Paragliding, Microlight, Helicopter and Seaplane in Mauritius: Everything About Aerial Activities

Seeing Mauritius from the air: a unique perspective

Taking in Mauritius from the sky is an experience that radically transforms your perception of the island. What you see from a beach or a viewpoint takes on a whole new dimension when you fly over the turquoise lagoon bounded by the coral reef, the sugar cane fields stretching to the foothills of the mountains, or the waterfalls hidden deep in the tropical forest.

Several aerial options are available to visitors to Mauritius, catering to very different budgets and sensations: from tandem paragliding, accessible to all, to private helicopter or seaplane flights for special occasions. This complete guide covers each option with current rates, recommended operators and practical advice to help you choose your ideal aerial experience.

These aerial activities are consistently among the must-do experiences that travellers returning from Mauritius recommend — right alongside catamaran trips, snorkelling and diving or hiking in the gorges. Our Mauritius budget guide helps you fit these costs into your overall budget.

At a glance

Where	Paragliding and microlight from Mahébourg or Bel Ombre; helicopter and seaplane from Plaisance aerodrome or the north coast
Price	Paragliding 80-150 EUR; microlight 120-280 EUR; helicopter 300-700 EUR; seaplane 200-250 EUR (Rodrigues excursion on request)
Duration	From 15-20 minutes (discovery paragliding flight) to 1 hour (full helicopter or microlight tour)
How to book	Directly with the operator, book the day before or the same morning depending on weather
Best time to visit	May to November (dry season), maximum visibility and flights rarely cancelled

Tandem paragliding: the aerial experience open to everyone

The concept and sensation of tandem paragliding

Tandem paragliding lets anyone in good health take to the skies with an experienced instructor pilot, with no prior training required. Sitting in a comfortable harness in tandem with the pilot, you take off from a grassy slope and glide on thermals and rising air currents.

In Mauritius, paragliding flights offer absolutely stunning panoramas: the south-east coast with its string of bays, the Mahébourg lagoon and its islets, the mountains of the interior, or the plains of Souffleur. Depending on weather conditions and flight length, you can sometimes even spot Réunion on a very clear day — 200 kilometres to the south-west, the Piton de la Fournaise volcano is occasionally visible.

The sensation is gentle and gradual, very different from skydiving. You don’t fall, you truly fly, carried by warm air rising from the sun-heated ground. It’s an experience that’s both calm and exhilarating, one that travellers often describe as one of the most memorable of their trip.

Take-off sites in Mauritius

Mahébourg and the south-east coast: this is the most developed region for paragliding in Mauritius. The hills overlooking Mahébourg bay offer reliable thermal conditions and views over one of the island’s most beautiful bays, with its islets (Île aux Aigrettes, Île aux Fouquets) and the Lion Mountain and Corps de Garde as a backdrop. Proximity to the international airport makes it easy to reach for travellers based in the south.

Bel Ombre (south-west): a few operators offer flights from the heights of the Bel Ombre estate, with views over the south coast and Le Morne Brabant, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Conditions here vary depending on the weather.

The interior highlands: experienced pilots practise ridge soaring and cross-country flying from the island’s inland peaks — Corps de Garde, Montagne du Rempart, Plaine Champagne plateau. These sessions are reserved for experienced pilots or tandem flights with seasoned pilots who know the local conditions inside out.

Operators and paragliding prices

Parapente Maurice is the go-to operator in the Mahébourg area. Their pilots are qualified and experienced, with in-depth knowledge of local thermal conditions. They offer:

• 15- to 20-minute discovery flight: 80 to 100 euros
• 30-minute thermal flight: 100 to 130 euros
• Package with photos and video included: 120 to 150 euros

Kite and Fly Mauritius operates mainly from Bel Ombre and offers combined paragliding and kitesurfing packages — an original combination for wind-sport enthusiasts.

