Le Touessrok: Heaven on Earth...

Just mention that you are going on holiday to Mauritius (or that you are coming back) to arouse envy amongst your friends... It’s understandable though, Mauritius remains a very popular and unique tourist destination. While many hotels nestled in the most beautiful areas of the island contributed to this reputation, there is one that is like no other; Le Touessrok. Browse the web, read reviews from former residents of the hotel and you’ll get the gist of it. They all say the same thing : It’s paradise! Le Touessrok Resort Hotel is indeed a true paradise on earth. Be warned, it will take a while to get off your cloud after the end of your holiday...

Le Touessrok is a five star hotel located on the tip of the east coast, 2 km from the famous Ile aux Cerfs. It is considered by many as one of the best hotels in Mauritius as it perfectly combines elegance, charm and luxury which all caracterize Mauritius and are three very popular features with tourists. This is also what makes the success of this hotel.

The resort offers over 130 quality rooms and suites, and three small independent villas, with direct access to the beach, ideal for families. They are all equipped for comfort: minibar, LCD TV, satellite, relaxing bath and shower, air conditioning (essential), free Wi-Fi ... Bathrobes, slippers and even pillows chosen by you, everything to make you feel at home. Of course, you will find all the other basics of a five star hotel : 24h/24 room service and daily room clean-up. These rooms, suites and villas have been furnished with exquisite taste. The furniture is modern, the decoration, subtle and refined. The spacious rooms feature large windows that let in daylight. You can admire the magnificent sunset from your living room.

Food wise, Touessrok Hotel has eight restaurants and bars offering authentic cuisine inviting cultural culinary journey. Each restaurant has a specialty. The "Three-Nine-Eight" offers Mauritian cuisine and barbecue, the beach restaurant "Barlen's" offers a rather oriental cuisine while Safran offers Indian dishes. At the "Sega" Bar, you can enjoy music and jazz evenings while sipping wonderful tropical cocktails and great whiskeys for the connoisseur. On Ilot Mangénie, the "Crusoé et Robinson" serves good Mauritian cuisine on the white sandy beach. If you would rather eat at Ile aux Cerfs, you can choose between the "Paul and Virginie" and its fish and seafood menu or "Masala" and its Indian cuisine.

The hotel has thought of you, parents! It has clubs for children, the T Club for 4-11 years old and the Teens Club for 12-17 years old. Both offer activities and excursions adapted to their ages and supervised by professionals. Baby-sitting service for the toddlers aged two and three is also availabl so that parents can enjoy a quiet holiday.

As for entertainment and relaxation, many activities are offered, starting with the Givenchy spa where you can enjoy massages and other relaxing treatments. You will get out of there feelin all 3R : Rested, Relaxed and Resourced. Chairs and hammocks are available for lounging on the beautiful beaches of the hotel. For the sporty ones, Touessrok has a Green on Ile aux Cerfs, several tennis courts, petanque and volleyball fields and even archery... Aquatic activities are of course available such as canoeing, windsurfing, diving, water skiing or glass bottom tours. In short, a wide choice of activities is made available for everyone to enjoy it to the fullest.

Le Touessrok is not only appreciated by its clients, but also praised by its peers as the hotel is a member of the prestigious group Leading Hotels of the World, which gives it an additional guarantee of quality.

Dive Into the Wonderful Underwater World of the Indian Ocean

By choosing the Indian Ocean as a holiday destination, you are opening yourself to a spectacular world. Even though the Indian Ocean islands are diverse and varied there’s still one constant; turquoise waters rich in colorful fish and majestic corals. The icing on the cake? Well, that vast ocean enjoys the warmest waters of the planet. It therefore offers the best conditions for snorkelling and diving, for one to admire one of the most beautiful underwater flora and fauna in the world.

The Maldives are a beautiful archipelago in the Indian Ocean and are amongst the most beautiful destinations for scuba diving. Diving is possible around pretty much all the islands of the archipelago but Baa Atoll is probably the best choice. This island is a gem with the most spectacular coral reef. Around Baa Atoll you can swim with shoals of small and large fish: tuna, kingfish, triggerfish, clown fish and manta rays... And depending on the seasons, you can encounter hammerhead sharks and whale sharks while diving. At Gaafu Alifu, you will discover a deeper coral that has been spared from bleaching, a problem that often leads to the death of corals. Come watch turtles, eagle rays or barracudas and gray sharks. Over and above the fauna, the flora is also very rich. In the turquoise waters of the Maldives, you can also spot soft corals, sponges and gorgonians.

In Seychelles, Fregate Island is a popular spot with divers because it has a marina which proves to be a convenient starting point for excursions. You can see an impressive variety of fauna around Fregate Island ; here coexist moray eels, scorpion fish, lion fish, octopus, turtles and dolphins. In addition to fish, Fregate Island houses a wonderful hard coral shelf along with granite blocks. Enough to dazzle you. Sprat City site offers an extraordinary topography of caves and overhangs submarines that are unique in the region. Groups of sharks are regularly spoted in the area, so you have to be very careful.

