Southwest Mauritius tour: Chamarel, volcano & temples

Four signature stops across Mauritius' southwest in one guided day

A private guided tour of southwest Mauritius covering Trou aux Cerfs volcano, Grand Bassin crater lake with Hindu temples, Black River Gorges National Park and the Chamarel 7-Coloured Earth with its waterfall. Hotel pickup and dropoff, entrance fees and a three-course Mauritian lunch are included. The tour runs 6 hours with 2 hours for travel time. A live guide speaks English or French.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Trou aux Cerfs Volcano1h
2. Black River Gorges National Park1h
3. Seven Coloured Earth Geopark2h · entry included
4. Chamarel Waterfallpass by

Explore Southwest Mauritius highlights

• Stroll around Trou aux Cerfs volcano crater
• Drive by Mare-aux-Vacoas reservoir
• Visit Hindu temples at Grand Bassin lake
• Drive through Black River Gorges National Park
• Stop at Alexandra Falls and viewpoint
• Visit Chamarel 7-Coloured Earth site
• View Chamarel Falls waterfall
• See giant tortoise pens
• Enjoy Mauritian lunch

The experience

Your driver picks you up from your hotel and heads first to Trou aux Cerfs, a dormant volcano standing 600 metres above sea level. The walk around the crater rim gives 360-degree views of the island on clear days: the kind of vantage point that makes the scale of Mauritius click into place. From there you drive to Grand Bassin, a crater lake sacred to the Hindu community, where temples line the shore and a tall Shiva statue overlooks the water. The monkeys and wildlife around the lake are part of the stop, though note that February and March visits may not be possible during the Mahashivaratree pilgrimage festival.

The route then cuts through Black River Gorges National Park, Mauritius' largest at 6,754 hectares. You'll drive through Plaine des Champagnes and stop at Alexandra Falls and its viewpoint. If goyaves de chine are in season, you can pick a few like the locals do. The park is home to endemic plants and animals found nowhere else, and the drive itself is the main experience here rather than a long hike. From the gorges, the tour heads to Chamarel, where the 7-Coloured Earth geopark sits alongside the island's highest single-drop waterfall. Giant tortoise pens are part of the Chamarel stop before you head back.

Lunch is a three-course Mauritian meal with a starter, main and dessert, plus non-alcoholic drinks. The entire day (stops, driving time and the meal) takes 8 hours from pickup to dropoff. Your guide speaks English or French, and the tour is private to your group, so the pace and any questions stay between you and your guide.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and dropoff for your group.
• entrance fees to all attractions.
• a three-course Mauritian lunch with non-alcoholic drinks.
• a private guide for the full day.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to2d before

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 12 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendly

Operated by Bonjour Mauritius

Is this one for you?Book this if you have a full day free and want to see the southwest's main sights in one trip with pickup from your hotel. Choose a shorter tour if you're fitting this around other activities or have only an afternoon.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and French.

What is the 7-Coloured Earth at Chamarel actually like when you get there?

The Seven Coloured Earth Geopark is a geological site where seven distinct coloured sand dunes sit alongside the Chamarel Falls, Mauritius' most famous waterfall. The falls drop amid dense vegetation and are the highest single-drop waterfall on the island. Giant tortoise pens are also part of the site.

Can I visit Grand Bassin and the Hindu temples on any date?

Grand Bassin is a crater lake sacred to the Hindu community, surrounded by temples. The stop may not be possible in February or March because the site is a pilgrimage destination during the Mahashivaratree festival.

How much of the 8 hours is actual sightseeing versus travel time?

The tour is 6 hours of sightseeing and stops, with the remaining 2 hours spent driving between your hotel and the attractions across the southwest.

Does the tour include lunch, and what kind of food is it?

Yes, a three-course Mauritian lunch is included with a starter, main course and dessert, plus non-alcoholic drinks.