South of Mauritius :Full day package including Chamarel Coloured earth & lunch

Mauritius packs a lot into one day. This private southern-island outing links Chamarel’s seven-coloured earth, sacred Ganga Talao, waterfalls, forests, and high viewpoints without leaving you trapped in a vehicle for hours. The route covers more than nine stops, with most drives lasting about 15 to 45 minutes.

I like the wide mix of nature and culture, and I like that lunch, Chamarel entry, snacks, and non-alcoholic drinks are included. The main caution is that the day depends heavily on your driver: some guides, including Hans, Harsh Dindoyal, and Vic, have added food, history, and personal attention, while another experience felt more like transport with drop-offs than a guided tour. One report also described an awkward pickup, shopping stops, and a poor lunch.

Key points to know before booking

• Chamarel combines two major sights: You see the famous seven-coloured earth and Chamarel Waterfall, with entry to the private park included.
• Ganga Talao adds real cultural meaning: This peaceful sacred lake, also called Grand Bassin, has colourful Hindu temples and large Shiva imagery.
• The day is built around viewpoints: Alexandra Falls, Macabé, Trou aux Cerfs, Maconde, and Île aux Bénitiers each show a different side of Mauritius.
• You book a private vehicle: Only your own group participates, and the driver can adjust the day for weather and personal requests.
• Lunch and small extras are included: The package covers a typical lunch, snacks, non-alcoholic drinks, and bottled water on request.
• Road conditions can change the route: Chamarel Road has had a government closure from February 20, 2024, and cyclone damage has affected some attractions.

What this southern Mauritius tour is really like

This is not a slow, single-sight excursion. It is a full sweep through the island’s southwest and central interior, with short visits at many scenic places. You move from Hindu pilgrimage sites to volcanic craters, from rainforest viewpoints to waterfalls and coastal roads.

The private format is a major advantage. You do not share the vehicle with strangers, and you can speak directly with the driver about photo stops, timing, or personal requests. That flexibility matters on a route affected by rain, road diversions, and occasional closures.

The advertised start is 8:30 a.m. The exact length needs a little caution. The experience is described as a full-day tour, but the general duration also appears as approximately one to eight hours. One person found the day about two hours shorter than expected. If you want every stop at a relaxed pace, ask for a clear pickup time and expected return time before departure.

Chamarel’s seven-coloured earth and waterfall

Chamarel is the day’s main attraction. The coloured earth is a small area of rolling ground where mineral-rich soil forms bands of red, yellow, purple, blue, and other shades. The colors are most interesting in the way they sit beside one another, rather than as a huge sweeping park. You will likely spend time looking closely, taking photos, and enjoying the oddness of the sight.

The stop is listed at about 45 minutes, and admission to the coloured earth is included. That saves you one extra ticket purchase and keeps the central attraction simple.

Chamarel Waterfall is a separate highlight in the same village area. The waterfall drops through forested surroundings and gives you a strong photo stop even if you do not have time for a long walk. The visit is listed at 15 minutes, with admission included.

The short timing is the main limitation. You should expect viewpoints and photographs rather than a long nature walk. Road access has also changed. A government closure affecting 52 Turn Chamarel Road was noted from February 20, 2024, so the driver may need to use diversions or alter the order of stops.

Ganga Talao, Shiva, and a quieter side of Mauritius

Grand Bassin, known as Ganga Talao, is one of the most meaningful stops on the route. It is a sacred lake for Hindus in Mauritius, surrounded by temples and colorful religious images. You get about 45 minutes here, enough to walk around the water, see the shrines, and take in the calm setting.

This is a place where respectful behavior matters. Dress and act as you would at any active religious site. The tour description notes that monkeys may appear near the lake. They are described as non-aggressive, but you should still avoid feeding or approaching them closely.

Several accounts praised the drivers for adding cultural context here. Hans was particularly appreciated for stopping for Mauritian snacks and water early in the day, then helping connect the large Shiva figure and the sacred lake to the island’s Hindu traditions. That kind of explanation can make Grand Bassin feel like more than a quick photo stop.

Alexandra Falls and the Black River forest

Alexandra Falls sits within a protected nature reserve and offers one of the better high viewpoints in the south. The waterfall itself is only part of the appeal. You also get a look at thick forest and endemic trees, meaning plants native to Mauritius.

