Hiking Le Pouce (The Thumb) in Mauritius

Hiking Le Pouce (The Thumb) in Mauritius

Hiking Le Pouce in Mauritius is a quick and rewarding hike that offers breathtaking panoramic views of this beautiful tropical island

After hiking Le Morne Brabant in Mauritius, we were keen to see more of the country's extraordinary landscape and chose Le Pouce, following in the footsteps of Charles Darwin, who wrote about his ascent of Le Pouce in his 1845 diary.

At 812 m (2,664 ft), Le Pouce – or The Thumb, so called because of its thumb-shaped peak – is the third highest mountain in Mauritius.

Le Pouce is close to the island's capital, Port Louis, and offers incredible views of the surrounding area. The mountain's relatively central location on an island just 45 km (28 miles) wide and 65 km (40 miles) long means that much of the island can be seen from the summit and its slopes. Hikers can see the north coast along with the offshore islands.

Throughout the hike you will have impressive views of the Moka Range, including the country's second highest peak, Pieter Both, with its uniquely shaped rock formation at the summit resembling a human head. To the south there are expansive views of the more urban Plaines Wilhems district.

alt=“Hiking-Le-Pouce-in-Mauritius-24″>Atlas & BootsThe Moka Range including Pieter Both with its bizarrely shaped peak

Le Pouce, despite being closer to the more urban areas of Mauritius, does not seem to be as popular as the hike in Le Morne. We only met two other pairs of hikers on our climb.

alt="Hiking-Le-Pouce-in-Mauritius-Pieter-Both">Atlas & BootsA closer view of Pieter Both's summit, taken from the north of the island

Hiking guide

The starting point of the Le Pouce trail is in Petit Verger, near the village of Saint Pierre in the Moka region. The trailhead isn't well signposted or particularly easy to find unless you have a map. We followed a local's instructions and parked in what appeared to be a makeshift parking lot - just enough space for four to five cars.

alt=“Hiking Le Pouce on Mauritius-1″>Atlas & BootsThe small parking lot at the start of the hiking trail

The path initially climbs through sugar cane fields before entering the welcome cool of a small forest. The path then returns once or twice as it gains altitude and passes a strange shrine cut into the rock face. As the trail emerges from the trees, it zigzags over bare rock on the east side of the mountain before entering a more grassy climb to the right of the summit.

If you come across a junction on the trail, always choose the path to the right and make sure you keep the summit to your left. There is a small plateau just below the summit which is a great place to stop and take in the stunning views over Pieter Both and the Moka Range.

The final part of the hike passes through a small meadow, followed by a short but somewhat challenging climb to the summit, where you can enjoy a refreshing breeze, a drink of water and some of the best views in Mauritius.

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Hiking Le Pouce: the essentials

What: Hike Le Pouce in Mauritius.

• Schwierigkeitsgrad: Leicht bis mittel
• Entfernung: 4,3 km
• Dauer: 2-3 Stunden
• Höhe: 812 m (2.664 ft)
• Gewinn: 320 m (1.050 Fuß)

Where: We spent three nights at Trou aux Biches Beachcomber on the northwest coast of Mauritius. The hotel is a little larger than what we normally choose, but we were lured there by the beach, good diving and, we heard, one of the best Indian restaurants on the island.

We are pleased to report that the food was truly impeccable. Mahiya offered some of the best curries we've ever tasted, and despite the fact that there were six restaurants on site, we ate there two nights in a row (advance reservations are essential).

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Atlas & Boots

The hotel itself has pretty much everything you need: tennis courts, a spa, a sports center and of course plenty of beach loungers!

When: The best time to visit Mauritius is from October to April, where temperatures are hot, although humid and rainy. This is a good time for diving, but be aware that hurricanes can occur from January to February. Winter on the island lasts from May to September. Temperatures are still warm, but it's not the best time for diving.

How: We rented a car in Port Louis and drove to Petit Verger near the village of Saint Pierre. There is a small paved road that starts from the corner of the B47 road and leads to the small car park from which you can access the Le Pouce hiking trail. There are buses serving the area, which are relatively easy to find in the capital, Port Louis. Use the Mauritius Buses website to plan your trip.

We stayed in Trou aux Biches which is a 1 hour 15 minute drive from the airport. Transfers can be organized through your hotel or a local driver (approximately 1500 MUR / 45 USD). We recommend Stelio (+230 52 5084 97).

We had a long layover before our connecting flight from Kuala Lumpur, so we settled in for the night in a private relaxation suite in the Plaza Premium Lounge in the airport - a godsend considering I was recovering from a Burmese insect and the alternative would have been eight long hours in uncomfortable chairs.

Mauritius is served by several international airlines. Book via skyscanner.net for the best prices.

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Lonely Planet Mauritius, Réunion & Seychelles is a comprehensive travel guide to Mauritius, ideal for those who want to both explore the main attractions and take the road less traveled.

Main image: Shutterstock

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