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

Mauritius saves its best surprises for the south. This private full-day trip links a dormant volcano, Hindu pilgrimage site, waterfalls, tea country, rum tasting, and the wild cliffs of Gris-Gris, giving you a broad look at the island in one long outing. I especially like the private vehicle and hotel pickup, plus the useful mix of scenery and food culture.

I also like that the price includes a three-course halal lunch, non-alcoholic drinks, bottled water, tea tasting, and rum tasting. The main caution is pace: eight stops in seven to eight hours makes this a packed day, and the published route information has shown some inconsistencies, so confirm the exact stops before departure.

Five things to know before booking

• Trou aux Cerfs begins the day at a dormant volcanic crater, 605 meters above sea level.
• Bois Chéri combines plantation views, factory workings, a tea museum, and tastings in one stop.
• Gris-Gris is a wave-battered coast, not a calm swimming beach, with cliffs facing open Indian Ocean water.
• Rhumerie St Aubin provides the main tasting experience, with a guided look at Mauritian rum making.
• The private format gives you your own guide and vehicle, but the long route leaves little spare time.
• The tour costs about $143.72 per person, a fair value if you want transport, meals, admissions, and several major sights in one day.

What This Southern Mauritius Tour Is Really Trying to Do

This is not a slow beach day. It is a wide-ranging road trip across the southwest, designed to show you how Mauritius works as an island, from volcanic origins and sacred lakes to tea production, sugar-era estates, rum, and dramatic coastal weather.

You start at about 8:30 a.m. with pickup from your hotel or accommodation anywhere in Mauritius. A certified guide and driver take you in a fully air-conditioned vehicle, which matters here. The route covers considerable ground, and the vehicle gives you shade and a place to cool down between outdoor stops.

The private setup is the strongest practical feature. Your group does not share the vehicle with strangers, and you can ask questions as you go. The quality of the day will depend heavily on the guide’s timing and local knowledge. Paco, named in the available feedback, received especially strong praise for being friendly, helpful, and able to answer questions. Ask at the start of the morning which stops are definitely included and how much time is planned at each one.

The route is ambitious. If you want long walks, extended photo sessions, or a leisurely meal, you may feel hurried. If you want to cover many southern highlights without arranging separate taxis, admissions, and meals, the same structure works in your favor.

Trou aux Cerfs: A Volcano with a Forest Around It

Your first stop is Trou aux Cerfs, a dormant volcanic crater near Curepipe. The crater is about 350 meters wide and roughly 100 meters deep, with the rim sitting around 605 meters above sea level.

The sight is different from the bare, rocky volcanic craters you may have seen elsewhere. Trou aux Cerfs is surrounded by thick greenery, indigenous plants, and tall green pine trees. You look into a forested bowl rather than a stark geological scar.

You have about 40 minutes here, including admission. That is enough to see the crater, take photographs, and hear the basic volcanic story from your guide. It is not enough for an extended walk or a slow botanical study, so treat this as an orientation stop rather than a major hike.

The elevation can also mean cooler air than at the coast. Wear shoes with a firm grip, since the tour provider specifically asks you not to wear slippery footwear.

Mare aux Vacoas: A Quiet Reservoir Stop

Mare aux Vacoas is the largest reservoir in Mauritius, with a capacity of nearly 26 million cubic meters. It sits among forested hills and offers a short break from the busier parts of the route.

You get about 20 minutes here. That is plenty for a viewpoint, a few photographs, and a quick breath of country air. The reservoir is not a major attraction with displays or activities, so its value is visual and restful.

I would not choose this tour solely for Mare aux Vacoas. Its appeal comes from the contrast it adds to the day. After the crater, you get open water and forest. Later, the route moves to a sacred lake, waterfalls, plantations, and cliffs.

Grand Bassin and the 33-Meter Shiva Statue

Grand Bassin, also called Ganga Talao, is a crater lake at about 550 meters above sea level. It is one of the most important Hindu religious sites in Mauritius, with a temple and smaller shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva and other Hindu deities.

The huge Shiva statue is the visual focus. At 33 meters high, it is described as the tallest known statue in Mauritius and can be seen before you reach the shoreline. The setting is calm and mountainous, but this is not simply a photo stop. It is a sacred place, so dress and behave respectfully.

