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

One day, nine memorable stops. This southern Mauritius outing packs a remarkable range of sights into roughly seven to eight hours, from a dormant volcano and sacred lake to tea fields, sea cliffs, waterfalls, and the famous 23-Colored Earth. I like the private air-conditioned transport and the fact that hotel pickup and drop-off are included, so you can focus on the scenery instead of island roads.

I also like the three-course lunch, with vegetarian and halal options, plus drinks. The main consideration is pace: this is a full sightseeing day, and the quality of guiding may depend on who drives you. Some guides, including Manu and Deva, have been praised for being warm, flexible, and well informed, while one account found the guide acted more like a taxi driver and did not accompany the visitor into the temple.

Key points to know before booking

• Trou aux Cerfs gives you a 360-degree start: The dormant crater sits about 605 meters above sea level and looks across Curepipe and several major mountain ranges.
• Bois Cheri adds real local character: You see tea production, visit the factory and museum, and learn why tea matters in Mauritius.
• Grand Bassin is a sacred place, not just a photo stop: The 33-meter statue of Lord Shiva is impressive, but respectful behavior and suitable clothing matter.
• Gris Gris is for waves and cliffs, not swimming: Strong currents make this a viewing and walking stop.
• The lunch helps justify the price: Food, nonalcoholic drinks, transport, guide service, and several admissions are included in the $136.44 per-person cost.
• The itinerary is ambitious: You get variety, but most stops are brief, so this suits you if you prefer seeing many sights rather than spending a whole day in one place.

Why this southern Mauritius route works

Southern Mauritius has a different feel from the island’s resort beaches. You move through upland forests, crater country, tea plantations, Hindu pilgrimage sites, national park viewpoints, and a rugged coast. In one day, you see how much variety fits into a relatively small island.

The route also saves you from stitching together separate taxis, rental-car directions, and entrance tickets. A private vehicle matters here because the stops are spread across the interior and south coast. You can ask for a little more time at a favorite viewpoint, and the guide can keep the day moving when the schedule demands it.

The cost is $136.44 per person. That is not a budget excursion, but the package includes hotel pickup and return anywhere in Mauritius, private transportation, a certified guide-driver, bottled water on arrival, lunch, drinks, and admission to the tea factory and the 23-Colored Earth and waterfall area. If you would otherwise pay for a full-day private car, meals, and several entrances, the price offers fair value.

The tradeoff is that nine stops create a busy day. You will not have time for long walks, careful museum study, or a slow meal at every location. I would choose this tour for range and convenience, not for a relaxed pace.

Trou aux Cerfs: a volcanic crater above Curepipe

The day begins at Trou aux Cerfs, one of Mauritius’s best quick introductions to the island’s volcanic origins. The crater is about 350 meters across and roughly 100 meters deep, with the rim reaching around 605 meters above sea level.

Instead of a bare bowl of dark rock, you find a crater surrounded by forest, indigenous plants, and tall green pine trees. The site is believed to have erupted once and remained dormant for about 700,000 years. Experts consider it capable of becoming active again, though the appeal for you is the view, not a sense of danger.

Allow about 35 minutes here. The highlight is the broad view over Curepipe, Rempart Mountain, Trois Mamelles, and the Port-Louis-Moka mountain range. This is an easy stop for photographs and orientation, especially early in the day when you are still getting a sense of Mauritius’s interior.

Mare aux Vacoas reservoir and the island’s forested interior

The reservoir viewpoint at Mare aux Vacoas is quieter and less dramatic than the crater, but it gives the route breathing room. The reservoir is the largest on the island, with a capacity of almost 26 million cubic meters.

You have about 30 minutes here. Thick forest surrounds the water, and the attraction is the calm view rather than a formal visitor facility or major monument. I would treat this as a short pause between the more famous sights.

This stop also helps show why a private vehicle is useful. You can enjoy a scenic viewpoint without needing to work out how to connect it with the next attraction by public transport. Do not expect a full activity here. It is a look, a few photographs, and a chance to enjoy a quieter side of Mauritius.

Alexandra Falls and the Black River Gorges viewpoint

Alexandra Falls is one of the island’s familiar postcard scenes, but it is still worth seeing in person. At about 700 meters above sea level, the waterfall sits in a high, forested area with a broad view toward the southeast coast and turquoise water in the distance.

The planned stop is about 30 minutes. A wooden platform helps you take in the wider view, and you should bring a camera if you enjoy sweeping mountain and ocean scenes. This is not presented as a long hike, so you get a scenic payoff without committing much time or effort.

The Black River Gorges viewpoint comes next, with another 30-minute stop. The viewpoint is only about a three to five minute walk from the road, making it one of the easiest ways to see the national park. From above the gorge, you can look across rolling hills, forest, valleys, and a waterfall off to the side.

The park covers almost 17,000 acres and protects a large part of southwestern Mauritius. You will not explore all of that area on this tour, of course. What you get is a strong overview from a road-accessible viewpoint. Wear shoes with good grip, especially if the ground is damp.

Grand Bassin and the 33-meter Lord Shiva statue

Grand Bassin, also called Ganga Talao, is both a natural site and an important Hindu religious place. The lake sits in the crater of an extinct volcano at about 550 meters above sea level. A temple and small shrines line the shore, creating a setting that feels peaceful and significant rather than simply scenic.

The giant Lord Shiva statue is hard to miss. At 33 meters high, it gives the visit an immediate visual focus and makes this one of the most recognizable stops in southern Mauritius.

You have about 40 minutes here. That is enough for a look around, photographs, and a quiet moment by the lake, but it may not be enough if you want to study every shrine or spend a long time inside the temple area. Be respectful, keep your voice low, and follow any signs or local instructions.

There is one practical point worth clarifying. A private guide may not always walk into the temple with you. One account found the driver dropped the visitor at the entrance and offered little explanation inside. If learning the religious background is important to you, ask your guide directly for context before leaving the vehicle or request that they accompany you where permitted.

Bois Cheri Tea Factory and Museum

Bois Cheri is one of the most useful stops on the route because it connects scenery with daily life and local industry. Mauritius is well known for tea, and the factory visit shows how the product moves from plantation to finished drink.

A guide leads you through the factory and tea plantation, explaining the story of Bois Cheri and the role of tea production in Mauritius. The tea museum adds historical context, so this is more than a quick stop for a cup and a photograph.

The planned visit lasts about one hour. You can expect an educational factory visit, a look at the plantation, and a panoramic view toward the south. The tea experience and tasting have been especially well received, making this a likely favorite for anyone who enjoys food, drink, or working landscapes.

The factory also breaks up the natural viewpoints with something more hands-on. You are not only looking at Mauritius here. You are learning about one of its important agricultural products. Admission is included, which strengthens the overall value of the tour.

Lunch: a practical three-course pause

Lunch is included and comes as three courses, with vegetarian and nonvegetarian choices. Halal food is available, and nonalcoholic beverages are included. Specific menu choices can vary, but one meal included chicken curry, fish salad as a starter, and vanilla ice cream.

This matters on a long itinerary. You do not need to spend time searching for a restaurant or worry about adding a substantial meal to the day’s cost. The food has also been praised, so lunch is not merely a box to check between stops.

Tell the provider about food allergies, illness, or dietary needs when you book. Vegetarian food is available, but advance notice is sensible. Since the tour has many stops, lunch is best viewed as a comfortable reset rather than a long culinary event.

Gris Gris Beach: dramatic coast, dangerous water

Gris Gris gives you a sharp change of scenery. After passing through Souillac village, the route reaches a coastal viewpoint where waves crash against dark rock cliffs.

A small garden has benches and quiet spots for sitting. From there, a path leads toward a small beach, giving you a closer view of the sea and cliffs. The stop is scheduled for about two hours, making it one of the longest parts of the day.

That extra time is useful because the coast deserves more than a quick photograph. You can stroll, sit, and watch the surf. But do not swim here. The waves and currents are very strong, even though the beach has pale sand.

Gris Gris is a good example of why this tour is more than a standard beach excursion. It shows the force of the open sea and the rougher character of the southern coast. If you want calm swimming water, this is not the place. If you enjoy cliffs, sea spray, and dramatic views, it may become one of your favorite stops.

The 23-Colored Earth and Chamouny Waterfall

The final stretch reaches the Valle Advenature Park area, home to the attraction commonly called the 23-Colored Earth. The earth formed as basaltic lava changed into clay minerals, creating bands and patches of red, brown, violet, green, blue, purple, and yellow shades.

