Wild South: Full-Day tour incl Rhumerie St Aubin, Bois cheri Tea factory & Lunch

Southern Mauritius packs a lot into one day: a dormant volcano, a sacred lake, rainforest views, crashing surf, tea, and rum. This private tour links those sights in one air-conditioned vehicle, with pickup and drop-off anywhere in Mauritius.

I like the combination of nature and local production. You are not only stopping for photographs, but also seeing how Mauritian tea and rum are made. I also like that a three-course halal lunch, non-alcoholic drinks, bottled water, and both tastings are included.

The main caution is the schedule. Eight stops in seven to eight hours leaves little room for lingering, and one published review reports that parts of the advertised route were skipped because the day felt rushed. Confirm the planned stops with your guide at the start.

Key points to know before booking

• Eight southern stops in one private day: You cover Trou aux Cerfs, Mare aux Vacoas, Grand Bassin, Alexandra Falls, Black River Gorges, Bois Chéri, Gris-Gris Beach, and Rhumerie St Aubin.
• Tea and rum are the tour’s strongest local touches: You visit the Bois Chéri factory and museum, then taste tea at a panoramic restaurant before tasting rum at St Aubin.
• Lunch is already covered: The three-course meal includes vegetarian and non-vegetarian choices, halal food, and non-alcoholic drinks.
• The route is scenic but tightly timed: Several stops last only 20 to 40 minutes, so this suits you if you prefer broad coverage to a slow, unhurried day.
• Your group stays private: A certified guide and driver accompany only your party in a fully air-conditioned vehicle.
• Wear shoes with grip: The operator specifically recommends non-slip shoes, a sensible choice for viewpoints and wet conditions.

What this southern Mauritius tour actually offers

This is a full-day circuit from Trou d’Eau Douce across the island’s southwest and southern districts. Pickup begins at about 8:30 a.m., and the tour lasts roughly seven to eight hours.

The route gives you several kinds of Mauritius in a single outing. You see the remains of volcanic activity, highland forests, religious landmarks, a major reservoir, a waterfall, dramatic sea cliffs, and two working food and drink producers. That variety is the real reason to consider it.

The private format matters. You do not have to share the vehicle with strangers, and your guide can explain local details or adjust the pace within the limits of the day. Still, private does not mean leisurely here. The schedule is ambitious, so you should see it as a highlights tour rather than a relaxed countryside drive.

Trou aux Cerfs, a crater above Curepipe

The day begins at Trou aux Cerfs, a dormant volcanic crater about 605 meters above sea level. The crater measures roughly 350 meters across and reaches about 100 meters deep.

You will see a large, forested depression rather than a smoking volcano. Indigenous plants and tall green pine trees surround the crater, giving the site a cool, leafy feel. The stop lasts about 40 minutes, enough to take in the view and hear about Mauritius’s volcanic origins without turning the visit into a long walk.

This is a good opening stop because it gives you a quick sense of the island’s high interior. It is also an easy place for photographs. If you want a detailed hike around the crater, this tour is not designed for that. The listed time is a viewing stop, not an extended nature walk.

Mare aux Vacoas and Mauritius’s inland water supply

Next comes Mare aux Vacoas, the island’s largest reservoir, with a capacity of nearly 26 million cubic meters. You get about 20 minutes here.

The reservoir is surrounded by thick forest and offers a quiet contrast to the busier sights later in the day. There is no admission charge, and the appeal is mainly the broad view and the peaceful setting.

I would treat this as a short scenic pause rather than a major attraction. The stop helps break up the drive, but if you want to spend a long time by the water, the schedule will not allow it. Your guide can provide context, while you take a few photographs and move on.

Grand Bassin and the 33-meter Shiva statue

Grand Bassin, also called Ganga Talao, is a crater lake set at about 550 meters above sea level. It is one of the most important cultural stops on the route.

A temple and several shrines sit along the shore, and the site is dedicated to Lord Shiva and other Hindu deities. The enormous Shiva statue is about 33 meters tall, making it one of the first things you notice.

Allow about an hour here. That is longer than at Mare aux Vacoas and gives you time to look around with some care. This is a sacred place, so dress and behave respectfully. The value of the stop is not just the statue or the lake view. It gives you a chance to see an important part of Mauritian religious life in a setting connected to the island’s volcanic past.

