from the UK?
Non-stop flights to Mauritius leave from London Gatwick only. From regional UK airports, or from Heathrow, the route is one stop via a Gulf or European hub. Both of our twin-centres fly via Dubai, which turns the connection into a stay rather than a wait in a terminal.
All international flights land at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport in the south-east. The south and east coasts are the shortest transfers, and the drive to Palmar takes about an hour. The north and west take longer, as the road crosses or circles the island.
Overnight departures arrive in the morning, and resort rooms are rarely ready before mid-afternoon. An early check-in, or a day room, is worth asking about when you book.
How much does a luxury Mauritius holiday cost from the UK?
These are the Mauritius holiday packages we currently offer, with the lowest price for a future departure.
| Holiday | Nights | Board | From, Economy | From, Business |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai and Mauritius twin-centre | 10 (3 in Dubai, 7 in Mauritius) | Bed and breakfast. | £1,579pp | On request |
| Dubai and Mauritius beach holiday | 10 (split set at quote) | Bed and breakfast. | £2,809pp | £5,529pp |
Per person, two sharing, with return flights from London. Dates, airport and cabin change the price. ATOL 10713 protected.
Five things move the final figure. The departure month matters most, as the same holiday can vary by several hundred pounds across the year. Room category comes next, as both holidays use garden-view rooms and sea views cost extra. Board basis, cabin class and departure airport make up the rest.
The Mauritius tourist fee
Since 1 October 2025, every guest aged 12 or older has paid Mauritius a tourist fee of €3 a night. It applies at hotels, guesthouses and tourist residences, and is paid locally rather than included in the package price. Two adults staying seven nights pay €42 in total.
Entry requirements for UK passport holders
- A British passport valid for the whole stay, with at least one blank page.
- Proof of onward or return travel.
- The Mauritius All in One travel form, completed online at safemauritius.govmu.org before you fly. Print the copy with the QR code.
- A copy of the prescription for any medicines you carry. Strong painkillers, tranquillisers and sleeping tablets need prior authorisation.
On arrival, officials may ask about your health and recent travel, and recent visits to certain outbreak areas can lead to refusal of entry. Entry rules can change at short notice, so check the latest FCDO travel advice for Mauritius before you leave.
