MU · Rivière du Rempart District · 20.01°S 57.58°E

grand baie

A lively northern bay with boat trips, nearby swimming beaches and Mauritian street food.

Best time
May–November is generally drier, and the north is sheltered from the winter trade winds. July–August can feel cool after a swim; January–March is hot, wet and the main cyclone season.
How long
3–4 days
Getting there
About 7 hours direct from KL to Mauritius on Air Mauritius. Grand Baie is about 1–1.5 hours from the airport by road. Mauritius is 4 hours behind KL.
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MU · Rivière du Rempart Districtgrand baie20.01°S 57.58°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,A lively northern bay with boat trips, nearby swimming beaches and Mauritian street food.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingGrand BaieMU, Rivière du Rempart District
KLgrand baie
≈ 5,458 km from KL, as the crow flies
La Cuvette is a popular public beach featuring fine, white sand. It is located a 10-minute walk north of the centre of Grand Baie.

Photo: ZoschH · CC BY-SA 4.0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

Grand Baie is an easy northern base for a first Mauritius trip, with food, shops and beaches close together. The bay itself is busy with boats, so the nearby beaches at Pereybere and Mont Choisy are better for swimming.

Makan

  1. Dholl puriThin flatbread filled with ground split peas, rolled around bean curry and chutney.Map ↗
  2. Gateaux pimentsLittle split-pea fritters with chilli and herbs.Map ↗
  3. Mauritian biryaniSpiced rice, potatoes and meat, a dish of the island's Muslim community.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. PereybereA small, sheltered sandy bay just north of town, good for swimming and snorkelling.Map ↗
  2. Mont ChoisyA long beach backed by casuarina trees, with room for a lazy afternoon.Map ↗
  3. Northern isletsCatamaran days out to Coin de Mire, Flat Island and Gabriel Island when the sea allows.Map ↗
  4. PamplemoussesThe SSR Botanic Garden, with giant water lilies, palms and old trees, about 20 minutes inland.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Halal is easy: Mauritius has a large Muslim community, and many restaurants and takeaways are halal-certified.
  • Swim at Pereybere or Mont Choisy rather than in the boat-filled main bay.
  • The catamaran trips cross open sea, which can be rough in the windy winter months.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.