If your main interest is scenery, you will still find the highland setting impressive. If you want a long, quiet visit at each shrine, the overall itinerary may feel too compressed.

Alexandra Falls and the highland view

Alexandra Falls sits at roughly 700 meters above sea level and is one of the best-known natural sights in southern Mauritius. The visit lasts about 35 minutes.

The waterfall itself is the main draw, but the wider view matters just as much. From the area, you can look toward the southeast coast and see the turquoise Indian Ocean in the distance. A wooden platform offers a better viewing angle.

This stop is a good example of how the tour mixes close-up sights with wide panoramas. You may find the waterfall’s appearance changes with weather and water flow, but the viewpoint gives you more than a single cascade to photograph.

Bring your non-slip shoes here. The tour information specifically recommends them, and sensible footwear is useful at viewpoints where surfaces may be damp or uneven. Do not expect a long trail excursion. The stop is focused on viewing the falls and the surrounding forest.

Black River Gorges viewpoint

The next stop reaches the Black River Gorges area, where you look over broad stretches of forest, hills, valleys, and waterfalls. The protected area covers about 17,000 acres and is known for native plant and animal life.

You have about 30 minutes at the gorge viewpoint. The sightline takes in a large section of southwest Mauritius, and a waterfall can be seen to the right of the viewing area. Souvenir stalls line the path leading toward the viewpoint.

This is the place to keep your eyes open for local flora and fauna, though the tour does not promise a wildlife encounter. You are visiting a viewpoint, not taking a guided forest trek. The short stop works well for a first look at the park, but hikers may wish they had more time on the trails.

For me, this section adds needed breathing room after Grand Bassin and Alexandra Falls. It also shows why the southwest is more than a beach destination. The island’s interior has forested slopes and steep ravines that feel far removed from the coastal resorts.

Bois Chéri Tea Factory and Tea Route

Bois Chéri is one of the tour’s most distinctive stops. It is the first visit on the Mauritian Tea Route and includes a guided look at the factory, plantation, and tea museum.

The tour information says the guide explains the production process, the history of tea in Mauritius, and the role tea has played on the island. You also learn about the factory itself and see how tea is presented in several forms.

Bois Chéri produces flavored teas, green teas, and herbal teas. After the factory and museum visit, you taste tea at the Bois Chéri restaurant, which has a panoramic view over the south. The full stop lasts about an hour.

This is more useful than a basic gift-shop stop because it connects the drink in your cup with the crop, machinery, and local history behind it. The tasting also gives you a break from the vehicle and a chance to sit down.

Tea production appeals to some people far more than others. If you have no interest in factories or tastings, an hour here may feel long. I think it is one of the better parts of the day for anyone who wants a local product with a clear connection to the island.

Gris-Gris Beach and the southern sea cliffs

After Bois Chéri, the route continues to Gris-Gris Beach near Souillac. This is not the calm, reef-protected beach scene often associated with Mauritius.

At Gris-Gris, high cliffs drop straight toward the sea. Coral reefs do not shelter this stretch of coast, so large Indian Ocean waves can crash directly against the rocks. You view the water from above rather than swimming in it.

The stop lasts about an hour, making it one of the longer scenic visits. The wind, cliffs, and rough surf give this coast a wilder character than the island’s gentler beaches. You will want to stay back from the edge and follow your guide’s advice around the cliffs.

This is a strong choice if you want to see a different side of Mauritius. It is less suitable if you are hoping for beach time, warm shallow water, or a swim. The attraction is the force of the sea and the open view, not a traditional seaside picnic.

Lunch follows this part of the route at a local venue. The meal is a three-course lunch with vegetarian and non-vegetarian options, halal food, and non-alcoholic beverages. Tell the operator about food allergies, illness, or dietary needs when booking.

Rhumerie St Aubin and the rum tasting

The final major stop is Rhumerie St Aubin, housed in a colonial-style home with a tropical setting. A guide takes you through the distillery and explains how rum is made in Mauritius.

You also taste the distillery’s different rum flavors. The tasting is included, but remember that the tour provides non-alcoholic drinks with lunch, not an alcohol-free rum alternative at the distillery.

This stop gives the day a pleasant finish because it is both educational and social. You learn about production, then compare the finished drinks. The setting adds character, too. It feels different from a modern industrial plant and gives you a glimpse of Mauritius’s plantation-era architecture.

