Ilot Mangenie Beach

The only island or islet of its type in Mauritius, Ilot Mangénie is the name of both the isle itself and the soft coral sands of the main beach. A small private island off the east coast of Mauritius, it is owned by the Shangri-La Le Touessrok Resort and Spa, but welcomes day visitors.

Once comprising just five rooms built by a sugarcane farmer by the name of Henri Wiehé in the early 1900s, today the resort contains a couple of hundred rooms. However, the sands are no less pristine nor white as they were back in 1915, and the turquoise waters of its lagoon are also just as perfect.

Protected by a reef, Ilot Mangénie Beach has only light waves, making it good for swimming and snorkelling.

Behind the beach and its handful of cabanas is lush jungle studded with plantations, which can be explored more closely by renting an electric “fat bike”. For the more energetically-minded, water skiing and kayaking are also available.

Ilot Mangénie is a ten-minute speedboat ride from Mauritius proper, with boats departing every 20 minutes or so. The last boat back to the mainland departs around about 5 pm