Mauritius Guided South tour (Private)

Mauritius reveals its wild side here. I like the private vehicle and island-wide pickup, which keep a seven-hour outing simple and personal. I also like the mix of a volcano, Hindu pilgrimage site, rainforest views, waterfalls, and colored earth in one day. The main caution is pace: with five main stops, plus scenic lookouts, some visits may feel brief.

At $116.86 per group of up to four, the value is strong if you fill the car. Lunch, entry fees, and activities at La Vallée des Couleurs cost extra, so your final bill will be higher. Driver-guide Faroz receives especially warm praise for being friendly, patient, informative, and even helping guests feed monkeys.

Key points at a glance

• Trou aux Cerfs crater: Begin above Curepipe at a dormant volcano with a 350-meter-wide crater and views across the central plateau.
• Grand Bassin and the 33-meter Shiva: Visit Mauritius’s major Hindu pilgrimage site beside a sacred crater lake.
• Black River Gorges views: Stop above forested valleys, waterfalls, and mountain country in the island’s main nature park.
• Several scenic detours: Mare aux Vacoas reservoir and the winding road near Bassin Blanc add quiet countryside views.
• 23 Colored Earth finale: Spend about two hours at La Vallée des Couleurs, with nature trails and optional activities at your own expense.
• Private value: One car carries up to four people, with hotel pickup and drop-off available around Mauritius.

A private route through southern Mauritius

This is a full southern circuit, not a single attraction with a little sightseeing attached. You begin at your hotel, meet your driver-guide, and ride in an air-conditioned vehicle toward Curepipe and the high country.

The private format matters. Your group can travel without strangers, and the driver can help shape the day within the planned route. That is useful for families, couples, or a small group that prefers a car to a large coach.

The tour lasts about seven hours. That sounds generous, but the route covers a lot of ground. Trou aux Cerfs, Grand Bassin, Mare aux Vacoas, Black River Gorges, Alexandra Falls, the Bassin Blanc road, and La Vallée des Couleurs all appear on the day’s schedule.

I would think of this as an efficient introduction to the south, not a slow nature outing. You will see many important places, but you should not expect long walks or extended time at every viewpoint.

Trou aux Cerfs and the high plateau

The first formal stop is Trou aux Cerfs, a dormant volcanic crater near Curepipe. It sits about 605 meters above sea level, measures roughly 350 meters across, and reaches around 100 meters deep.

The crater is not a bare bowl of rock. Forest surrounds it, with indigenous plants and tall green pine trees adding a cool, leafy feel. From the viewpoint, you can get your first broad sense of Mauritius beyond its beaches and resort towns.

The stop lasts about 30 minutes, and entry is free. That is enough for photographs and a quick look around, though anyone hoping for a long walk around the crater will find the timing limited.

This opening stop also helps explain the island’s volcanic origin without requiring a strenuous hike. You see a natural feature, hear the basic story from your guide, and continue before the day’s longer views and cultural sites.

Grand Bassin, sacred water, and Lord Shiva

After Trou aux Cerfs, the car heads to Grand Bassin, also called Ganga Talao. The crater lake lies about 550 meters above sea level in the southwest, surrounded by a temple and small shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva and other Hindu deities.

The giant statue of Lord Shiva is hard to miss. At 33 meters high, it is identified as the tallest known statue in Mauritius. The scale gives the stop a strong visual focus, but the religious setting is the real reason to pay attention.

This is an active sacred place, not simply a photo stop. Take a respectful approach around the temple and shrines, and listen to your guide’s explanation of the gods and the site’s importance. The tour description allows about one hour here, giving you more time than at the volcanic crater.

I like this part of the route because it adds meaning to the scenery. Mauritius is not only beaches, sugar fields, and mountain views. Grand Bassin shows the island’s living Hindu traditions in a setting shaped by volcanic geology.

You may find the area busy at times, especially since it draws many worshippers and sightseers. The private car gets you there easily, but it cannot guarantee a quiet visit.

