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

Southern Mauritius packs an astonishing amount into one day: a dormant volcano, a sacred crater lake, rainforest viewpoints, tea plantations, crashing surf, waterfalls, and the strange striped dunes of the 23-Colored Earth. This private tour gives you a comfortable way to connect the dots without wrestling with unfamiliar roads.

I like the wide mix of sights, from the calm tea country at Bois Cheri to the rough Atlantic coast at Gris Gris. I also like the practical package: hotel pickup, a private air-conditioned vehicle, lunch, bottled water, and entrance fees are included. The main drawback is the long route. With nine stops and about 7 to 8 hours, some visits are brief, and the quality of the day depends on how actively your guide explains each place.

Key points at a glance

• Trou aux Cerfs crater: Look across Curepipe and the mountain ranges from a dormant volcano high above town.
• Bois Cheri tea country: Tour the factory and tea museum, then see how tea became part of Mauritian life.
• Grand Bassin and Lord Shiva: Visit a sacred volcanic lake with a 33-meter statue and Hindu shrines.
• Gris Gris coast: Watch powerful waves strike the cliffs, but do not swim here.
• 23-Colored Earth and Chamouny Waterfall: See unusual colored earth and finish near a single-drop waterfall.
• Private touring value: At $136.44 per person, lunch, transport, guide service, and admissions make this a useful one-day introduction to the south.

Why this southern Mauritius route works

The best thing about this outing is its range. You are not spending the day looking at one type of attraction. Within a few hours, you move from Curepipe’s volcanic crater to forested highlands, from a Hindu pilgrimage site to a tea plantation, and then down toward the raw coast around Souillac.

That variety matters in Mauritius. The island’s beauty is not limited to white sand and calm lagoons. This route shows you older volcanic features, mountain rainforests, local religious life, plantation history, and rough ocean cliffs. If you have only one free day for inland and southern sightseeing, the route covers a great deal.

The private format is another real advantage. You are picked up at your hotel or accommodation anywhere in Mauritius at about 8:30 a.m., then travel in an air-conditioned vehicle with a private guide and driver. You avoid arranging several taxis or figuring out how to reach remote viewpoints on your own.

Still, this is a full day, not a slow country outing. The published stops add up to more than eight hours if taken literally, so the schedule may need to move along. You should expect scenic stops and guided visits rather than long hikes or extended time at every site.

Trou aux Cerfs and the view over Curepipe

Your first stop is Trou aux Cerfs, a dormant volcanic crater about 605 meters above sea level. The crater is roughly 350 meters wide and 100 meters deep, with forest and native plants around its rim.

This is a good opening stop because it gives you a quick lesson in Mauritius’s volcanic origins while also providing a broad view. From the crater area, you can look toward Curepipe, Rempart Mountain, Trois Mamelles, and the Port-Louis to Moka mountain range.

The crater itself is not a strenuous attraction. The scheduled visit is about 35 minutes, enough for photographs and a short look around. The forested setting makes it more pleasant than a bare volcanic bowl, although the main reward is the view rather than a long walk.

Mare aux Vacoas reservoir and the quiet highlands

The route continues to Mare aux Vacoas, Mauritius’s largest reservoir, with a capacity of nearly 26 million cubic meters. Thick forest surrounds the water, giving this stop a calmer feel than the island’s busier attractions.

You get about 30 minutes here. That is enough for a pause, photographs, and a breath of cool highland air. There is no major monument or formal activity, so the appeal is simple: trees, water, and open views.

I would treat this as a restful break rather than a destination that deserves a special trip by itself. It works well in the sequence because the day includes many visual highlights, and this quieter stop gives your eyes a rest before the waterfalls and religious sites.

Alexandra Falls and Black River Gorges

Alexandra Falls sits around 700 meters above sea level and is one of Mauritius’s best-known natural sights. A short visit gives you a chance to see the waterfall and look across toward the southeast coast and turquoise ocean.

A wooden platform provides a better viewing angle, and the stop is scheduled for about 30 minutes. Wear shoes with good grip, as the tour specifically advises non-slippery footwear. This is not presented as a long trail walk, but wet or uneven ground can still make poor shoes a nuisance.

The nearby Black River Gorges viewpoint adds another strong nature stop. From the roadside, it is only about a 3 to 5 minute walk to a high viewpoint over the gorge. You can see rolling hills, forest, valleys, and a waterfall off to the right.

The national park covers close to 17,000 acres and protects much of the island’s southwestern interior. You will not explore all of that area on this tour. Instead, you get a short, scenic introduction that works well for photographs and a sense of the island’s forested interior.

Grand Bassin and the 33-meter Lord Shiva

Grand Bassin, also called Ganga Talao, is a crater lake about 550 meters above sea level. It is considered a sacred Hindu site, with a temple and smaller shrines near the shore.

The huge Lord Shiva statue is impossible to miss. At 33 meters high, it gives the visit a strong visual focus before you even reach the lake. The setting is peaceful, but this is also a religious place, not simply a photo stop.

Your scheduled time is about 40 minutes. Use it to look at the lake, statue, and shrines, and allow yourself a quiet moment rather than rushing only for photographs. Dress and behave respectfully around the temple grounds.

Guide involvement matters most here. One guide may walk you through the religious setting and explain what you are seeing, while another may leave you to explore on your own. Guides named Manu and Deva have led this route, and the day can feel much more rewarding when your guide takes time to explain the site rather than treating it as a drop-off point.

Bois Cheri tea factory and museum

Bois Cheri is the cultural heart of the day. Mauritius is well known for tea production, and the factory visit gives you a look at an industry that is easy to miss if you spend all your time on beaches and viewpoints.

A guide leads you through the factory and tea plantation, explaining the story of Bois Cheri and the role of tea production in Mauritius. You also visit the tea museum, which adds historical context to what you see on the factory floor.

The total visit is about one hour. That is enough time for the factory, plantation setting, and museum, though it is not a long plantation walk. The property also provides broad views over southern Mauritius.

This stop is especially valuable because it connects scenery with everyday work. The volcanic soil and highland climate are not just pretty backdrops. They help explain why tea became an important part of the island’s economy and identity.

Lunch, tea, and the value of the package

A three-course lunch is included, with vegetarian and non-vegetarian choices. Halal food is available, and non-alcoholic drinks are included with the meal. You should mention vegetarian needs, food allergies, or illness when booking.

The food adds real value to the $136.44 price, especially when combined with a private vehicle, hotel pickup and drop-off, a guide, bottled water, and admission to Bois Cheri and the 23-Colored Earth and Waterfall area. You are not paying only for transport between viewpoints.

The meal examples associated with the outing include chicken curry, fish salad as a starter, and vanilla ice cream. Menus can vary, but this gives you a sense of the local flavor and the three-course format.

Tips are not included, and gratuities are optional. You can decide at the end based on the guide’s care, punctuality, and effort.

Gris Gris Beach and the power of the sea

After passing through Souillac village, the route reaches Gris Gris. This is a different kind of coastal stop from the calm lagoon views often associated with Mauritius.

Here, strong waves hit the cliffs and rocks with force. A small garden provides benches and viewpoints, and a path leads down toward a small beach. The scheduled time is about two hours, making this one of the longer stops on the route.

Do not swim at Gris Gris. The currents and waves are described as extremely strong, so the right activity is walking, sitting, and watching the sea. The white sand can tempt you, but this is a place for caution rather than a dip.

The extra time is useful. You can take in the cliffs without rushing, and the garden gives you somewhere to rest. If you prefer beaches for swimming, this stop may feel less satisfying. If you want to see the untamed side of Mauritius, it is one of the day’s strongest contrasts.

The 23-Colored Earth at Valle Adventure Park

The tour then reaches the attraction marketed as the Twenty-Three Colored Earth. The colored ground formed as basaltic lava changed into clay minerals, creating sand in several distinct shades.

The description identifies visible colors including red, brown, violet, green, blue, purple, and yellow. The small dunes sit among green vegetation and create an unusual, almost lunar scene. The colors are not painted or arranged by hand, which is what makes the site so intriguing.

You receive about 40 minutes here. That is plenty for the main viewing area and photographs, but not enough for a long park visit. The entrance fee is included.

