Western region of Mauritius — Le Morne, Flic-en-Flac, Tamarin and Chamarel

The west coast of Mauritius doesn't need to sell itself — it speaks for itself. From Le Morne at the south-western tip to Albion in the north, it's a string of breathtaking landscapes: a turquoise lagoon fringed by black cliffs, the peninsula silhouette of UNESCO-listed Le Morne Brabant, the golden salt pans of Tamarin, and in the background, the Chamarel hills with their seven-coloured earth.

This coast is also the most sheltered from the trade winds. Between June and September, when the wind sweeps across the north and east, the west keeps calm waters and often clear skies. It's the favourite season for kitesurfers, who consider Le Morne their world capital, and for luxury hotels chasing maximum occupancy rates. Outside July-August, prices drop and the beach remains just as beautiful.

Flic-en-Flac is the region's great family beach: two uninterrupted kilometres of sand, shallow water, grilled fish restaurants right on the shore. But the atmosphere is quieter than in the north — people come here to relax, not to party. Tamarin, a few kilometres south, has a more bohemian feel: local surfers at dawn, dolphins within boat range in the morning, good Creole restaurants in the evening.

Inland, Chamarel is one of the island's most photographed sites, with its multicoloured dunes and spectacular waterfalls. The road up passes through sugar cane fields and jungle scenery that's worth the trip in itself. This region is also home to Bel Ombre, a vast nature estate with reserves and a golf course, and La Gaulette, a small fishing village at the foot of Le Morne.

The west suits every kind of traveller — families at Flic-en-Flac, couples seeking luxury and scenery at Le Morne, independent travellers at Tamarin, hikers around Chamarel. It may be the most versatile region on the island, and certainly the one with the most spectacular sunsets.