Practical tips: book the day before or the same morning for a day flight, as slots depend on the weather. The best thermal conditions are generally between 10am and 3pm. In case of strong wind or rain, flights are cancelled and refunded or rescheduled at no cost. The dry season from May to November offers the most stable conditions.

Physical requirements and contraindications

• Minimum age: 8 to 10 years old depending on the operator (light children welcome)
• Maximum weight: 100 to 110 kg depending on the pilot
• Medical contraindications: serious heart conditions, uncontrolled epilepsy, pregnancy
• No experience or particular fitness required: people aged 70 to 80 complete tandem flights with no trouble

The microlight: speed and island-wide coverage

The microlight flying experience

Microlight flying in Mauritius offers a different perspective from paragliding: faster, more dynamic, with the ability to cover greater distances and reach far-flung parts of the island in a short time. The pilot and passenger sit side by side (or in tandem depending on the aircraft) in an open or semi-enclosed cabin, powered by an engine.

A microlight’s cruising speed is around 100 to 120 km/h, which allows it to cover a large part of the island in a 30- to 60-minute flight. Engine noise is present but not overwhelming with a headset — and the freedom the pilot has to follow the reef, fly up a valley or skirt the basalt cliffs is unmatched.

Microlight circuits and operators

MyULM Mauritius is the leading certified operator for tourist microlight flights in Mauritius. Based at Plaisance aerodrome (next to Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport), it offers several circuits:

• North lagoon tour (30 minutes): Grand Baie, Île Plate, Coin de Mire, north-west coast. Price: 120 to 150 euros per person.
• South-east lagoon tour (30 minutes): Mahébourg, Blue Bay, Île aux Cerfs, east coast. Price: 120 to 150 euros.
• Full island tour (60 minutes): flying over the main regions, north to south, including inland areas inaccessible by road. Price: 220 to 280 euros per person.
• Custom flight: tailor-made route according to your wishes — sunset over the west coast, flying over a specific site. Price on request.

Some luxury hotels offer microlight transfers to restaurants on private islets — a pricey but wonderfully elegant option.

The helicopter: luxury and panoramic views

Helicopter tours and transfers

The helicopter is the most luxurious aerial option in Mauritius. The major operators offer a range of tourist services and transfers.

Air Mauritius Helicopter Services and Heli-Golf are the main providers. They offer:

• 30-minute panoramic tour: flying over the west coast, the Chamarel waterfall and Le Morne. Price: 300 to 400 euros per person.
• Full island tour (1 hour): flying over the Chamarel seven-coloured earth, waterfalls, lagoons and islets. Price: 500 to 700 euros per person.
• Hotel-airport transfer: 200 to 350 euros per trip (up to 4 passengers), spectacular and practical for travellers transferring from Plaisance airport.
• Romantic dinner on an islet: some operators offer packages including a helicopter transfer and a gourmet dinner at an exclusive location.

A tourist helicopter typically carries 4 to 6 passengers. Booking for a full group lets you split the cost and reduce the price per person.

What you’ll see from a helicopter

A helicopter flight lets you see sites that are inaccessible by road or hard to reach: the Chamarel waterfall in its entirety from above, the gradient of colours of the Chamarel earth seen from up high, the Trou aux Cerfs crater at Curepipe, the reefs in the south and the submerged sandbanks of the lagoon.

The lagoon at Le Morne seen from a helicopter reveals an extraordinary underwater map: the shifting shades of blue and turquoise correspond to variations in the lagoon’s depth — a sight the eye on the ground can never fully take in.

Aerial photos taken from a helicopter are exceptional quality, especially in the morning when the light is beautiful, the air is clear and the mountains cast long shadows over the lagoon.

The seaplane: the most iconic experience

Taking off and landing on the lagoon

The seaplane is perhaps the most iconic aerial experience in Mauritius. Taking off from the surface of the lagoon and landing directly on its turquoise waters, with a 360° view over the coral reefs and islets — it’s an absolutely unique sensation that few tropical destinations in the world can offer.

