The five-island circuit off Trou d'Eau Douce was pioneered in the early 2000s by local skippers who recognized that day-trippers wanted more than a single beach stop. Île aux Cerfs had dominated itineraries since the 1980s, but the lagoon's broader constellation—Île de la Passe, Phare Island, Île aux Phares, Île Vacoas, and Île aux Flamants—remained accessible only to those chartering private craft. By bundling the archipelago into a single-day speedboat or catamaran route, operators democratized access to coral gardens, mangrove inlets, and colonial ruins that had been the preserve of sailors and researchers. Today the circuit anchors Mauritius's east-coast marine tourism. Île aux Cerfs remains the headline destination, its white-sand beaches and lagoon shallows drawing families and couples, but the supporting islands offer ecological and historical counterpoints. Île de la Passe, a fortified islet at the lagoon mouth, preserves the remnants of a Napoleonic-era battery; the British captured it in 1810 during the battle that ended French control of Mauritius. Phare Island's nineteenth-century lighthouse, decommissioned in the 1960s, still punctuates the skyline. Île aux Phares and Île Vacoas are uninhabited coral outcrops fringed by elkhorn and staghorn formations that support parrotfish, damselfish, and hawksbill turtles. The snorkeling stops rotate seasonally to protect reef health, but visibility between April and November typically exceeds fifteen meters. The five island tour Mauritius price structure reflects vessel type and group size. Speedboat safaris accommodate eight to twelve passengers, prioritize speed between islands, and complete the loop in six to seven hours. Catamaran adventures carry twenty to forty guests, include shaded deck space and onboard barbecue facilities, and extend the itinerary to a full eight-hour day. Both formats depart Trou d'Eau Douce between 08:00 and 09:00, when the lagoon is glassy and the easterly trade winds are still mild. Lunch is prepared aboard or on a designated island, typically grilled chicken, fish, and sausages with rice, salads, and tropical fruit. Snorkeling gear, life jackets, and reef-safe guidance are standard inclusions. The return crossing, timed for mid-afternoon, leverages the flood tide to ease navigation through the lagoon's shallow channels, which in places drop to less than two meters at low water.