Tailor-made travel operator Audley Travel has relaunched its programme of excursions with its Hidden Beaches destination Mauritius, to offer clients experiences that are very different to the traditional excursions on the island.

The new suite of excursions has been designed to allow clients to experience first-hand the diverse cultural mix in Mauritius.

As with all Audley's tours and excursions, these have been put together by teams who know Mauritius in depth, having either travelled extensively or lived in the country – which means the itineraries include elements which a traveller would not find independently.

Highlights include the Indian Footprints full-day, private tour where clients learn about the Indo-Mauritian population, which today is the largest ethnic group in Mauritius. The trip includes a stop at Appravasi Ghat, UNESCO World Heritage Site, which was the arrival point for one of the largest migrations in history. Lunch is enjoyed with a local Hindu family, sampling the traditional seven vegetable curries served on banana leaf with rice that are normally served during Indo-Mauritian weddings. The afternoon is spent exploring Ganga Talao (also known as Grand Bassin), where the largest Hindu temple on the island is built around a sacred lake.

In the full day, private Creole Delights tour, clients spend time with a local family and discover some of the island's fascinating cultural mix through its food and drink.

Taste buds are awakened during a walking tour of the capital, Port Louis, sampling traditional dishes such as chilli cakes, maize puddings or dholl puris (the island's most popular street food) - flat breads filled with yellow split peas.

Heading inland, clients go to a Creole home for a lunch of six or seven dishes of Mauritian Creole food home-cooked on a traditional wood-fired oven. The afternoon sees clients visit Domaine Les Aubineaux, a French colonial house built in 1872 to learn about the island's history and the importance of tea production.

A cooking demonstration is included in the Glimpse of Preserved History tour, supplementing knowledge gained on a guided shopping trip at the local market. This session takes place in a French colonial home in a scenic setting and is followed by a tour of the house and gardens. A lunch of traditional Creole food is enjoyed here.

Kate Samuel, Product Manager for Audley Travel's Hidden Beaches portfolio, says: “Mauritius is a popular choice for Audley Travel's clients. The stunning beaches are of course a given but it's far more than just a beach destination, with a really interesting colonial history (Dutch, French and British) as well as Indian heritage to learn about. We are delighted to introduce this series of excursions to allow our clients to explore this heritage, together with their hand-picked expert local guide.”

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Notes to editors

Sample pricing

Audley Travel offers tailor-made trips to Mauritius. A 13 day trip costs from £2,143 per person (based on two sharing) and includes three nights in the Chamarel Mountains and seven nights at 20 Degrees South on the island's north coast – both on a half board basis. The price includes all flights, transfers, excursions from the new range of experiences and a private car with driver and guide. For more information visit www.audleytravel.com/mauritius or call 01993 838250