Domaine de Bel Ombre

Situated on the south coast of Mauritius, Le Domaine de Bel Ombre lies nestled between a breathtaking lagoon and the striking, volcanic mountains of the island. With several deluxe resorts, two outstanding hotels – the Heritage Awali and Heritage Le Telfair Golf and Spa – a championship eighteen-hole golf course with a par three nine-hole course, a rambling 3500 acre nature reserve and a nineteenth century château, Le Domaine leaves little to be desired.

The Heritage Awali hotel is a tribute to the multiculturalism of Mauritius, drawing strongly on the African heritage of the island. There are three main room types in the hotel; the Deluxe, the Suite and the Villa, all of which are spacious and comfortable with chic, refined and ethnic décor. The Deluxe rooms boast their own private terraces whilst the Suites, located on the edge of the beach, each have their own open plan sitting and dining room, jacuzzi, a private terrace with a view of the lagoon and, for that morning pick-me-up, a proper espresso machine. The Villa, in a class of its own, has a living room, dining room and separate kitchen, three en-suite bedrooms, a gazebo and a private swimming pool.

The Heritage Le Telfair Golf and Spa is a haven of luxury and comfort. Inspired by the Mauritian plantation era, it draws on the elegance and romanticism of colonial architecture with soothing natural shades of green, beige and cappuccino. The Superior rooms in the hotel have beautiful sea views and are available as connecting rooms for family parties. The Junior Suites have a unique hexagonal lounge, a four-poster bed and a large antique bath tub, while the ground floor suites boast an additional outdoor shower. The Senior Suites include a lounge and dining area with romantic, antique furniture. Like the Junior Suites, the ground floor Senior Suites all have an uplifting outdoor shower. The cream of the crop, the Ocean Suite, has a spacious veranda with views of the Indian Ocean, a living area and separate dining room.

Separate from the two hotels, the Villas Valriche, which from the 1st of September 2011 have been renamed Heritage The Villas, offer scenic and luxurious surroundings with an uninterrupted view of the warm, blue Indian Ocean. There are a number of different plantation-style villa designs to choose from, including double and single storey configurations with two, three or four bedrooms. Plot sizes range between 700m2 and 2000m2 but, regardless of the size, they all have inspiring views across the golf course and the sea.

Each villa, set in a verdant and landscaped tropical garden, is a work of art in its own right, with premium brand fixtures and fittings and state-of-the-art communications. They also each boast their own infinity swimming pool, large veranda, gazebo, barbecue area and, an added bonus during the summer humidity, air-conditioning. To avoid each villa looking exactly like every other villa, a wide selection of options and interior design packages are available to buyers, allowing them to stamp their home with their own individual tastes.

Villa owners have playing rights at the Heritage Golf Club (previously the Golf du Château). This includes the eighteen- and nine-hole courses, access to the picturesque clubhouse, health and fitness centre, tennis club, beauty spa and the residents’ beach club. Fine dining opportunities are also available in the nineteenth century manor house, Le Château de Bel Ombre, which offers a mouth-watering array of typical Mauritian cuisine.

These villas are also available for short term rental, making them ideal for à la carte family holidays. The villas are cleaned daily and include a twenty-four house concierge service with an optional butler service available on request. Furthermore, a four-seater golf cart is provided for the exclusive use of each villa, along with access to the C Beach Club and facilities at the two Heritage Resorts and the Domaine de Bel Ombre. Baby sitting services, in-villa dining, transfers by both car and helicopter and spa treatments can be booked on request.

For all the luxury and service of a five-star hotel, with the privacy and intimacy of a private home, Heritage The Villas make the perfect holiday accommodation in Mauritius. The tranquillity of the private gardens, the discreet and friendly service and the outstanding views of the rich, blue Indian Ocean guarantee a memorable stay on the island. Lie back in the sun, relax, and enjoy the best that Mauritius has to offer you.