THE BEST Hotels with Hot Tubs in Grand Baie

Miles of powder-white beaches hug the coast at Belle Mare, where championship golf courses, posh resorts, a family-friendly water park and abundant aquatic sports ensure activity-filled days. Deep-sea fishing for tuna, marlin and mako shark is especially popular in this eastern Mauritius enclave. Belle Mare also serves as a convenient base camp for a trek to 1,575-foot Lion Mountain, where sweeping views reward those who make the challenging hike to its peak.

Mauritius is arguably Africa’s wealthiest destination, a tropical paradise with tons to do. Port Louis, the modern capital of this 38-mile by 29-mile island, is a bustling port with a revitalized waterfront and a busy market. But most visitors gravitate toward resort areas such as Mont Choisy, quiet Trou-aux-Biches and the more bustling Flic en Flac, popular with scuba divers. Rivière Noire is ideal for those looking for great deep-sea fishing.

Kite surfers, paragliders and deep-sea fishermen flock to windswept La Morne, a small village on the southwest side of Mauritius. Le Morne Brabant Mountain, a dramatic basaltic rock peak dotted with caves that once harbored runaway slaves, presides over luxury resorts and a wide beach widely regarded as the best on the island. Throw in a shimmering turquoise lagoon and gorgeous sunsets and calling the town "paradise" doesn't seem like a cliché.

Situated amidst lush green, forested hills on the highest peak in the Aravali range, Mount Abu is the summer capital for the Indian state of Rajasthan. Its cool and soothing climate makes it an ideal retreat. Explore a number of Jain temples, including the Dilwara Temples, a complex carved of while marble, or visit the nearby Achalgarh fort, which houses many beautiful temples of its own.

Houmt-Souk is a tranquil cultural hub, a peaceful meeting point of varying religions and ethnicities. Nowhere is this melange more evident than at the markets, where you could spend hours, even days, poring over locally crafted pottery, jewelry, leather goods, textiles and artwork, as well as a bounty of fruits, vegetables, spices and meats. Don’t miss the beachside fortress, a massive 15th-century structure that’s one of the most important archaeological sites of the region.