ANNABEL MACKIE gets the A-list treatment in the sun-kissed Indian Ocean location, Mauritius

WHY SHOULD I GO?
Swaying palm trees, turquoise waters, fire-coloured sunsets, powder-white beaches, pink bougainvillea and sunshine on tap – what’s not to like? It’s no wonder Mauritius, a coral-encircled paradise isle in the Indian Ocean, is such a popular holiday destination. For many, soaking up the rays from the comfort of a sunlounger at one of the island’s luxury resorts is an idyllic holiday in itself. But if you’re not content just to chill, Mauritius can provide plenty of adventure. With its diverse landscape of jagged volcanic peaks, lush rainforests and national parks, you can choose between quad biking, horse riding, Jeep safaris, deep sea fishing, diving and underwater scooter rides!

WHEN SHOULD I GO?
Mauritius is warm and sunny all year round with daily temperatures rising to the early 30˚Cs during our winter. It’s warmer, more humid and prone to short heavy rain bursts between December and March.

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WHAT STARS MIGHT I SEE?
Although Mauritius is popular with honeymooners and loved-up celebs such as Jennifer Ellison and Rob Tickle and Liam Gallagher and Nicole Appleton, it’s also a favourite girlie getaway – pop singers Alexandra Burke, Kylie Minogue and Natalie Imbruglia have all visited recently. The Le Touessrok hotel has seen a stream of famous faces over the years, including Naomi Campbell, Liv Tyler, Tess Daly and Alesha Dixon, while Coronation Street’s Samia Smith honeymooned here. This year, Frankie Dettori and his family were photographed for OK! at the five-star hotel. Frankie enthused about Le Touessrok, his personal butler and the impeccable service, telling us: ‘When I put my T-shirt or my swimmers out to dry, they were washed, dried and back in the drawer within an hour!’

WHAT CAN I DO?
The best place to shop is the island’s colonial capital Port Louis. There’s a daily market where you can pick up everything from spices and sarongs to fake designer handbags and good-quality pashminas. You’ll also find lots of posh duty-free stores – think diamonds, watches and jewellery – at the nearby Le Caudan Waterfront.
A great way to explore the island’s rugged landscape is on a hiking, mountain bike, quad bike or horse riding expedition with a local guide. You can choose between any of these if you visit Domaine de l’Etoile, a 6,000-acre nature reserve on the south-east coast, home to wild deer, boars, monkeys and countless bird species.

WHERE CAN I STAY?
Super-stylish Le Touessrok (www.letouessrokresort.com), on the island’s east coast, not only has a wonderfully dreamy location on a picture-perfect sandy bay, it also boasts two islands. Some of the hotel’s ultra-luxurious suites are located on the tiny Frangipani island, connected to the mainland by a quaint wooden bridge. An ancient banyan tree hung with decorated birdcages stands majestically by the hotel entrance, while from the lobby you can see the infinity pool, palm-fringed beach and Indian Ocean beyond.

All the 200 rooms and suites come with a 24-hour private butler, either a terrace or balcony and stunning sea views. You can even see the sea while luxuriating in the wonderful oversized egg-shaped baths.

The ultra-sleek Givenchy Spa is also on Frangipani island. The best way to recover from the stresses and strains of urban life is to hand your body over to two therapists for a four-handed Ylang Ylang massage. Utter bliss! You can also take advantage of the hotel’s complimentary watersports by learning to water ski and sail, or head off on a glass-bottomed boat or kayaking expedition.

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Taking the short speedboat ride to one of the resort’s two other islands is a must. When you step ashore at the private island of Ilot Mangénie – for sole use by hotel guests – someone is on hand to clean your sunglasses and give you a refreshing face towel. Lunch at Crusoe’s restaurant, the island’s only structure, is wonderful. On Sunday, Crusoe’s offers its legendary brunch – famous for its spit-roasted chicken or lamb and barbecued seafood. Over on Ile aux Cerfs, a popular island with day-trippers, you can play a round of golf on the Bernard Langer-designed course, have a leisurely long lunch at the Paul et Virginie beachside restaurant or just chill out on the gorgeous beach.

After an action-packed day trip, dress up for a glitzy dinner at the hotel’s smart Safran Indian restaurant. The seafood platter of spiced scallops and tandoori prawns is superb. For a more laid-back vibe, work your way around the cooking stations – including a noodle bar and rotisserie – at the Three-Nine-Eight restaurant.

HOW DO I GET THERE?
ITC Classics (01244 355 527; www.itcclassics.co.uk) offers a special ten nights for the price of five half-board package, including return flights with Air Mauritius and private hotel transfers, staying in a deluxe room at the five-star Le Touessrok from £2,080pp. Valid until September 30.

For more information on the island of Mauritius, visit www.tourism-mauritius.mu or call 020 7584 3666.