Lusso - The Shangri-La Le Touessrok guide to getting to know Mauritius

Boat, bike, catamaran or kayak? Shangri-La Le Touessrok has a few ideas for getting better acquainted with Mauritius, and most of them involve getting out and about.

A holiday at Shangri-La Le Touessrok could quite easily revolve around its four kilometres of coastline and six beaches. Then again, there’s an exclusive island across the lagoon, villages and markets along the east coast, mangroves to kayak through and another island where guests can play 18 holes.

So, staying on the same beach all week would be missing half the fun.

The hotel sits at Trou d’Eau Douce on Mauritius’ east coast, and its location puts a lot within reach by land and water. The team actively encourages guests to get out and see what’s around them, whether that means cycling to a local market or heading out through the lagoon with a sail above their heads.

Here are a few places we’d start.

Take a boat to Îlot Mangénie

A short trip across the lagoon and guests can add another island to their holiday.

Îlot Mangénie is reserved exclusively for Shangri-La Le Touessrok guests, with secluded beaches, clear water and beachside dining once they arrive. The hotel calls it a “destination within a destination”, and it can be as straightforward as heading over for a swim and lunch before taking the boat back again. The beach restaurant serves fresh seafood, salads and artisan pizzas, including a signature truffle pizza.

It also gives guests somewhere a little more private to spend a few hours together. There may be a lot happening around the main resort, but an island across the lagoon makes finding your own patch of Mauritius rather easy.

The east coast on two wheels

Back on the mainland, an e-bike can take guests in a completely different direction.

The hotel’s rides head along the east coast, with ocean views, local villages and the market along the way. There are two routes to choose from: the East Coast Tour takes around two hours, while the longer Market Discovery gives guests around three hours to see what’s happening on the stalls and try Mauritian specialities and seasonal fruit.

As Mauritius moves into its warmer months, locally grown mangoes and lychees come into season. If there was ever encouragement needed to get off the bike at the market, that should do it.

Paddle through the mangroves

Done with pedal power? Paddle power is next.

Kayaking takes guests into the mangroves around the east coast, while paddleboarding, snorkelling, windsurfing, Hobie Cat sailing and glass-bottom boat trips are among the water sports currently available from Le Touessrok. Kayaking, paddleboarding, snorkelling and several other activities are included for hotel guests, with non-motorised water sports available from the mini boathouse on Hibiscus Beach.

Catamaran trips can cover a little more water, heading through the lagoon and along the east coast, passing the surrounding islands with a stop for a swim along the way. Those happy to leave the propulsion to someone else can opt for the Chic Champagne cruise, with breakfast and Champagne on board.

Paddle or Champagne glass, both have their merits.

Play golf on an island

Île aux Cerfs gives guests another reason to get on a boat.

Its 18-hole championship golf course, designed by Bernhard Langer, occupies its own island, with the lagoon around it and four tee options on every hole. Shangri-La Le Touessrok guests currently receive daily complimentary green fees, with boat transfers leaving from the resort jetty.

There’s a second course at Anahita Golf Club, designed by Ernie Els on a former sugar plantation. Its fairways run between the mountains and lagoon, with five adult tee options and a junior tee. Complimentary green fees are currently included here too, although the car transfer from Le Touessrok carries a charge.

And non-golfers aren’t necessarily excused. Both courses currently offer hour-long discovery sessions for beginners. Consider yourself warned.

Know more with Lusso

Le Touessrok has enough going on within the resort to fill a holiday before guests have thought about what lies beyond it. There’s a Kids Club and dedicated teen activities, an adults-only pool, tennis and padel, alongside the spa and all those beaches. The activity programme also includes cycling, nature trails and kayak excursions through the mangroves.

That leaves rather a lot of holiday to choose from. Our Indian Ocean specialists know Le Touessrok and Mauritius around it, so give them a call and make that knowledge part of your next enquiry.