Behind the beauty of Mauritian nature and landscape, there is another side, sometimes forgotten: Mauritian culture. Discovering the most fascinating and refined ancestral traditions can be a real journey. As Mauritius does not have a single culture, it brings together several unique and distinctive cultures, and different customs and traditions have settled on these shores over the past 400 years. This rich diversity of cultures is found in all aspects of Mauritian life. Churches can be found next to a mosque and Indian temples next to Chinese pagodas. Various Indian beliefs, Buddhist, Christian and Muslim festivals are celebrated with great fervour and dedication throughout the year by different communities. Some of these celebrations can be quite spectacular, such as the fire march ceremony on Cavadee Day. The inhabitants of Mauritius like to dance, their traditional dance is called the Sega, which is also a style of music. Sega originates from the ritual music of continental Africa and Madagascar. Tourists are often invited to participate in this dance. Children learn to dance Sega before they even learn to walk, which underlines the importance of this tradition and its place in Mauritian culture. Mauritians have another tradition, they have a traditional weekend and holiday ritual during which they are on the beach to enjoy the last rays of the sun: a very pleasant moment, especially in summer.Music plays a major role in Mauritian culture and the most listened to styles are Sega, Reggae and Seggae. Sega is a musical expression of Mauritius’ way of life: fun, bright and joyful. A solo singer composes the words, while a rattle box, triangle and drum provide the tempo and rhythm. Music has been passed down from generation to generation and is appreciated by all members of the community. Mauritius’ multi-ethnic characteristics make it a multilingual country with ethnic languages such as Hindi, Tamil, Marathi, Urdu, Mandarin and Cantonese being widely used. But the island’s real lingua franca is Creole. The Creole language was born from the interaction between French settlers and African slaves. The use of the Creole language transcends all ethnic, religious and class barriers. Creole has no defined written form, as English or French are the languages of choice for education, media, government, law and business. During your stay Mauritius in our luxury resort, do not hesitate to contact the concierge service for any activity booking!

The Champ de Mars is an integral part of the landscape of Port Louis, the capital of Mauritius. The oldest racecourse in the southern hemisphere will certainly welcome thousands of turf fans on Sunday, September 1, during the classic race: The Maiden Cup. Also known as the Blue Ribbon, this race is one of the most important one in horse racing in Mauritius.Originally, this race was reserved for “maiden” horses, that is, horses that had never won a race in Mauritius. But this criterion changed in 1983 to make this race the stayers’ race. The first edition of the Maiden Cup was held on August 7, 1843, and saw the victory of Creeper 1st. If, at its creation, this race was held on two towers of the Champ de Mars (12 furlongs and 190 yards), in 1951, because of the installation of the “photo-finish”, it is run on 13 furlongs until 1961. It was not until 1962 that the Maiden Cup regained its initial distance and then increased to 2,400 m in 1983. It was Noble Salute who won the first race over this distance. Horse racing occupies an essential place in Mauritius. First, they tell us about the history… About that time when dashing officers, first French, then British, were challenging each other on the wet sand of the coast. There, for honor or against a few piasters, they threw their horses into breathless races. Until a small group of English personalities decided to bring a little organization to all this. This was in 1812, and it was the birth of the Mauritius Turf Club (MTC)! Today, the MTC remains the organizer, administrator, and referee of the local equestrian world.Considered as a cultural and sporting event by many islanders, this race is worth a visit for a unique experience in Mauritius. This year, the Maiden Cup will be held on September 1st. If you would like to experience the Maiden Cup during your stay in Mauritius in our luxury resort, do not hesitate to contact the concierge service!

Young and old alike, discover the underwater worlds during your holidays in Mauritius and opt for a Safari dive in the north of Mauritius! Adrenaline fans don’t need to go any further for the perfect Grand Bay excursion with a half-day safari with scuba diving and many aquatic species. You can also dive with sharks! Visit the famous shark pit or Shark Pit. This is a half-day excursion with 2 dives. The first dive is made at the Shark Pit site where 5 – 60 sharks can usually be seen. The site consists of a huge arena and the sharks can be observed rotating thanks to the richness of oxygen available from the breaking waves above the pit.Seeing the waves crash against the wall is an incredible experience in itself. The second dive is at Terra Canyon which is a spectacular coral reef where large pike, sharks and manta rays can be observed. Don’t forget to bring sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat for this trip and take preliminary seasickness precautions such as medication. The best diving spots on the island are to the north, so the small village of Trou aux Biches is also an excellent starting point for safari-diving trips. You can easily reach the sites of Corsair Wall or Black Forest. The wrecks of Water Lili and Emily, as well as the Stella Maru, are also available. Very colonized, they are home to a rich and colorful fauna.Your captain will be delighted to guide you and show you a variety of superb underwater creatures and will make sure that you return with wonderful memories. The different dive spots will vary according to the tide. If you wish to go safari diving in the north of Mauritius during your stay in Mauritius in our luxury resort, do not hesitate to contact the concierge service!

