Wild South: Full-Day tour incl Rhumerie St Aubin, Bois cheri Tea factory & Lunch

The best part of this southern Mauritius tour is the variety packed into one day. You move from a volcanic crater and sacred lake to waterfalls, rainforest views, crashing surf, tea fields, and a colonial rum house. Bois Chéri Tea Factory and Rhumerie St Aubin give the day a local food-and-drink focus, not just a string of photo stops.

I like the private vehicle and hotel pickup, since you can set your own pace more easily than on a large coach. I also like that lunch, bottled water, tea tasting, and rum tasting are included. The drawback is the schedule: eight stops in 7 to 8 hours leaves little room for a long walk or an unplanned pause, and the route may feel rushed if every stop runs to its stated time.

Key points to know before booking

• Eight southern stops in one day: You visit Trou aux Cerfs, Mare aux Vacoas, Grand Bassin, Alexandra Falls, Black River Gorges, Bois Chéri, Gris-Gris Beach, and Rhumerie St Aubin.
• Private touring: Only your group takes part, with round-trip pickup from any hotel or accommodation in Mauritius.
• Tea and rum are central: The tour includes a guided tea-factory visit, tea tasting, rum tasting, and entry to both sites.
• Lunch is included: You receive a three-course halal meal with non-alcoholic drinks, with vegetarian food available if requested ahead of time.
• Expect a full day on the road: The start time is 8:30 a.m., and total duration is about 7 to 8 hours.
• Plan for changing weather: Good weather is required, especially for the outdoor viewpoints and coastal stops.

What this southern Mauritius tour is really like

This is a sightseeing circuit rather than a hiking day. You will spend most of the time riding between scenic points, with short visits at each stop. That makes it useful if you want a broad look at southern Mauritius without arranging a car, but less suitable if you prefer to settle into one place for half a day.

The private format matters. Your guide and driver can explain the island as you go, and your group does not have to share the vehicle with strangers. The vehicle is fully air-conditioned, which is welcome in Mauritius, where warm weather and winding roads can make a long outing tiring.

The tour costs about $143.72 per person. That is not a bargain-priced sightseeing bus, but the price covers private transport, a certified guide-driver, hotel transfers, several admissions, lunch, drinks, tea tasting, rum tasting, and bottled water. If you are traveling as a couple or small group and want one organized day, the package has reasonable value. If you are already renting a car, the price is harder to justify.

The route description includes a large number of stops, so you should treat the schedule as a framework rather than a promise that every place will receive a leisurely visit. One piece of available feedback refers to a northern Mauritius route, botanical gardens, a sugar museum, and a guide named Paco, which does not match this southern itinerary. Confirm the exact route and guide details at booking so there is no confusion.

Trou aux Cerfs gives you a volcanic beginning

Your first stop is Trou aux Cerfs, a dormant volcanic crater about 605 meters above sea level. The crater measures roughly 350 meters across and about 100 meters deep, making it easy to understand from the surrounding viewpoint.

What makes the site interesting is the vegetation. The crater is ringed by forest, indigenous plants, and tall green pine trees rather than bare volcanic rock. You receive about 40 minutes here, enough to look into the crater and take photographs without turning the stop into a strenuous walk.

This is a good place to begin because it introduces the volcanic forces that shaped Mauritius. Do not expect a dramatic active volcano or a long trail. The appeal lies in the combination of geology, high elevation, and greenery.

Mare aux Vacoas offers a quiet forest pause

The drive continues to Mare aux Vacoas, the largest reservoir on the island, with a capacity of almost 26 million cubic meters. You have about 20 minutes here.

This is a brief viewpoint stop, not a major attraction with a long program. Thick forest surrounds the reservoir, and the water gives you a calmer scene after the built-up parts of the island. I would use this time for photographs and a quick breath of cooler highland air.

The short visit also shows the tradeoff of this tour. Mare aux Vacoas is included because it fits naturally into the route, but you may feel that 20 minutes is enough only for a look, not a full appreciation of the area.

Grand Bassin adds faith and local culture

Grand Bassin, also called Ganga Talao, is a crater lake at around 550 meters above sea level. On its shore are a temple and shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva and other Hindu deities.

The large Shiva statue is the visual centerpiece. At 33 meters, it is described as the tallest known statue in Mauritius, and you can see it before reaching the lakeside religious area. The site is both a scenic highland stop and an important place of worship, so you should behave respectfully and follow any instructions from your guide.

You have about one hour here, which gives this stop more breathing room than Mare aux Vacoas. It is one of the better places to listen to your guide and understand how religion, pilgrimage, and the natural setting connect in Mauritius.

Wear practical shoes and avoid treating the temple area as only a photo backdrop. The tour asks you to wear non-slip shoes, sensible advice for this stop and the wet, uneven surfaces that can occur around outdoor attractions.

Alexandra Falls combines water and wide views

Alexandra Falls sits at roughly 700 meters above sea level and is one of the island’s best-known nature sights. The waterfall itself is important, but the wider view is just as appealing. From the area, you can look toward the southeast coast and see the turquoise ocean beyond the forest.

The stop lasts about 35 minutes. A wooden platform offers a fuller view, although you should not expect a long walk or extensive time on the trails. The falls can look very different depending on recent rain, and the experience is weather-sensitive.

This is one of the stops where the tour’s timing will matter. You can take in the main viewpoint and photographs, but anyone hoping to hike through the surrounding area will need a separate visit.

Black River Gorges reveals the island’s wild side

At the Gorge Viewpoint in Black River Gorges National Park, the scenery changes to rolling hills, deep valleys, rainforest, and waterfalls. The protected area covers almost 17,000 acres and is known for its native plants and animal life.

