Vallée des Couleurs & Gris Gris tour: Coloured earth, crocodiles

Three nature parks in one day: coloured earth, crocodiles and coastal cliffs

An eight-hour guided tour of three major sites in southern Mauritius: La Vallée des Couleurs Nature Park, home to the famous 23-coloured earth and optional activities like quad biking and zip lining; La Vanille Reserve des Mascareignes, where you walk among 2,000 Nile crocodiles, 1,000 giant tortoises, and an insectarium holding 23,000 species; and Gris Gris Cape, where you watch waves crash against cliffs and see La Roche qui pleure, a rock formation that resembles a weeping face when the waves strike it. The guide speaks English or French, and hotel pickup and drop-off are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit nature parks and coastal sights

• Explore La Vallée des Couleurs park
• Discover animals at La Vanille Reserve
• See waves at Gris Gris cliffs
• View La Roche qui pleure rock formation

The experience

Eight hours takes you through three distinct landscapes of southern Mauritius in a single day. You start at La Vallée des Couleurs, where the 23-coloured earth is the draw: layers of red, brown, grey and purple soil stacked visibly on the hillside. The park sits on a ridge with views toward the south, and if you want more than just the viewpoint, optional activities are available on-site: quad biking, zip lining, jeep tours, buggy rides, trekking and suspension bridges. Your driver handles the route and timing, so you choose what suits your energy and interests.

From there, the car takes you to La Vanille Reserve des Mascareignes, where the animal count is the real story. Two thousand Nile crocodiles live in the reserve alongside a thousand giant tortoises, iguanas, monkeys and several bird species. The insectarium holds one of the world's best private collections (23,000 species), and the grounds are planted with giant bamboos and palm and banana trees. You walk through at your own pace with the driver as your guide, stopping where the animals and plants catch your attention.

The afternoon finishes at Gris Gris, where the landscape shifts to raw coastal drama. Big waves crash hard against the cliffs, and a few metres away sits La Roche qui pleure: a natural rock formation that, when the waves hit it, resembles a person crying. The rugged scenery of the wild south is the payoff after the enclosed parks.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off.
• private air-conditioned and insured car.
• services of a fully licensed, qualified driver speaking English or French.

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.

Paid on siteUS$ 36

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendly

Operated by Bonjour Mauritius

Is this one for you?Pick this if you want to see both colored earth formations and wildlife in one day with English or French commentary, rather than booking separate park visits.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and French.

What activities can I do at La Vallée des Couleurs?

La Vallée des Couleurs offers quad biking, zip lining, jeep tours, buggy rides, trekking and suspension bridges as optional activities on-site. The 23-coloured earth and the viewpoint toward the south are included in the tour. The activities are available to add if you want them.

How many crocodiles and tortoises are at La Vanille?

La Vanille Reserve des Mascareignes is home to 2,000 Nile crocodiles and 1,000 giant tortoises, along with iguanas, monkeys and several bird species. The insectarium on the grounds holds 23,000 insect species, one of the best private collections in the world.

What is La Roche qui pleure?

La Roche qui pleure is a natural rock formation at Gris Gris that resembles a person crying when the waves hit it. You see it in the late afternoon as part of the final stop, where waves crash against the coastal cliffs.

Is lunch included in the tour?

Lunch and snacks are not included. You'll want to bring food or plan to eat before or after the tour. The eight-hour day covers three parks and two scenic stops, so timing your meals around the itinerary helps.