Southwest Mauritius Exploration: Visiting Hindu Temples, Waterfalls and Unique Seven-colored Earth
4.7
40 Ratings
Trou aux Cerfs
Embark on an exciting 8-hour private tour in Southwest Mauritius. Discover Hindu temples, majestic waterfalls, the unique Seven-colored Earth, and more!
Duration: 8 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Trou aux Cerfs - Start your 8-hour tour with a hotel pick-up from anywhere in Mauritius. You’ll meet our guide, board a comfortable vehicle, and head to your first stop.

Your destination is Trou Aux Cerfs, a renowned natural attraction in Mauritius. This dormant volcanic crater stands about 605 meters above sea level, with a diameter of 350 meters and a depth of around 100 meters.

Unlike typical volcanic landscapes, the crater of Trou aux Cerfs is encircled by a lush forest filled with indigenous plants and towering green pine trees. It is believed that Trou aux Cerfs erupted once and has been dormant for the last 700,000 years, though experts think it could become active again.

One of the main highlights is the 360-degree view of Curepipe town and the stunning vistas of Rempart Mountain, Trois Mamelles, and the Port-Louis-Moka mountain range.

  • Grand Bassin - Next, drive to Ganga Talao, a crater lake situated about 550 meters above sea level. On its shore, you’ll find a temple and several small shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva and other gods.

During your visit, you’ll be awestruck by the gigantic statue of Lord Shiva. But don’t worry, at Grand Bassin, Lord Shiva is depicted as smiling and peaceful. The statue stands 33 meters high, making it the tallest statue in Mauritius. Ganga Talao attracts many visitors who come to pray, meditate, or simply enjoy the beautiful surroundings. The lake is about 18 meters deep and teeming with fish.

  • Alexandra Falls Car Park - Your next stop is Alexandra Falls, located about 700 meters above sea level and one of Mauritius’s most popular nature sites.

You’ve likely seen its images on postcards or in videos showcasing Mauritius’s beauty. Alexandra Falls is not only famous for its breathtaking scenery but also offers a unique experience with nature.

Don’t miss the chance to capture the panoramic view of the South-East Coast and its turquoise ocean from a wooden platform. To your right, you’ll see Alexandra Falls, a silent white stream cascading over rocky outcrops. You’ll also get a view of Mauritius’s untouched green valley, home to many endemic bird species and plants.

  • Black River Gorges National Park - Next, head to the gorge viewpoint for a stunning panoramic view. Located midway between Chamarel and Alexandra Falls, this spot offers a spectacular vista just a 3-5 minute walk from the road. It’s a must-stop location on a road trip from Grand Bassin to Le Morne. The park spans nearly 17,000 acres of unspoiled rainforest, rolling hills, deep valleys, and stunning waterfalls in the southwestern region of Mauritius.

You’ll be amazed at the elevated viewing area above the gorge. To your right, there’s a beautiful waterfall. The national park is renowned for its diverse flora and fauna, and the viewpoint offers a glimpse of its natural beauty.

The Black River Gorges National Park protects most of the island’s remaining rainforest and is home to many species of wild animals and birds.

  • La Vallee des Couleurs - Then, visit the twenty-three colored earth, a natural phenomenon and major tourist attraction. The colors result from the conversion of basaltic lava to clay minerals, creating a surreal, lunar-like landscape of rainbow-hued sand dunes. Set amidst lush green vegetation, this geological wonder is truly mesmerizing.

The area features sand dunes in seven distinct colors: red, brown, violet, green, blue, purple, and yellow. Interestingly, if you mix the colored earth, it will eventually separate into layers. The colors may even appear to play tricks on you, looking like shadows.

There’s also a Tortoise Park and a Souvenir Shop offering local products, while the Coffee Shop provides a pleasant cafe experience.

  • La Vallee des Couleurs - After some time, visit the beautiful waterfall in Mauritius. The waterfall at Chamouny is one of the island’s most famous and recognized, making it a must-see for tourists.

