There was something wonderfully liberating about arriving at our villa and realising that, for the duration of our stay, we would have our own private corner of Mauritius. No rushing to breakfast, no competing for a sun lounger and the freedom to eat whenever we felt peckish rather than waiting for hotel mealtimes.

Heritage The Villas sits between the mountains and the sea, amid the lush landscape of the 6,000-acre Bel Ombre Estate, which also features two five-star resorts, two golf courses and a nature reserve.

The villas feel more like contemporary homes than hotel rooms, with fully equipped kitchens, laundry facilities and barbecues. Two-, three- and four-bedroom options make them particularly well suited to families or groups travelling together.

Our villa came with three en-suite bedrooms and generous living areas opening onto a private terrace with an infinity pool and covered outdoor seating area. There was plenty of room for our family of four to spread out. In the mornings, we would drift outside with a cup of local vanilla tea and look out over the greenery towards the ocean, while the children headed straight for the pool.

Guests at Heritage The Villas have access to the extensive facilities of the neighbouring Heritage resorts – Le Telfair and Awali. This meant we could dip in and out of resort life, rather than having to commit to it for the duration of our stay. We enjoyed using the restaurants, pools, spas, watersports and kids’ clubs, as well as the long list of activities to keep children occupied. It really did feel like the best of both worlds.

Each villa comes with its own golf buggy, which makes getting around the estate both easy and fun. Within minutes we could be at the beach, taking part in a yoga class or arriving at a restaurant for dinner.

A short buggy ride had us at C Beach Club at Heritage Le Telfair, which has all the ingredients for a relaxing beach day: its own pool, sun loungers on the beach, bars and a restaurant. After a delicious à la carte breakfast, we were in no hurry to leave. We wandered into the on-site Marine Education Centre, where we learned more about the island’s marine environment and the work being done to protect its coral reefs.

The Heritage properties are popular with golfers, who are drawn to their superb championship courses. Le Château Golf Course, adjacent to the villas, has been voted the best golf course in the Indian Ocean for eight consecutive years. The impressive new La Réserve Golf Links is solely for the use of Heritage guests and its members. We had a delicious lunch at La Réserve’s excellent clubhouse restaurant, which serves a refined menu featuring local, seasonal ingredients.

Le Château Golf Course takes its name from the exquisite Château de Bel Ombre. Built in 1810, it has all the features of a plantation house of that era – soaring ceilings, wood panelling, tall windows and wide verandas overlooking a manicured formal garden filled with tropical plants. It is a beautiful reminder of the estate’s history. Inside, an elegant restaurant serves a sophisticated menu. We enjoyed a superb discovery menu showcasing Mauritian produce.

The setting within the historic sugar estate is special. The southwest of Mauritius is far less developed and more tranquil than some of the island’s more built-up resort areas. To go deeper into this unspoilt landscape, guests can explore the Bel Ombre Nature Reserve, which is home to rare birds, including the pink pigeon, echo parakeet and Mauritius kestrel.

Heritage The Villas is an appealing alternative to a traditional resort, especially for families and groups. Travelling with young children, we particularly appreciated having a private home to retreat to when needed. We could spend the morning enjoying the beach, resort facilities or an excursion, then return to the villa for a swim and some downtime when everyone was starting to get tired.

We enjoyed cooking for ourselves, using fresh ingredients from the local market. But when you want a night off the stove, it’s easy to pop to one of the resort restaurants for dinner, or, for a real treat, the villas team can arrange in-villa catering. We were treated to a barbecue cooked at our villa by a private chef and served with great finesse by a charming butler. Giant prawns, grilled chicken, succulent steaks – the food just kept coming. It was a truly memorable meal.

Heritage The Villas doesn’t ask you to choose between villa living and resort luxury. Instead, it gives you both – with the bonus of one of Mauritius’s most beautiful and unspoilt settings.

W: Heritage The Villas Mauritius

Written by Alexandra Richards for Luxuria Lifestyle International