I traveled to 13 countries in 2025. This small island nation surprised me the most.

One of my dream trips has always been to travel the islands, from Madagascar to Seychelles to Mauritius. I pretty much made a pact with myself that whenever I had the opportunity to go to one of these countries, I would bring all three together since the trip was so long. So when I signed up for a 15-day Madagascar road trip, I knew I then wanted to jump to Seychelles and Mauritius to decompress from what I could only imagine would be a wild adventure.

The island nation I thought I loved didn’t really hit the mark

I was looking forward to the Seychelles, but surprisingly, I was a little bored there. Don’t get me wrong; Seychelles has some of the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen on the planet, including Petite Anse, the beach at the Four Seasons Resort Seychelles. But overall, as an adventure-seeking traveler, the Seychelles took paradise on earth a hair too far for me. I know, what a problem to have.

Mauritius is the perfect balance between relaxation and adventure

When I arrived in Mauritius, however, I had the best of both worlds: an incredible adventure with world-class snorkeling and diving, the “land of seven colors,” interesting food and wine like wine made from lychee and a stinky fruit (noni) that could give durian a run for its money, and an underwater waterfall. Plus, the beach on site at my hotel. Anantara Iko Mauritius Resort & Villas, had a beach parallel to those of the pristine Seychelles.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for a place to relax along sandy shores, with the chance to see wonders like an underwater waterfall or a naturally occurring geological formation of seven different colors, all without breaking the bank, Mauritius should be added to your radar.