This April was my first ever trip to the stunning Island of Mauritius. With work, I’ve been fortunate to travel to similar Island paradises like the Maldives and Seychelles, but after this year’s visit, I feel I may have been missing out over the years on what feels like their impossibly more tropical sister island, Mauritius.
Mauritius seems to tick all the boxes. It has the beautiful blue and calm lagoons with ocean waters that crash energetically onto the shores. Sitting beach-side watching the sun go down makes you feel totally at one with nature. The sand is as soft as butter in the early mornings but come afternoon, it has the ripples and remnants of the high tides and ocean life. Four Seasons Resort at Anahita was my first stop in this tropical paradise and what a start it was!
The Property
A scenic 45-minute drive from the airport, on the east coast of Mauritius in Beau Champ, the Four Seasons resort is a secluded oasis in the Indian Ocean. It sits on the shores of a natural lagoon and the 64-acre property means that there is plenty of room to go around for guests!
There’s no doubt it rings true to the standard of Four Seasons luxury, but this property has a welcoming and relaxed feel that distinguishes it from the rest. From the smiling & friendly GM to the eager-to-please water sports and diving team, you can sense people are happy to be there.
There is one main beach, lined with immaculate sinkable sunloungers and a deck in the middle of the lagoon should you fancy an isolated bask in the sunshine! Watersports are a plenty; everything from stand-up paddle boarding to glass-bottom boat rides, waterskiing, wakeboarding, sailing (the list goes on), and the dive center is fully equipped if you want to explore the oceans in more depth.
The pool area is stunning, lined with towering palm trees and a shallow pool for the little ones. Guests are sociable and the whole place has a warm feel to it.
From fresh coconuts pool-side to the bicycles you pick up free of charge upon arriving, everything about the resort shouts tropical island life … it feels only right to kick off the sandals and spend the hours in barefoot luxury.
For those that prefer their activities on drier land, the 18-hole, Ernie Els-designed golf course attracts quite a golf connoisseur and if even then, golf isn’t your sport, the brand-new dual tennis courts might be your ticket to work up a morning sweat.
The Rooms
The villas are as generously spaced out across the resort as they are in size themselves. The pathways meander through what can only be described as the lush gardens of Eden growing wild and vicariously, yet, suspiciously manicured! If you don’t want to ride the bikes around the resort then the shuttle bus service provided by Four Seasons will get you around promptly and without fuss.
There are 90 villas, all with their own private pool no matter the room category, and 45 private residential villas (these are something quite special – pictured below). Inspired by local and traditional materials but built with a contemporary effect, the villas blend indoor and outdoor living seamlessly with a stunning open-air rain shower in the back and a patio/garden area in the front depending on your room.
Four Seasons are doing renovations to the resort villas, upgrading them to a more contemporary feel so be sure to ask for one of their newer “white villas” which is similar to the one we stayed in.
Residential villa pictured below;
The Restaurants
The choice of food and stunning setting of each restaurant was a highlight of the resort. We arrived early morning so had our first meal in Beau Champ, which is their modern French bistro set out on the lakes with the below as your morning view (insert heart-eyed emoji!). There are two other main restaurants; Acuapazzo, which is an evening Italian restaurant (wood-fired pizzas and all) and then Bambou; the pool-bar and Pan-Asian cuisine spot.
Mum and I experienced the Chef’s table on our last night in Beau Champ; a personalized dining experience where you get to work with the local ingredients and see how they put the authentic dishes together. It’s interactive and the chefs are full of personality so if you have a chance to book in, I’d highly recommend you do!
Île aux Cerfs
In addition to all the restaurants on the main resort, Four Seasons have recently introduced what is a fabulous and unique experience at their secluded island, Île aux Cerfs.
A complimentary speed boat from the main resorts takes you across to the beautiful white sandy beach, complete with its own Jamaican-style beach bar, scenic restaurant, and sunbeds exclusively for the hotel guests. It’s a whole other dynamic to the resort and offers something that nearby hotels in Mauritius cannot. The food is stunning, the rosé wine is perfectly chilled and our day there was one of the best out of the entire week!
Spa & Fitness
It couldn’t be a Four Seasons resort without an incredible wellness side to it. Nestled away amongst the greenery lies the fitness center with an indoor gym, boxing area, spin bikes, length pool, and outdoor life fitness synergy equipment. It has everything you need to keep up the fitness regime in a relaxed and beautiful environment!
The award-winning spa is set out on the lagoon, with spacious private huts serving as the treatment facilities and home to the open-air yoga pavilion. The menu is carefully thought out, combining the wisdom of Mauritius culture with a modern approach to both the products and treatments. From “Jet Lag Revival” to “Let It Go 8 Handed Massage”, there is something special for everyone.
Mauritius is a really special place and the Four Seasons Resort at Anahita has managed to capture all the best parts of this magical tropical island and bring it into their spacious and luxury, secluded resort. It’s very unlike me to visit the same place twice within a year but there’s no doubt I’ll be back in Mauritius early 2020 for a week in paradise!
I hope you enjoyed this review and if you have any questions about the resort or my time in Mauritius, please comment below or connect with me on Instagram.
Carly x
