Mauritius Itineraries: Day Charters and Multi-Day Routes
Mauritius’s encircling reef and calm lagoons make it ideal for day charters from Grand Baie, while the island’s 160-kilometre coastline and diverse regional character support multi-day circumnavigation itineraries that reveal a different Mauritius each day – from the lively north coast to the wild, UNESCO-listed south-west. The routes below are designed to be combined: a guest booking the 3-day northern route and the 4-day coastal circuit can stitch them into a 7-day voyage covering the full island without repeating a stop. Every itinerary is fully customisable – your captain and Boatcrowd charter specialist will tailor stops and pacing to your group’s interests and the conditions on the day.
Day Charter Routes
Northern Islands: Coin de Mire, Flat Island and Gabriel Island
Depart Grand Baie mid-morning and cruise north to Coin de Mire – roughly 8 kilometres, about 30 minutes. This dramatic wedge-shaped island rises steeply from the sea, and the surrounding waters offer excellent snorkelling and diving among vertical walls, caves and abundant reef fish – groupers, snappers, barracudas and the occasional turtle. Continue to Flat Island for a lighthouse walk and a panoramic view of the northern archipelago, then tender across to Gabriel Island – just 750 metres away – for a beach picnic on pristine white sand. Your crew sets up paddleboards, snorkelling gear and a barbecue lunch on the beach. Return to Grand Baie in the golden late-afternoon light.
West Coast: Tamarin Bay Dolphins and Flic en Flac
Depart Grand Baie early and cruise south along the west coast to Tamarin Bay – roughly 25 nautical miles, about 2 hours. Arrive at dawn, when spinner and bottlenose dolphins are at their most active. Your crew positions the yacht gently among the pods, and guests can slip into the water for a guided swim alongside these remarkably sociable animals. After a mid-morning return to the yacht, cruise south to Flic en Flac for a late-morning snorkel on the reef-protected lagoon and an afternoon dive at Cathedral Reef – naturally formed arches and grottoes where diffused light creates an underwater cathedral effect. Your chef serves lunch on the aft deck. Return to Grand Baie via the coast as the sun sets over the mountains.
East Coast: Île aux Cerfs and Trou d’Eau Douce
Cruise from Grand Baie south-east along the coastline to Trou d’Eau Douce – roughly 30 nautical miles, about 2.5 hours. Anchor in the sheltered bay and tender to Île aux Cerfs – an 87-hectare island with white-sand beaches, palm-lined shores and the largest lagoon in Mauritius. Spend the morning swimming and snorkelling in the calm, shallow water, then walk the island or play the 18-hole Bernhard Langer championship golf course. Your crew serves a beach barbecue lunch. Return via the east coast, stopping at Pointe d’Esny for a late-afternoon snorkel in crystal-clear shallows with a view of the mountains and Île aux Aigrettes nature reserve.
Multi-Day Itineraries
3-Day Mauritius Yacht Charter Itinerary: The North Coast and Offshore Islands
Day 1: Grand Baie, Coin de Mire and Flat Island
Board your yacht at Grand Baie by mid-morning. After a welcome briefing and champagne toast on the flybridge, cruise north to Coin de Mire for a morning dive or snorkel on the dramatic vertical walls – groupers, snappers and the occasional reef shark in clear, blue water. Your chef serves lunch on the aft deck as the yacht repositions to Flat Island. Spend the afternoon exploring the island on foot (the lighthouse offers panoramic views) and snorkelling the calm eastern shore. Anchor overnight between Flat Island and Gabriel Island, with the Mauritius mainland glowing on the southern horizon.
Day 2: Gabriel Island, Cap Malheureux and Trou aux Biches
Rise early for a sunrise swim at Gabriel Island – pristine white sand, shallow turquoise water and the gentle sound of waves on the reef. After breakfast on the aft deck, cruise south to Cap Malheureux, the northernmost point of Mauritius, famous for its red-roofed church (Notre Dame Auxiliatrice) and views across to Coin de Mire. Continue west along the coast to Trou aux Biches – 2 kilometres of pristine white sand repeatedly ranked among Africa’s best beaches. Anchor in the calm, shallow water and spend the afternoon snorkelling close to shore, where the reef protection ensures gentle conditions and abundant fish life. Dinner aboard at anchor, or tender ashore for a north-coast restaurant.
