Maradiva Villas, Mauritius review: I checked into the most luxurious private resort in Mauritius – where privacy, giant bats and the finest food on the island await

It’s dusk on the western coast of Mauritius, and I’m standing on my private villa terrace watching something extraordinary unfold above me. Huge fruit bats, with wingspans wider than you’d ever imagine, are gliding silently from the trees as darkness settles across the gardens, cutting shapes against the sky. I haven’t moved for fifteen minutes. I don’t want to. 

This, I think, is Maradiva: a place where nature is spectacular, and you have the utter privacy to absorb every second of it.

Maradiva Villas Resort & Spa sits on the west coast of Mauritius in the coastal village of Flic en Flac: 27 lush acres of gardens and white sandy beach, with the dramatic silhouette of Le Morne mountain as its backdrop. Flying direct from Gatwick with British Airways, you’re around eleven hours from London. The moment you arrive, however, you feel even further away than that.

Step into a different world

Pulling up to Maradiva is to enter an immediate oasis of calm. The reception is all open air and surrounded by greenery – lush trees, flowering gardens, birdsong – and the effect is instant: serene and spectacular. This is not a resort that relies on glossy chandelier spectacle – this luxury is of the set-in-nature variety; discreet, considered, and all the more impressive for it. The noise of everything else simply drops away.

Staff meet you with warmth, naturally – relaxed and attentive. By the time you reach your villa, the outside world already feels like a different life.

Your private villa awaits

Maradiva’s Luxury Suite Pool Villas are built around a simple but brilliant idea: that the best holiday is one where inside and outside become indistinguishable. At 163sqm, the spacious villa is beautiful – a king-size bed, a freestanding bath, indoor rainfall shower, outdoor shower, generous dressing room, and a living space that is as comfortable as it is contemporary. The design blends traditional Mauritian colonial character with bright, modern design. It’s gorgeous.

Our bedroom opens on to the stunning views of our private terrace – and its the outside where the magic truly lives. A private 15sqm heated pool looks out over immaculately kept gardens, flanked by loungers and sofas where you can happily spend an entire day without encountering another soul. This is the central luxury of Maradiva: privacy. Most guests, you quickly realise, prefer the seclusion of their own outdoor sanctuary to anything else on offer. It is not hard to see why.

For those who do venture out, the resort’s main infinity pool – overlooking the beach and the still turquoise waters of Tamarin Bay – awaits. Canopied beds, the sound of the sea, and almost nobody around. The feeling is one of extraordinary exclusivity.

The finest food on the island 

Dining at Maradiva deserves to be talked about at length, because it is genuinely exceptional. Every meal is made to order, à la carte, served in beautiful al fresco settings – and the quality never falters.

The beach restaurant, Beach House Grill, is where you should spend a long, slow Sunday. Mauritian and Mediterranean dishes sit side by side, all built around fresh daily-caught fish complemented by herbs and vegetables picked from the resort’s own ‘Karo Du Chef’ garden. Come at sunset: as the fairy lights blink on and the sky turns amber over the Indian Ocean, you’ll spot local fishermen wading into the shallows to cast their nets as the light descends (prime fishing time, I learn). It’s one of those scenes that lodges itself permanently in the memory.

In the evening, elegant Cilantro, which specialises in North Indian cuisine, adds another layer of depth to an already remarkable culinary portfolio , while Japanese restaurant Haiku offers both high-end Japanese plates and a lively teppanyaki sitting, for theatrical dining, of fresh sushi, sashimi, sizzling meats. The scope here is impressive – and the dinners are delicious.

For the most special evening, book a private dinner under the stars in a candlelit tent on the beach. It is as romantic and wonderful as it sounds.

But the meal I keep returning to in my mind? Our Mauritian cooking class, led by Chef Ramjaun, one of the resort’s master chefs. A three-course lesson built around a traditional Mauritian fish curry – made with fish so fresh it barely needs intervention – that was not only the best food of the stay, but one of the most joyful experiences I’ve had on any trip. Eating what you’ve cooked together, cold local Phoenix beers sweating on the table beside you? Flawless.

In-villa breakfasts are also worth planning for. Pre-order the night before and wake up to a spread of tropical fruit, made-to-order omelettes and anything else your heart desires, delivered to your private terrace. We can confirm there is no better way to start a morning.

Ancient spa wisdom, personalised

Maradiva Spa is built around Ayurvedic philosophy – and it takes that seriously. Before your treatment, you are invited for a full consultation with the resident Ayurvedic doctor, who takes the time to understand your health, diet and daily habits. The framework draws on the five elements – space, air, fire, water and earth – and the concept of ‘doshas’, or personal life forces, to map out a wellness journey that is entirely your own.

I tried an Ayurvedic treatment for the first time here: a deeply relaxing traditional oil-based massage, calibrated to my own dosha balance. The experience was certainly a change from the standard hotel spa treatment. It felt therapeutic, rooted in centuries of practice, and administered with expertise. The spa’s outdoor pool, relaxation spaces and range of healing massages complete an offering that stands apart from almost anywhere else.

Beyond the villa

Mauritius as a destination is spectacularly well-rounded – beautiful beaches, mountain landscapes, wildlife parks and a rich cultural heritage that demands exploration. The resort’s concierge team (certified by Les Clefs d’Or) can arrange private excursions that give you the full picture.

On the property, watersports, including the glass-bottom boat tour of the coral reef that hugs the coastline is included for guests – hop aboard and spend an hour peering down at a kaleidoscope of tropical fish. For dolphin spotting, head out into the bay: the waters off Flic en Flac are one of the best places on the island for catching a glimpse.

The excursion not to miss, however, is to Grand Bassin – also known as Ganga Talao – the sacred crater lake high in the mountains of Savanne district, considered the most holy Hindu site in all of Mauritius. Sitting 550 metres above sea level in an extinct volcanic crater, the lake is ringed by vivid Hindu temples and the towering 33-metre statue of Lord Shiva, Mangal Mahadev, which dominates the skyline from miles away. Beside him stands an equally colossal statue of the goddess Durga Maa – the world’s largest depiction of her. The atmosphere is serene, spiritual and utterly unlike anywhere else. It’s an experience I’ll never forget.

The verdict

Mauritius has no shortage of luxury resorts. But, it has very few that feel like this – ultra premium, private, genuinely personal, and special in ways that are hard to articulate and impossible to forget. Go for the villa. Stay for the fish curry. Leave (reluctantly) a different person.

Go there

Rooms at Maradiva Villas Resort & Spa start from from EUR 650 in a Luxury Suite Pool Villa per night on Bed & Breakfast basis. Luxury Suite Pool Villas are 163sqm with a private 15sqm heated pool.

British Airways flies direct from London Gatwick to Mauritius. Visit ba.com for current fares.

For more information and bookings: maradiva.com