The planned stop lasts about 30 minutes. That is enough for photographs and a short look around, though not for serious hiking. If you are hoping for a trail-heavy day, this tour may feel too vehicle-based.

Black River Gorges National Park appears twice in the schedule, with Macabé and another gorge viewpoint listed separately. The Macabé viewpoint gives you a broad view into the gorge valley and is one of the stronger scenic stops of the day. A second viewpoint offers a similar type of outlook, so the two visits may feel repetitive if you prefer variety.

Rain matters here. The route information specifically warns against visiting the viewpoint during wet weather, and the driver is expected to advise you based on conditions. You may also see wild monkeys near Macabé, where people sometimes feed them. Enjoy the sight, but remember that feeding wild animals can change their behavior and create problems.

Île aux Bénitiers from above, not from the beach

This stop requires careful reading. You do not go to Île aux Bénitiers. Instead, you stop at a higher viewpoint overlooking the island and the blue water around it.

The stop lasts only about 10 minutes. That makes it a quick photograph break, not a beach outing or boat trip. If your main goal is swimming, snorkeling, or stepping onto Île aux Bénitiers, this is the wrong experience.

Still, the elevated view gives you a useful sense of the coast. It also breaks up the inland stops with a glimpse of Mauritius’s lagoon and offshore islands.

Trou aux Cerfs and Floreal in the central highlands

Trou aux Cerfs is a dormant volcano in the central part of Mauritius. Its crater is now green and open, with views across the surrounding area. You get about 20 minutes here, enough to see the rim and take photographs.

The stop offers a different kind of scenery from Chamarel and Black River Gorges. Instead of a waterfall or forest valley, you are looking into a volcanic crater that helps explain how the island was formed. Entry is included.

Floreal is described as a bonus stop in central Mauritius and lasts about 20 minutes. It is a familiar tourist area, so do not expect the same sense of wild nature found at Alexandra Falls or Macabé. Its value is practical: it adds a central-island pause and can serve as an alternative if weather or road conditions affect another stop.

The schedule also mentions a beautiful reservoir in a protected forest, reached by a peaceful road with attractive views. The information does not give it a formal stop name or exact duration, so treat it as a possible scenic drive rather than a guaranteed long visit.

Maconde Viewpoint and the southern road

Maconde is one of the most photographed viewpoints on the southern coast. The road and lookout provide a dramatic coastal photo opportunity, and the stop lasts about 20 minutes.

This is another place where the value comes from a short pause rather than an activity. You get out, see the coast, take pictures, and continue. Bring patience if you are hoping for a quiet, empty scene, since famous viewpoints can attract plenty of people.

The overall route is well suited to someone who wants to collect many different impressions in one day. It is less suited to someone who prefers to settle into one place for several hours.

Lunch, snacks, and the local touch

A typical Mauritian lunch is included, along with non-alcoholic drinks. Snacks are also included, and bottled water is available on request to the driver. Those extras make the $122.99 price easier to justify, especially because you do not need to arrange food while moving between scattered sights.

The food is also meant to connect the day with local life. One especially positive account praised Hans for introducing Mauritian snacks and street food along the way. That can be one of the most personal parts of the experience, since a meal often tells you more about daily life than another lookout.

There is a clear caution here. One unhappy account described the lunch as inedible. That may reflect a specific meal, supplier, or personal taste, but it is enough reason to tell the company about dietary needs in advance and ask what lunch includes. Do not assume the meal will suit every diet.

Your driver may make or break the day

The strongest praise centers on the drivers. Hans is repeatedly described as friendly, accommodating, and good at choosing photo spots. Harsh Dindoyal was praised for explaining Mauritian history, culture, and food, while Vic was credited with explaining the plan at the beginning and responding to individual requests.

That personal service is important because this is a driver-led tour, not necessarily a walking tour with a guide at every stop. At some places, the driver may walk with you and explain what you are seeing. At others, you may be dropped near the entrance and expected to follow signs independently.

If you want detailed interpretation at every viewpoint, say so when booking and again at pickup. A driver who knows the island and enjoys talking can turn the route into a proper cultural day. A driver who mainly provides transport will leave you to explore much of it on your own.

