Southern Treasures: Bois Cherri Tea Factory & 23-Colored Earth

The most striking thing about this southern Mauritius tour is the sheer range packed into one day. You move from a dormant volcanic crater and forest reservoirs to a tea plantation, a sacred Hindu lake, crashing ocean cliffs, waterfalls, and the unusual 23-Colored Earth.

I like the easy hotel pickup and private vehicle, especially on an island where these sights are spread across the south. I also like the included three-course lunch, with vegetarian and halal options, plus enough time at several stops to take photographs rather than simply point at them from the car.

The main caution is the pace. Nine stops over 7 to 8 hours means this is a highlights tour, not a slow visit to each place. Guide quality can also shape the day: Manu and Deva have been praised for kindness and island knowledge, while one guest found the guide acted more like a driver at Grand Bassin.

Key points before you book

• Private touring from your hotel: Pickup and drop-off are included at accommodation anywhere in Mauritius, with an air-conditioned vehicle and a certified guide-driver.
• Bois Chéri is more than a tea tasting: You visit the factory, plantation, and tea museum, then learn how tea production fits into Mauritius.
• Grand Bassin adds cultural depth: The crater lake is sacred, with temples, shrines, and a 33-meter statue of Lord Shiva.
• The day includes both mountains and coast: Alexandra Falls, Black River Gorges, Gris Gris Beach, and Chamouny Waterfall each offer a different view.
• Lunch is part of the value: A three-course meal, non-alcoholic drinks, halal food, and vegetarian choices are included.
• Allow for a full, active day: Wear non-slip shoes, expect changing scenery, and remember that Gris Gris is for viewing, not swimming.

Why this day works for southern Mauritius

Southern Mauritius is not a place where one famous sight tells the whole story. The area combines volcanic geology, tea growing, rainforest, Hindu pilgrimage, waterfalls, and a rough Atlantic-facing coast. Seeing those pieces in one private outing gives you a useful first look at the island’s character.

The price is $136.44 per person. That is not the cheapest way to see Mauritius, but the cost includes private transportation, hotel pickup and drop-off, a guide-driver, lunch, bottled water on arrival, and admission to the Bois Chéri Tea Factory and the 23-Colored Earth and Waterfall attraction. For a full day with no car rental or route planning, the package offers solid value.

I would choose this tour if you want variety and convenience. I would not choose it if your priority is a long hike, a quiet tea plantation visit, or extended time at one waterfall. The route is designed to show you many southern highlights in a single day.

The usual start is 8:30 a.m. Pickup is offered from any hotel or accommodation in Mauritius. Since the experience takes roughly 7 to 8 hours, plan to keep most of the day free.

Trou aux Cerfs and the view over Curepipe

The first stop is Trou aux Cerfs, a dormant volcanic crater above Curepipe. The crater measures about 350 meters across and 100 meters deep, and sits roughly 605 meters above sea level. It is believed to have erupted once and remained inactive for about 700,000 years.

This is not the stark, barren crater you might picture. Forest surrounds the depression, with indigenous plants and large green pine trees. The setting gives you a quick look at Mauritius as a volcanic island now covered in vegetation.

The best reason to stop here is the 360-degree outlook. You can see Curepipe, Rempart Mountain, Trois Mamelles, and the Port-Louis-Moka mountain range. The visit lasts about 35 minutes, enough for photographs and a short look around without turning the crater into a major walk.

Mare aux Vacoas and the quiet side of the island

Mare aux Vacoas is the largest reservoir in Mauritius, with a capacity of nearly 26 million cubic meters. It sits among thick forest and offers a calm pause after the first viewpoint.

This stop is less dramatic than a waterfall or sacred lake, but that is part of its appeal. You get a few minutes away from roads and towns, with forest framing the water. The planned visit lasts about 30 minutes.

I would treat this as a scenic break rather than a major attraction. If you prefer constant action, it may feel modest. If you like seeing ordinary parts of an island alongside its postcard sights, the reservoir helps round out the day.

Alexandra Falls and the southern panorama

Alexandra Falls is one of Mauritius’s best-known natural sights. It sits at about 700 meters above sea level and is surrounded by thick greenery. A wooden platform gives you a better position for viewing the falls and the broad sweep toward the southeast coast.

The stop is scheduled for 30 minutes. That is enough to see the main viewpoint and take photographs, but not enough for an extended walk or a leisurely nature visit. The attraction works well in this itinerary because it offers both a waterfall and a wide sea view.

