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Spring at Sage: Mauritius

What can Mauritius teach us about coexistence between people, cultures, and nature?

May 21 to 30, 2027

Don’t be a dodo–pick Mauritius! Home to pink pigeons, giant tortoises, mega fruit bats, and the extinct Dodo bird, this program immerses you in the story of Mauritius, the star and key of the Indian Ocean. Situated east of Madagascar, see the Seven Coloured Earth and how centuries of Arab pirates, Portuguese sailors, Dutch merchants, and warring French and British societies impacted the previously unsettled archipelago.

Through meaningful exchanges with local communities and hands-on conservation work, students will restore coral, walk the Ebony Forest, and participate in musical, culinary, and cultural traditions. Explore belonging, shared responsibility, and the balance between human and natural systems. Charting an independent path since 1968, Mauritius has been shaped by migration, culture, and biodiversity, where coexistence is part of everyday life.

Itinerary at a Glance

Begin the journey from Los Angeles to Mauritius.

This day is lost as you cross the international date line but don’t worry, you’ll get it back on your return.

Explore Port Louis through Fort Adelaide, Aapravasi Ghat, banyan-lined gardens, and the Natural History Museum’s dodo skeleton. Religious and historic sites reveal how migration shaped the island.

Trace the history of sugar through an immersive museum and tasting, then take a food tour that brings Mauritius’s diverse cultures together through flavor. A horse race or football match may add another window into local identity.

Visit Île aux Aigrettes with the Mauritius Wildlife Foundation to see habitat restoration in action. Learn about land recovery at Ferney Valley and support coral nursery monitoring and restoration with EcoSud.

Walk through Ebony Forest, where long-term restoration is helping threatened plants and animals recover, and contribute to hands-on habitat work. Then visit the Seven Coloured Earth and Chamarel Waterfall.

Examine debates surrounding the endemic fruit bat and pitch ideas to a restoration leader. Meet youth parliament members and take part in a council-style debate on an issue relevant to young people.

Turn discarded materials into music with artist-activist Kan Chan Kin, visit a historic colonial home, and connect with young musicians from Mo’Zar.

Enjoy a final water excursion and beach activities, then reflect on the responsibilities that come with living in an interconnected world.

Complete the return journey to Los Angeles.

Please note: due to a variety of changing circumstances, itineraries are subject to change. Where originally planned activities cannot be delivered, every effort will be made to offer a similar alternative.

What’s included

  • Round trip flights
  • Local transportation
  • Accommodations
  • Meals and water
  • Program activities and experiences
  • Global facilitators
  • Local guides

Important Considerations

A swim test is required for water activities.

Participants should be comfortable in hot, tropical conditions.

The program includes outdoor conservation work, boat travel, and engagement with diverse cultural and religious traditions.

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