Mauritius Holidays from the UK

• Winter sun without much jet lag. Three or four hours of time difference, and warm sea temperatures year-round.
• Honeymoon territory. Lagoon-front suites, private beach dinners and sunset catamaran trips, with plenty of all-inclusive and half-board options.
• Driving on the left. Hiring a car to explore the interior feels familiar, although many couples prefer a driver.
• More than a beach. Hiking Le Morne Brabant, the Seven Coloured Earths at Chamarel, the sacred lake at Grand Bassin, and Port Louis's market and street food.
• Easy to combine. A few nights on safari in South Africa before the beach turns one trip into a two-center holiday.
• Water for everyone. Calm lagoons inside the coral reef suit children and snorkelers, while Le Morne is one of the Indian Ocean's best-known kitesurfing spots.
• A melting-pot kitchen. Indian, Creole, Chinese and French influences meet on every plate, from street-side dholl puri to grilled fish on the beach.

Nonstop from Gatwick

At the time of writing, Air Mauritius and British Airways both fly nonstop from London Gatwick to Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport, in roughly 12 hours southbound (usually overnight) and a little longer on the way home. There are currently no nonstops from Heathrow or from UK regional airports.

One-stop options

From Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh or Glasgow, connect via Dubai (Emirates flies to Mauritius), Paris or Johannesburg. Allow roughly 15–18 hours in total.

With a safari

Mauritius is around four hours by air from Johannesburg, so a safari in or near Kruger followed by a week on the beach needs only one extra flight.

On the island

The airport is in the southeast. Transfers take roughly 45 minutes to 1.5 hours, depending on which coast you're staying on. Overnight flights often land in the morning, before hotel check-in time, so we can suggest an early check-in or a day room where available.

November to April (the UK winter). Mauritius's summer: hot, sunny and humid, with the warmest sea. Christmas and New Year are the peak weeks, so book early.

January to March. Still hot, but this is the heart of cyclone season. Cyclones don't strike every year and most days are fine, but flexible bookings are wise, and it's worth checking that your travel insurance covers weather disruption.

Easter holidays and May. A sweet spot: warm, less humid and quieter.

Summer holidays (July–August). The Mauritian winter: sunny days in the mid-20s °C, cooler evenings and breezier weather on the east and south coasts. The west and north are usually more sheltered, so pick your hotel accordingly. It's a good time to combine with a dry-season safari.

September and October half-term. Dry, sunny and warming up, which makes it an excellent time for honeymoons.

The sea stays comfortable for swimming all year, from the low 20s °C in the Mauritian winter to the high 20s in summer.

What shapes the cost of Mauritius from the UK:

• School holidays and Christmas. Hotel rates and Gatwick fares peak at Christmas, New Year, February half-term and in the summer holidays.
• Board basis. Half-board, full-board and all-inclusive plans vary widely. All-inclusive suits families and couples who don't plan to eat out; half-board leaves room to explore.
• Room category. Beachfront suites and villas with private pools cost far more than garden-view rooms at the same hotel.
• Honeymoon benefits. Some hotels offer extras for honeymooners; conditions vary, and we'll tell you what applies.
• Adding a safari. A South Africa safari adds internal flights but spreads the long-haul cost over two holidays.

As a rough guide only, good four-star resorts often start around US$250–450 per room per night on half-board (shown on our site as approximate pound conversions), while top-end resorts can exceed US$1,000. Final pricing depends on dates, hotels, group size and itinerary.

• Time difference: 3 hours ahead of the UK in summer (BST) and 4 hours in winter.
• Plugs: a mix of UK-style Type G and European two-pin Type C sockets at 230 volts, so pack a European adapter as well.
• Money: the Mauritian rupee. Cards are widely accepted at resorts and restaurants; choose rupees rather than pounds if a card machine offers a conversion.
• Driving: on the left, as in the UK.
• Language: English is used in official settings, while French and Mauritian Creole are heard everywhere day to day.
• Sun and reef: the tropical sun is strong year-round, and reef shoes help in the lagoons.
• Weather: in cyclone season (roughly January–March), keep an eye on forecasts and follow your hotel's guidance.
• Entry requirements: see the Entry requirements section for verified guidance for British passport holders, with official sources and last-checked dates.