You have around 30 minutes at the viewpoint. The main reward is the broad view over the gorge, with a waterfall visible to the right. Souvenir stalls line the path leading toward the viewpoint, giving the stop a slightly more commercial feel than the forest itself.

Keep your eyes open for local flora and fauna, but do not expect a wildlife walk. The tour provides a viewpoint visit, not a naturalist trek. If you want to explore the park’s trails, arrange a dedicated hiking day instead.

Still, this stop is valuable because it shows a side of Mauritius that beach-focused trips miss. The island is not only about lagoons and resort towns. Its interior has high forests, ravines, and steep green ridges.

Bois Chéri explains Mauritius through tea

Bois Chéri is one of the strongest parts of the day for anyone interested in local production. It is the first stop on the Mauritian Tea Route, and the visit includes the tea factory, tea plantation, and tea museum.

A guide leads you through the production process and explains the place of tea in Mauritius. The museum adds historical context, while the plantation gives you a better sense of where the drink begins before it reaches your cup.

You also receive tea tasting at the Bois Chéri restaurant, which has a panoramic view over the south. The range includes flavored teas, green teas, and herbal teas. This is more than a quick sample at a gift shop. The factory and museum help connect the drink to the island’s farming and industrial traditions.

The listed visit lasts about one hour. That is enough for a guided introduction, but you may want more time if you enjoy browsing tea products or sitting with the view. Since lunch is part of the day, ask your guide how the tea visit and meal are timed.

Gris-Gris Beach is the coast at full force

Gris-Gris, near Souillac, presents a very different coast from the calm-water beach scenes associated with Mauritius. High cliffs drop sharply toward the Indian Ocean, and strong waves crash directly against the shore.

Coral reefs do not protect this section of coast, which explains the rougher surf. You will view the sea from the cliffs rather than swim at the beach. The scenery is dramatic, but you should stay back from edges and follow your guide’s directions.

The scheduled visit lasts about one hour. That gives you time to take in the cliffs, feel the ocean wind, and photograph the waves. The stop is especially worthwhile for people who want to see the island’s raw coastline, not only postcard beaches.

This is another place where weather affects the experience. Wind, cloud, and wave conditions can change the mood quickly, and the wider tour requires good weather overall.

Rhumerie St Aubin brings the day to a flavorful finish

The final major stop is Rhumerie St Aubin, a rum distillery set in a colonial house. The setting is described as both traditional and tropical, and the guided visit explains how rum is made in Mauritius.

You receive a rum tasting, with different flavors produced at the distillery. This makes the stop more than a simple drink break. You can see how local sugar production connects to one of Mauritius’s best-known exports and taste the finished product in several forms.

The visit lasts about one hour. Take your time here if the schedule allows, especially if you are interested in food and drink. One available account specifically says the Rhumerie was the part that made the day worthwhile when other planned stops were missed, so I would pay close attention to how much time remains when you arrive.

Rum tasting is included, but lunch drinks are non-alcoholic. Keep that distinction in mind, particularly if you are traveling with children or do not drink. You can still enjoy the distillery visit without making the tasting the center of your day.

Lunch, transport, and the practical details

The three-course lunch includes vegetarian and non-vegetarian choices, and the food is halal. Non-alcoholic beverages are included with the meal. You should report food allergies, illness, or special dietary needs at booking, rather than waiting until the day of the tour.

Pickup and drop-off are offered from any hotel or accommodation in Mauritius. The stated start time is 8:30 a.m., and the total outing lasts about 7 to 8 hours. Since the route crosses much of the southern part of the island, expect a substantial amount of driving between stops.

Bring non-slip shoes, sun protection, and a light layer for the cooler highland sites. Bottled water is provided on arrival, but it is still sensible to carry water for the road and outdoor viewpoints.

The tour has a current rating of 4.3 from 14 ratings. That is a respectable result, but the small number and the conflicting description of one northern route mean you should confirm the exact day plan. The experience provider is Freshverde Holidays.

Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not refunded, and poor weather can lead to a new date or a full refund.

Who should book this day in Mauritius?

I would choose this tour if you want to cover many southern highlights in one organized outing and care about local products as much as scenery. It suits couples, families, and small groups who value private transport, a guide, and a prepared lunch.

I would not choose it if your main goal is hiking in Black River Gorges, spending hours at the beach, or moving at a slow pace. Eight stops in one day creates variety, but it also means short visits and limited time for wandering.

Before paying, ask for confirmation that the day includes the southern route described here: Trou aux Cerfs, Mare aux Vacoas, Grand Bassin, Alexandra Falls, Black River Gorges, Bois Chéri, Gris-Gris, and Rhumerie St Aubin. If that is confirmed, the tour offers a useful mix of nature, religion, food, drink, and island history. If you want a relaxed day, book fewer sights with a private guide instead.

FAQ

What is included in the price?

The price includes hotel or accommodation pickup and drop-off, private air-conditioned transportation, a certified private guide-driver, bottled water on arrival, entrance to Bois Chéri Tea Factory and Tea Route, entrance to Rhumerie St Aubin, tea tasting, rum tasting, a three-course lunch, and non-alcoholic lunch drinks.

What time does the tour start?

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

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts approximately 7 to 8 hours.

Is lunch suitable for vegetarians?

Yes. Vegetarian and non-vegetarian meals are available, and the lunch is halal. You should advise the provider about dietary needs or allergies when booking.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your group participates in the activity, and private transportation is provided.

What happens if the weather is poor?

The experience requires good weather. If it is canceled because of poor conditions, you will be offered another date or a full refund. You can cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the start time.