One day is enough to get you serious southern Mauritius memories. This private tour strings together Trou aux Cerfs, Grand Bassin, and the Bois Chéri tea experience with hotel pickup and an air-conditioned ride. You’ll move fast, but the stops are chosen for big views and easy time on your feet.

I really like the way the day mixes geology, temples, and nature. The 3-course lunch (with a vegetarian option and halal note) also helps, and I’ve seen glowing comments about the food timing and portion style.

One possible drawback: it’s a packed schedule. Some stops are mostly viewpoint time, and if you care about deeper site walkthroughs, start by confirming how much your guide will accompany you inside places like the Grand Bassin temple area. (In one account, a guide felt more like a driver than a guide, even though he was polite.)

Key highlights worth planning around

• Private, air-conditioned transport to cover a lot of south in 7–8 hours
• Bois Chéri tea factory + tea museum with plantation and production context
• Grand Bassin and the 33-meter Shiva statue for a striking sacred stop
• 23-colored earth dunes at Valle Advenature Park for a surreal photo moment
• Alexandra Falls and Chamouny Waterfall for classic Mauritius scenery without extra searching
• Gris Gris cliffs for wave-watching, plus benches and a short path down to the beach area

Why this Southern Mauritius day feels efficient (and not rushed)

Southern Mauritius rewards road trips. The coast scenery, crater views, and inland sacred spots are spread out, which is exactly why this tour is designed as one tight circuit. You’re not solving routes or chasing the right bus at each stop. You’re handed a plan and a vehicle, and you just show up.

The best part for most people is the balance between “look from here” and “take a short walk.” You’ll spend time at craters, reservoirs, waterfalls, viewpoints, and the tea factory. Then you’ll eat a real lunch in the middle of the day, rather than surviving on snack bars and hope.

The reason this can still feel like a good value is what’s included. You get private transportation, a guide/driver, bottled water, non-alcoholic drinks with lunch, and entrance coverage for Bois Chéri Tea Factory and Valle Advenature Park stops (23-colored earth and Chamouny Waterfall). With a private driver, that can add up fast if you try to do it piece by piece.

Trou aux Cerfs crater: 360-degree views from a dormant giant

Trou aux Cerfs is one of those Mauritius stops that makes you understand the island fast. You’re looking at a dormant volcanic crater, about 605 meters above sea level, with roughly a 350-meter diameter and around 100 meters deep.

What I like about this stop is the way it explains the island’s “volcanic engine” without getting technical. The crater is surrounded by lush forest, plus tall green pine trees. That mix gives you shade, depth, and a natural frame for the big view.

Your practical payoff is the panoramic 360-degree outlook. From here, you can take in views toward Curepipe, Rempart Mountain, Trois Mamelles, and the Port-Louis–Moka range. Admission is listed as free for this stop, so the value is pure scenery and photos.

Time-wise, plan for about 35 minutes. That’s enough to orient yourself, take a few longer look shots, and still stay on schedule for the rest of the day.

Mare aux Vacoas reservoir: quiet nature break between major sights

Next comes Mare Aux Vacoas, the island’s largest reservoir (capacity near 26 million cubic meters). It’s not as flashy as waterfalls or sacred statues, but that’s exactly why it works.

This is a pause from the bigger tourist magnets. You’re surrounded by thick forest and you get a calm viewpoint where you can reset your eyes after crater and city-adjacent scenery.

Plan for about 30 minutes. It’s short, but it gives you that “I’m in Mauritius right now” feeling without having to earn it with a long hike. Admission is free here too.

If you like photography, you’ll probably enjoy it most in softer light. If your timing hits midday glare, focus on the lines and the framing of trees over the water.

Alexandra Falls: iconic postcard views with a short viewpoint climb option

Alexandra Falls is one of Mauritius’s most recognizable nature stops, sitting about 700 meters above sea level. You’ll see why it’s famous once you’re there: the main draw is the panoramic view over the south-east coast, with turquoise ocean stretching out below.

This stop is also useful because it’s scenic even if you don’t want to walk far. There’s mention of climbing up to a wooden platform for broader viewing. So if you want a bigger angle for photos, you’ll likely have an easy way to get it.

Expect around 30 minutes. Admission is listed as free. That means you’re paying for the driving and time with your guide, not for entry.

The one consideration: this is a popular nature site, so keep an eye on weather and wind. If it’s misty or stormy, you may need to adjust expectations for visibility.

