Moris2-week plans · 🥾 Peaks & trails
Peaks & trails
Nine hikes, from the island's highest point to Le Morne, Lion Mountain and the Seven Cascades, with a beach or boat day after each hard one.
👥 Fit hikers who like big views and don't mind early starts.
- Start every hike at sunrise: it's hot and humid in November–December, and clouds build by noon.
- A rest day after two hikes.
- Take a guide where recommended (Le Morne summit, Pieter Both, the Seven Cascades).
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1 Arrival
🚗 up to 5 min- 📅 All day Land at SSR airport (south-east), pick up the rental car and drive to the villa (≈ 1 h via the M1/M2 and Cascavelle, or the slower coast road). Shopping at a supermarket in Cascavelle or Black River on the way.
- 🌙 Evening 🏖️ La Preneuse beach & Martello Tower · 1–2 h · 5 min from the villa Sunset over Le Morne from La Preneuse beach, a few minutes' walk from the villa.
- 🌙 Evening 🍛 The Bay · 1.5–2 h · 5 min from the villa A sundowner with your feet in the sand at The Bay.
- 🌙 Evening 🍛 Roots Spirits (La Preneuse) · 1.5–2 h · 5 min from the villa Easy first dinner within walking distance.
💡 Mauritius is 3 h ahead of Geneva in winter: stay up until the evening.
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2 Tourelle du Tamarin
🚗 up to 15 min- ☀️ Morning 🥾 La Tourelle du Tamarin · 2–3 h · 15 min from the villa The mountain behind the villa, at sunrise.
- ☀️ Morning 🍛 Sketch (brunch & coffee) · 1–1.5 h · 5 min from the villa Breakfast afterwards.
- 🌤️ Afternoon 🏖️ Tamarin Bay · 1–2 h · 10 min from the villa Swim and watch the surfers.
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3 Le Morne Brabant
🚗 up to 25 min- ☀️ Morning 🥾 Le Morne Brabant · 3–4 h · 25 min from the villa With a guide to the top.
- 🌤️ Afternoon 🏖️ Le Morne public beach · 2–5 h · 25 min from the villa Recover in the lagoon.
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4 Black River Peak
🚗 up to 35 min- ☀️ Morning 🥾 Black River Peak (Piton de la Petite Rivière Noire) · 2–3 h · 35 min from the villa Highest point of the island.
- ☀️ Morning 🌿 Black River Gorges viewpoint · 15 min – 30 min · 35 min from the villa Gorges viewpoint and Alexandra Falls.
- 🕛 Midday 🍛 La Varangue sur Morne · 1.5–2 h · 30 min from the villa Lunch with a view.
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5 Rest: dolphins & beach
🚗 up to 25 min- ☀️ Morning ⛵ Swimming with dolphins off Tamarin · 2–3 h · 5 min from the villa Dolphins at dawn.
- 🌤️ Afternoon 🏖️ Flic en Flac beach · 2–4 h · 25 min from the villa Beach afternoon.
- 🌙 Evening 🍛 Domaine Anna · 1.5–2 h · 25 min from the villa Seafood dinner.
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6 Parakeet Trail
🚗 up to 35 min- ☀️ Morning 🥾 Parakeet Trail (Black River → Plaine Champagne) · 3.5–5 h · 15 min from the villa The big climb from the Black River entrance to Plaine Champagne (leave a car at the top).
- 🕛 Midday 🍛 La Varangue sur Morne · 1.5–2 h · 30 min from the villa Lunch at the top.
- 🌤️ Afternoon 🥾 Trochetia Trail (Gorges viewpoint) · 45 min – 1.5 h · 35 min from the villa Optional short walk to a waterfall view.
💡 Trois Mamelles (with a guide) is a good alternative.
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7 Black River Gorges forest
🚗 up to 55 min- ☀️ Morning 🥾 Macchabée forest loop (Black River Gorges) · 3–4 h · 40 min from the villa Macchabée forest trail from Pétrin: endemic birds.
- 🕛 Midday 🏛️ Grand Bassin (Ganga Talao) · 45 min – 1.5 h · 50 min from the villa Grand Bassin next door.
- 🌤️ Afternoon 🍛 Bois Chéri tea estate · 1.5–2.5 h · 55 min from the villa Tea tasting.
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8 Boat day
🚗 up to 5 min- 📅 All day ⛵ Catamaran to Île aux Bénitiers & Crystal Rock · 5–7 h · 5 min from the villa Rest the legs on the catamaran.
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9 Le Pouce
🚗 up to 50 min- ☀️ Morning 🥾 Le Pouce · 2–3 h · 50 min from the villa Views over Port Louis.
- 🕛 Midday 🍛 Escale Créole (Moka) · 1.5–2 h · 45 min from the villa Creole lunch in Moka (weekdays only; book).
- 🌤️ Afternoon 🏛️ Eureka colonial house (Moka) · 1.5–2.5 h · 45 min from the villa The colonial house and its river gorge.
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10 Lion Mountain
🚗 up to 1 h 15- ☀️ Morning 🥾 Lion Mountain · 3–4 h · 1 h 15 from the villa Ridge hike above Vieux Grand Port (leave at 6:00).
- 🕛 Midday 🐢 Vallée de Ferney · 1.5–2.5 h · 1 h 10 from the villa Kestrel feeding at noon.
- 🌤️ Afternoon 🏖️ Blue Bay beach · 3–5 h · 1 h 15 from the villa Cool off at Blue Bay.
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11 Waterfalls of the gorges
🚗 up to 40 min- ☀️ Morning 🥾 500-foot waterfall (Cascade 500 Pieds) · 1.5–2.5 h · 40 min from the villa To the top of the 500-foot waterfall from Alexandra Falls.
- 🌤️ Afternoon 🥾 Mont Cocotte · 1–1.5 h · 40 min from the villa Quick summit nearby.
- 🌙 Evening 🍛 Medium Rare Steakhouse · 1.5–2 h · 5 min from the villa Steak dinner in Black River.
💡 Canyoning down the Seven Cascades (Tamarind Falls) is the adventurous alternative.
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12 Corps de Garde
🚗 up to 35 min- ☀️ Morning 🥾 Corps de Garde · 3–4 h · 30 min from the villa Ridge above Quatre Bornes.
- 🕛 Midday 🍛 Dewa & Sons (dholl puri) · 30 min – 45 min · 35 min from the villa Dholl puri in Rose Hill.
- 🌤️ Afternoon 🏛️ Quatre Bornes market · 1.5–2.5 h · 35 min from the villa Market (Thursday/Sunday).
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13 Easy last day
🚗 up to 30 min- ☀️ Morning 🐢 Ebony Forest & Sublime Point · 1.5–3 h · 30 min from the villa Forest walkway and Sublime Point.
- 🌤️ Afternoon 🏖️ Le Morne public beach · 2–5 h · 25 min from the villa Last swim.
- 🌙 Evening 🍛 La Bonne Chute · 1.5–2 h · 5 min from the villa Farewell dinner.
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14 Departure
🚗 up to 1 h 15- ☀️ Morning Pack, return the villa keys, last swim at La Preneuse.
- 🕛 Midday 🏖️ La Cambuse beach · 1–2 h · 1 h 15 from the villa Leave with a margin (≈ 1 h 10 to the airport). La Cambuse beach is 5 minutes from the terminal for a last look at the sea.
- 🌤️ Afternoon Return the car and check in (be at the airport 3 h before an international flight).