The Indian
Ocean Escape

Arrive at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport and transfer by private vehicle to One&Only Le Saint Géran on the east coast, roughly an hour away.

Check into your suite with private butler service. The afternoon belongs to the peninsula: more than a mile of powder-white sand, the Indian Ocean on one side and a sheltered lagoon on the other, and no reason at all to leave it.

Dinner at La Terrasse for alfresco international cooking, or Tapasake for Asian small plates over the water.

A private yacht from the resort, cruising towards Île aux Cerfs off the east coast.

The crew handle everything and, more usefully, know where the good snorkelling actually is on the day rather than where the brochure says it should be. Swimming in the lagoon, snorkelling over the reef, and a picnic lunch prepared on board and served on a secluded shore.

The afternoon continues across the lagoon before returning to the resort for dinner.

A private underwater-walk experience — a helmet with a continuous air supply, and a walk along the seabed at around three metres. No swimming skills are needed: you breathe normally the entire time, and your hair does not even get wet.

Twenty to twenty-five minutes below the surface brings schools of tropical fish, coral formations and the wider ecosystem of the Belle Mare lagoon at eye level. Minimum age is seven to ten depending on the operator, and it is not suitable for pregnant women, heart patients or anyone claustrophobic.

The rest of the day belongs to the lagoon — swimming, snorkelling, or the resort’s private beaches.

A private horse-riding session along the coastline in the morning, before the sand gets hot.

The afternoon is a private beach experience at La Pointe: a wooden cabana with muslin drapes beside the infinity pool, a chilled bottle of rosé, ice cream and snacks, and no obligation to move for several hours. A couples treatment at the One&Only Spa is the optional addition.

Dinner at PRIME — an upscale steakhouse set inside a 16th-century chapel, with a wine list to match the setting.

A private helicopter flight over the southern lagoon to see the underwater-waterfall illusion — sand and silt moving over the edge of the coastal shelf, which from the air reads as a cascade plunging into the deep. It cannot be seen from the ground or from sea level, which is precisely why the flight exists.

The route also takes in Le Morne Brabant, Chamarel, Black River Gorges and the Flic en Flac coast. Minimum two passengers to book and four to operate, and the schedule follows the weather. A passport copy is required to reserve.

The afternoon returns to Le Saint Géran and is left completely open. Farewell dinner at the resort.

A private transfer across the island to LUX* Grand Baie on the north coast after breakfast.

Check in and explore Grand Baie itself — boutiques, waterfront cafés, and the most energetic stretch of coastline in Mauritius, which is a deliberate change of pace after five days on a private peninsula.

Dinner at Bisou on the rooftop, for sunset cocktails and the view north over the bay.

A full-day private yacht expedition to the northern islands. Îlot Gabriel is a natural reserve with clear water and abundant marine life. Île Plate — Flat Island — has pristine white sand and calm lagoons. Coin de Mire, Gunner’s Quoin, is the dramatic one: basalt cliffs rising straight from the sea, with rich biodiversity around its base.

Snorkelling over turquoise lagoons and coral reef, swimming in genuinely clear water, and a freshly prepared barbecue lunch of local produce served on deck or on a secluded beach.

Dolphins and sea turtles are possible but never guaranteed. The route runs outside the lagoon, so waves come with it. Bring swimwear, sunscreen, a hat and a towel. Back to Grand Baie in the late afternoon.

A morning departure from Grand Baie on a private or premium catamaran, looking for the spinner and bottlenose dolphins that live along the north and west coasts. Sightings are common; they are also natural, and nobody honest promises them.

Snorkelling follows at appropriate reef locations, and lunch on board is a traditional Mauritian barbecue — fresh fish, chicken, salads and unlimited drinks.

Lifejackets are compulsory on the boat and in the water outside the lagoon, touching marine life is prohibited, and the excursion is not suitable for pregnant women or anyone with mobility impairments. Return to Grand Baie.

The deliberately slow day, left unstructured so the journey does not end as an exhausting checklist.

Choose from LUX* ME Spa with its Turkish hammam and multi-sensory water path; the crescent beach or the rooftop infinity pool; Grand Baie’s boutiques; an additional marine excursion; diving on the northern reefs for certified divers; or complimentary snorkelling straight off the beach.

A final sunset dinner: Bisou for the panorama, or Ai KISU for the Warayaki straw-fire cooking.

A final session at LUX* ME Spa and a late breakfast, then a last swim or beach walk before the private transfer to Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport in the afternoon.