If you do not drink alcohol, the distillery visit may hold less interest, though you can still learn about the process. For people who enjoy local food and drink, the tea factory and rum distillery make this tour more memorable than a route made up only of viewpoints.

One published comment praised the time spent at the rum house after the rest of the day felt rushed. That is useful advice: keep track of the schedule, and if this stop matters most to you, make sure it is included and properly timed.

The private vehicle, guide, and pace

Pickup and drop-off are available at any hotel or accommodation in Mauritius. You travel in a fully air-conditioned vehicle with a certified private guide and driver, and your party is the only group taking part.

That arrangement is especially useful if you are staying outside the main resort areas. You do not need to arrange separate taxis for the highlands, tea route, and south coast. It also saves you from navigating unfamiliar roads while trying to fit eight stops into one day.

The trade-off is time. The published schedule adds up to a demanding day:

• Trou aux Cerfs: about 40 minutes
• Mare aux Vacoas: about 20 minutes
• Grand Bassin: about one hour
• Alexandra Falls: about 35 minutes
• Black River Gorges viewpoint: about 30 minutes
• Bois Chéri: about one hour
• Gris-Gris Beach: about one hour
• Rhumerie St Aubin: about one hour

Drive time and lunch must fit around those visits. One one-star review says several advertised sights were missed and the day felt rushed, although the driver was courteous. That warning deserves attention. At the start, ask the guide to confirm the route and tell you which stops are fixed.

The information includes a positive comment about a guide named Paco, who was praised for being friendly and helpful on a north Mauritius tour. That comment does not match this southern route, so you should not assume Paco will lead your trip. No guide name is supplied for this experience.

Is $143.72 good value?

At $143.72 per person, the price is not the cheapest way to see a few viewpoints. It includes private transportation, hotel pickup and drop-off, a certified guide, bottled water, entrance to Bois Chéri, entrance to St Aubin, tea tasting, rum tasting, and a three-course lunch.

The value improves if you are a small group that would otherwise need a private car and driver. You are paying for a full day of transport across the island, not just admission to one attraction. The included meal and tastings also reduce extra spending during the day.

The value drops if your priority is slow sightseeing. You may pay for a broad route and still feel hurried at certain stops. I would book it for coverage and convenience, not for long walks, beach time, or a quiet day in one district.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time. The experience depends on good weather, and a weather cancellation brings the choice of another date or a full refund. That is helpful in Mauritius, where rain can affect highland views and waterfall stops.

Who should book this tour?

I would choose this tour if you have limited time in Mauritius and want to see the southern highlands, religious sites, coast, tea production, and rum production in one day.

It also suits you if you value private transport, need hotel pickup, or prefer having lunch and entrance fees arranged in advance. Couples, families, and small groups can benefit from not sharing the vehicle.

I would hesitate if you want a relaxed day with long visits. Hikers should note that the schedule includes viewpoints but no extended trail activity. Beach lovers should also know that Gris-Gris is for cliff and wave views, not swimming.

Should you book the Wild South tour?

Book it if your ideal day combines big scenery with local food and drink. Trou aux Cerfs, Grand Bassin, Alexandra Falls, Black River Gorges, Bois Chéri, Gris-Gris, and St Aubin give you a broad look at southern Mauritius, and the private vehicle makes the route practical.

Before paying, ask the operator to confirm that every listed stop is planned for your date. The one detailed negative account raises a real concern about skipped sights and a rushed pace. If the guide confirms the full route and you accept a busy day, $143.72 can be fair value. If you would rather linger at two or three places, choose a shorter private itinerary instead.

FAQ

How long does the Wild South tour last?

The tour lasts approximately seven to eight hours, with pickup beginning at about 8:30 a.m.

Is hotel pickup included?

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

Is lunch included?

Yes. A three-course lunch is included, with vegetarian and non-vegetarian choices, halal food, and non-alcoholic beverages.

Are tea and rum tastings included?

Yes. Tea tasting at the Bois Chéri restaurant and rum tasting at Rhumerie St Aubin are included in the tour.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your group participates, and transportation is provided in a fully air-conditioned vehicle with a certified private guide and driver.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

The tour requires good weather. If poor weather causes cancellation, you will be offered another date or a full refund. You can also cancel up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund.