At a glance
| Compare | Maldives | Mauritius |
|---|---|---|
| Landscape | Low coral islands rimmed with white sand | One volcanic island with a plateau and mountains, ringed by reef |
| The stay | A resort on an island of its own | A hotel on a larger island |
| On land | The beach, the spa and a sunset cruise | Hiking, golf, markets and festivals |
| Under water | House reefs, hundreds of dive sites; mantas all year, and whale sharks all year in South Ari | Lagoons and reefs, and a marine park at Blue Bay |
| Seasons | Warm and sunny all year; driest January to March | Summer about November to April; winter about May to September |
| Entry | Tourist visa on arrival, after a free online declaration | Visa-free for many visitors; an online travel form before you arrive |
| Suits | Honeymoons, rest, diving and snorkelling | Golf, walks and culture |
Many islands or one
The Maldives is made of coral: 1,192 low islands across 26 natural atolls, most of them rimmed with white sand and small enough to walk round.
Mauritius is a single volcanic island of 1,865 km², with a central plateau and mountain ranges, ringed by coral reef.
How the holiday works
In the Maldives, each resort has an island of its own, and most of the holiday is spent there, with the beach, the lagoon and, at many resorts, the reef a few steps from the villa. Overwater villas stand over the lagoon, and at the luxury end many have a plunge pool of their own. Many resorts sell all-inclusive stays, which suits a small island. Getting there is part of the trip, by speedboat, seaplane or domestic flight.
In Mauritius, hotels sit on a larger island, and days out take in villages, markets, hikes and golf.
On land
In the Maldives, time on land is time to rest: the beach, the spa, a sunset cruise on a dhoni, the traditional Maldivian boat, or a visit to a local island, where Maldivian life is closest; Customs and etiquette explains how to visit them. Mauritius mixes Creole, Indian, Chinese and French influences, in its food and its festivals.
Under water
If the reef is the point of the trip, the Maldives makes it easy. Many resorts have a house reef a few steps from the beach, hundreds of dive sites lie across its 1,192 islands, mantas live in its waters all year, and whale sharks are seen around South Ari Atoll in every month.
Mauritius has lagoons and reefs too, with a marine park at Blue Bay.
Seasons
The Maldives is warm and sunny all year. Its dry season runs from January to March, and the southwest monsoon, the wetter season, from about mid-May to October; Green season covers those months.
Mauritius is in the southern hemisphere, so its seasons run the other way: summer from about November to April, and winter from about May to September.
Getting in
Visitors to the Maldives are given a tourist visa on arrival, with no visa to apply for beforehand. Every traveller fills in the free Traveller Declaration online within 96 hours before landing. Visas and entry has the details.
Many visitors to Mauritius need no visa, and are asked to fill in an online travel form before arrival. Check the rules for your own passport.
Which suits you
- Choose the Maldives for a resort on an island of its own, the reef at your door, overwater villas, and days of very little.
- Choose Mauritius for golf, walks, markets and culture on one larger island.