Private North Day Tour: Botanical Garden, Sugar Museum, Rum Tasting, Port Louis

SSR Botanic Garden - Located in the historic village of Pamplemousses, the renowned Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden awaits your visit. Here, you can marvel at the giant waterlilies and explore 85 varieties of palm trees from across the globe. Discover a variety of spices and medicinal plants while learning about both native and imported flora.

L’Aventure du Sucre - Also in Pamplemousses, explore L’Aventure du Sucre, an enlightening museum housed in a former sugar factory. Uncover the history of sugar, Mauritius, the slave trade, and rum. Gain a deeper understanding of the island and its people while sampling various sugars and delightful local rums.

Chateau De Labourdonnais - Experience the Château de Labourdonnais, a beautifully restored colonial mansion from 1859, and wander through its captivating tropical garden. The tour includes a visit to the château, a stroll through the orchard and bird garden, a view of the giant tortoises, a guided tour of the estate’s rum distillery, and complimentary rum tasting at the bar. Note: Bring mosquito repellent. Due to the age and value of certain items inside, flash photography is prohibited as it may cause damage.

Port Louis - No tour of the North is complete without visiting Port Louis, the capital of Mauritius. The city offers a blend of old and new. On one side, experience the vibrant historical market (bazaar) from 1828, where you can haggle for spices and souvenirs and enjoy Mauritian street food. On the other, explore the modern Caudan Waterfront, where visitors can shop at brand-name stores and dine at various restaurants. Visit areas of interest such as the Aapravasi Ghat (UNESCO heritage site) and the smaller streets. For stunning views, your driver will stop at the Citadel, and you’ll also see the Champs de Mars racecourse along the way.

Private South Day Tour: Tea Factory, Nature Park and Wild South Coast

Bois Cheri Tea Factory - Discover the tea-making process at Bois Chéri, Mauritius’ first tea plantation, established in 1892. Tour the plantation, factory, and museum to learn about tea production from harvest to fermentation, drying, sieving, and packaging, as well as the history of tea in Mauritius. After the guided tour, sample delicious tea varieties on the terrace of the old chalet and admire a volcanic crater now transformed into a small lake, surrounded by lush greenery.

La Vanille Nature Park - Explore La Vanille Réserve des Mascareignes, spanning 3.5 hectares of lush greenery. Discover its beautiful palm and banana trees, giant bamboos, and impressive animals, including 2,000 Nile Crocodiles and 1,000 giant tortoises. Visit their insectarium, which boasts one of the world’s best private collections with 23,000 species.

Gris Gris Beach - Take in the dramatic scenery of powerful waves crashing against the cliffs at Gris Gris. Nearby, witness La Roche qui pleure, a natural rock formation resembling a crying person when struck by waves.

Private Southwest Day Tour: 7-Coloured Earth, Chamarel Waterfall, Trou aux Cerfs with Optional Dolphin Swim

Tamarin Bay - Note: This part of the tour is optional.

Begin your day with an unforgettable experience, one of Mauritius’ most popular activities: swimming with wild dolphins in their natural habitat. Once aboard the speedboat, professional and qualified skippers will brief you on the essential aspects of this adventure. Head to Tamarin Bay for the dolphin encounter, where skippers will accompany you in the water during your turn to swim with the dolphins. Enjoy 2.5 hours on the open sea, observing and swimming with dolphins. Depending on the remaining time, visit The Aquarium, a popular snorkeling and diving site with stunning coral and tropical fish.

Trou aux Cerfs - After swimming with wild dolphins, your driver will take you to explore the Trou aux Cerfs volcano. Enjoy 360-degree views from the volcano’s summit while strolling around the crater. This dormant volcano stands approximately 600m above sea level and offers breathtaking panoramic views of the island on clear days.

Grand Bassin - Pass by Mauritius’ largest reservoir, Mare-aux-Vacoas, en route to Grand Bassin, a serene crater lake considered sacred by the Hindu community. Discover Hindu culture by visiting the temples around the lake and enjoy the tranquility of the surroundings. Be amazed by the towering Shiva statue and the view from the highest temple. Watch out for monkeys and wildlife. Note: This stop may not be possible in February or March due to the Mahashivaratree festival pilgrimage.

Black River Gorges National Park - Nature enthusiasts will appreciate the stunning views of Black River Gorges, Mauritius’ largest national park. Spanning 6754 hectares, the park is home to numerous endemic flora and fauna and offers beautiful hikes of varying difficulty levels. During your drive through the park and Plaine des Champagnes, stop to admire Alexandra Falls and its viewpoint. If in season, like the locals, pick a few goyaves de chine!

Chamarel Seven Coloured Earth Geopark - Visit the renowned Chamarel, the colored earth site, where you can marvel at the geological wonders of the seven-colored dunes and view Chamarel Falls, Mauritius’ most famous waterfall! Don’t forget to stop by the giant tortoise pens before leaving the park!

• Hotel pickup and drop-off included
• Swim with wild dolphins in their natural habitat
• Travel comfortably in a private air-conditioned and insured car
• Experience snorkeling by the coral reef (equipment provided)
• Enjoy the expertise of a fully licensed, qualified driver
• No extra charges with included parking fees

• Entrance fees
• Lunch or snacks

Our ‘Essential Mauritius’ package comprises of three personalized tours, each lasting for 8 hours, that lets you discover the prime sights at leisure. Note: It’s upon you to decide the sequence of the tours.

Day 1: Tour of the North
• Visit the Pamplemousses botanical garden
• Tour the L’Aventure du Sucre, a museum dedicated to sugar and rum
• Explore the colonial mansion and garden at Château de Labourdonnais
• Travel around Port Louis

Day 2: Journey to the South
• Stroll around Bois Cheri tea plantation
• Enjoy La Vanille park inhabited by crocodiles and tortoises
• Witness the rugged rockscapes of Gris Gris and La Roche Qui Pleure

Day 3: Excursion to the Southwest with Optional Wild Dolphin Swim
• Optional: Shared boat ride for wild dolphin swim
• Gaze at the Trou aux Cerfs volcano
• Admire the Grand Bassin, a sacred lake
• Traverse the Black River Gorges national park
• Experience the seven colored earth at Chamarel

• You can choose which tour you do on each day, and the days do not need to be consecutive. We will contact you through the TripAdvisor portal upon booking.
• The dolphin portion of this outing is not recommended for pregnant women. All children under 12 years old should be accompanied.
• Each tour lasts up to eight hours, and you will be able to choose how long you spend at each attraction (except for the dolphin portion). Depending on your group’s speed you may not have time to see all the listed attractions. You will be able to stop for lunch but the price of the lunch is not included.
• Bring swimwear for the dolphin’s portion, and comfortable walking shoes for the rest of the tours.

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