Air Mauritius Seaplane (operated under the Kestrel Aviation brand) runs seaplane excursions from several points on the north coast. The seaplane can carry 6 to 9 passengers depending on the model used.

Available circuits:

• North lagoon tour (20 minutes): price around 200 to 250 euros per person
• Rodrigues excursion: seaplane flight to the island of Rodrigues (around 1h30 flight) with a day on the island — a premium service via certain luxury tour operators
• Romantic package: lunch on a private island with a seaplane transfer. Price on request, generally starting from 500 euros per couple

The seaplane is a very popular option for birthdays, honeymoons and special occasions. The combination of landing on the lagoon and a picnic on a deserted islet is one of the most memorable experiences Mauritius has to offer.

Best seasons for aerial activities

The dry season from May to November offers the best conditions for all aerial activities: maximum visibility, steady but not excessive winds, minimal storm risk. Flights are rarely cancelled compared to the rainy season.

The wet season from November to April sees more weather cancellations. Mornings are generally better than afternoons (storms often roll in around midday). May and October, which offer the best overall weather conditions according to our guide to the best time to visit Mauritius, are also excellent for aerial activities.

How to choose your aerial experience

For thrills and adventure: paragliding or microlight — the direct contact with the air, the freedom of movement, the turns above the lagoon.

For comfort and a 360° panoramic view: helicopter — the stability, the relative quiet (aside from the hum of the rotors) and the large windows allow for calm observation.

For a memorable experience as a couple or family: seaplane — landing on the lagoon stays in the memory for a very long time.

For the best value for money: paragliding or microlight — visual experiences very comparable to the helicopter for two to three times less.

Combining an aerial activity with other excursions

Some tour operators offer packages combining an aerial activity with a boat excursion — catamaran or yacht —, lunch at a fine-dining restaurant, or a night in a dream hotel. These packages are particularly suited to honeymoons or anniversary trips.

A popular combination: a microlight flight in the morning over the north lagoon, followed by a catamaran excursion in the afternoon to the northern islets. The same lagoon seen from two radically different angles — from the sky, then from the water — offers a complete and unforgettable perspective.

For kitesurfing fans, a day combining a paragliding flight in the morning (to admire the spots from above) and a kitesurf session in the afternoon (on those same spots seen from up high) is an experience few spots in the world can offer.

Whichever option you choose, flying over Mauritius is an experience that transforms your view of the island and beautifully complements the discoveries made on land or in the water. For a helicopter tour with views over the lagoons and the coloured earth of Chamarel, compare the offers available online: book a helicopter tour in Mauritius.

Quick comparison of the four aerial options

Activity	Budget	Sensation	Ideal for
Tandem paragliding	80 to 150 EUR	Gentle, gliding, direct contact with the air	Discovery, tight budget, thrills without technicality
Microlight	120 to 280 EUR	Fast, dynamic, wide island coverage	Seeing as many sites as possible in a short time
Helicopter	300 to 700 EUR	Stable, 360° panoramic, comfortable	Special occasions, groups, quality photos
Seaplane	200 to 500+ EUR	Unique landing on the lagoon	Couples, honeymoons, a memorable moment

Safety and flight regulations in Mauritius

Paragliding, microlight, helicopter and seaplane operators in Mauritius are subject to Mauritian civil aviation regulations (Department of Civil Aviation). For paragliding and microlight flights, check that the pilot is properly qualified and that the equipment is recent — reputable operators will happily show their certifications if asked. For helicopters and seaplanes, the companies operate under full aeronautical certification, the same as a standard commercial flight.

In case of poor weather (strong wind, storms, poor visibility), flights are systematically cancelled as a precaution rather than delayed at the last minute — safety always comes before keeping to schedule. So build some slack into your itinerary, especially in the wet season (November to April), so you can reschedule an aerial activity cancelled for weather without stress. Our weather guide and our best time to visit guide will help you pick dates with a good margin of climate safety.