You should expect a viewpoint experience rather than a strenuous outing. The value comes from the combination of height, forest, falling water, and distant ocean. Bring a camera, but also take a moment to look beyond the falls toward the coast.

Black River Gorges from the roadside viewpoint

The Black River Gorges stop is a short walk from the road, about three to five minutes according to the tour details. From the viewpoint, you look into the gorge, across rolling hills and forest, and toward a waterfall off to the right.

The national park covers almost 17,000 acres in southwestern Mauritius. It is known for deep valleys, waterfalls, native plants, and wildlife. This tour does not take you on a long trail through the park. Instead, you get a strong panorama with very little walking.

That makes the stop friendly for most people who can manage a brief walk, but it also sets a clear limit. You will see the park from a viewpoint, not explore its trails. The planned time is about 30 minutes, so keep your expectations focused on scenery and photographs.

Grand Bassin, Lord Shiva, and a sacred crater lake

Grand Bassin, also called Ganga Talao, is one of the most meaningful stops on the route. The lake lies around 550 meters above sea level in the crater of an extinct volcano. It is a sacred Hindu site, with a temple and smaller shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva and other gods.

The huge statue of Lord Shiva is hard to miss. It rises 33 meters beside the lake and gives the visit a memorable visual anchor. The water, mountain setting, shrines, and statue create a very different atmosphere from the forest viewpoints earlier in the morning.

You have about 40 minutes here. Dress and behave respectfully around the temple area. One practical point matters: the guide may leave you to visit the temple and find information on your own. One particularly critical account described being dropped at the temple without an accompanying explanation. That does not mean every guide handles the stop this way, but it is worth asking your guide for context before walking off.

This is where the private format can help. Guides such as Manu and Deva have been praised for being polite, attentive, and familiar with the island. A good guide can explain the religious setting and tell you where to look. If your guide is less active here, take your time and ask direct questions.

Bois Chéri Tea Factory and the story in your cup

Bois Chéri is the tour’s most substantial cultural and food-related stop. You visit the tea factory and plantation with a guide, then see the tea production museum. The entire visit lasts about an hour.

Tea has an important place in Mauritius, and this stop gives you more than a quick drink. You can see where the crop is grown, learn about the production process, and get a clearer sense of how plantation work became part of the island’s economy and identity.

The factory also offers broad views over southern Mauritius. That makes it a good change of pace after the religious site and before the coast. The mix of machinery, plants, history, and tasting gives the stop enough substance to justify its place in a busy itinerary.

The tea visit received some of the strongest praise in the supplied feedback, especially the factory, tasting, and the time given to look around. If tea interests you, this may be the part of the day you remember most. If you are not a tea drinker, the museum and plantation still provide useful context, but the tasting will naturally be less important.

Lunch with Mauritian flavors

A three-course lunch is included, along with non-alcoholic drinks. Vegetarian and non-vegetarian meals are available, and the food is halal. Tell the provider about dietary needs, allergies, or illness when booking.

Specific dishes praised in the feedback included chicken curry, fish salad as a starter, and vanilla ice cream. Those details suggest a meal with familiar Mauritian flavors rather than a generic packed lunch. The meal also saves you from losing time searching for a restaurant during a day with many stops.

Do not overlook the practical value here. Private day tours can become expensive once you add transport and lunch separately. At this price, including both the meal and admissions makes the total easier to assess.

Gris Gris Beach and a rougher coastline

Gris Gris shows you a different Mauritius. Instead of a calm swimming beach, you get cliffs, strong surf, and waves crashing against the rock. A small garden has benches, and a path leads down toward a beach where you can get closer to the sea.

The stop is allotted two hours, much longer than most of the viewpoints. That gives you room to sit, walk, take photographs, and watch the water without being rushed. You also pass through Souillac village on the way, giving you a glimpse of local life beyond the main resort areas.

The warning here is essential: do not swim at Gris Gris. The waves and currents are very strong. Treat this as a coastal viewpoint and walking stop, not a beach day.

I like this part of the route because it prevents the tour from becoming a string of polished attractions. The rough water and cliffs show a more forceful side of the island. You get time to enjoy it at your own pace, which is rare on a nine-stop day.