Feel like relaxing barefoot in the sand, in an enchanting setting, facing the transparent lagoons of Mauritius? Whether you want to enjoy a beautiful morning in the sun on one of the magnificent beaches of Mauritius or have dinner before partying on the fine sand, here are our best beach club addresses for intense moments with family or friends.   Beach clubs, relaxation and party in a beach club   Beach clubs offer guests a unique experience of enjoying a day at the beach with comfort, design, music, good food, delicious cocktails and excellent service. Usually located on beautiful sandy beaches or in front of a beach, they offer an idyllic setting for relaxation or activities throughout the day, but also in the evening for a more festive atmosphere. On the famous beaches of Mauritius, the Beach Clubs are a must for a great time with your partner, family or friends. Designed in Balinese or local style, they are spacious, well located and perfectly equipped to meet everyone’s desires. Beach Clubs are generally about partying “in and around” the pool and the sea. You can lounge, have fun, eat and dance in a relaxed and cheerful atmosphere. If the day is dedicated to water and land activities or to lazing around, at night, it is the night-club spirit that sets in. Music, DJs, themed evenings, restaurants and bars: the Mauritian night has a lot to offer!In the south, the highly dynamic C Beach Club The C Beach Club is located in the south of Mauritius. The C Beach Club is not a hotel but a beach club offering beach access to the general public. It is open day and night for brunch, lunch and dinner or just a drink. Ideally located in front of the sea, visitors can enjoy the crystal clear water or the swimming pool as well as all the land and water activities offered by the Cabana water sports centre, which also provides beach towels. Ideal for a day out with the kids, it is the perfect place to enjoy a variety of water sports and relaxation activities. It is the ideal place to relax in a sumptuous and exotic setting. The Beach Club has a large blue pool, bar and restaurant. Every first Sunday of the month, the C Beach Club hosts a brunch. You can also enjoy kitesurfing, beach volleyball, tennis volleyball and non-motorised water sports. There are also regular beach parties with famous DJs and musical performances. It is certainly the most fun and best beach club in Mauritius. https://heritageresorts.mu/blog/fr/le-c-beach-club-c-quoiThe very local Banana Beach Club   The Banana Beach Club in Grand Baie is a popular address for tourists as well as locals. This club, which has existed for 24 years, located in front of the mythical beach of Grand-Baie, attracts many tourists with its friendly atmosphere and exotic decor. It is the perfect place to eat, drink and dance. Its restaurant called the Gourmet Grill offers tasty dishes. The bar is known for serving the best mojito in Mauritius and exquisite fruit cocktails. The Banana Beach Club is open Monday to Saturday and offers weekly live music and evenings with local artists. https://www.bananabeachclub.com/The place to be for sunset: The Beach House With its breathtaking view over the beautiful turquoise lagoon of Grand Bay ,the Beach House is a very popular and famous address. The club is owned by former South African rugby player Kabous van der Westhuizen. Located on the sandy beach, the Beach House offers international cuisine and a fine selection of drinks. This is where you have to be to see the sunset with a cocktail in hand. The Beach House is open from 11:30 am to midnight throughout the week. There is also live music on Sunday afternoons. Among the dishes served there are sushi, sashimi, seafood, and hamburgers. https://www.thebeachhouse.mu/Should you wish to spend an extraordinary day of relaxation in one of the beach clubs offered during your stay in Mauritius at our luxury resort Mythic Suite & Villas, do not hesitate to contact our concierge for any reservation.