You have around an hour here. That gives you time to see the statue, walk near the lake, and look at the temple and shrines. Ask your guide about local customs if you are unsure where to stand or how to dress.

The main limitation is that the site can feel brief if you want to explore every shrine. It can also become one of the day’s slower stops if your group spends time taking photographs. Keep an eye on the meeting time, since several major attractions still follow.

Alexandra Falls and the Black River Gorges Viewpoint

Alexandra Falls sits at roughly 700 meters above sea level and is one of the best-known natural sights in southern Mauritius. The waterfall itself is attractive, but the wider view is just as important. From the area around the falls, you can look across the green interior toward the southeast coast and turquoise water.

You have about 35 minutes. A wooden platform provides a better angle for viewing, and you should allow a few minutes to reach it. This is a stop for scenery rather than a long trail walk.

Next comes the gorge viewpoint in Black River Gorges National Park. The protected area covers nearly 17,000 acres of hills, valleys, waterfalls, rainforest, plants, and wildlife. From the viewpoint, you can see broad stretches of forest and another waterfall.

You get about 30 minutes here. The view is the star, though souvenir stalls near the path may add a small commercial touch. Keep your eyes open for local plants and animals, but do not expect a wildlife safari. The stop offers a chance to notice the natural setting, not a guarantee of animal sightings.

Together, Alexandra Falls and the gorge viewpoint give you the strongest nature section of the tour. The drawback is time. Thirty-five minutes at one site and 30 at the next will not satisfy serious hikers, but it works well for a first look at the protected southwest.

Bois Chéri: How Mauritius Makes Its Tea

Bois Chéri is the first major stop on the tea portion of the day. A guided visit covers the factory, tea plantation, and production process, followed by time in the tea museum.

This is valuable because it explains a product you will see all over Mauritius. The visit covers the importance of tea production on the island, the story of Bois Chéri, and the way the factory turns leaves into finished products. The tea range includes flavored teas, green teas, and herbal teas.

The stop lasts about an hour and includes admission, tea tasting, and a panoramic view from the Bois Chéri restaurant. If you enjoy learning how ordinary products reach your table, this may be one of the day’s most satisfying stops.

The word factory can set up the wrong expectation. You are not signing up for a long industrial tour. The visit is compact, combining production information, museum displays, plantation scenery, and tasting. That variety keeps it interesting, but anyone wanting a detailed technical lesson may find it short.

The tea tasting also gives you a chance to compare styles rather than simply buy a souvenir tin. Ask which teas are being served and note the difference between flavored, green, and herbal blends.

Gris-Gris: Where Mauritius Gets Dramatic

Gris-Gris Beach near Souillac is one of the most striking stops on the route. High cliffs drop sharply toward the sea, and waves crash directly against the coast because coral reefs do not shelter this section of shoreline.

This is not a gentle lagoon beach. The water can look powerful and rough, and the main attraction is the view from above. Stand back from the cliff edge, follow your guide’s advice, and give yourself time to watch the water rather than rushing through photographs.

The stop lasts about an hour, making it one of the better places to slow down. The ocean wind is part of the experience. So is the contrast with the calm, bright beaches that usually appear in photographs of Mauritius.

Gris-Gris can be especially rewarding if you want to see a less polished side of the island. You get cliffs, spray, wind, and open sea rather than loungers and protected swimming water. It is also a good place to wear the recommended non-slip shoes.

Rhumerie St Aubin: The Day’s Best Taste of Mauritius

The final major stop is Rhumerie St Aubin, housed in a colonial building with tropical surroundings. A guide explains the rum-making process and takes you through the distillery before the tasting.

This is more than a quick drink at the end of a sightseeing day. The visit shows how sugar production connects with one of Mauritius’ best-known local drinks. You can taste several rum styles and compare their flavors.

The tasting is included, as is admission. If you do not drink alcohol, the day still includes tea, lunch drinks, and the other sightseeing stops, but this portion will naturally be less important to you.

