This Anantara resort, which is located down in the southeastern corner of the island is a new addition to Mauritius’s breathtaking coast. We love that the hotel is set back from a wonderfully wild and untouched beach at the western end of the Blue Bay Marine Park; it has that longed-for remote feeling that makes it hard to believe that you’re 10 minutes away from the airport. The resort is modern in style but with a nod to the style of the island with exposed dark brick walls that are complemented with light and natural tones and fresh white furnishings.

Your days could begin with a sunrise stroll along Le Chaland beach followed by a hearty breakfast at Horizon, the resort’s all-day restaurant. You’ll then have all day to make the most of the locally-inspired excursions like the tour of the winding and narrow lanes of Mahebourg and the visit to a tea plantation and rum factory. Back at the resort, dinner is served at Horizon, the signature restaurant Sea. Fire. Salt., and both lunch and dinner are available at the clean-eating venue Bon Manzer. Between meals, island explorations and underwater adventures in the nearby marine park, we recommend making sure there’s time to spend at the Anantara Spa. The wellness space at Anantara Iko Mauritius Resort & Villas is a tropical retreat where you can indulge in treatments using natural products and traditional hammam rituals. And if that's not enough, there are a host of included experiences that you can take part in during the day, from pre-breakfast yoga or cross fit and energetic forest walks to Creole lessons, smoothie making classes and evening wine tasting sessions.

The rooms, suites and villas are a haven of calm, with cool white décor and crisp sheets accented with a pop of dark blue thanks to the soft furnishings. Premier Garden Rooms overlook the gardens from the upper floors while the ground floor Deluxe Garden Rooms open out onto the grass. We recommend opting for a room or suite with a sea view like the Deluxe Ocean View Rooms and the Ocean View Suites, or one that’s on the ground floor and is just a short walk away from the sand. There are also villas that have two or four bedrooms, large living areas and lots of outdoor space with a private pool.