Heritage Awali Golf & Spa Resort ★★★★★

Close your eyes and think of Mauritius; a colour palette of turquoise, aqua marine, jade, emerald and gold... these are the hues that will come to mind. Imagine and you can almost smell the exotically scented sea air and feel the warm tropical breeze on your skin.

Away from the grey skies and rainy days of home, this little slice of heaven lives up to all your dreams and expectations. Set in Domaine de Bel Ombre, once a large sugar estate, the Heritage Awali Golf & Spa is part of the history of the island itself.

Framed by lush palms, fringed by sugar white sand and cobalt blue waves, sit a cluster of thatched, ochre-coloured, adobe pavilions and villas, dotted with pools, restaurants, golf courses and sports complexes. It’s like a whole Mauritian village in itself.

Deluxe rooms and villas immediately feel like home, albeit one in a somewhat exotic alternate reality. Decorated with subtle African touches in the soft furnishings, paintings and chunky wood furniture, it’s luxury with that touch of rustic charm. Your room is fitted out with all the latest mod cons so that if you feel like putting on your favourite tunes and making a cup of tea as soon as you arrive, it’s all ready and waiting. Without a doubt, your favourite part of your room will be the spacious, private terrace offering views of the lush, tropical gardens or the vast Indian Ocean.

Days at the Heritage Awali can be spent in a state of dream-like bliss where your every whim is catered for. How about starting the day with a yoga class or some Tai Chi, followed by a dip in the pool and breakfast on your terrace? Afternoons can be spent as active or as relaxed as you wish with a range of both land and water sports available from tennis and mountain biking to water skiing and snorkelling.

Of course for golf fans there’s always the 18-hole championship course to entertain you. Kids too are taken care of here with two kids´ clubs; babysitting services and a teen hangout centre, giving you the chance to unwind and take care of yourself for a change at the Seven Colours Spa Village. A haven of serenity and tranquillity, the spa sits within its own verdant tropical garden. Here you can spend your time moving effortlessly from the warming saunas and hammams to relaxing under the hydro jet massage and chilling in the pool, as well as indulging in every type of wellness or beauty treatment you can think of in one of the 20 treatment rooms.

Not only do you have so many entertainment options, but you have plenty when it comes to food options too. You’ll be completely spoilt for choice, with over eleven different restaurants and eight bars to visit during your holiday. Whether you fancy gourmet Mediterranean cuisine, a chic French brasserie, traditional Mauritian dishes or a relaxed poolside environment with your favourite international snacks, it’s all here. Our favourites are the colourful carnival-feel restaurant Zafarani that serves fragrant North-Indian cuisine, the spicy Pan-Asian delights at the relaxed, beachfront restaurant Gin’Ja and the classic Mauritian favourites at Infinity Blue, matched with stunning ocean views.

Evenings never offer a dull moment either, how about a night out at the trendy Chill, at the C Beach Club or relaxing time with a cocktail at the Zen-like Zenzi-Bar? You can even step back into the colonial days of old with a cigar and glass of rum at the classy Cavendish Bar & Lounge.

You’ll have plenty of pictures and memories to take away from your time at the Heritage Awali, but perhaps your most memorable will be the African ‘boma’ experience where you’ll be treated to a traditional grill around a campfire, enjoying great food and entertainment set against a starry backdrop with the sounds of the waves in the background.