9 Things That Prove Mauritius & Reunion Island Are Magical

Weekender heads across the Indian Ocean to experience the best of this tropical paradise

Photos: Weekender, shot on Olympus EPL-8

The twin stars in the western Indian Ocean, Mauritius and Reunion Island are largely known as dreamy beach destinations for sun lovers and thrill seekers.

However, as we discovered, there are many more exciting experiences to be had at this paradise.

Mauritius was once a French (1715-1810) and then a British (1810-1968) colony, and while the government uses English as its official language, you’ll hear mostly French being chattered and hollered in the streets.

Led by a helpful and friendly guide from Kreola Ltd, we uncovered these gems on our journey.

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Photo: studio_lumiere

7. Paragliding on Reunion Island

For those who are gutsier, try paragliding. With an experienced instructor at your back, sprint and leap from an 800m-high mountain, feel the strong wind whisk you up and fly like a bird over the sprawl beneath you.

Let the instructor show off his skills and he’ll have you spinning in the sky and swivelling around for 360-degree views. One go was certainly not enough for me!

Reunion Island is 45 minutes by local flight from the main island via Air Mauritius.

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Weekender would like to thank Air Mauritius, Atout France and the Reunion Island Tourism Board for this trip.

Air Mauritius will be celebrating its 50th Anniversary on 12 Jun. The airline operates direct flights from Singapore thrice weekly. Air Mauritius has received several international awards recognising the quality of its service and has been voted the leading airline in the Indian Ocean. The "Air Corridor" signed between the two countries makes Mauritius a gateway to Asia through Singapore for the islands of the Indian Ocean and countries of eastern and southern Africa.