This intimate and secluded retreat, under thatch on a wide cove beside the quiet fishing village of Grand Gaube, has a good mix of everything Mauritius offers, from a pretty swimming beach, gourmet dining and a pampering spa to activities galore, including rides in its very own seaplane.  Reimagined in eclectic retro-chic style by British designer Kelly Hoppen, with 186 sea-facing rooms and suites decked out in soothing whites, splashes of colour and cool lighting.

The hotel features three main pools, including an adults-only pool on the tip of the peninsula and another in the Lux Me Spa. Enjoy tailor-made treatments – from mind, body and soul sessions to Carita treatments –which focus on anti-ageing, fitness or weight loss.

Men can get a signature wet shave, beard and moustache trim, while sipping a malt whiskey at the on-site Murdock Barber Shop, and there’s Kérastase hair treatments and an Essie nail bar for women.

Guests have free access to paddle boarding, water skiing and tennis, while golf is a 15-minute drive away, at the Mont Choisy course.

A studio for photo fanatics offers free workshops on phone photography and drone flying (chargeable) and there’s a plush cinema for any rainy days.

Guests may see turtles swimming over the coral on seaplane trips over the north coast, or take a private island hopping trip by wooden pirogue (traditional fishing boat) with a BBQ on Ile aux Benitiers.

Six restaurants include Inti (meaning God of the Sun), the island’s first Latin American restaurant, with fish cooked to perfection served in intimate surrounds. Chilled Beach Rouge, candle-lit at night, with mixologists and a DJ, features seafood, sirloin and wood-fired pizza by the beach, while romantic Turkish-style Bodrum Blue offers cooling sea breezes and shisha on a tranquil terrace.

Island cuisine at the rustic Creole smoke house, under a sprawling banyan tree by the pool, includes charcoal-grilled giant prawns, with rum cocktails at the Rum Treehouse cabana.

The lofty main restaurant and bar overlooking the pool and ocean, Palm Court, is a lively option with funky live cooking stations showcasing world cuisine, a nightly local band, and healthy breakfast buffets with everything from Asian noodles to bircher muesli and kombucha elixirs.

‘French Kiss’ cocktails are served from a Vintage Citroen H van, prosecco, cider and craft beers in the Palm Court bar or a pisco sour in the lagoon-view garden at the plush Pisco and Ceviche bar. A Tastevin experience has 300 vintages with wines dispensed by the glass.

As for excursions and explorations – you’ll be spoiled for choice. Mauritius offers a wealth of natural beauty and exciting activities for every traveller.

Visit the island’s several unique natural features, including the 7-Coloured Earths of Chamarel, the Black River Gorges and two UNESCO World Heritage status monuments.

For the sporty set, there are a number of world-class golf courses to enjoy, as well as a host of water sports such as deep-sea fishing, scuba diving, snorkelling and kite surfing to name a few.  Go trekking through the lush forest, or explore the nearby villages and markets on bicycle.

The island offers a rich colonial history to be explored with fascinating local culture and a variety of exotic and colourful religious festivals. Hundreds of shopping centres sell locally made textiles, jewellery, sugar and local preserves. Visit the nature reserves where you can spot some of the native endangered species, both in the ocean and inland.