Full-Day South Tour of Mauritius, ALL INCLUSIVE Day Trip, Private SUV Car, Guide

Nine stops, one very full Mauritian day. This private South Mauritius tour packs volcanic views, colonial buildings, tea production, wildlife, rum, shopping, and lunch into roughly six to nine hours. I like the private SUV, which lets your group travel comfortably without waiting for strangers, and I like that entrance fees, bottled water, and lunch are already covered.

I also like the mix of experiences. You can look into a dormant volcano in the morning, watch ship models take shape, sip tea above the plantations, and meet giant tortoises before the day ends. The main drawback is the pace: with nine stops, most visits are short, so you should book this for variety rather than long, quiet visits at each place.

The tour begins at 8:30 a.m. from Trou d’Eau Douce, with pickup offered. It is a private activity for your group, and the current price is $282.73 per person. That is a serious day-trip price, but it includes a private air-conditioned vehicle, a guide, five listed admissions, lunch, and water. For a group that wants a broad look at southern Mauritius without arranging each piece separately, the price can make sense.

Key things to know before booking

• Trou aux Cerfs gives you a quick volcanic introduction: The dormant crater is about 85 meters deep and 300 meters wide, with views over Curepipe and across Mauritius.
• The day mixes real production with sightseeing: You visit a tea factory and a rum distillery, rather than only viewing scenery from the car.
• Bois Cheri is the food highlight: Lunch, tea, and views over the plantations are included at the hilltop restaurant.
• La Vanille adds unusual wildlife: Expect giant tortoises, Nile crocodiles, deer, birds, iguanas, an insectarium, and a dodo museum.
• Curepipe is useful for duty-free shopping: Bring your passport if you want to make use of the available shopping arrangements.
• The schedule favors breadth over depth: Stop times range from 10 to 60 minutes, so keep your expectations realistic.

Why this private South Mauritius tour works

Southern Mauritius is not one single postcard view. It is a mix of highland towns, sugar and tea country, colonial estates, small factories, tropical wildlife, and ocean-facing roads. This tour gives you a taste of all those sides in one day.

The private format matters. You are not joining a large coach group, and only your own party takes part. That gives the guide more room to shape the day around your pace, although the number of planned stops still creates a fairly tight schedule.

Transport is by clean, air-conditioned SUV. That is useful in Mauritius, where a day can move between warm coastal areas and the cooler central plateau. Bottled water is supplied, and the driver-guide arrangement means you do not have to manage directions, parking, or entrance arrangements yourself.

The tour is best for first-time visitors who want orientation. It also suits couples, families, and small groups who would rather pay for convenience than piece together nine separate stops. If you prefer spending half a day at one garden or museum, this will probably feel rushed.

Trou aux Cerfs, a crater above Curepipe

Your first stop is Trou aux Cerfs, a dormant volcano in Curepipe. You have about 35 minutes for a stroll around the crater and views from this high point.

The crater is approximately 300 meters wide and 85 meters deep. Its shape offers a simple explanation of Mauritius as a volcanic island formed millions of years ago. You are not visiting an active volcanic site, but the broad crater gives the stop a strong sense of place.

This is a good opening stop because it helps you see the island from above before moving into the town and countryside. It is also a short visit, so you will not spend too much of the morning on a single viewpoint.

Keep your expectations measured. This is mainly a scenic and geological stop, not a long hike or a full nature walk. The value comes from the view and the chance to understand the island’s origins.

Ship models and a look at local craftsmanship

At Voiliers de l’Ocean, you spend about 25 minutes seeing handmade scale models of historical ships, galleons, and boats. Local artisans craft these detailed pieces, many of which reflect the ships that carried goods and produce to and from Mauritius.

This stop adds something different from the usual plantation and coastal sightseeing. You can watch the workmanship up close and see why these models are more than ordinary souvenirs. They also make a distinctive reminder of Mauritius, though a large model may be awkward to carry home.

If you fall for one, the shop can arrange shipping. That is a practical detail, since fitting a carefully made ship into a suitcase would be a challenge. Still, this is a shopping and craft visit, so it will appeal more to people interested in handmade objects than to anyone trying to minimize retail stops.

Curepipe for duty-free shopping

The visit to Curepipe lasts about 30 minutes. You will find small boutiques selling items such as cashmere pashminas, clothing, jewelry, and souvenirs.

