Le Telfair Spa Resort 

I know it is a long way – a twelve hour flight is no joke, make sure to pack plenty of moisturiser in your hand luggage – but I can promise you that it is worth every minute. Mauritius is a one of the true gems of the Indian Ocean, with all the spirituality and uniqueness of Sri Lanka and all the luxury of the Maldives or the Seychelles, you won’t be disappointed by this enchanting island. Whether you are taking your entire family or embarking on a magical honeymoon there are a plethora of hotels to choose from, but being the dedicated daughter that I am, I decided to take my Mum for a once in a lifetime experience and booked into the Heritage Le Telfair resort for her 60^th birthday. I knew we had made the right decision as our private transfer whisked us up the manicured lawns and we were greeted to the sight of the stunning French colonial-style building before us. I know that feeling of having a long, long flight that arrives as the sun is setting is one of total exhaustion, but on this occasion, arriving at night is a spectacle you wouldn’t want to miss – the building is bathed in delicate, yet show-stopping light and has that un-doubtable wow factor; feelings of tiredness dissipate as excitement settles in, a feeling that I can guarantee doesn’t leave you throughout your entire stay.

After a super-healthy and much-welcomed fruit cocktail in the lavish reception area, we were escorted to our room through a maze of olive trees and exotic flora and fauna, with the twinkling fairy lights strewn over trees and a Narnia-style lamp on almost every corner – you could be forgiven for thinking you had stepped into a fairy’s grotto. It is, I would say, an understatement to call the accommodation simply a ‘room’, it is more like a villa with tonnes of space and charming French windows opening onto a veranda with either a view of the pool, lagoon or the river – or sometimes all three. Designed with light green, beige and cappuccino colours all warmly contributing to the historical, glamorous, colonial atmosphere, giving it an intimate yet stylish finish – the only drawback was that we never wanted to leave it.

The Seven Colours Spa is a total Hip & Healthy sanctuary and I am not ashamed to say that on the dot of 5pm every evening we spent several hours enjoying the peace and serenity of the beautifully designed space. Based on the concept that we are drawn to particular colours depending on our emotional needs, moods and physical attraction, the Spa tailors every treatment to your colour or colours of your choice. For example I was most attracted to the yellow/orange colours meaning that I am on a constant search for energy (yes, yes I am!), where as my Mum was attracted to the blue/purple colours that are typical symbols of relaxation – she finds it almost impossible to relax (unlike me, no problems there) so this diagnosis made complete sense to us. We then had detox massages that were based around these specific emotions and attractions, resulting in a heavenly and most of all healing treatment.

If you aren’t into spending hours in a Spa (who isn’t?!) and feel you are more suited to bracing activities then don’t panic, from kite-surfing to kayaking and paddle boating to personal training there are a myriad of activities to choose from and helpfully nearly all are included in the package of your trip. Take the glass bottom boat out to the extensive coral reef for a viewing platform with a difference and if you are happier with two feet on dry land, an exhilarating self-driven quad bike tour of the nature reserve is a truly enchanting excursion. H&H Tip: Wear a bikini under your clothes as they don’t tell you that a pit-stop at a lagoon, complete with mandatory fable-like waterfall, is on the agenda where you can swim off the heat of the day and the dust from the bikes.

We had wanted a holiday that would detox us both, but we didn’t want to choose a strict, no frills ‘detox specific’ resort, because let’s face it, some of these extraordinarily healthy retreats and resorts do not necessarily end up being much of a holiday! But with its relaxed attitude, inspiring Spa, range of activities and some essential indulgent gourmet experiences – Le Telfair will remain a firm favourite in our eyes for detox and serious relaxation for a long time.

Enjoy 7 nights at Heritage Le Telfair, Mauritius from £1,444 per person, including accommodation in a Deluxe Room, daily breakfast and dinner, private transfers and international flights.  Call Turquoise Holidays on 01494 678400; Visit us at www.turquoiseholidays.co.uk; Email us at [email protected]