Sometimes I have to pinch myself; being flown to the tiny island of Mauritius and invited to step into a world where nature, history, and adventure collide, all for the purpose of discovering true wellness and visiting the Heritage Le Telfair hotel… well, it is not your average assignment.
Mauritius is a vibrant volcanic island nation surrounded by warm crystal clear waters and while it is a 12-hour flight from the UK, I promise it is worth every moment of the journey – there is no other place quite like it. Its year-round sunshine, multicoloured coral reef and picturesque mountains make it the jewel of the Indian Ocean.
Touching down on the island, I headed straight to the delightfully splendid Heritage Le Telfair hotel situated on the unspoilt and wild southern coast of Mauritius within 2,500 hectares of preserved parkland. I was there to experience the hotel’s Wellness Bliss programme for a journey of self-discovery through nature.
Wellness Bliss in Mauritius at Heritage Le Telfair
The Wellness Bliss programme offers guests a curated catalogue of holistic activities and experiences designed to reconnect with the natural world including forest bathing, coastal treks, yoga, massage therapy, nutrition and even a spot of tree-hugging. With a UNESCO biosphere and stunning shoreline on its doorstep, nature is at the core of Heritage Le Telfair’s wellness programme.
The programme, crafted by the onsite award-winning Seven Colours Spa, began with a consultation with Ravin Malhotra, the hotel’s friendly Wellness Ambassador, who helped to create a personalised wellness journey filled with activities and experiences that met my wellbeing objectives. I chose to participate in a combination of both active and serene experiences to help me disconnect from the world, and reconnect with nature.
Embracing nature and rediscovering myself
First up was a heavenly sunset yin yoga class; it helped me to recentre, focus on the present moment and clear my mind. I stretched every muscle in my body and was given space to breathe slowly and consciously – it felt amazing.
Next up was a tennis session; the court was situated within the hotel’s verdant gardens, so not only did I get a fun workout, I found it invigorating to be playing among nature. Beside the tennis court was the hotel gym, it was well-equipped with various machines and weights as well as refreshments to keep me hydrated and energised.
Ravin led the forest bathing trek through Frederica Nature Reserve, an area that is blessed with incredibly rich biodiversity and rare endemic plant and animal species. He was full of local knowledge, explaining in detail how the delicate ecosystem works and how to preserve it. He demonstrated ways the locals integrate the forest into their lives, including how to weave bamboo to make blinds and sunhats. I also got to see a large colony of endemic Mauritian fruit bats and a very shy herd of local deer. The walk ended with what felt like a scene from a movie; a refreshing swim at the spectacular L’Exemple waterfall.
A private boat tour of nearby Le Morne with ‘Paolo’s Boat Trips’ took me dolphin watching and snorkelling. The dolphins were easy to find and extremely playful, spinning up in the air and leaping around through the waves. If I thought my morning could not get any better, we then went to snorkel amongst the coral reef in a lagoon in front of Le Morne, a mountain and probably the most iconic sight in Mauritius. After that, we headed to a small bay where I swam with a giant turtle and watched it calmly going about its day and eating sea grass. The entire experience was incredibly special and made me appreciative of the beauty of nature; my boat hosts Bradley and Steve were great guides.
Finally, Esther from Seven Colours Spa gave me a personalised massage comprised of a blissful mix of deep tissue, hot stone, and relaxing massages. It was my first time experiencing hot stones and I loved how warmly comforting and grounding they felt. The spa was a sanctuary within a sanctuary, offering an extensive list of treatments along with nine treatment rooms including two private outdoor suites.
Heritage Le Telfair: Old world charm and rare elegance
Named after famous Irish naturalist, Charles Telfair, who lived in the area in the 19th century, the hotel basks in the history of Mauritius and the Bel Ombre region. It boasts 158 spacious suites in finely designed villas, which are scattered throughout tropical gardens, creating the feel of a private village. The hotel staff are plentiful, approachable, and happy to assist with any requests.
My sea-view suite was spacious and airy; it was elegant but felt relaxed and calm. The suite vibe was island charm with historical undertones; high ceilings, wooden panelling, louvered blinds, parquet floors, four-poster bed draped in white muslin, sumptuously soft bed linen, Christian Lacroix artwork, and a large balcony with cute tropical birds which came to visit each morning.
For the foodies among us, the hotel prides itself on gastronomy and offers guests 12 different restaurants to choose from. Each gourmet experience is cooked up by a talented and diverse team of local and international chefs. My favourite restaurants were Le Chateau de Bel Ombre for Mauritian-French locavore fine dining; Gin’ja for tasty pan-Asian dishes by the beach; Le Palmier for seafood and palm hearts, and Annabella’s, the hotel’s main restaurant where I ate and savoured my first Salmi poulet, a Mauritian chicken stew.
Notably, alongside the hotel stands Le Chateau de Bel Ombre, its very own 19th century plantation house that dates back to 1765 and is also a historic landmark of the region. The enchanting chateau showcases exquisite architecture, gorgeous tropical French gardens, and stunning views across the lush Mauritian landscape. It would be remiss not to spend a few hours there sampling the local food and taking in the views.
Memories to last a life time
Superlatives are well earned at Heritage Le Telfair; its location is irresistible, securing your affections with expansive suites, culinary expertise, welcoming staff, sustainable initiatives, lush greenery, golden sands, and azure waters. From the moment I arrived until the moment I left, I was looked after by the helpful hotel staff, especially Sharmine, Jossy, and Arnav, who were my personal concierges during the week.
Even back in the London, as I write this article, my Wellness Bliss experiences have stayed with me and I have so many special memories to ponder on. Rediscovering my wellness and immersing myself in nature has given me a fresh outlook, putting a lot of life’s trivial matters into perspective, and affecting me on a much deeper level than I could imagine.
Hotel Snapshot
What: Heritage Le Telfair hotel
Where: Bel Ombre, Mauritius (50-minute drive from Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Airport)
When: Year-round with average temperatures of 22°C in winter and 31°C in summer. The hotel will host a dedicated Wellness Weekend from 14-16 June 2025
Rooms: 158 spacious suites with pretty sea or garden views
Hotel rating: 5-stars
Price: From £395 /night for two adults sharing a Deluxe Suite, breakfast included
Website: heritageresorts.mu/hotels-mauritius/le-telfair
Instagram: @heritage_letelfair
Packing Tips
Do not forget to pack your favourite swimwear pieces; I took some colourful pieces from BAÍAH, which were perfect for my snorkelling and waterfall adventures. Ensure you have a sturdy pair of trainers for outdoor activities and some easy to slip on slides for everything else, I highly recommend Archies.
The hotel restaurants encourage a more elegant dress code in the evenings, so I brought some floaty dresses from Heidi Klein, which transition seamlessly from day-to-night. Finally, do not leave your suncream or insect repellent behind.
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Heritage Le Telfair is a five-star plantation style all-suites hotel providing luxury accommodation, whilst delivering a high level of personal service. The hotel offers a refined escape that combines elegant architecture with fine dining across a sumptuous choice of restaurants. The Wellness Bliss package is offered at £570 for a three-night detox experience, to £1,150 for five nights. For further information and to book visit heritageresorts.mu.
Born in Hong Kong and based in London, Sarah Highfield is a travel and wellness writer. Follow her travels on Instagram: @SarahHighfield.
