Mauritius

<p>Mauritius, a volcanic island roughly 2,000 kilometres off the coast of East Africa, has built its reputation on some of the most consistently turquoise lagoon waters found anywhere in the Indian Ocean, protected almost entirely around the island by a coral reef. Beyond the beach resorts, the interior reveals dramatic scenery: the Black River Gorges National Park shelters rare endemic birds including the once near-extinct Mauritius kestrel, while the Chamarel Seven Coloured Earths -- undulating dunes of naturally striped volcanic soil -- rank among the island's most photographed natural features. A multicultural population of Indian, African, Chinese, and French Creole heritage has produced a rich culinary and cultural fusion, and a long-standing reputation for hospitality that has made Mauritius a byword for luxury Indian Ocean travel.</p>