Mauritius

As Mark Twain once wrote, “Mauritius was made first, and then heaven; and heaven was copied after Mauritius”. This 50km x 60km volcanic island sits on the southern edge of the tropics, just above the Tropic of Capricorn about 900km east of Madagascar. The coastline is almost entirely surrounded by coral reef protecting turquoise lagoons and pure white sand, towered over by bizarre mountain peaks. But the island isn’t just a honeymooner’s paradise – from May to November, 70% of days see SE trades blow Force 4-6 while impressively large Antarctic winter swells roll in. Had Mark Twain been a kiter or windsurfer, his feelings wouldn’t have changed.