The 23-Colored Earth and Chamouny Waterfall

The final section takes you to Valle Advenature Park for the 23-Colored Earth and a waterfall. The colored earth is made from clay minerals created as basaltic lava changed over time. The sand dunes show several shades, described in the tour information as red, brown, violet, green, blue, purple, and yellow.

The title refers to 23 colors, while the description groups the visible earth into seven main hues. Either way, expect a compact natural attraction with striped, rainbow-like soil rather than a vast desert. The surrounding green vegetation makes the colored ground easier to appreciate.

You have about 40 minutes at the colored earth. Admission is included. This is a classic photograph stop, but the unusual geology gives it more substance than a simple viewpoint. The colors can look different depending on light and weather, so do not expect every shade to appear equally strong.

After that comes Chamouny Waterfall, described as a single-drop waterfall among dense vegetation. The visit lasts about 25 minutes, and entrance is included with the waterfall attraction. It gives the day one last burst of forest scenery after the open coast at Gris Gris.

The sequence works well. You finish with unusual geology and falling water, two sights that feel very different from the tea factory and Grand Bassin earlier in the day.

Guide quality, comfort, and the pace

The private, air-conditioned vehicle is one of the tour’s strongest practical features. You do not need to navigate unfamiliar roads, arrange separate taxis, or work out the order of widely scattered sights. Hotel pickup and drop-off also remove a major source of hassle.

The guide-driver matters just as much. Manu was praised for kindness and for explaining southern Mauritius, while Deva was described as respectful, friendly, and willing to add an unexpected viewpoint. Another account described a very punctual, attentive driver who allowed plenty of time and adjusted to the group’s wishes.

That flexibility is a real benefit of a private outing. You can ask for more time at a viewpoint or move on when you have seen enough. Still, do not assume every stop will come with a full guided walk. At Grand Bassin, in particular, clarify whether your guide will accompany you and explain the site.

Wear non-slip shoes. You will not be tackling a long trail, but viewpoints, paths, and waterfall areas can be uneven or wet. Bottled water is provided on arrival, and you should carry it as you move between stops.

Who should book this southern circuit

This tour suits you if you have limited time in Mauritius and want a broad introduction to the south. It is especially useful for couples, families, and small private groups who value door-to-door transport and do not want to rent a car.

It also suits people who enjoy variety. In one day, you get volcanic geology, a reservoir, waterfalls, rainforest views, a tea plantation, Hindu religious culture, coastal cliffs, and colored earth.

You may want another style of outing if you prefer hiking, swimming, wildlife watching, or a slow food-focused day. The itinerary gives you many stops, but most are short. The two-hour Gris Gris visit is the main exception.

The experience has an overall rating of 4.6 from nine submitted ratings, with praise focused on punctuality, polite service, flexible timing, tea, food, waterfalls, and the colored earth. The lower rating points to a useful issue rather than a deal breaker: a pleasant driver is not always an active guide. Set your expectations and ask questions early.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want to cover southern Mauritius efficiently without driving. The combination of private transport, lunch, tea factory admission, colored earth admission, and hotel service makes $136.44 a reasonable full-day price, especially when you value convenience.

I would book it for a first visit or for a day when you want scenery and culture in equal measure. I would skip it only if you want long walks, plenty of free time, or a single attraction explored in depth. Ask for an explanatory guide at Grand Bassin, wear sturdy non-slip shoes, and keep the day open from the 8:30 a.m. pickup through the afternoon.

Free cancellation is available until 24 hours before the start time. Since the experience depends on good weather, a weather cancellation brings the choice of another date or a full refund.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts approximately 7 to 8 hours and begins at 8:30 a.m.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off are offered at any hotel or accommodation in Mauritius.

Is the transportation private?

Yes. The tour uses private transportation in a fully air-conditioned vehicle with a certified guide-driver.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A three-course lunch is included, along with non-alcoholic beverages.

Are vegetarian and halal meals available?

Yes. Vegetarian and non-vegetarian meals are available, and the included food is halal. You should advise the provider about dietary needs, allergies, or illness when booking.

Which admissions are included?

Admission to the Bois Chéri Tea Factory and admission to the 23-Colored Earth and Waterfall attraction are included.

Can you swim at Gris Gris Beach?

No. Swimming is not advised because the waves and currents are very strong. The stop is intended for walking, sitting, and viewing the sea and cliffs.

What should you wear?

Wear non-slip shoes. This is specifically recommended for the tour’s viewpoints, paths, and waterfall areas.