Mauritius South Coast tour: Waterfall, craters & tea plantation

Build your own route through Mauritius's volcanic south, stopping where you want to linger.

A private, customizable tour of Mauritius's South Coast with a driver and air-conditioned vehicle, visiting Trou aux Cerfs volcano, Chamarel Waterfall, Seven Coloured Earth Geopark, Black River Gorges, and your choice of Bois Cheri tea plantation or a rum distillery. The tour runs 7 to 8 hours and includes pickup, bottled water, and a guide who speaks English and French. You choose whether to visit the tea factory or the distillery: entrance fees are separate.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Trou aux Cerfs Volcano30m
2. Bois Cheri Plantation1h
3. Black River Gorges National Park20m
4. Chamarel Waterfall15m
5. Seven Coloured Earth Geopark40m

Explore Mauritius South Highlights

• Visit Trou aux Cerfs volcano viewpoint
• Explore Grand Bassin sacred lake and temples
• Tour Bois Cheri tea factory and tasting
• Stop at Alexandra Falls for photos
• View Black River Gorges National Park
• Visit Chamarel rum distillery and tasting
• See Chamarel Waterfall
• Discover Seven Coloured Earth Geopark
• Enjoy Chamarel West Viewpoint scenery

The experience

You start with pickup from your hotel and head into the island's interior. The first stop is Trou aux Cerfs, a dormant volcano whose crater opens onto views of Curepipe and the surrounding landscape: a natural frame for photographs. From there, the route moves to Grand Bassin, a sacred lake set inside a volcanic crater and ringed with colorful temples and a 108-foot statue of Lord Shiva. You can walk the grounds and watch the pilgrimage site unfold at its own pace.

The middle of the day takes you to either Bois Cheri tea plantation or a rum distillery in Chamarel, depending on which you choose at checkout. At the tea factory, you see how Mauritian tea is made from start to finish, then taste it on a wooden terrace overlooking the south coast and Lac des Cygnes. The entrance fee is separate. The distillery offers a guided tasting of award-winning rum made in the hills. Both sit in settings with views that anchor the experience to the landscape itself.

The afternoon moves through the natural landmarks. Alexandra Falls flows through lush forest in the heart of Black River Gorges: a quiet stop where the sound and mist of the water are the point. The Black River Gorges Viewpoint opens onto green valleys and forests, with sight lines to Mauritius's highest mountain. Chamarel Waterfall drops 100 meters through ancient volcanic cliffs into a forested basin. The scale and the sound of it carry the weight of the place. The Seven Coloured Earth Geopark sits nearby, its volcanic sand layered in reds, ochres, and purples that shift as light moves across it. A final stop at Chamarel West Viewpoint frames the western coastline, Le Morne mountain, and the small coral island of Île aux Bénitiers offshore.

The vehicle is air-conditioned and seats either 4 passengers (car), up to 6 (minibus), or up to 8 (minibus executive family), so you can book the size that fits your group. Bottled water is included. The driver speaks English and French, and the route is built around what you want to see, not a fixed schedule that rushes through each stop.

What’s included

• Private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle (car, minibus, or minibus executive family depending on your choice).
• pickup from your hotel.
• a driver who speaks English and French.
• bottled water.
• stops at Trou aux Cerfs volcano, Grand Bassin sacred lake, Chamarel Waterfall, Seven Coloured Earth Geopark, Alexandra Falls, Black River Gorges Viewpoint, and Chamarel West Viewpoint.
• your choice of Bois Cheri tea plantation (with tea tasting) or a rum distillery (with guided tasting).

Options for this experience

3 options

Car SUVUp to 5 per booking · Guide in English or French · 09:00Includes pickup

MinibusUp to 14 per booking · Guide in English or French · 09:00Southwest tour, 8 hours, in a standard minibus, with pickup included

Executive VIP family minibusUp to 13 per booking · Guide in English or French · 09:00VIP minibus with comfortable seating, 8 hours, bottle of water included, southwest tour, family option, includes pickup

You pick the guide language when booking.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and French

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 9 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyInfant seats availableInfants must sit on laps

Operated by ISLAND WHISPERS

Is this one for you?Choose the car if you're traveling as a couple or small family and want the most intimate experience. Pick the minibus if your group is larger and you want everyone in one vehicle with the same stops and timing. The tea factory suits a morning mood and views of the south coast. The distillery works if you prefer rum and want to stay in the Chamarel hills longer.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and French.

What is the Seven Coloured Earth Geopark like when you get there?

The Seven Coloured Earth Geopark is a natural formation of volcanic sand layered in reds, ochres, and purples that shift color as sunlight moves across it. It's a quiet spot in Chamarel where you can stand and take in the geological layers the island's volcanic history left behind.

Can I choose what to visit, or is the itinerary fixed?

You choose between the Bois Cheri tea plantation and the rum distillery. One or the other is part of the tour. The rest of the stops (the volcano, the waterfall, the viewpoints, the sacred lake) are included. The route itself is customizable within the day, so you can ask the driver to spend more time at any stop.

How long does the tour take?

The tour runs 7 to 8 hours from pickup to drop-off, covering the volcano, the sacred lake, your choice of tea factory or distillery, the waterfalls, the gorges viewpoint, and the colored earth formation.

What's included in the price, and what costs extra?

The price includes private transportation, the driver, bottled water, and the air-conditioned vehicle. Entrance fees to the attractions and any tastings at the tea factory or distillery are separate. Lunch is not included.

Does pickup from my hotel come with every option?

Yes, pickup from your hotel is included with all three vehicle options: the car, the minibus, and the minibus executive family.

What's the difference between the Chamarel Waterfall and Alexandra Falls?

Chamarel Waterfall is the major stop. It drops 100 meters through ancient volcanic cliffs into a forested basin and is a landmark in its own right. Alexandra Falls is a quieter, scenic viewpoint where water flows through lush forest in the Black River Gorges. It's a peaceful pause rather than a main attraction.