Following 16 years of restoration work, the Palace of Aigai has finally opened to visitors. Situated in the modern-day town of Vergina, Aigai was the capital city of the ancient Kingdom of Macedonia. Its magnificent palace—one of the largest and most elegant edifices of classical Greece—was built by King Philip II in the 4th century BC. That’s where his son, Alexander the … [Read more...]
Climbing Mount Grammos from the Greek Side
Part of the greater Pindus Mountain Range—the rugged spine of the Greek mainland—Mount Grammos (spelled Grammoz in Albanian) is an imposing mountain whose ridge defines part of the Greek-Albanian border. Its highest peak, called Maja e Çukapeçit in Albania and Tsouka Petsik in Greece, rises to 2,523 meters, making it the 10th-highest mountain in Albania and the 4th-highest in … [Read more...]
Kayaking from Mahebourg to Snorkel in Blue Bay, Mauritius
The view of the turquoise lagoon and its lush shore greeted us every morning as we drew the curtains of our seafront room in Mahebourg, never failing to captivate us. Since day one of our two-month stay in Mauritius, we ruled that we ought to do at least one kayaking trip before leaving. Although there were plenty of options for guided sea or river kayaking tours throughout the … [Read more...]
Climbing to Pieter Both Mountain Summit
I remember the first time we drove to northern Mauritius. We’d pulled over in the middle of the motorway and stared incredulously at this most astounding natural spectacle. Resembling a colossal cairn assembled by some skillful ancient giant, there towered Mauritius’s second-highest peak: Pieter Both.Pieter Both Mountain is part of the Moka Range that rises above Port Louis in … [Read more...]
Mont Choisy Beach, Mauritius on a Sunday
Mont Choisy Beach, situated on the island’s north coast, 5 km from Grand Baie and 20 km from Port Louis, is the longest and one of the most popular beaches in Mauritius. It is relatively undeveloped compared to other popular Mauritian beaches. Resorts are found only to its north and south, while the entire beachfront is bordered by broad untouched woodland. Besides its natural … [Read more...]
Black River Peak Trail: a Hike to the Highest Point of Mauritius
The Black River Peak (more commonly referred to in French as Piton de la Petite Rivière Noire) is the highest mountain in Mauritius, at 828 meters AMSL. It lies within the homonymous range of the Black River Gorges National Park in the island’s southwest. After climbing the lower but more difficult and rewarding peaks of Pieter Both, Le Morne, and the Lion Mountain, I reserved … [Read more...]
A Day Trip to Grand Baie, Mauritius
Grand Baie (or Grand Bay) is an upscale resort village on the north coast of Mauritius, 25 km from Port Louis. Besides its high-end tourism, Grand Baie is renowned for its stunning coastal scenery and, above all, its vibrant nightlife. Since we aren’t quite rich, we didn’t consider spending a single night there. Instead, we settled in Mahébourg, in the cheaper south, for our … [Read more...]
Balaclava Marine Park (Turtle Bay) Snorkeling Trip in Mauritius
As we were settled in Mahebourg, Blue Bay was our standard snorkeling spot during our two months in Mauritius. Looking into alternatives for variety, we kept hearing about Balaclava Marine Park, aka Turtle Bay. Established in 1997, this is the first and still one of few national marine reserves in Mauritius. Its warm, sheltered waters harbor as many as 200 coral species and … [Read more...]
Ile aux Aigrettes Nature Reserve Eco Tour, Mauritius
Ile aux Aigrettes (French for Egret Island) is a protected islet off the southeastern coast of Mauritius, near the city of Mahebourg. Lying about half a km off the coast at Pointe d’Esny Beach, the island has a round shape with a diameter of 500 meters.Since 1965, Ile aux Aigrettes has been designated a nature reserve to conserve its rare ecosystem. It is covered by what is … [Read more...]
A Walk in Central Flacq, Mauritius
On my way back to Mahebourg from a day trip to Bras d’Eau National Park, I stopped for a walk in Central Flacq. This is the largest town and administration center of the Flacq District in northeastern Mauritius.Flacq is mostly renowned for its open-air market. But since that’s fully open on Wednesdays and Sundays—days which weren’t today—I skipped it altogether. I parked in the … [Read more...]
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