Black River Gorges National Park viewpoint: a quick walk to a big panorama

Halfway between Chamarel and Alexandra Falls, you’ll stop at a gorge viewpoint with a short walk from the road. The walk is described as about 3–5 minutes, and the view is the point.

This is classic Mauritius rainforest country, with rolling hills, deep valleys, and waterfalls in the larger Black River Gorges National Park area. The viewpoint itself sits high over the gorge, so you get height without committing to an all-day trail.

In your time there (about 30 minutes), you can also spot a waterfall off to the right. Even if you don’t catch it at its most dramatic moment, the sense of depth in the gorge is the main attraction.

Admission is free at this stop. If you’re doing the day’s circuit in one shot, this is a good place to take a breather and let the scenery slow you down.

Grand Bassin (Ganga Talao): sacred lake and the 33-meter Shiva statue

Grand Bassin, also known as Ganga Talao, sits around 550 meters above sea level in Mauritius’s mountainous southwest. It’s a crater lake from an extinct volcano, and it carries strong religious importance. On the shoreline, there’s a temple and a collection of smaller shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva and other gods.

The star here is the gigantic Lord Shiva statue, listed as 33 meters high. It’s hard to miss, and it changes how you see the setting. The temple sits within this bowl-like crater, so the entire place feels enclosed and focused.

I recommend you treat this as both a sight stop and a cultural stop. Even with limited time, you’ll get more out of it if you go in with curiosity. If your guide accompanies you into the temple area, use that chance to ask what you’re seeing and why.

Expect about 40 minutes. Admission is listed as free.

Practical note based on the one mixed review: if you want guidance inside the temple area, ask clearly at the start of the stop. Confirm whether your guide will walk with you or if it’s a drop-and-find-it situation.

Bois Chéri Tea Factory and tea museum: not just souvenirs

Bois Chéri gives you Mauritius through taste and process. You’ll start with a guided factory and plantation experience, where the guide explains the history and the role of tea production in Mauritius.

After that, you’ll visit the tea production museum. This matters because it turns the tea stop from a quick sales stop into an actual story. You learn how tea is connected to the island’s development and how production works.

This is also where you get a panoramic view of the south of the island. Tea plus viewpoint is a strong pairing. It gives you both an indoor-and-outdoor experience, so you’re not stuck in one type of setting all day.

Time-wise, plan for about 1 hour at the Bois Chéri stop. Entrance to the factory is included. That’s a concrete cost saver compared with piecing it together later.

One other small win: in a positive review, guide Manu was praised for being kind and for sharing a lot about the south. That’s the kind of guide energy that can make tea history feel less like a script and more like a friendly lesson.

Gris Gris Beach and Souillac area: cliffs, waves, and a calm bench pause

Gris Gris is a coastline mood shift. You’ll pass through Souillac village and then head to Gris Gris for the cliffs and crashing waves.

The viewpoint is the main event. There’s a small garden area with benches where you can sit and watch waves hit rock. From the garden, there’s a path down to a small beach area so you can get closer to the action.

One key safety note: even though the beach is described as white sand, the waves and currents are strong. Swimming isn’t advised. This is a walk-and-watch stop, not a swim stop.

Expect about 2 hours at this part of the day. Admission is listed as free. If you’re traveling with kids or anyone who likes a relaxed pace, this is one of the better stretches because you can choose how much you walk.

Bring a light layer. Wind can be sharp here, especially when the ocean is doing its full show.

Twenty-Three Colored Earth: why this dune science looks like art

Valle Advenature Park is where you’ll see the “23-colored earth” phenomenon. The colors come from the conversion of basaltic lava to clay minerals. In plain language: the ground itself creates pigment tones over time.

What you’ll actually experience looks almost unreal. You’ll see rainbow-hued sand dunes with seven distinct color shades listed as red, brown, violet, green, blue, purple, and yellow. The setting has lush green vegetation around it, which makes the dunes pop even more in photos.

The best way to enjoy this stop is to slow down for a few angles. Stand back first, then walk closer for texture. Colors can look different depending on sun angle and your position relative to the dunes.

This stop includes admission (and it’s listed separately from the tea factory entrance). Plan for about 40 minutes here.

If you’re the type who likes a little science, you’ll probably enjoy the explanation behind basalt-to-clay transformation. If not, still go. It’s one of those Mauritius moments that looks like it belongs on another planet.

