What it is
A near-vertical monolith on the southwest peninsula, UNESCO-listed for its history as a refuge for escaped slaves. The hike to the base plateau is straightforward and takes around three to four hours return. The final scramble to the summit is steep, exposed, and permitted only with a guide. Below it sits a long public beach and the lagoon at One Eye, one of the best-known kitesurfing waves in the Indian Ocean.
Why go
It is the one place on the island where the scenery, the sport and the history sit on top of each other. Even if you do not climb it, the peninsula has the most striking coastline in Mauritius.
When to go
May to November for the hike, and go at first light; there is no shade and the rock reflects heat. June to September for the strongest, most reliable wind, which is the kitesurfing season. Summer afternoons bring thunderstorms and the trail becomes slippery basalt.
Most people stay 2-4 nights.