On a sunny March morning, we left Mahebourg for a short scooter ride up the east coast of Mauritius. It was the eve of Maha Shivratri, the local Hindus’ holiest day, and the road was jammed with rathas, an elaborate sort of religious chariots bearing swastika-marked effigies of deities and cows. Processions of believers pushed them to some pilgrimage site or another, … [Read more...]
Old Grand Port: The Cradle of the Mauritian Nation
The Old Grand Port (Vieux Grand Port in French) is a small town on the eastern coast of Mauritius, near the city of Mahebourg. It is a renowned tourist attraction owing to its historical significance as the site of the first European landing and establishment on the island. We visited it briefly during our 2024 overwintering in Mauritius, following a hike to the top of Lion … [Read more...]
Lion Mountain, Mauritius: Hiking Without a Guide
The Lion Mountain is a 440-meter-tall outcrop on the southwestern coast of Mauritius. During our two-month stay in the Indian-Ocean island country in the winter of 2024, we wondered at it in awe every day from the balcony of our place in Mahebourg. It became an obvious target for a trekking expedition. In this post, I will recount our trip to its top and provide some practical … [Read more...]
Climbing Le Morne Brabant, Mauritius Without a Guide
Le Morne Brabant is a peninsula occupying the southwesternmost tip of Mauritius. It is dominated by the eponymous Brabant Mountain: a massive basaltic rock towering for 556 meters over the dazzling turquoise waters of the lagoon surrounding the peninsula. Owing to its fantastic views and unique biodiversity, the site has become one of the most popular hiking destinations in the … [Read more...]
At the Grand Bassin (Ganga Talao) for the Shiva Festival in Mauritius
The great Ganges River, the lifeline of Indian civilization for millennia, understandably holds immense importance in Hinduistic tradition. So much so that devout Hindus promptly undertake onerous pilgrimages from throughout India to wash their spirits in the otherwise most polluted river in the world. That was the problem faced by hundreds of thousands of Indian workers … [Read more...]
Hiking Mount Askio, Western Macedonia, Greece
Mount Askio is situated in the heart of the Western Macedonia region of northern Greece. Adjoined by Mount Verno to the north and Mount Vourino to the south, it is the central part of the mountain chain that separates the Kastoria prefecture from the plain of Ptolemaida. Its highest peak, called Siniatsiko, reaches an elevation of 2,111 meters, making Askio the 34th highest … [Read more...]
Climbing Mount Smolikas & Camping at its Dragon Lake
Located in the core of the Pindus Mountains, Smolikas is Greece’s second-highest mountain and—I’d argue—one of its most stunning. It is renowned for its extensive forests and its so-called Dragon Lake: an idyllic alpine lake situated below its 2,637-meter-high peak. While touring the region in July 2024, it became our top priority for a hiking trip.Smolikas’s summit and the … [Read more...]
Prespa Lakes, Greece: a Day Trip from Kastoria
The Prespa Lakes, located in Greece’s northwestern corner near the borders of Albania and North Macedonia, present a captivating blend of natural beauty and biodiversity. This region, comprising Great Prespa and Small Prespa, is notable for its pristine waters and rich wildlife, making it a significant destination for ecological tourism. The area is particularly renowned for … [Read more...]
Cap Malheureux: a Visit to the Northernmost Point of Mauritius
Cap Malheureux is the unfortunate name given to the northernmost tip of the main island of Mauritius. It literally means the unfortunate cape, a designation assigned to it by the French to express their grudge about it being the site of the successful landing that allowed the British to seize the island in 1810. We visited it briefly during a day trip to northern Mauritius … [Read more...]
Pont Naturel: A Guide to the Natural Bridge of Mauritius
Le Pont Naturel (French for natural bridge) is exactly what its name suggests: a bridge-like rock formation over a sea cave on the rugged southern coast of Mauritius. Located 15 km from Mahebourg—our place of residence during our two-month stay in the country—it made for a nice sunset-trip destination.DirectionsComing from Mahebourg, drive around the airport and take the road … [Read more...]
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- …
- 37
- Next Page »
