Sports and leisure activities Le Morne Brabant

At the back of Le Morne, in a wild and unhotelized section, a vast lawn extended by a shallow-water lagoon ends in the ocean - the place known as La Prairie. It's from this exclusive site, one of the most beautiful on Mauritius's southern coastline, that Lagoon Flight's pilots take off their small seaplane-ULMs. As well as climbing into this type of aircraft and taking off directly from the water, which is an experience in itself, you soon reach the most astonishing of Mauritius's "aquatic" sights: the famous underwater waterfall of Le Morne, an optical illusion that can be seen from the sky alone. The shortest flight, 15 minutes, offers a beautiful glimpse of this impressive natural illusion, and also of the mountain of Le Morne - a steep rocky mass hemmed in by a sublime lagoon. Longer (and therefore proportionately more expensive) flights of 25, 40 or 80 minutes can depart from La Prairie or, on request, directly from the lagoon in front of your hotel - classy! They allow you to take in a wider range of landscapes and sights: the South and East coasts, coastal villages, Blue Bay Marine Park, Souillac and Souffleur cliffs, etc. - A wonderful souvenir, in complete safety, thanks to the pilots' experience and the comfortable stability of the Sirius TL Ultralight.

For an additional €50, you can fly side-by-side (2 microlights). Flights are subject to the vagaries of the weather, so it's best to book in advance to benefit from a postponement in case of rain.

A Unesco World Heritage site, Morne Mountain is open to all, and has been designed for walking. The climb, which is quite steep at the end, offers the reward of a spectacular panorama from the near summit. From the parking lot, take an easy path for around 1h45, which narrows in its second section and finally becomes steep. At this point, you may have to climb, using the ropes provided. If you're prone to vertigo, the climb ends here! At the top, the 270-degree view is breathtaking. Allow 1h15 for the descent.

This 18-hole golf course bordered by several kilometres of beaches lies at the foot of the Morne mountain: a site! Designed to fit in perfectly with the 150-hectare private peninsula that houses the Paradis Beachcomber hotel estate, this magnificent course covers 5,924 metres and is a pleasant championship course with 5 water hazards and 9 holes lined up along the coast. On site: driving range, putting green, pitching green, club-house, bar, Golf Academy under the guidance of a pro - private lessons for golfers of all levels.

This highly professional club specializes in teaching kitesurfing to beginners, and is run by Jean-Charles and Keylendo, certified instructors (BPjeps & IKO). It organizes courses on the Le Morne spot and jet-boat lessons on the more exclusive site of La Prairie - that sublime shallow calm-water cove at the back of Le Morne, away from the other schools and the sometimes crowded One Eye spot. Once you've taken your first lessons and are ready to take to the water, you'll be assisted by an instructor on a turbine boat specially designed for teaching kitesurfing in the lagoon. 2 to 3 sessions are offered per day, with a maximum of 3 students per lesson. In order to learn and evolve in optimal conditions, it is also possible to privatize the boat. The school's objective is to enable trainees to become autonomous in complete safety. F-One and/or Mystic equipment is supplied, but you'll need sunglasses, sun cream and neoprene booties if necessary. The club also offers stand-up paddle lessons (always on the calm lagoon at the back of Le Morne) and can take care of the whole holiday - apartment rental, pick-up, kiteboarding course... Please refer to the Son of Beach agency and store on La Gaulette's main road.

Bonus: a permanent test center at the tip of Le Morne offers free trials of Ozone kites and Ozone, Redz and AlMerrick boards - a privilege reserved for experienced riders.

At the foot of the mountain, this superb stud features several stalls, a sand arena and a club house for a dozen horses and ponies. The manager and her team run the center with passion. The services are 5*, reserved for a maximum of 10 riders, always supervised by an instructor and a groom. Lessons are available, but the main attraction is a 30-minute to 2-hour horseback ride on the trails of Le Morne and, above all, on the pristine beach beside the hotels. Swimming in the lagoon with the horses is available on request.

It's the best spot on the island, and the only one with an international reputation in discerning circles. With a very good south-easterly wind that accelerates at the south-western tip, it is named One Eye in reference to a hole that pierces one of the flanks of Le Morne mountain (have it pointed out on site to see it) and also because its wave forms an eye as round as a spiral. Fast and powerful, it is reserved exclusively for experienced sportsmen or well-trained amateurs. At coral reef level, very large waves can form, up to 7 meters on the best days! At the same time, strong currents sweep the reef outwards. It's a wild ride, but also a dangerous one - some adventurers have lost their lives. To avoid accidents and optimize the operation of the site, its management has been entrusted to Club ION - formerly Club Mistral International, one of the main leaders in the gliding market. At the same time, a number of other clubs offer good courses to IKO standards, including for beginners, who can learn close to the coast in an area large enough for safe progress.

Tip: you can try out most of the year's models of kites, surfboards and boards free of charge at the spot and at the equipment truck set up during the day at the tip of Le Morne public beach - a welcome initiative from the Le Gall and Duotone stores.

A unique way to discover the mythical, Unesco-listed mountain of Le Morne is to climb it with Yan, THE trekking specialist in Mauritius, or with one of the guides in his team. For a long time, only Yanature, a pioneering company, had exclusive rights to the site. Sport and culture in equal measure, with explanations of the flora, fauna and the site itself - a steep, wild mountain with a special ecosystem and a breathtaking view of the lagoon and Mauritius's south and west coasts from the cross 500 metres up.

Ex-Club Mistral. The name has changed, but not the teams or the philosophy that make this brand a strong value in the world of snow sports. Starting with state-of-the-art equipment that's completely renewed every year. Super-professional instructors with international diplomas give surf, kitesurf, windsurf and wingfoil lessons at all levels, in several languages, in groups, semi-groups or individually on request. For windless days and/or non-sailing companions, the club offers stand-up paddle rentals and/or lessons.