A holiday on Mauritius offers many scenic summits and volcanic valleys for you to unearth. So get away from the beach for a day and get your walking boots on to discover the best trekking that a Mauritius holiday has to offer.

It was Mark Twain that first noted, "You gather the idea that Mauritius was made first and then heaven, and that heaven was copied after Mauritius". Mark obviously knows exactly what he’s talking about, as the panoramic beauty of the island has made it a top spot for many people to take holidays in Mauritius. Most come for the sandy beaches and ample watersports but some have started arriving to sample the volcanic trekking that a Mauritius holiday has to offer.

The Black River Gorges National Park is considered to be a hiking paradise for many people whilst on their holidays in Mauritius. It covers 67.54km and is a mixture of humid forest, marshy heathland and dry lowland. The Black River Gorges offers 60km of walking trails for you to attempt whilst on your Mauritius holiday and if you want to find a trail that’s perfect for your walking ability than the two visitor centres onsite will offer you information on the many treks available in this national park. Walking in this area is ideal for nature lovers, as you will have the opportunity to spot many endemic animals including the Mauritius flying fox and unique pink pigeon.

If you’re after a slightly more strenuous walk whilst on your Mauritius holiday then taking a hike to the nearby Le Pouce or Black River Peak Mountains will present you with simply breathtaking views. The first person credited with climbing Le Pouce was Charles Darwin. Meanwhile, Black River Peak is the highest mountain in Mauritius and from the top visitors can look out at the beautiful blue lagoon with the island of L’ile aux Benitier in the distance.

The Tamarind Falls is another trek that you could try whilst on your holidays in Mauritius. If you’d prefer to go with a group then you’ll discover that many hotels in Mauritius offer excursions to these 300 metre high waterfalls. However, going it alone is also easy enough to arrange. The trek starts with a walk down to the impressive canyon, which allows you to see each stage that the waterfall takes as it rushes down to meet the bottom of the canyon. The trek carries on through leafy forests and basalt rocks, before reaching the bottom of the canyon where you can enjoy some time swimming amongst the waterfalls.

The water park of La Nicoliere is a great trek to follow whilst on your Mauritius holiday. The trek is easily accessible from the centre of Mauritius and features a small lake surrounded by hills. These hills act as a protected zone and ensure that the vegetation is totally different from the plant life found just a few metres away on the edge of the coast. On a walking trail in La Nicoliere your trek will also cross rivers and mountains and you may discover monkeys and wild boars whilst on your holidays in Mauritius. At the end of your trail you will be met with breathtaking views of La Nicoliere and the northern islets and who knows if you’re lucky you may spot a rare fruit bat or echo parakeet en-route.

For those looking to discover the mountain areas, but not so keen on trekking, you can also take a zip-line tour of the island. The double zip lines allow both you and your friend to whizz past beautiful mountain scenery whilst on your holidays in Mauritius, although you may have difficulty trying to keep up with each other! Mountain-biking and kayaking trips are two other fun ways of discovering the island whilst on your Mauritius holidays.