Nestled on Le Chaland Beach along the south-eastern coast of Mauritius, Anantara Iko Mauritius Resort & Villas is a tranquil hideaway, offering secluded luxury. Recently opened, the new resort offers something for everyone – foodies, beach lovers, culture and history buffs, nature enthusiasts and sporty adventurers.
Located south of the island’s old capital of Mahebourg, this corner of Mauritius is less developed, relatively untouched and amplified by nature. The 10-minute drive from Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport to the resort is scenic, fringed by acres of sugarcane and historical landmarks, and passes close to Blue Bay Marine Park – a leisure destination boasting a protected marine park, crystal-clear Indian Ocean waters and powdery white beaches.
The look and feel of the stylish new resort have been created by award winning Ground Kent Architects, Australia and Abacus Design interior designers of Thailand, in collaboration with the Office of Global Architecture in Mauritius. The design reflects the melting pot history of the country, drawing influences from the rich architectural heritage seen in the capital Port Louis and around the island. Natural, locally-sourced materials take precedence, with the use of volcanic stone, basalt, drift wood crafted by local artisans, scattered light and wave-and-ripple patterns blurring the line between the indoor and the outdoor. Anantara Iko Mauritius Resort’s 164 guest rooms and suites offer stylish bedrooms, bathrooms with a rain shower and separate bathtub, and a terrace or balcony with a daybed overlooking either the resort’s lush tropical gardens or the Indian Ocean. The clean design doesn’t distract from the view, rather it blends well with the terrain, echoing the sparkling shades of blue sea, powdery ivory beaches, amber sunsets and rare yellow corals. Eight luxury Pool Villas – two with two bedrooms and six with four bedrooms – will launch in Q2 next year. Anantara Spa offers a range of therapeutic treatments including traditional massage therapies, detox treatments and rituals in the spa’s Turkish hammam. Those in need of mindful exercise can reconnect to their natural flow with yoga and meditation. For guests wishing to attain balance and inspiration, the resort offers a variety of wellness journeys, practiced by experts in Reiki therapy, chakra healing and Ayurveda.
The focal point of the resort is the impressive 30-metre ozone-based swimming pool, one of many sustainability initiatives which are incorporated in the property. These include solar technology for water heating in all guest rooms, planting endemic flora within the hotel landscaping, reusing water for irrigation and cleaning, zero use of plastic straws across the resort as well as incorporating recycled materials into the resort’s décor. Mauritius is a cauldron of cultures creating an eclectic cuisine simmering with Indian, French, Dutch, Creole and Chinese flavours. The resort’s multiple dining options are a gastro tribute to the island’s rich cultural heritage. Abundant local seafood and regional flavours await at the signature restaurant, Sea.Fire.Salt. Diners’ visual and taste senses are stirred with dramatic cooking displays and salts from different corners of the world invigorate the flavour of each dish. Indulging guests with tailored, private dining, Zafran offers degustation menus accompanied by sophisticated wine pairings. At Bon Manzer the focus is on natural, organic, unprocessed and nutritionally uncompromised, nutrient dense food, which will appeal to the health conscious.
At Horizon, the all-day dining restaurant, each day begins with an impressive breakfast buffet, with nightly themes celebrating the island’s exotic blended cuisine with dishes from Europe, China, India and Africa. Throughout the day Karokan Poolside Bar serves tropical beverages, ice-cold beers and fine wines, whilst as the sun sets, chilled soundtracks and innovative flavoured Mauritian rum cocktails up the tempo.
Interested foodies can learn how to create flavoursome traditional creole dishes in a Spice Spoons cooking class which includes a visit to a nearby fresh food market, a future in-resort herb garden and boutique winery to taste locally made lychee wine. Guests desiring privacy can order from the extensive in-room dining menu or indulge in Dining by Design, which offers couples and small groups a choice of connoisseur menus coupled with idyllic settings, together with the services of a personal chef and private butler.
Kids can feel a sense of freedom at Anantara Iko Mauritius Resort. They’ll enjoy riding bikes in the nearby coastal forest and building sandcastles and looking for shells on the beach. The Kids Club offers a supervised programme which includes arts and crafts, face painting, treasure hunts, cooking classes and games inspired by local Creole culture and the ocean. Guests can enjoy the resort’s white powder beach and turquoise waters, whilst nearby a range of motorised and non-motorised water sports are available, including paddle boarding, water skiing and kite-surfing, in addition to diving, deep sea fishing and catamaran cruises to private islands.
The nearby Blue Bay Marine Park is one of the island’s premier snorkelling and diving destinations. The underwater coral beds boast an array of tropical fish including surgeonfish, parrotfish, needlefish, damselfish and butterflyfish, along with occasional turtles and moray eels. Approximately forty different species of coral – some up to eight hundred years old – have been identified at the Blue Bay Marine Park, including some of the largest spheroid shaped brain corals ever found in the Indian Ocean.