Mare aux Vacoas and the quiet side of the island

The route then passes Mare aux Vacoas reservoir, the largest reservoir on Mauritius, with a capacity of nearly 26 million cubic meters. It is surrounded by thick forest and offers a peaceful pause away from the island’s more visited sights.

This is not a major attraction with a long list of facilities. That is part of its appeal. You stop for a few minutes, take in the water and trees, and continue through the highlands.

Because this is an additional roadside stop rather than one of the numbered main attractions, the exact amount of time may depend on the day. If you enjoy simple views and photography, it earns its place. If you prefer more time at major sights, this is one of the places that could be brief.

Black River Gorges from the viewpoint

Next comes a viewpoint in Black River Gorges Nature Park. The park covers almost 17,000 acres of hills, valleys, waterfalls, native plants, and wildlife in southwestern Mauritius.

The viewpoint gives you a broad look over the forest and gorge country. A waterfall is visible to the right side of the viewing area, and the height above the gorge creates the kind of wide panorama that makes the southern route worthwhile.

The planned stop is around 30 minutes, with free admission. A path leads toward the viewpoint, and souvenir stalls may appear along the way. You might also see monkeys near the viewpoint.

That last detail is worth handling sensibly. Feeding monkeys can create memorable photographs, and Faroz is praised for helping with this moment, but wildlife should still be treated carefully. Do not assume every animal will be calm or approachable.

The park is the natural heart of the day. The stop gives you a taste of Mauritius’s native forest without asking you to spend hours on a trail. If you want a serious hike, this tour is not designed for that. If you want a strong view and a short walk, the timing works well.

Alexandra Falls and Mt Cocotte

Alexandra Falls is another 30-minute stop, located within the Black River Gorges area. Here you look across the cloud forest of Mt Cocotte, see the waterfall, and gaze toward the southern coast.

The setting is more enclosed and atmospheric than the wide gorge viewpoint. Water drops through thick greenery, with local birds and other forest sounds adding to the sense of distance from the coast.

I would keep expectations practical. Half an hour allows time to reach the viewing area, take photographs, and enjoy the falls, but it is not enough for a leisurely exploration of every nearby path. The attraction works best as a focused scenic stop within a larger circuit.

The two Black River Gorges stops complement each other. One gives you the big view over the forest and valleys. The other brings you closer to falling water and the mountain vegetation.

The Bassin Blanc road and its sharp bend

The drive near Bassin Blanc adds a scenic road section rather than a conventional attraction. The route winds through thick forest and includes an almost 180-degree bend.

This part of the day is about the ride itself. The trees create a green canopy over the road, and the tight turn gives the journey a little drama. It is also a useful reminder that some of the best views on a private tour happen between official stops.

You may want your camera ready during this section, but do not expect a dedicated long visit. The route is included as a scenic passage, and the driver will continue toward the final park.

La Vallée des Couleurs and the 23 Colored Earth

The final major stop is La Vallée des Couleurs in Chamouny. About two hours are allowed here, making it the longest stop of the day.

The park is known for the 23 Colored Earth, a natural formation where the soil appears in different shades. The reserve also includes native plants and animals, plateaus, mountains, valleys, craters, and crater lakes.

This stop gives you more freedom than the earlier viewpoints. You can spend time looking at the colored earth, enjoy the natural setting, and consider the local activities available in the park. The exact activities are not included in the tour price, so check the cost before joining anything.

La Vallée des Couleurs is likely to be the most commercial part of the day. That does not make it worthless, but it explains the mixed feeling some people can have about a tightly packed southern circuit. If you want a quiet, unplanned connection with rural Mauritius, two hours here may feel organized for tourism. If you want a clear final attraction with optional activities, it gives the day a satisfying finish.

Admission is not included. The tour price covers private transport and an air-conditioned vehicle, but not all fees and taxes. Bring extra money for the park and lunch.