The effect is unusual: low, rainbow-toned dunes surrounded by green plant life. The colors are especially striking because the site is compact and clearly different from the natural areas seen earlier in the day.

The attraction is described as having seven distinct visible colors in some areas, despite its familiar 23-Colored Earth name. Do not expect a huge wilderness walk. This is a managed sightseeing stop, with about 40 minutes planned for viewing and photographs.

Admission to the colored earth and waterfall is included. That is helpful because this is one of the signature paid attractions on the route.

The nearby Chamouny Waterfall provides another short nature stop, lasting about 25 minutes. It is a single-drop waterfall surrounded by dense vegetation. You get a final burst of forest scenery after the open coast and unusual earth colors.

Together, these two stops make a strong finish. One is geological and highly visual. The other is a straightforward waterfall in thick greenery. Neither requires the long trek that a remote waterfall might demand, though non-slippery shoes are specifically recommended.

The guide and vehicle can shape the whole day

Pickup begins at about 8:30 a.m., with return after roughly seven to eight hours. Hotel or accommodation pickup and drop-off are included anywhere in Mauritius, and transport is provided in a fully air-conditioned vehicle.

Private transport is one of the strongest features. You avoid the stress of navigating unfamiliar roads, and you can ask questions during the drive. Some guides have made the day especially personal. Manu was praised for kindness, local information, and a meal stop that pleased the group. Deva was described as respectful, friendly, and willing to add an extra viewpoint as a surprise.

The experience is not identical with every guide. One account found the service polite but mainly transport-focused, with limited interpretation at Grand Bassin. I would set expectations early: tell your guide whether you want detailed explanations, extra photo time, or a faster route through less important stops.

The overall rating is 4.6 out of 5 from nine ratings, with most of the praise focused on punctuality, courtesy, flexibility, the tea visit, waterfalls, colored earth, and lunch. That is encouraging, but the small number of ratings means you should still view the guiding style as a possible variable.

Who should book this tour?

I would recommend it to you if you have one free day for southern Mauritius and want to see a broad sample of the island without renting a car. It works particularly well for couples, families, and small private groups that value door-to-door transport and a guide-driver.

You will also appreciate it if you want a mix of culture, geology, food, forest, and coastline. The day is not built around strenuous walking, and most stops are close to the vehicle. Good shoes still matter because viewpoints, paths, and damp ground can be uneven.

I would think twice if you prefer slow travel. Nine stops mean plenty of variety, but not much time to linger at each one. I would also ask about the guide’s role if detailed interpretation is important to you, especially at Grand Bassin.

Weather can affect the experience. The tour requires good weather, and a poor-weather cancellation offers either another date or a full refund. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time, but changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted.

Final verdict: strong value for a packed day

Book this tour if you want southern Mauritius in one efficient sweep: volcanic crater, reservoir, waterfalls, national park views, sacred lake, tea production, rugged coast, colored earth, and lunch. The private vehicle and included meal make the $136.44 price easier to justify, especially if you are not planning to drive.

Skip it if your ideal day means one major attraction, a long hike, or a leisurely beach stop. For everyone else, this is a well-rounded introduction to the island’s south, with enough cultural and natural variety to keep the day interesting. Just confirm your food needs, wear grippy shoes, and tell the guide that you want more than a series of drop-offs.

FAQ

What is included in the Southern Treasures tour?

The tour includes hotel or accommodation pickup and drop-off anywhere in Mauritius, private air-conditioned transportation, a certified private guide-driver, bottled water on arrival, a three-course lunch, nonalcoholic lunch beverages, and admission to the Bois Cheri Tea Factory and the 23-Colored Earth and waterfall area.

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts approximately seven to eight hours. Pickup begins at about 8:30 a.m.

Is lunch suitable for vegetarians?

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

Can I swim at Gris Gris Beach?

No. Swimming is not advised at Gris Gris because the waves and currents are extremely strong. The stop is intended for walking, sitting in the garden, and viewing the cliffs and sea.

What should I wear?

Wear non-slippery shoes. The route includes viewpoints, paths, waterfalls, and outdoor areas where firm grip can be useful.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you will be offered a different date or a full refund. For your own cancellation, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the start time to receive a full refund.