Moris
The ruined lighthouse on Île aux Fouquets
Photo: Happolati / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)

⛵ Boat trips & islands · South-East

Île aux Phares & Île de la Passe (Mahébourg)

A speedboat trip across the Grand Port bay to the ruined 1864 lighthouse of Île aux Fouquets and the old fort of Île de la Passe, with snorkelling.

🚗 From the villa1 h 25 · 68.4 kmoff-peak estimate
⏱️ Time needed3–4 hnot counting the drive
🕓 Best time of day☀️ Morning
💰 PriceRs 1,500–3,500 (CHF 26–61)Per person on a shared speedboat (private boats ≈ Rs 8,000–12,000).

From Mahébourg, speedboats cross the lagoon to Île aux Fouquets (Île au Phare), where the Dutch first landed in 1598 and where a lighthouse stood from 1864. You can explore the ruins and swim or snorkel in the clear water around it. Nearby, Île de la Passe guarded the reef passage with a fort that played a role in the Battle of Grand Port (1810).

A half day of history, islets and snorkelling, off the usual tourist routes.

  • Lighthouse ruins
  • Historic fort island
  • Snorkelling in clear water
The ruined lighthouse on Île aux Fouquets
Photo: Happolati / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)
Île de la Passe in the Grand Port bay
Photo: Z thomas / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Getting there

Driving route from the villa

🚗 By car: 1 h 25 (68.4 km) off-peak. Directions in Google Maps ↗

  • 🚕 Taxi from the villa: about Rs 2,750–3,700 one way per car (agree the price first; a return trip with waiting time is often negotiable).

📅 Booking: Boat operators on the Mahébourg waterfront or through your guesthouse.

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