On the map tiny Mauritius appears as no more than a speck amid the blue eternity of the Indian Ocean, 1,200 miles off the coast of East Africa.

But into an area the size of an English county Mauritius packs extravagant, ever-changing contrasts that defy geography. At sea level the landscape is carpeted by the luxuriant green of vast sugar-cane plantations. Against the skyline rise the dramatic purple silhouettes of craggy volcanic mountains, amid which verdant tropical forests, waterfalls, gorges and fast-flowing rivers await exploration.

Above all, there’s Mauritius’ long, fretted coastline, fringed by a delicate tracery of waving casuarinas - and 100 miles of exotic, sandy beaches.

The bays and coves that line the island’s shores, protected by one of the world's longest unbroken coral reefs, and the crystal-clear Indian Ocean waters, make Mauritius a superb holiday choice for the beachcomber and watersports enthusiast. Its hospitable welcome is another Mauritius speciality. A melting-pot of races, religions and cultures, the island has in the past welcomed Arabs, Portuguese, Dutch, French, British, Indians, Chinese and Africans. The result? Today’s Mauritians today do not see themselves as any of these - but as just a cosmopolitan island people, living in easygoing harmony in this genuinely friendly Indian Ocean setting.

Mauritius’ rich multi-cultural heritage has inspired another local speciality - its splendid cuisine. You can put this through its paces in an amazingly wide variety of venues - from the island’s leading resort hotels, rated amongst the world’s finest beach properties, to a host of smaller hotels and informal restaurants. Between them they contrive a host of palate-pleasing choices that range from the sophisticated to the simple, the reassuringly familiar to the deliciously new.

Exotic beaches, unrivalled watersports, a sun-warmed welcome for both gourmets and gourmands, an irresistibly relaxing mood . . . Mauritius awaits!