Southwest Mauritius Transfer: Seven Coloured Earth and Volcano Views

Seven colored sand dunes and a dormant volcano in one morning loop

A private taxi tour of southwest Mauritius with a live English or French-speaking guide, covering Trou aux Cerfs volcano, Grand Bassin sacred lake, Black River Gorges National Park, and Chamarel Seven Coloured Earth Geopark over 7 to 8 hours. The tour includes an air-conditioned vehicle and hotel pickup. Entry fees to attractions and meals are paid directly to each site. Your driver assists with the process at each stop.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Trou aux Cerfs Volcano15m
2. Black River Gorges National Park15m
3. Seven Coloured Earth Geopark45m

Explore Southwest Mauritius Attractions

• Visit Trou aux Cerfs volcano
• See Grand Bassin sacred lake
• Enjoy activities at Vallée Adventure Park
• Photograph mountains and ocean views
• Explore Black River Gorges National Park
• Taste Chamarel Rum
• Visit Chamarel Seven Coloured Earth Geopark

The experience

The tour starts at Trou aux Cerfs, a dormant volcano ringed by forest where you walk to the crater's rim for panoramic views across the island. From there the route moves to Grand Bassin (Ganga Talao), a mountain lake sacred to Hindu worshippers, where a 108-foot Shiva statue stands as a landmark visible from kilometers away. The driver will brief you on modest dress (long clothes covering shoulders and knees) before you enter the temple grounds. The morning typically includes Vallée Adventure Park, a nature reserve where hiking, zip-lining, and quad biking are available if you choose to pay for activities on-site.

The afternoon centers on Chamarel Seven Coloured Earth Geopark, where sand dunes display seven distinct colors in layered patterns across the landscape. You'll have time to photograph the formations and walk the grounds. Entry is paid directly at the gate. Black River Gorges National Park, the wild interior of Mauritius, rounds out the stops: lush forest and gorge views without a fixed walking requirement. Along the way, the driver points out mountain ranges, valleys, and ocean views to the south. A stop at Chamarel Rum distillery lets you taste sugarcane rum and tour the production, also paid on-site.

The vehicle is air-conditioned throughout, and the driver handles logistics at each attraction (queues, entry processes, activity sign-ups), so you focus on the sites themselves. The 7 to 8 hour span means an early start and a mid-afternoon finish, leaving your evening free. Infants travel on an adult's lap. The tour suits all fitness levels, though Trou aux Cerfs and some park walks involve short climbs.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned vehicle throughout the day.
• live guide in English or French.
• hotel pickup and return.
• driver assistance with entry processes and activity sign-ups at each attraction.

Options for this experience

2 options

South Of MauritiusGuide in English or French · 09:00 and 09:30Duration: 8 hours, car from the south of Mauritius, pickup is included

Private taxi: Discover the lovely southwest of MauritiusGuide in English or French · 09:00 and 09:30Includes pickup

You pick the guide language when booking.

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:00 and 09:30

Book up toStart time

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.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 41

Prices and times updated 12 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by IslandRide Taxi - Mauritius

Is this one for you?Choose this tour if you want to see the southwest's major sites (volcano, sacred lake, national park, and the famous colored earth) in a single day without arranging your own transport. The private taxi means you move at your own pace between stops, and the guide speaks your language. Pay-on-site entry fees let you skip attractions that don't appeal to you.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and French.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

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

Chamarel Seven Coloured Earth Geopark is a natural landscape where sand dunes display seven vibrant colors (red, brown, purple, green, yellow, orange, and grey) layered in striking patterns across the hillside. You walk the grounds, photograph the formations, and learn about the geological processes that created the color variations. Entry is paid directly at the gate.

Do I need to book activities at Vallée Adventure Park in advance, or can I decide when I arrive?

Vallée Adventure Park offers hiking, zip-lining, and quad biking on-site, and you decide which activities to do when you arrive. Your driver assists with the entry and activity sign-up process, and you pay the park directly for whatever you choose to do.

What should I wear to Grand Bassin if I want to enter the temple grounds?

Grand Bassin is a sacred site, so visitors are asked to dress modestly with long clothes that cover your shoulders and knees. Your driver will explain the dress code before you arrive, so you can plan accordingly.

Is lunch included in the tour price?

Lunch is not included. You can eat at Chamarel Rum distillery or bring your own food. Your driver will help you find options at each stop.

How does the driver help with payments at each attraction?

At Chamarel Seven Coloured Earth Geopark, Vallée Adventure Park, and Chamarel Rum distillery, you pay the venue directly for entry and any activities or meals. Your driver assists with the payment process, explains what's available, and helps you navigate each site so the logistics don't slow you down.