Day 3: Mont Choisy, Grand Baie and Farewell
Cruise west to Mont Choisy – at nearly 3 kilometres, the longest beach in Mauritius, with a gentle curve of white sand shaded by casuarina trees. Swim and paddleboard in the calm morning water, then return to Grand Baie for a late-morning stroll through the town’s boutiques, cafés and waterfront restaurants. Your chef prepares a farewell lunch on the aft deck as the yacht moors in the bay. Disembark by mid-afternoon with time for a final sundowner at the Grand Baie Yacht Club.
4-Day Mauritius Yacht Charter Itinerary: West Coast, Le Morne and the South
Day 1: Grand Baie to Tamarin Bay – Dolphins and Salt Pans
Depart Grand Baie mid-morning and cruise south along the west coast to Tamarin Bay – roughly 25 nautical miles, about 2 hours. Arrive for a dawn dolphin encounter: pods of spinner and bottlenose dolphins surface around the yacht, and guests slip into the water for a guided swim. After the dolphins, cruise to the nearby Tamarin salt pans – shallow evaporation ponds where sea water crystallises into pyramids of salt, a tradition dating back centuries. Tender ashore for a walk among the pans before lunch on the aft deck. In the afternoon, continue south to Flic en Flac for an afternoon dive at Cathedral Reef and an overnight anchorage in the calm lagoon.
Day 2: Le Morne, the Underwater Waterfall and Chamarel
Cruise south from Flic en Flac to Le Morne – roughly 10 nautical miles along the coast. Anchor in the turquoise lagoon beneath the 556-metre UNESCO-listed monolith and spend the morning snorkelling the crystal-clear shallows – reef fish, corals and the dramatic mountain rising behind you. If arranged, a helicopter flight over the underwater waterfall illusion offers one of the most spectacular aerial views in the Indian Ocean. After lunch on the aft deck, tender ashore for an afternoon excursion to Chamarel: the Seven Coloured Earths, the 100-metre waterfall and a rum tasting at the Rhumerie de Chamarel. Return to the yacht for dinner at anchor beneath the Southern Cross.
Day 3: South Coast – Blue Bay Marine Park and Mahebourg
Cruise east around the southern tip of Mauritius to Blue Bay Marine Park – roughly 20 nautical miles from Le Morne, about 2 hours. Anchor in crystal-clear water averaging 5 metres deep and snorkel the finest coral gardens in Mauritius: 72-plus fish species, 38 coral species and a 1,000-year-old brain coral with a 5-metre diameter. The colours and density of marine life here are remarkable. After a late-morning return to the yacht, cruise to the historic town of Mahebourg for lunch ashore – a quiet, charming town on the south-east coast with a waterfront promenade, a naval museum and a local market selling fresh fish and tropical fruit. Anchor overnight in the sheltered bay.
Day 4: East Coast, Île aux Cerfs and Return to Grand Baie
Depart Mahebourg and cruise north along the east coast to Île aux Cerfs – roughly 15 nautical miles, about 1.5 hours. Anchor in the island’s famous lagoon and spend the morning swimming, snorkelling and exploring the palm-fringed beaches. Your crew sets up a beach barbecue for lunch. In the early afternoon, set course north for Grand Baie – roughly 30 nautical miles along the coast, arriving by late afternoon. A farewell sundowner on the flybridge as the sun drops behind the Mauritius mountains.
Guests looking for a longer voyage can combine the 3-day north-coast route with the 4-day west-coast and southern circuit for a comprehensive 7-day charter covering the full island – dolphins, diving, UNESCO heritage, the underwater waterfall, multicultural cuisine and a string of pristine beaches – without repeating a single stop.