The town is presented as a calmer place to shop, without pushy sellers. Many shops have been run by the same families for generations, and the merchandise draws on goods made using skills and materials connected with Europe and India.

The short time here makes it best for browsing rather than serious shopping. If you already know what you want, you may be able to find it quickly. If you enjoy comparing products and prices, you may want more time than the schedule allows.

Bring your passport. Duty-free shopping is available, and you may need the document to take advantage of it. That small preparation can make the difference between a useful purchase and a missed opportunity.

Domaine des Aubineaux and Mauritius’s colonial past

Domaine des Aubineaux is a colonial house built in 1872 from teak and other local woods, including timber taken from demolished ships. You have around 25 minutes to see the residence, antiques, furniture, and paintings dating from the 18th century.

The house belonged to the Guimbeau family, a French family established in Mauritius for eight generations. It was also among the first homes on the island to have electricity, which gives the property a useful connection to Mauritius’s changing domestic life.

This is a compact historical stop, not a large museum visit. I would pay attention to the building materials and household objects, since they help explain how island families adapted imported influences and local resources.

The time is again limited. You may get a taste of the house rather than a slow examination of every room. Even so, the stop breaks up the shopping and driving with a piece of built history.

Bois Cheri, where tea goes from leaf to cup

The route then heads south from the central plateau toward Bois Cheri Tea Plantation and Factory. This is one of the strongest parts of the day because you see a working food product rather than simply a scenic plantation.

The visit explains how tea leaves are hand-picked and processed from plant to teapot. You also have access to the tea factory and tea museum, with admission included.

The plantation setting gives the visit more weight. You are not only learning about a drink in a display room. You can connect the production process with the fields around you and then taste the finished product.

A tea sommelier prepares a cup while you take in views over the plantation. That detail makes the stop feel more complete, especially if you enjoy food and drink experiences. The listed factory visit lasts about 45 minutes, followed by a full hour at the restaurant.

Lunch at Le Bois Cheri Restaurant

Lunch at Le Bois Cheri Restaurant is included, which helps justify the tour price. You eat at a hilltop setting overlooking the tea plantations, and the meal is described as traditional Mauritian food.

This is likely the most restful part of the schedule. After the morning’s crater, shopping, and house visits, you get time to sit, eat, and enjoy tea without immediately rushing to the next display.

Alcoholic drinks are not included, so budget separately if you want them. Bottled water is supplied as part of the tour.

The one point to watch is the wording around the tea stop. The factory and restaurant are listed separately, but they are part of the same Bois Cheri visit. Together, they allow about 1 hour and 45 minutes, making this a substantial stop rather than a quick tasting.

La Vanille Nature Park, with tortoises and crocodiles

La Vanille Nature Park brings a wildlife element to the afternoon. The park is in a tropical forest setting and includes birds, deer, giant tortoises, Nile crocodiles, and iguanas.

You also see an insectarium with 25,000 species and a museum devoted to the extinct flightless dodo. That range makes the park more than a single-animal attraction. You can move from living reptiles and mammals to a reminder of an animal that no longer exists.

The scheduled visit is about 30 minutes. That is enough for an introduction, but it may not allow you to see every corner of the park at leisure. If giant tortoises or insects are your main reason for booking, you should confirm the timing with the provider before you go.

For most people, this stop works because it changes the mood of the day. After tea and colonial architecture, the animals provide a more direct encounter with Mauritius’s natural world.

Senneville bridge and a short photo stop

The stop at Senneville Agricultural Ltd is only about 10 minutes, but it offers a different kind of view. The bridge was used for transporting sugar cane by train from plantations in the Savanne region.

From this elevated point, you can look toward the lake, tropical forest, southern coast, and ocean. It is a quick photography stop, so keep your camera ready and do not expect a long walk or guided visit.

This is one of those brief pauses that helps connect the island’s scenery with its agricultural past. Sugar cane shaped much of Mauritius’s economy, and the old railway connection adds context to the plantations you have already passed.

Saint Aubin rum and a colonial garden

The final major stop is Rhumerie de Saint Aubin, a factory and distillery producing rum since 1819. You can visit the facility, sample the famous rum, and stroll through the garden around the colonial house built at the beginning of the operation.

