SA holiday makers are no beach bums

Spoilt for choice, gone are the days when magical getaways for South Africans consisted of sun, sand and beach.

Mauritius, one of the nation's first choices for holiday destinations, boasts a wide selection of hotels and self-catering accommodation with idyllic beaches that cater to an increasing number of South African holidaymakers each year, can be identified as the ideal destination offering experiential and active holiday solutions we so desperately require.

"Consumers want a holiday that is cleverly devised and hassle-free and goes beyond sipping a cocktail on the beach or a simple tour of the major sights and attractions.

"South Africans are looking to discover hidden places, the local culture and traditions they do not experience when travelling abroad," comments Joanne Adolphe, chief operating officer of Thompsons Holidays.

Two packages provide local holiday enthusiasts, who are looking for something more than just a lazy day on the beach, with an array of activities to keep everyone in the family entertained:

• Option one consists of a day visit to Port Louis, the glass museum, Mauritian cooking lessons, a Botanical Gardens tour and a visit to Rhumerie de Chamarel distillery for rum-tasting.
  
• Option two consists of a visit to the Aquarium, a day of kayak fishing followed by a picnic along the wild coast around Amber Islands, adventure quad-biking and a catamaran cruise around the islands - comprising of snorkel trips and an outdoor barbeque lunch on the beach.

Adolphe adds: "We are excited to introduce a selection of new and exciting tours in order to highlight the island's hidden treasures. We as the South African market have so much offered to us on our very own doorstep, so Thompsons Holidays has created fun holiday packages with so much more, from culinary discoveries to even outdoor nature and leisure parks!"

For more go to www.thompsonsholidays.co.za