In Madagascar, Nosy Be island is also a paradise for divers with a rich aquatic fauna and flora. Nosy Be waters are home to kingfish, barracuda, grouper, mantra rays and even humpback whales depending on the seasons. We recommend that you go to the site where lies four shipwrecks covered, with time, by various corals and inhabited by thousands of fish of all kinds. Note, however, that the brightness and therefore the visibility can be bad depending mainly on the weather.

With its warm waters, the Indian Ocean therefore offers endless spectacular and unforgettable diving opportunities, each more beautiful than the other. The seabeds are varied, fauna is amazing and the coral reefs are very rich. Why are you still on your couch ? Book your trip and dive to the heart of this wonderful underwater world. The best way to stock up on wonderful memories…

Zanzibar: Simplicity at its Best in an Idyllic Scenery

Even if the choice is vast, the Indian Ocean remains the preferred holiday destination for tourists. Needless to say, Mauritius, Reunion Island, Seychelles and the other tropical islands in this region are crowded during the summer months. However, there are still rather unknown places that deserve tourists’ attention. If you want to think outside the box and are looking for an original and unique destination, Zanzibar is a destination of choice for you. If the Zanzibar Archipelago consists mainly of three small islands; Mafia, Pemba and Unguja, they are surrounded by hundreds of islands. Located east of Africa, the Zanzibar archipelago depends from Tanzania. It was popularized at a time by Jules Verne in his novel « Five Weeks in a Balloon », in which the archipelago was the starting point of the expedition.

Open to tourism since the 90's, this young tourist destination is bound to offer an unforgettable vacation. Known especially for its exceptional aquatic flora and fauna, Zanzibar is a paradise for divers. Snorkelling enthusiasts, be prepared ! You will be able to observe beautiful coral reefs and a protected and unique underwater fauna. You should also take advantage of its white and warm sandbanks which extend to infinity.

Zanzibar has undergone, in its history, many conquests which today are the source of a melting pot of different cultures and religions. This diversity is found today particularly in Stone Town, an old town known as the cultural landmark of the archipelago. The city has preserved an intact townscape perfectly illustrating the diversity of African, Arab, Indian and European cultures which you can experience as you stroll through the streets which seem another time. Visit the vast Arabian Fort built in 1700 and now a cultural center and the beautiful Forodhani Garden, created for King George V of England. Stone Town was inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000.

The peculiarity of the archipelago? Well, one thing for sure is that each island of the archipelago is different from one another. Island after island, you will embark into a world completely independent of the previous one. On the island of Pemba, you can attend a Corrida show (where the bull is not killed), a tradition brought by the Portuguese. Mafia island is very traditional and authentic as until now, no tourism economy had been established there. But whichever island you choose to visit, you will be able to immerse yourself in crystalline lagoons and discover stunning, still intact seabed.

The Zanzibar Archipelago is a jewel in the Indian Ocean that has been preserved as very few tourists have visited these islands until now. This destination will enchant you with its many historic and cultural sites, its beautiful beaches and beautiful scenery with its extraordinary aquatic fauna and flora.

Exotic and Unforgettable Honeymoon in the Indian Ocean

Ask a couple which one was the happiest day of their lives (as a couple) and there is a good chance that almost everyone will answer "the day of our wedding". The honeymoon that is generally associated with this wedding often times contribute to this. For many newlyweds, the honeymoon is often associated with the sun, white sandy beaches, coconut trees and turquoise lagoons. The Indian Ocean and its islands, is thus the ideal destination to ensure an unforgettable honeymoon.

Mauritius, Maldives and Seychelles are paradise and idyllic destinations for honeymooners. Highly rated, these islands seem to be made for couples. They welcome you with open arms with a promise to offer you a dream honeymoon with your spouse. Walk along these hot sandy beaches that seem endless, relax in a deckchair in the shade of a coconut tree, dive into the heart of a fantastic waterscape... All this and much more is waiting for you on whichever Indian Ocean island you choose.

In Mauritius, hotels do their best to attract this clientele. Luxury, charm and romance await you. Le Récif Attitude in the north, Friday Attitude or Sofitel on the west coast; in every corner of the island, everything is done for you to discover the island in privacy. Excursions in nature reserves, romantic getaways and romantic dinners are available. This country is so welcoming and the people so friendly that you will enjoy an exotic honeymoon that you will remember all your life.

In Seychelles, couples are pampered by hotels. Poster bed, jacuzzi, private pool, these are just the basic services that await honeymooners. Massage, spa and diving with the fish... many activities are available to help you relax and allow you to enjoy an almost absolute tranquility as if you were the only one on the island. The Coco de Mer in Praslin will allow you access to a beautiful view of the sea, and the mountains. You can admire the sunset every night from your terrace.

