Mauritius is part of the Mascarene Islands, the Republic of Mauritius is off the coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean, 900 km east of Madagascar. The republic consists of five islands – St Brandon, Rodrigues, two Agalegas Islands and Mauritus itself. Photo by: David & Cheryl M

The effort to attract visitors is proving successful and might not even need the boast of a move to duty-free status. Mauritius is the most accessible island in the Indian Ocean, with wonderful beaches and crystal-clear waters. Important, these essential ingredients of every tropical holiday destination may be, Mauritius has something extra – friendly people and vibrant cultural mix that will leave an incredible impression. There is a festival or fiesta every week and variety of ethnic cuisine. The place must be good – author Mark Twain remarked that Mauritius was before heaven, and heaven modelled Mauritius. Photo by: Arihant Jain

When to go: Temperature is high all year round, trade winds keep down humidity. May to November are peak months, January and February are cyclone-prone. Population: 1,157,000. How to get there: By air from several departures points in Europe (especially France) and Africa. Photo by: Quasebart