How the price works for a small group

The listed price is $116.86 per group of up to four, rather than per person. Four people sharing the car pay about $29.22 each before admission fees, lunch, and other charges.

That is a good deal for a private seven-hour outing, especially if you value hotel pickup, air conditioning, and not having to arrange several separate rides. For one person or a couple, the per-person cost is less striking, but the privacy still has value.

Lunch is not included. The driver can recommend a restaurant, which is useful because the route crosses several parts of the island and your meal timing may depend on traffic and how long you spend at each stop.

All entrance and activity fees are also excluded. This matters most at La Vallée des Couleurs. Ask your driver what is optional and what is required before you commit to an activity.

What the guide and vehicle add

The tour is provided by a taxi service in Mauritius, with private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle. Pickup and drop-off are offered from around the island, which removes one of the day’s biggest practical problems.

A good driver-guide makes a large difference on a route like this. You need someone who can handle the roads, explain the religious and natural sites, and keep the schedule moving. Faroz is specifically praised for being friendly, patient, informative, and helpful with the monkeys.

The praise is not universal in tone. One account liked the driver’s care and explanations but felt the day moved through tourist-oriented stops too quickly. That is a fair warning. The route is designed to show you many highlights, not to avoid every organized attraction.

Who should book this southern tour?

I would recommend it to first-time visitors who want a broad look at southern Mauritius in one day. It suits small groups, families, and anyone who prefers a private car to a shared excursion.

It is also a smart choice if you are staying far from the south and want pickup arranged from your hotel. The route combines scenery, religion, geology, and wildlife, so you do not need to choose between a crater, temple, waterfall, or nature park.

You may want something else if your priority is hiking, long quiet stops, or a highly flexible day. The schedule is busy, and several stops last only 30 minutes. A private vehicle gives you more comfort and personal space, but it does not turn a seven-hour circuit into a slow exploration.

Book at least a few weeks ahead if possible. The tour is booked, on average, 29 days in advance, which suggests that planning early is sensible during popular travel periods.

Cancellation and weather notes

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the local start time. Changes or cancellations made inside that 24-hour window are not accepted for a refund.

The tour requires good weather. If poor weather causes cancellation, you will be offered another date or a full refund. That policy matters here because the best parts of the day, especially the mountain viewpoints, waterfalls, and colored earth, depend heavily on clear conditions.

Final verdict: a strong overview with a quick pace

I would book this tour if I wanted one private day to understand southern Mauritius. The route gives you a dormant crater, a major Hindu shrine, a reservoir, forest viewpoints, Alexandra Falls, a scenic mountain road, and the 23 Colored Earth.

Its best qualities are practical: private transport, island-wide pickup, an air-conditioned car, and a price that works well for four people. The guide can also add real value, especially if you receive the patient, friendly service praised in connection with Faroz.

The trade-off is time. You will cover many sights, but some visits will be short, and La Vallée des Couleurs comes with extra fees and a more organized tourist feel. Book it for variety and convenience, not for a quiet, deeply unhurried day in the forest.

FAQ

How long does the Mauritius Guided South tour last?

The tour lasts approximately seven hours, including the driving between the southern attractions and the return to your hotel.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your group participates, with a maximum of four people per booking.

Is hotel pickup available?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off are offered from around the island.

What transportation is provided?

The tour includes private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is excluded. The driver can recommend a restaurant during the day.

Are admission fees included?

No. All fees and taxes are excluded, and admission to La Vallée des Couleurs is specifically not included.

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $116.86 per group of up to four people.

What is the first stop?

The first stop is Trou aux Cerfs, a dormant volcanic crater near Curepipe. The visit lasts about 30 minutes and has no admission fee.

How long do you spend at Grand Bassin?

The planned stop at Grand Bassin lasts about one hour. It includes the crater lake, temple, shrines, and the large statue of Lord Shiva.

What happens if the weather is poor?

Because the tour requires good weather, a cancellation caused by poor conditions results in an alternative date or a full refund.