Mauritius can trace its long tradition of rhum production through its history with sugar cane. The island produces both industrial and agricultural rhum in its distilleries. The local rhums are of superior quality with unique flavours and aromas: white, golden, amber or barrel-aged rhums. Spiced, flavoured or infused rhums can also be tasted in designated tasting facilities and you can take a number of fine ones.   Mauritian Rhum, a historical tradition   The history of Mauritian rhums is linked to the sugar cane culture, one of the pillars of the island’s economic development. The sugar factories quickly realized the need to make maximum use of the cane and its residues. This is how the first distilleries came into being and how agricultural rhum was born, obtained by fermentation and distillation of pure sugar cane juice called “vesou”. Industrial rhum, on the other hand, is obtained by distilling molasses, a by-product of sugarcane production. In terms of taste, agricultural rhum tends to have a more complex taste and be richer in the natural flavours of the sugar cane, while industrial rhum tends to be sweeter and more neutral in flavour.  Mauritian rhum distilleries: visit and tasting   The number of rhum distilleries in Mauritius is limited, with only six distilleries at the last census, including the famous Chamarel Distillery, Medine and St Aubin. There are, however, more than 60 producers who buy alcohol and brew or age the rhum by themselves. These range from brands such as NPK, which appeals to the younger generation with flavours of melon, mint liquorice and apple or ginger, to brands such as Blue Mauritius, which ages the rhum into a rich, woody product, close to cognac in taste and targeting a more challenging customer audience.   Mauritius’ distilleries propose guided tours combining discovery of the distillation process and tasting/sale. The Rhumerie de Chamarel is one of the few distilleries still in operation that grows its own sugar cane. The sugar cane is carefully selected and grown exclusively for the production of Chamarel rhums: there lies the main secret behind its fine quality. The harvest is done by hand, without burning the crops, and takes place from July to December (https://www.rhumeriedechamarel.com/ ).  Our best addresses where to taste a good Mauritian rhum  Apart from the distilleries, you can taste the different types of rhums that Mauritius has to offer in different places in optimal conditions of comfort. One such place is the Litchquor Tasting Lounge in Grand-Baie in the north of the island. It is the perfect place to discover and taste a variety of top quality rhums, either neat or accompanied by delicious treats such as chocolate or other products that highlight the unique notes of each particular rhum. You can explore the variety and richness of brands such as Gold of Mauritius, Solera 5 and Rom Club. You can also head to the bars and restaurants that specialize in rhums. Among them is the Rhum Shed, located in Cap Malheureux, which offers a wide selection of local and international types of rhums, as well as original rhum-based cocktails. In addition, most restaurants and bars offer homemade ‘arranged rhums’.Where to buy Mauritian rhum?   In distilleries, but also in all food and tourist shops, as well as in duty-free shops at the airport. There are a number of varieties of locally produced rhum, which are sold along with spice and herb packs to help you make your own mixtures. Local markets have stalls selling bottles of locally produced rhum as well as local dishes using it. The bottles are usually elegant and make great gifts to bring back from your stay in Mauritius. Start with our selection of local neat and arranged rhums at our Mythic Suites & Villas restaurant, L’Atelier, for an introduction to the flavours of Mauritian rums (http://www.atelier-restaurant.mu/fr/ ).  

The CIEL Ferney Trail, Mauritius’ most popular trail event – 3,700 registered in 2018 – will take place this year on Saturday, September 7 in the beautiful natural setting of Ferney La Vallée, with starts and finishes near the former Ferney factory. Registrations are open to the public from 15 April on the “ferney.mu” website until the end of July 2019. The CIEL Group, organizer of this sporting, ecological and popular event, innovates at each edition and announces several new products for this one. The number of races thus increases to five, instead of four in previous years. Following the success of the Nando’s 10km course, which attracted 2,500 runners in 2018, the organizers are now offering the same race, but also an 8-kilometer “fun run” course without timekeeping. This innovation will allow competitors and participants who are better prepared to compete in a sporting event to compete for a listed time and a 10 km ranking. Those who wish to discover the beautiful 8 km course at the pace of a walk or light strides can participate in Nando’s 8 km. This innovation will allow two departures, in two distinct groups, for the distance category that usually has the largest number of participants. This will allow them to be more comfortable on their respective routes.Another change about the events: the 37km MUA replaces the 50km race sponsored in previous years by the same insurance company. Shorter, but just as captivating by the landscapes it crosses and its level of difficulty, this route will offer the possibility for trailers less used to long formats to align themselves with the crossing of the mountains of the southeast, which makes this race special and spectacular. The Bank One 20km and SUN Kids 4km courses remain the same and will undoubtedly attract hundreds of enthusiasts. Among them, we will again find people with intellectual disabilities from the NGO group Inclusion Mauritius. Since the 2017 edition, dozens of these members of Inclusion Mauritius have been invited by CIEL to visit the SUN Kids 4km, supervised by this NGO and employees of the organizing group. Similarly, a motor handicapped person will be transported in a joëlette (a special wheelchair) by volunteers on the Nando’s 10km, after a similar participation in 2017 and 2018. The CIEL Ferney Trail is the only event in Mauritius to welcome and supervise disabled people on the events. If you want to participate in the CIEL Ferney Trail during your stay in Mauritius in our luxury resort Mythic Grand Gaube, do not hesitate to contact our concierge service.