Discover the South with these 11 Stops

Bay2Bay Tour Stops

Stop 1 - Baie du Jacotet and Îlot Sancho
Stop 2 - Bel Ombre’s Historical Sugar Industry
Bel Ombre’s two-hundred-year old history is closely linked to that of sugar cane in Mauritius.The Domaine de Bel Ombre officially came into existence in 1765. At the time, it was an agricultural estate with a particular focus on the cultivation of sugar cane. Renowned naturalist Charles Telfair then acquired the estate in 1816. A visionary scientist and humanist, he would go on to have a major influence in the region, whose industries he helped develop thanks to his technical and botanical innovations. After his death in 1833, the estate was helmed by various different owners, while Mauritius’ governors regularly came to stay in the area.In 1910, the Compagnie Sucrière de Bel Ombre (CSBO) was incorporated. Over the following decades, it acquired several neighbouring sugar estates and other tracts of land. By 1951, the CSBO owned a total of 15,200 acres of agricultural land (including 5,000 acres planted with sugar cane) and 3,200 acres of forest (partly dedicated to deer farming).In 1971, the Rogers group bought the Bel Ombre estate. Then, in 1999, following a restructure within the sugar industry, its crushing factory closed for good. And from 2004 onwards, the estate became a leading tourist attraction. Today, it includes luxury hotels and villas, the Bel Ombre Nature Reserve, a championship golf course (home to the world's only tri-tour-sanctioned golf tournament), a heliport... and of course, sugar cane fields.After entering the estate via a majestic drive lined with towering coconut trees, you’ll discover the Place du Moulin, Bel Ombre’s cleverly restored former sugar factory, which now hosts a variety of high-profile events and whose stone walls continue to shelter a ‘’fangourin’’ (a sugar cane grinding mill) and vintage turbines. You can also explore the remains of the estate’s old haulage station, previously used to transport sugar cane to the factory.

Stop 3 - Lavish Château Living
Stop 4 - The village of Bel Ombre
Stop 5 - Bel Ombre Nature Reserve
Set over 1,300 hectares and home to an exceptional array of flora and fauna, the Bel Ombre Nature Reserve is the ultimate playground for lovers of the outdoors.Here, you’ll discover three areas that are home to remarkable wildlife: Bel Ombre’s UNESCO Biosphere Reserve; the Abbatis des Cipayes (a former camp used by Indian soldiers and set along the banks of the Rivière Jacotet); and the Frederica Nature Reserve. Bel Ombre Nature Reserve Visitor’s Centre, located at the edge of the nature reserve, is steeped in history: it is housed in a building that was used as a summer residence by successive Mauritian governors during the French and English colonial periods in the 18th and 19th century. The building has recently been renovated and restored.Visitors can enjoy a picnic with close ones in the most privileged and private spots or explore the reserve on foot, in a buggy or 4x4, or by quad, accompanied by professional guides who will introduce them to the area’s unique flora and fauna. Fresh air guaranteed!

Stop 6 - The Bel Ombre “Batelage”
Stop 7 - The Trevessa Memorial
Stop 8 - The villages of St-Martin and Baie du Cap
Stop 9 - A tribute to Matthew Flinders
Stop 10 - Macondé
Stop 11- La Prairie Bay
A must-visit in Mauritius, La Prairie is the perfect place for a picnic on the beach – or on the grass. It also offers superb views of the imposing mountain of Le Morne and the turquoise lagoon that surrounds it.The bay is graced by a historic lime kiln. During the colonial era, lime had a wide range of applications, including in masonry and agriculture. In particular, it was used to prepare fertilisers and manufacture sugar. Quicklime was obtained by heating locally-harvested coral then extinguishing it using seawater – hence the fact that lime kilns tended to be located near the coast.To the north of La Prairie is Le Morne, a UNESCO World Heritage site. This imposing mountain has become a symbol of marronage. Its steep slopes, which are difficult to access and are covered in dense forest, was a refuge for escaped slaves – known as "marrons" – during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Îlot Fourneau, opposite the village of Le Morne, was used as a military post by the era’s British colonial administration to monitor the escapees.As you soak up the view during this final stop on your tour, perhaps you’ll glimpse colourful kites aloft in the distance. Indeed, the so-called "Kite Lagoon", located at the foot of Le Morne, is considered one of the best kite-surfing spots in the world.