As for the Maldives, with its color palette, its lush and plethora of activities, it will dazzle you. You can dive every day to observe underwater endemic fauna ; Enjoy tours by canoe or in a one of the kind sailboat so typical of Maldives. The LUX* hotel on Dhidhoofinolhu Island offers authentic and aphrodisiac meals that will delight your senses...

By choosing one of these Indian Ocean islands, you will enjoy a postcard setting for a dream honeymoon. Small barely visible dots on the world map, these islands are fantastic gems…

Sri Lanka or an Immersion in the Heart of Buddhist Spirituality

You have one wish : leave on a jet plane, travel, discover a new destination, a new culture... But where to go? Especially since you are looking for a trip out of the ordinary for your holiday. We can only advise you to opt for a paradise island where the unusual is key : Sri Lanka, also known as the resplendent island.

Equivalent to 1/10th of France, this island south of India, is small only by size. Sri Lanka is truly a unique destination in the world and has the advantage of pleasing all types of tourists. Family, friends or lovers, Sri Lanka is an ideal destination that will satisfy a diverse and demanding clientele.

Sri Lanka evolves around a very spiritual environment. This is indeed the bastion of traditional Buddhism. It is possible, for the delight of tourists, to visit many cultural, archaeological and religious sites. Numerous temples and statues built in honor of Buddha can be found around the country. You can visit the city of Bodhagaya, which is considered one of the four holy places of Buddhism. You will find there the Tree of Bodhi, where Buddha would have found enlightenment, and the magnificent Mahabodhi Temple, classified UNESCO World Heritage. Do not forget to stop in the famous Anuradhapura, the ancient capital of the country, also classified by Unesco. You can see the huge Lion Rock Sigiraya with its wonderful frescoes and ruins. Although beautiful, the cave temples of Dambulla City, home to more than 150 Buddha statues with twelfth century engravings, make Dambulla one of the most curious places in the region.

For a less spiritual experience, enjoy a safari in Yala West National Park where you can see elephants, buffaloes, leopards, bears and crocodiles. Adam Pic is also an amazing place to see. Over 2200m high, it is considered a holy place and is a gathering point for many pilgrims who claim that at the top can be seen the foot print of Buddha, Adam, Shiva or St. Thomas depending on the different religious versions. Sri Lanka also offers many gifts hidden and unknown to the public. We recommend you to take a ride to Haputale to discover the tea plantations and processing plants. These teas are famous worldwide.

And how can you even think of leaving Sri Lanka without spending some time at the beach? Treat yourself to a relaxing break, enjoy the sun, white sand, beautiful blue sea and exotic cocktails. Even more so that Sri Lanka is also a great place to enjoy water sports in a dream panorama. We recommend the beaches of Hikkaduwa and Arugam Bay for surfing, kitesurfing and diving. On the beach in Weligama, you can observe a rare and unusual local tradition. Fishermen on stilts who play tightrope because of the power of the waves.

 So when are you leaving for Sri Lanka?

The Indian Ocean Witnesses the Rise of Outdoor Sports

Sit still and do nothing, that’s definitely not something you would do ? You're the sporty type, a thrill seeker? If over and above all of that, you like to travel and explore distant lands, we have for you the ideal destination. With its idyllic surroundings, fantastic scenery and lush green mountains, the Indian Ocean islands offer a perfect field for all adepts of racing in nature, those who do not fear obstacle races.

Many trails are now organized in the Indian Ocean islands throughout the year and whatever the type of athlete you are, there’s something out there for you. Mauritius, Reunion Island and Madagascar are the most active in this niche. For 2015, no less than 140 races, marathons, trails and other endurance sporting challenges are programmed for runners of all backgrounds and levels.

This year, the most difficult races will once again be on the calendar, amongst which , the Dodo Trail, in the south of Mauritius, which is more than 50 km long with an elevation of 3500m. Well enough to satisfy climbers... Meanwhile, the UTRB offers a 120km journey in the east of Mauritius with gradients of more than 4500m. More and more of these ultra trails are organized in all the Indian Ocean islands. While some take place on a day, others turn into obstacle races. They force the athletes participating in these races to push their physical and psychological limits. Among these events, the Sri Lankan Wild Elephant Trail offers participants six days of intensive competition, during which they cover over 210Km. In the same line, the Trail of l’Ile Rouge in Antananarivo also runs on six days over 135 km.

It goes without saying that the safety of the participants is taken very seriously and that these technical races are targeted towards seasoned athletes and those already accustomed to extreme conditions. However, beginners and average riders rest assured. The trail remains an open challenge to all. Many more relaxed and much less long runs are available for all to enjoy the wonderful environment of these islands. The Ferney Trail and the Royal Raid Mauritius offer 4km and 15 km races* for beginners.