The private format gives you a better chance of shaping the day. You can ask for more time at Chamarel, a shorter stop at a less interesting viewpoint, or help with a weather-related change. But do not assume every request can be met if road closures, rain, or opening conditions interfere.

Pickup and timing need extra care

Pickup is offered, and the normal start time is 8:30 a.m. The tour is near public transportation, but the private pickup is more useful if you are staying at a hotel or arriving by ship.

Confirm the exact meeting place carefully, especially at the dock. One person lost about an hour trying to locate the driver because the pickup point was not coordinated clearly. That is a preventable problem, so keep the provider’s contact information available and confirm the precise meeting spot before the morning begins.

The vehicle is said to be sanitized, and the company reports following Covid-19 protocols. Air conditioning should be a reasonable comfort expectation in Mauritius, but one complaint described difficulty getting the driver to use it. If temperature is important to you, make that request clearly at the start.

Is $122.99 good value?

At $122.99 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see Mauritius. It becomes better value if you are traveling as a couple or small private group and would otherwise need to hire a car, pay several entry fees, organize lunch, and plan a complicated route.

The price includes admission to Chamarel’s coloured earth and waterfall area, Trou aux Cerfs entry as listed, lunch, non-alcoholic drinks, snacks, pickup, and private transportation. It also buys you route planning across the south and central highlands.

The value drops if your day ends much earlier than expected, if several stops are rushed, or if you mainly want one attraction. It also drops if you expect a formal guide at every site. Ask what the price includes in terms of guiding, not just driving.

With a 4.4 rating from 26 published ratings, the overall picture is positive but not spotless. The best experiences involve drivers who are warm, flexible, and proud to share Mauritian food and culture. The weaker ones involve unclear pickup arrangements, unwanted shopping stops, lunch problems, and limited explanation.

Who should book this tour?

I would recommend it to you if this is your first visit to Mauritius and you want to see a lot of the south without driving yourself. It suits photographers, couples, families, and small groups who value private transport and frequent viewpoints.

It is also a good choice if you want both natural sights and cultural places. Chamarel, Alexandra Falls, Black River Gorges, and Maconde cover scenery, while Ganga Talao and local food add a stronger sense of place.

I would be cautious if you dislike a packed schedule, need guaranteed accessibility details, or want long walks in nature. The information says most people can participate, but it does not provide detailed accessibility guidance. Ask about vehicle access and walking distances if those details matter to you.

Should you book South of Mauritius?

Book it if you want a busy private sightseeing day with many different stops, included food, and the chance of a personable local driver. The route gives you a strong first look at Mauritius’s waterfalls, volcanic interior, sacred places, forests, and coast.

Before paying, confirm the pickup location, current Chamarel road access, expected return time, lunch arrangements, and whether the driver will walk with you at each site. If you set those expectations clearly, the tour offers good convenience and a lot to see for the price. If you want a relaxed day or a fully guided experience at every stop, choose a slower and more specialized option instead.

FAQ

What time does the tour start?

The stated start time is 8:30 a.m.

How long does the tour last?

It is described as a full-day experience, but the general duration is also shown as approximately one to eight hours. One account found the day two hours shorter than expected, so confirm the planned return time before departure.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your own group participates in the private activity.

Is hotel or port pickup available?

Pickup is offered. If you are being collected at a dock, confirm the exact meeting place carefully because an unclear port pickup previously caused a long wait.

Does the tour include lunch?

Yes. A typical Mauritian lunch and non-alcoholic beverages are included. Tell the company about special dietary requirements before the tour.

Is bottled water included?

Bottled water can be provided on request to the driver. Snacks are included.

Do I visit Île aux Bénitiers?

No. The tour stops at a viewpoint overlooking Île aux Bénitiers. You do not go onto the island.

Are entrance fees included?

Entry to Chamarel’s coloured earth and waterfall area is included. Trou aux Cerfs is also listed with admission included. Other stops are listed as free.

What happens if the weather is bad?

The experience requires good weather. If poor weather causes cancellation, you can receive a different date or a full refund. The driver may also advise changing or skipping viewpoints, especially at Black River Gorges, during rain.