One published account rated the day poorly because several expected stops were missed and the schedule felt rushed. The same account still found the driver courteous and felt the distillery was worth the time. That is useful advice: confirm the route early, and do not let the day’s schedule squeeze the distillery into an afterthought. If rum interests you, tell the guide at the beginning that you want enough time for the tour and tasting.

Lunch, Transport, and the Real Value of $143.72

At about $143.72 per person, this tour is not a budget sightseeing bus. It is a private day with hotel pickup and drop-off, air-conditioned transport, a certified guide, admissions, lunch, bottled water, tea tasting, and rum tasting.

That bundle can represent good value if you would otherwise hire a private car and pay separately for the tea factory, distillery, and other attractions. It also removes the work of planning a route that crosses much of the island.

The included meal is a three-course lunch with vegetarian and non-vegetarian choices, halal food, and non-alcoholic drinks. You should tell the provider about vegetarian needs, allergies, or illness when booking. The rum tasting is separate from lunch, so you are not relying on alcoholic drinks for refreshment during the meal.

The price is harder to justify if you want a slow, specialized experience at only one or two sites. A private vehicle helps, but the schedule still contains many stops. You are paying for range and convenience, not for long stays at every attraction.

Gratuities are not included. They are optional, so judge the guide and driver’s effort at the end rather than treating a tip as part of the required cost.

Timing Problems and Route Checks

The advertised route includes eight stops in seven to eight hours, including pickup and drop-off. That is tight. Trou aux Cerfs, Mare aux Vacoas, Grand Bassin, Alexandra Falls, Black River Gorges, Bois Chéri, Gris-Gris, and Rhumerie St Aubin all require driving between them, and some stops need time for walking from the vehicle to a viewpoint.

The available feedback also contains a clear route inconsistency. One five-star account describes a northern Mauritius day with Paco, a botanical garden, and a sugar museum, while this experience is presented as a southern route. That does not prove your tour will be wrong, but it is a strong reason to confirm the stops with Freshverde Holidays before the morning of departure.

Ask two direct questions:

• Are all eight southern stops included on my date?
• How much time is planned at Bois Chéri and Rhumerie St Aubin?

Those questions protect you from the main weakness reported in the published material: a rushed day that does not follow the expected route.

Bad weather can also affect the schedule. The experience requires good weather, and a cancellation for weather should result in 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. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund.

Who Will Like This Tour Most?

I would recommend this day to you if you are visiting Mauritius for the first time and want a broad introduction to the island’s south. It suits couples, families, and small groups that value a private car and do not want to organize several separate outings.

It is also a good fit if you enjoy variety. You get geology, religion, forest, waterfalls, tea, rum, lunch, and a rough ocean coast in one day.

I would be more cautious if you are a keen hiker, serious birdwatcher, or tea enthusiast who wants hours at one site. The outdoor stops are mostly viewpoints with short visits, not long walks. The tour gives you a sample of many places, then leaves you to return later if one captures your interest.

It may also be a poor match if your main goal is swimming. Gris-Gris is known for crashing waves and exposed cliffs, not calm bathing water.

Should You Book the Wild South Tour?

Book it if you want one private, well-fed, well-organized day covering many of southern Mauritius’ headline sights. The included hotel transfers, lunch, entrance fees, tea tasting, and rum tasting make the $143.72 price reasonable for a group that values convenience.

Book with one condition: confirm the route in writing before you go. The schedule is ambitious, and the conflicting route details mean you should make sure the southern stops are actually planned for your date.

If the provider confirms the full route and you are comfortable with a busy day, this is a useful first taste of Mauritius beyond the beach. If you prefer depth over variety, choose a shorter private outing focused on either Black River Gorges and waterfalls, or Bois Chéri and the southern estates.

FAQ

What time does the tour start?

Pickup begins at approximately 8:30 a.m.

Is hotel pickup and drop-off included?

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

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts approximately seven to eight hours.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A three-course lunch with vegetarian and non-vegetarian choices is included, along with non-alcoholic drinks. Halal food is provided.

Are tea and rum tastings included?

Yes. Tea tasting at the Bois Chéri restaurant and rum tasting at Rhumerie St Aubin are included.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. If poor weather causes the provider to cancel, you should be offered another date or a full refund.