The distillery’s white cane rum, made from fresh sugar cane, received a silver medal at the London Spirit Competition in 2018. That gives you a concrete reason to take the tasting seriously, even if you are not normally a rum enthusiast.

Alcoholic beverages are excluded from the tour’s included services, so the tasting or any purchases may cost extra. The admission to the Saint Aubin rum factory is included, but it is wise to clarify exactly what the tasting covers when booking.

This is a fitting final stop because it returns to the island’s sugar cane economy in a drinkable form. The garden also gives you a little breathing room after a day of museums, animals, and production visits.

What the $282.73 price really covers

At $282.73 per person, this is not a budget sightseeing day. The value depends heavily on your group size and how much you would otherwise spend arranging private transport, a guide, meals, and admissions separately.

The price includes:

• Private SUV transport
• Air conditioning
• Bottled water
• A guide
• Domaine des Aubineaux admission
• Bois Cheri Tea Factory admission
• La Vanille Nature Park admission
• Saint Aubin Rum Factory admission
• Lunch at Bois Cheri Restaurant

The private vehicle is the key cost benefit for a small group. You are paying for door-to-door convenience, a controlled group size, and a guide who can connect the stops. Lunch and several admissions remove the need to keep reaching for your wallet.

The price is less attractive if you mainly want scenic viewpoints, since several of those are free. It becomes stronger value if you want the tea factory, wildlife park, colonial house, rum distillery, and shopping all in one organized day.

Timing, comfort, and practical limits

The advertised duration is approximately six to nine hours, with an 8:30 a.m. start. That range probably reflects traffic, pickup arrangements, and the amount of time your group spends at each stop.

The schedule has several short visits: 10 minutes at the bridge, 25 minutes at the ship model workshop and colonial house, 30 minutes in Curepipe, and 30 minutes at La Vanille. The tea factory and lunch receive the most time, with about 1 hour and 45 minutes combined.

You should wear comfortable clothing and shoes suitable for walking around outdoor sites. The tour requires good weather. If poor weather forces cancellation, you can receive a different date or a full refund.

Confirmation is provided when you book. Service animals are allowed, and most people can take part. The tour is near public transportation, but pickup is offered, which is more useful than making your own way to each stop.

The provider is Unwind Mauritius. A message connected with the experience identifies Avi Gopaul and Jaya as part of the team, so these are useful names to know when communicating with the operator.

Who should book this day?

I would recommend it if you want a broad first look at southern Mauritius and prefer a private vehicle. Families and small groups will appreciate the simpler logistics, included lunch, air conditioning, and the ability to spend the day together.

It is also a good match for anyone who likes variety. You get geology, shopping, craftsmanship, architecture, tea, food, wildlife, agriculture, photography, and rum without having to plan nine separate outings.

I would hesitate if your ideal holiday moves slowly. The itinerary is full, and short stop times mean you may leave places just as you are getting settled. You should also think twice if you do not enjoy shopping or factory visits, since both are part of the day.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the 8:30 a.m. start. Changes made inside that window are not accepted, and poor weather is handled with a new date or a full refund.

Should you book the South Tour of Mauritius?

Book this tour if convenience and variety matter more to you than lingering in one place. The private SUV, included lunch, tea production visit, La Vanille wildlife stop, and Saint Aubin rum experience create a useful overview of the island’s southern side.

Skip it if you want a slow nature day, a dedicated beach outing, or a deep visit to one museum or plantation. At $282.73 per person, it earns its price through the private transport and number of included stops, not through long stays.

For a first visit, I like the way the day links Mauritius’s volcanic origins, colonial past, sugar and tea industries, local crafts, and living wildlife. Just bring your passport for shopping, allow for a busy schedule, and treat each stop as a well-chosen introduction rather than the final word.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

The tour starts at 8:30 a.m. in Trou d’Eau Douce, Mauritius. Pickup is offered.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. The activity is private, and only your own group takes part.

What transportation is provided?

Transportation is by private SUV in a clean, air-conditioned vehicle. Bottled water is included.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch at Le Bois Cheri Restaurant is included. Alcoholic beverages are not included.

Which entrance tickets are included?

Admission is included for Domaine des Aubineaux, Bois Cheri Tea Factory, La Vanille Nature Park, and Saint Aubin Rum Factory.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you will be offered a different date or a full refund. For your own cancellation, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the start time to receive a full refund.