Chamouny Waterfall: the single-drop style moment at Valle Advenature Park

After the colored earth dunes, you’ll shift to the waterfall. Chamouny Waterfall is described as a single-drop waterfall. It’s also called the most famous and recognized waterfall in Mauritius.

You’re surrounded by dense vegetation, which helps the waterfall feel framed rather than random. This stop is shorter on paper, around 25 minutes, but it’s set up well because it’s paired with the park’s other main attraction.

Admission for this waterfall stop is included as well. So your money goes to getting you there and spending time on what you came to see.

For best photos, treat it like a light-weather gamble. If it’s too harsh or too cloudy, you’ll still get the view, but the “clean” look of a single-drop cascade can change.

Price and pace: is $136.44 a fair deal?

At about $136.44 per person, this tour is priced like a full-day private circuit rather than a budget group bus. The real question is what you’d pay if you tried to recreate it with separate tickets and transport.

Here’s what you’re getting that often costs extra if you’re DIY:

• Private, air-conditioned vehicle for a multi-stop route
• Hotel pickup and drop-off (any accommodation in Mauritius, per the tour details)
• Guide/driver service
• Lunch: 3 courses, plus non-alcoholic beverages
• Entrance coverage for Bois Chéri Tea Factory and Vale Advenature Park stops

You also get a clear day structure. Stops are often around 25–40 minutes, plus driving time between them. That pacing suits people who want to see many highlights in one day without building a plan from scratch.

The trade-off is exactly that: the stops aren’t long. If you want slow museum time or long hikes, this may feel brief. But if you want a smart “greatest hits” day with minimal hassle, the price makes sense.

Who should book this southern circuit

This is a strong choice if you:

• Want a one-day tour of southern Mauritius without route stress
• Like varied stops: volcano crater views, sacred sites, tea production, cliffs, waterfall scenery, and unusual geology
• Prefer private transport over crowded schedules
• Need a vegetarian lunch option (and want the halal note respected)

It may be less perfect if you:

• Want deep guided history inside every religious site
• Plan on doing lots of shopping and browsing at each stop
• Are sensitive to long sitting time between viewpoint moments

A quick practical tip: wear non-slippery shoes. You’ll likely deal with stairs, wooden platforms, and short paths (and strong coastal conditions at Gris Gris).

Should you book Southern Treasures: Bois Cherri Tea Factory & 23-Colored Earth?

If you want a well-paced southern highlights day, I’d say yes—especially because the tour combines several of Mauritius’s best-known “wow” moments in one circuit: Trou aux Cerfs, Grand Bassin’s Shiva statue, the tea factory and museum, 23-colored earth dunes, and two major waterfall/park experiences.

Before you book, do one simple thing: when you meet your guide, ask how the walkthroughs work at Grand Bassin and other specific indoor areas. That small question protects you from the one downside mentioned in feedback, where someone felt the guide didn’t accompany them inside.

Also, be flexible with weather. The experience notes that good weather is required, and if it’s canceled for poor conditions, you’re offered an alternative date or a full refund.

If you like highlights, variety, and a smooth private ride, this is a solid pick for your time in Mauritius.

FAQ

How long is the Southern Treasures tour?

It runs about 7 to 8 hours. The start time is 8:30 am.

What’s included in the price?

The tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off, a private air-conditioned vehicle, a guide/driver, bottled water upon arrival, a 3-course lunch with non-alcoholic beverages, and entrance fees for Bois Chéri Tea Factory and the Vale Advenature Park stops (23-colored earth and the waterfall).

Is lunch vegetarian-friendly?

Yes. A vegetarian option is available. The tour also notes halal food for lunch, and you should share any allergies or illness needs when booking.

Do you pay for entry fees at each stop?

Many stops are listed as free admission (such as Trou aux Cerfs, the reservoir viewpoint, Alexandra Falls, the gorge viewpoint, and Grand Bassin). Entrance is included for Bois Chéri Tea Factory and for Twenty-Three Colored Earth and the waterfall.

Is transportation air-conditioned?

Yes. You travel in a fully air-conditioned vehicle with private transportation.

What should I wear for the tour?

Wear non slippery shoes, since you’ll encounter viewpoints and short walks, including a wooden platform option at Alexandra Falls and paths around the coastline and park areas.