  • Souillac - After a short drive, you’ll pass through Souillac village, where you can experience the unique culture of this charming village, different from other parts of Mauritius.

Next, enjoy a 3-course Mauritian lunch at a local restaurant, featuring fresh salads, rice, soups, chicken curry, or fish and vegetables. You’ll have options, and the chef will explain and ask for your preferences.

  • Gris Gris Beach - Afterward, head to Souillac to see the stunning view of Gris-Gris. The high cliffs here drop abruptly to the sea, and the refreshing winds of the Indian Ocean blow year-round.

Gris-Gris is known for its sea cliffs and offers a magnificent view from the top. Unlike other parts of the island, this area is not surrounded by coral reefs, allowing large waves to crash directly onto the cliffs.

You’ll have a great viewpoint to see the waves crashing against the cliffs. There’s also a small garden with quiet spots to relax and enjoy the sea views.

At ‘Roche Qui Pleure,’ if you look at the rock from the right angle, it appears as a face with tears streaming down as the waves crash.

  • La Vanille Nature Park - Finally, visit La Vanille crocodile park to discover the flora and fauna endemic to Mauritius. You’ll see animals like Nile crocodiles, tenrecs, eels, iguanas, and turtles from Madagascar and Seychelles.

The park also features fossils of extinct animals like the dodo and the elephant bird of Madagascar. Additionally, there’s an insectarium with a rare collection of species from around the world.

Spanning 3.5 hectares, the park is home to many other animals, including monkeys, bats, deer, geckos, and wild boars. You can observe 2,000 Nile crocodiles at different growth stages.

Your tour concludes with a return transport to your hotel.

What's Included
  • Admission to La vanille Crocodile Park
  • Complimentary beverages during lunch (non-alcoholic)
  • Entry to Seven Colored Earth & Chamarel Waterfall
  • Lunch with vegetarian and non-vegetarian options (Halal available)
  • Expert private guide/driver service
  • Air-conditioned private transportation
  • Bottled water provided on arrival
  • Hotel or accommodations pick-up and drop-off in Mauritius
What's Not Included
  • Gratuities (Optional)
Additional Information

This personalized 8-hour expedition takes you through the Southern part of Mauritius, starting with a trip to Grand Bassin, home to a beautiful Hindu temple and the towering statue of Lord Shiva.

Your journey continues with a stop at Alexandra Falls, offering sights of the island’s lush, green southern segment and bountiful waterfall. Following this, you’ll arrive at the spectacular Gorge Viewpoint for a sweeping view of the island’s rich vegetation, referred to as Mauritius’ ‘lung’.

From there, you’ll travel on to the Chamarel viewpoint and the unique Seven-Colored Earth, renowned for its spectrum of sand hues, then on to the Chamarel waterfall - the island’s tallest single-drop waterfall.

A delectable 3-course meal provides refreshment before you proceed to the Maconde viewpoint to take in the breathtaking 360-degree ocean view. Your next destination is the dormant Trou Aux Cerfs volcano, a must-see attraction.

Driving onwards to Gris-Gris, you’ll see impressive sea cliffs before ending your tour at the Crocodile Park, a sanctuary housing a variety of species - animals, reptiles, and plants, nestled amidst a charming rainforest valley.

  • Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking
  • Children ages 3 years and under are free. Please notify of CHILD/ INFANT SEAT at the time of booking
  • Please advise of any food allergies or illness
  • Please wear non slippery shoes
Location
Trou aux Cerfs
Curepipe,
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.7
(40 Ratings)
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Marco_p
May 29, 2024
Grest experience - Although it was a rainy day on and off, I must say that it was never the less an amazing day! Our guide Vimal was very well informed on all aspects of his native Island and passed all that information to us throughout the day. We were never left wondering what to do next. Lunch was amazing in a small restaurant next to a breath taking view point of the ocean. Definately recommend this tour. What we were not able to see due to the bad weather we made up for it by spending a little more time in other places or driving through secondary roads to admire more of the vegetation. Thanks Vimal for being so professional,friendly, and open to your customers needs.
Review provided by Viator
Dawn_c
May 29, 2024
Covers so much! - We had a great time. The tour went to the best spots. Our driver and car were great. We did have a small issue with park entrance but the tour company and viator corrected it. The views were amazing. Would have liked more time in the 23 colors park. So much to do besides what the tour included. They have a huge zip line and amazing suspension bridge. The monkeys at the overlook were so fun and so close. Would definitely recommend and do tour again. Easy from cruise ship.
Review provided by Viator
Bananajoe86
May 26, 2024
Perfect trip with Agi - We had a great day. We were picked up on time at the hotel by our guide Agi and then drove to the first stop, the Black River Gorges National Park, where we saw two beautiful statues of Shiva and Durga. Here you can have ointments applied, very nice. Then we went on to the highest point to see the waterfalls. Really great. After this tour we then drove to the La Vallée Des Couleurs Nature Park where you can do various tours with the quad, buggy (130€) per hour in a three-seater. But it is also possible to walk and even use a cable winch from station to station. We chose the buggy, it took 1 hour and was really fun. After that we went for a delicious lunch at the southernmost point of Mauritius, to Soulliac, where the restaurant was directly opposite the cliffs. Great authentic food. Finally in the crocodile park and everyone was super happy. Our guide Agi was very well prepared and had useful and interesting information about the island and the sights. The boy is very well informed and speaks very good English. It was a pleasure. See you soon 👋
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Stay28114704826
May 25, 2024
Southern Tales - Thrilling Buggy Rides, Crocodile Park, and Stunning Views with Great Guide Agi - Agi, our friendly driver made the tour enjoyable with scenic views thrilling buggy rides and insightful cultural info
Review provided by Tripadvisor
K1962eoliamb
May 10, 2024
An amazing day out! - Our driver arrived on time and was very friendly and welcoming. During the travel he was very knowledgeable and full of information about the local area. The statues and temple were amazing to see up close. We also were able to see some fantastic views and water falls before we arrived at the Nature Park. Once we arrived we were spoiled for choice on activities. I’m we did the quad biking and the bridge walk, both were so much fun! We stopped for lunch and had grilled fish before heading to La Vanille Nature Park which was my favourite part of the day! Lots of animals and HUGE tortoises!!! The day was fantastic and I really recommend this tour!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Liam_b
May 10, 2024
Great trip!! - This was an amazing day trip, so much to see it’s hard to choose between all the activities at La Vallee Des Couleurs Nature Park! The Temples and statues were nice to see on the way too! Our driver was punctual, professional and very friendly. Full of information and very helpful. We just sat back and enjoyed the day!
Review provided by Viator
Collin
May 10, 2024
23 coloured earth and more on top - Our driver Agi arrived in time and with refreshments inside the very clean vehicle. We set off on the tour which we expected to see waterfalls, 23 coloured earth, crocodiles and giant tortoises. What we got was all that and so much more including statues of religious deities, the southern coast and the mountainous region. Agi was very knowledgeable and a great guide, full of info and guided us well. The lunch was good and a great location and we were back at the expected time. Highly recommend this tour and if you want to book and can request a driver request Agi. 10/10
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kathrinl459
May 6, 2024
We recommend. - It was a wonderful day. Our guide Agi was at our hotel on time. We saw a lot and as we were briefly surprised by the rain, Agi even had umbrellas for us. He was happy to answer all of our questions and told us a lot about the island. Thank you for the wonderful experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Wolfgangfp6279ic
Apr 20, 2024
Another kind of trip - Instead of rain and fog it was an interesting trip with a lot of very good impressions. Also the kind of crocodiles and the amount of turtles. Our driver Yash did a great job.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Freedom19610273654
May 4, 2024
Nice day in Mauritius - It was a wonderful trip. The price-performance ratio is good overall. We were only a little disappointed by the crocodile park. Unfortunately it is set up like a zoo. Our driver Daren was excellent, very polite, very accommodating and a very good driver. Big compliments to him.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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2 Adult
June 2024
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