7 days in the heart of Mauritian nature

On your first day in Mauritius, set sail for one of the small Mauritian islands. Ile aux Aigrettes will touch you with its protected nature reserve, home to giant tortoises and rare endemic species, and has become an international benchmark for the preservation of rare species, ecotourism and natural habitats.

When you arrive at the site, you have the impression of being in the middle of the jungle, in the habitat of the dodo, an endemic species eradicated at the end of the 17th century. For 25 years, the Mauritius Wildlife Foundation team has been weeding out invasive plants and animals to introduce endemic species such as the pink pigeon, the Mauritius foudi and ebony trees. Today, the island is a tropical open-air living museum that you can visit for a day and learn about. To explore the island, you will be accompanied by a forest ranger. You can support various preservation and conservation programmes during your visit.

On the second day, we'll be tempted by the beauty of Ile aux Cerfs. This is a very popular spot with tourists, so it's advisable to get there as early as possible. This is a unique experience on a large private island with white sandy beaches, a few restaurants and a golf course. The popular activity to do: a cruise aboard a catamaran and snorkelling to observe marine species. The morning ends with a barbecue of grilled fish.

In the afternoon, we head to Otentic Eco Tents, an unlikely and incredible place. It's the one and only ecolodge in Mauritius. The accommodation is in the form of safari tents, with comfortable beds and outdoor (but closed!) showers. All the furniture is rustic and handcrafted from recycled materials. As for the cuisine, the locals prepare traditional dishes and the site also has its own vegetable garden. On site, Otentic offers a wide range of activities including kayaking, snorkelling, hiking, kitesurfing, paddle boarding and bike hire.

For the third day, the itinerary takes you to the north of the island. On the programme: diving and lounging on the beach near the lagoon of Anse la Raie. This lagoon is a Voluntary Marine Conservation Area (VMCA). This means that local hotels, residents and industry have agreed to refrain from fishing and other destructive activities. The area is home to magnificent coral reefs, which can be seen during a snorkelling excursion.

Then it's time to relax on one of Grand Baie's tropical beaches. You can choose from several dreamy lagoons:

• Pereybère Beach: the first beach after Cap Malheureux, Pereybère is popular with travellers. It's excellent for snorkelling and offers plenty of restaurants and cafés.

• La Cuvette: for something a little more rustic and calmer, head for La Cuvette. With fewer boats in the bay, it's a more charming and tranquil spot.

• Grand Baie beach: beautiful crystal-clear waters and white sandy beaches make Grand Baie beach a great place to relax. You can also enjoy water sports.

Just around the corner from the Land of Seven Colours is the Ebony Forest Reserve, a haven for endangered native flora and fauna. Here you can hike and support regeneration projects by making a donation or planting your own tree.

The most popular activity in the reserve is a guided or audio-guided tour on a 300-metre elevated walkway through the native bush to Sublime Point Lookout. As the name suggests, the panorama offers superb views across Mauritius to the coast.

Afterwards, you have two options: stay on Sublime Point and enjoy refreshments or continue the hike to the top of Piton Canot for even more stunning views.

Admission to Ebony Forest Reserve is 300 rupees for the hike. Prices vary depending on the activity you wish to do. The money you pay directly supports vital conservation work.

An unexpected, authentic fishing village, Tamarin is renowned for its zen-attitude, its bohemian, laid-back, cool vibe. The waves, the grey sandy beach, the beautiful sunsets and the friendly locals will leave you breathless.

On the programme for these two days between sea and mountains: hikes, yoga with the locals, golf parties, aperitifs with your feet in the sand or on a rooftop, lively evenings and swimming in the waterfalls.

At Tamarin, you wake up to birdsong and sunshine. You'll experience the Mauritian way of life at first hand. In the early hours of the morning, a 'beach yoga' class is held on the beach to harmonise body and mind. After yoga, sports enthusiasts can take to the stand-up paddle to enjoy the fresh air, or get out their trekking boots for a short hike. La Tourelle de Tamarin is one of the five most beautiful mountains in Mauritius. With a guide, you can enjoy incredible views of Tamarin, the Rivière Noire gorges and Le Morne. This is a moderate hike and is not recommended for children.

On the sixth day, we set off to conquer Morne Brabant. This peninsula is famous for its immense basalt monolith rising to an altitude of 556 metres. Its landscape is in a class of its own, between coast, sand and sea. A symbol of freedom with a tragic past, Le Morne is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as much for its landscape as for its history. This popular sunrise hike with a certified mountaineer gives you the chance to enjoy a panoramic view of the island.

Head for the south of the island to a biosphere reserve in Bel Ombre. Spread over 1300 hectares, the Heritage Nature Reserve has taken shape in a hilly landscape thanks to the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation, which has helped to preserve its biodiversity.

Activities in the reserve focus on education and conservation. You can take a tour with an expert guide, on a quad bike or 4x4 to cover more ground. For a more relaxed approach, you can opt for a leisurely three-hour picnic in the heart of the reserve.

Visitors explore mountainous, tropical and indigenous terrain, with rivers, waterfalls and endemic wildlife. You'll come across Java deer, wild boar, monkeys, bats and a variety of birds (parrots, Mauritius blackbirds, green monkeys).