The next trail on the calendar is the Mauritius Adventure Raid Trophy (MART). It will take place on February 7 and 8 in the "wild" south of Mauritius. This is a challenge for those who want to try a multi-sport competition and test their team spirit. In teams of three, you can share the challenge. Running, cycling, archery, water crossing and paddle, pick your sport. It should be noted however that the MART is dedicated to trail specialists. Two accommodation options are available to international athletes. They can sleep in the comfort of a Lux* hotel or in the wild, in tents installed in the Domaine Chazal.

These races allow participants to excel physically and mentally while discovering the islands in another aspect, with another eye. They draw you in fact to beautiful and fascinating landscapes on the mountain heights of Mauritius, Madagascar and Sri Lanka as well as inland areas sometimes inaccessible otherwise...

Here is a list of some trails to come in the Indian Ocean islands for 2015:

Adventure Raid Mauritius Trophy (30Km) - Mauritius: February 7-8

Marathon Eco Friendly (42Km) - Seychelles: February 22

The Wild Elephant Trail (210Km) - Sri Lanka: 6-14 March

Trail Grand Bassin (60Km) - Reunion: March 28

Trail of 2Rivières (60Km) - Reunion: April 11

UTOP (30/60/120) - Madagascar: 01-03 May

Royal Raid (15/35 / 80Km) - Mauritius: May 9

Arc en Ciel Course (63Km) - Reunion: June 27

Isalo Raid (22/42 / 80Km) - Madagascar: July 25-26

Dodo Trail (5/10/25 / 50Km) - Mauritius: July 26

UTRB Mauritius (10/42 / 120Km) - Mauritius: August 1-2

Ferney Trail (4/10/17 / 35km) - Mauritius: September 5

Trail of the Red Island (135km) - Madagascar: September 22 to October 4

Trail of Rodrigues (7/22 / 42Km) - Rodrigues: November 8

Nosy Be Trail (30 or 60km) - Madagascar: December 12

Credit Photo: Stephan Laï-Yu & Lux*Sports

Hinduism Celebrated!

You like white sandy beaches and turquoise lagoons, but this is not enough for you ? You would also like to take advantage of your vacation to feed your soul and your thirst for knowledge of new cultures? Well, the Indian Ocean islands could well be a dream destination for you! The Indian Ocean islands are indeed known for their openness and tolerance of all cultures and religions. There are a multitude of religious festivals but the Hindu celebrations are amongst the most spectacular. To attend one of these celebrations remains for Hindus as well as those practicing other faiths a memorable event. Quick overview of these celebrations...

Holi, also called the Festival of Colors, is one of the most spectacular celebrations of March. Participants splash water with colored powders on their face and clothing. It's a rainbow party where everyone celebrates the joy and prosperity in families and homes.

The Thaipoosam Cavadee represents the cleansing of evil. The Tamil carry on their shoulders the Cavadee profusely decorated from their home to the temple. Fasting, music, fatigue and prayers allow men to go into a sort of trance to be closer to God. They pierce their body with needles or hooks on which they hang small objects. This is a very impressive celebration for Tamils to observe discretely. 

Maha Shivaratree or the Night of Lord Shiva, is held in the month of February or March. During the ceremony, pilgrims dressed in white, the symbol of purity, go to Grand Bassin, in Mauritius, a sacred lake where water from the Ganges was poured in 1972. They carry the traditional Kawar, decorated with multicolored flowers, bells and pictures or statues of Shiva. Over 60% of the Mauritian population is Hindu, so it is best to follow the procession on foot due to the large crowd at Grand Bassin.

Diwali, or the Festival of Lights, is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful times of the year in towns and villages. It is celebrated in honor of the God Ganesh, the God of prosperity, and marks the triumph of good over evil. During the night of Diwali, all the houses are illuminated with rows of traditional clay lights or lights of all colors. Traditional cakes are shared within families but also in the streets, with neighbors. This moment provides a magical spectacle that should not be missed in November.

All these festivals are celebrated in a very pious way, with specific rituals. This is the kind of event that one rarely sees in Europe. They are a pleasure to the eyes and a unique opportunity to discover a little-known Indian culture. Color, dance, music, cakes are honored to celebrate the Gods. Although celebrated throughout the Indian Ocean, it is mainly in Mauritius that are held large-scale demonstrations, like the ones you see in India. People make the trip from Reunion, South Africa, Madagascar, Sri Lanka to Mauritius to participate in these celebrations.

For those interested in a spiritual journey, here are the dates of the celebrations for the year 2015:

- Thaipoosam Cavadee: February 3

- Maha Shivaratree: February 17

- Holi: March 6

- Ougadi or Hindu New Year: March 21

- Diwali: November 11