Maldives vs Mauritius for a honeymoon

By the Nexara Holidays travel desk · 2 min read

The Maldives and Mauritius are both Indian Ocean island honeymoons, but they offer very different experiences.

The landscape

• Maldives: flat coral islands with turquoise lagoons. Each resort usually occupies its own island.
• Mauritius: a larger volcanic island with mountains, waterfalls, sugar-cane fields and reef-protected beaches.

What you do

• Maldives: relax, snorkel, dive, spa and enjoy the resort. Excursions are mostly by boat.
• Mauritius: beaches plus sightseeing: Chamarel's coloured earth, Grand Bassin, Black River Gorges, catamaran trips and hiking.

Accommodation

• Maldives: iconic water villas and private-island resorts.
• Mauritius: beach resorts, often with more space and facilities, and generally better value.

Flights

The Maldives is a short flight from South India. Mauritius takes longer.

Seasons

• Maldives: best from December to April.
• Mauritius: cooler and drier from May to December; cyclone season from January to March.

This makes them good alternatives: Maldives for winter weddings, Mauritius for summer and autumn.

Food

Mauritius has strong Indian heritage and familiar flavours. In the Maldives, food is mostly at your resort.

Budget

The Maldives can be very expensive at the top end; budget options exist on local islands. Mauritius often gives more for the money.

Our verdict

Choose the Maldives for pure, iconic island relaxation. Choose Mauritius for variety, sightseeing and value. See Choosing a Maldives resort for your honeymoon: what really matters and Honeymoon packages.

Combine them?

Some couples combine the two with a connection through Dubai or another hub, but it is a long journey. For a single trip, choose one and enjoy it fully.