Keep your expectations sensible. This is a compact geological attraction, not a vast wilderness area. Its value comes from the oddity of the colors and the contrast between the striped earth and surrounding plants. It is one of the most distinctive stops of the day, especially for anyone interested in geology or unusual natural formations.

Chamouny Waterfall and the final nature stop

The last listed stop is Chamouny Waterfall, described as a single-drop waterfall surrounded by dense vegetation. You have about 25 minutes here.

This is a short stop, so expect a viewpoint and photographs rather than a long trek or extended time beside the water. It adds one more natural feature to a day already filled with waterfalls, gorge views, crater scenery, and the coast.

Because the tour covers so much ground, the exact pace may depend on road conditions, weather, and how long you spend at earlier places. A private guide has some flexibility, but you should not assume every stop can be expanded.

What the private format is worth at $136.44

At $136.44 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see southern Mauritius. A self-drive day could cost less if you are comfortable navigating, arranging meals, and paying admission fees separately.

The comparison changes when you value time and convenience. You receive transportation for a full day, pickup and drop-off, a private guide and driver, air conditioning, lunch, drinks, water, and entrance to the paid attractions. You also avoid the work of linking sites that are spread across the island’s interior and southern coast.

The private format suits couples, families, and small groups who want a flexible day. It is also useful if you have only one day for these sights. The main tradeoff is that a packed private itinerary is still packed. You gain control and comfort, but not unlimited time.

Guide quality is the variable to watch. A warm, attentive guide can explain Grand Bassin, make the tea factory more meaningful, and point out extra views. A less active guide may function mainly as a driver. The most praised elements of the day are punctual pickup, polite service, useful local information, flexibility, and the willingness to add an unplanned viewpoint when time allows.

Practical advice before you go

Wear non-slip shoes. The route includes viewpoints, waterfall areas, crater terrain, and paths near the coast.

Bring sun protection and a camera, but also expect changing conditions in the highlands. The tour requires good weather. If poor weather forces cancellation, you can receive a different date or a full refund.

Tell the provider about vegetarian requirements, allergies, or illness in advance. Halal food and non-alcoholic drinks are available, but clear notice helps the lunch plan.

Keep the day’s pace in mind. You will see many places, but this is not the tour for spending half a day at Bois Cheri or walking deep into Black River Gorges. It is designed as a broad introduction.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the 8:30 a.m. start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours ahead are not accepted for a refund.

Should you book this southern Mauritius tour?

Book it if you want a single private day covering nature, culture, tea, and the coast. The route is unusually varied, lunch is included, and the private air-conditioned vehicle removes much of the island’s transport hassle.

It is a particularly good fit for first-time visitors, couples, families, and anyone who wants to see Grand Bassin, Bois Cheri, Gris Gris, and the 23-Colored Earth without planning separate outings.

Skip it if you prefer slow travel, long hikes, or extended time at one attraction. Nine stops create a busy day, and your enjoyment will depend heavily on how much explanation and attention your guide provides. For the broadest possible taste of southern Mauritius in about eight hours, though, the package offers solid value.

FAQ

What is included in the tour price?

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

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts approximately 7 to 8 hours and begins at about 8:30 a.m.

Is hotel pickup available?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off are offered at any hotel or accommodation in Mauritius.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A three-course lunch is included, with vegetarian and non-vegetarian options. Halal food and non-alcoholic beverages are available.

Can I visit Grand Bassin on this tour?

Yes. The itinerary includes Grand Bassin, also called Ganga Talao, a sacred lake with temples, shrines, and a 33-meter statue of Lord Shiva.

Can I swim at Gris Gris Beach?

No. Swimming is not advised because the waves and currents are extremely strong. The stop is intended for viewing the cliffs, sea, garden, and beach.

Are admission fees included?

Yes. Entrance to the Twenty-Three Colored Earth and Waterfall area and Bois Cheri Tea Factory is included.

What should I wear?

Wear non-slip shoes, as recommended for the viewpoints, waterfall areas, and paths included in the tour.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours before the experience are not accepted, and poor-weather cancellations may result in a different date or a full refund.