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The “underwater waterfall” you’re seeing on postcards is nature’s special effects – sediments swept down by ocean currents into the crevasse of a submarine plateau. A tiny speck of an island off the coast of Madagascar, Mauritius nonetheless packs geologic wonders often overshadowed by its palm-fringed powder-white beaches that are the island’s main selling point.
And for good reason. Mauritius Ile aux Cerfs on the East Coast is rightly famous as the preserve of the jet set. Sail into its sheltered lagoons, take a dip in the translucent waters, and bury your toes in the fine sands to feel pampered by nature. The North is home to the tourist hub of Grand Baie.
Generally flat, the North boasts coastlines of soft white sand and waters of varying shades of blue. From here, catamarans sail off the coast to the calm waters of Flat Island ideal for snorkeling and swimming.
The clutch of upscale resorts in Mauritius lends an atmosphere of privilege, but thanks to group tours that make catamaran cruises and sailing trips more affordable, sun-seekers who holiday by themselves, as a couple or as a small group can make the island their dream holiday destination.
Because Mauritius is cut off from Madagascar – itself cut off from the African continent – by some 500 miles of the Indian Ocean, the island has developed high endemicity where flora and fauna are sometimes seen in only one or a few places in Mauritius.
To see the island’s national flower in person, let a local guide point it out to you on a hike up Le Morne Mountain because it’s the only place in Mauritius where this reddish-orange flower grows.
While few have the stamina to trek, the drive through the Black River Gorges National Park as part of a guided tour makes this protected area more accessible so anyone can lay eyes upon the last stands of ancient trees in Mauritius.
Close to the forested plateaus of Black River Gorges, Chamarel gets its fair share of amazed crowds. Stand in a viewing platform to properly admire the long single-drop of the Chamarel Waterfalls on its way down a basalt ledge or the distinctly colored soil of Seven Colored Earth as a result of the weathering of basalt bedrock.
Down the Southwest coast juts out a peninsula containing the monolith of Le Morne. Because they are all located close to each other, they are usually visited on a full-day guided excursion.
Colonial rule by the Dutch, then by the French, and eventually by the British, made Mauritius a cultural and culinary melting pot with strong Indian and Chinese influences.
Walk around the capital Port Louis’ central market and you’ll stumble into stands of Dholl puri (flat bread) or Mine Frite (fried noodles). And don’t be surprised if you see Hindu temples in Ganga Talao and in Port Louis: After all, almost two-thirds of the island’s population is of Indian descent.
Because Mauritius’ diversity hotspots are fragile like anywhere else, some visits to natural areas may only be possible as part of a guided group tour (to ensure the remaining endangered species don’t go the way of the dodo).
If wildlife encounters, outdoor adventures or island getaways are high on your list, sign up with tour operators in Mauritius whose network in the industry ensures that your holidays are safe, memorable and worth every penny.
Leave the travel planning to experts and start plotting your adventures with any of the tours below, many of which are operated in several languages.
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Mauritius Hideaway
MW Tours
Location: South/Southwest – North (or East)
Itinerary: Trou aux Cerfs – Chamarel – Ile aux Cerfs
Group Size: 32
Age Range: 12-99
Physical Activity: Low to Medium
Operator: MW Tours
Length: 5 Days
What to Expect
An explorer tour that will take you from Mauritius’ rugged and thickly forested Southwest to the calm waters of Flat Island off the North coast, or into the protected lagoon of the East Coast.
- Drive to the dormant volcano and crater lake
- View single-drop waterfall
- Distillery tour and rum tasting
- Sailing tour and snorkeling
What the Experience is Like
Settle into your accommodation of choice which will be your base for the next four nights. Admire the view from atop a dormant volcano on the second day of your tour, gaze at the placid crater lake sacred to the Hindus at Ganga Talao, and tour a rum distillery with a tasting afterward.
Coming out from the forested mountains of the Black River Gorges National Park, gaze up – or down – at the Chamarel Waterfalls plummeting in a single drop off an arched ledge of basaltic lava.
(Would you like to see the largest protected area in Mauritius? Venture into the mountains of the Black River Gorges National Park on this 5-Day explorer tour.)
Sail into the calm waters of the North coast on the third day until you drop anchor at Flat Island where snorkeling is a popular activity. Enjoy a BBQ lunch and burn calories again immersed in the water.
Alternatively, cruise into the raging rapids of the Grand River South East Waterfalls on the East Coast, and contrast the experience as you glide into the peaceful lagoon, lush vegetation and white sand beaches of Ile aux Cerfs. Kick back and relax back at your hotel on the fourth day, or explore the capital Port Louis at your own pace, before departing for your onward destination.
This partially guided tour is run by MW Tours which takes pride in offering personalized and inclusive itineraries that suit a range of budgets, travel styles, age groups and group sizes. You have the option of choosing your accommodation (from 4 stars to 5) and you will enjoy daily breakfasts and two lunches.
In a nutshell
A sea-to-summit experience awaits in Mauritius (with rum on the side) in this 5-day Mauritius Hideaway tour.
Mauritius Experience 10 Days/9Nights
Across Africa Tours & Travel
Location: North Coast – West – Southwest – East Coast
Itinerary: Ile aux Cerfs – Trou aux Cerfs – Port Louis – Cap Malheureux – Le Morne
Group Size: 25
Age Range: 4 to 94
Physical Activity: Medium to Active
Operator: Across Africa Tours and Travel
Length: 10 Days
What to Expect
This 10-day, the fully-guided tour will take you in and around the island via a combination of land trips and catamaran cruises. Feast your eyes on the natural marvels of Mauritius, peek into its history, culture and culinary legacy, and get your adrenaline flowing in adventures underwater and up on the mountains.
- Catamaran Cruise
- Drive through Black River Gorges
- See waterfalls and colored earth
- Explore capital city
- Wildlife encounter
- Tea, sugar and rum tour
- Mountain trek
What the Experience is Like
What better way to start your Mauritian holiday than to sail into the Grande Riviere Sud Est waterfall (Grand River South East Waterfalls) to see the rapids and later into the protected turquoise lagoon of Ile aux Cerfs island? Here white sand beaches backed by lush vegetation beckon you to drop anchor and dig your toes in the sand.
In the island’s forested Southwest, drive to a dormant volcano and the nearby crater lake sacred to the Hindus. Along the way, stop at an artisan shop to see handcrafted ship models.
Drive through the Black River Gorges National Park and enjoy the views from a high plateau. Close by, the Chamarel Waterfall plummets straight down from an arched basalt ledge.
Continue on to a curious phenomenon that transformed the basalt bedrock into distinctly colored bands of clay minerals at the aptly named Seven-Colored Earth.
In the capital, immerse yourself in the sounds, sights and smells of Port Louis’ central market heavy with the aroma of Indian cuisine. Visit the Caudan Waterfront near the harbor before moving on to the leafy and blooming spaces of religious landmarks and botanical gardens. Round out your Day 4 tour with a jaunt to Cap Malheureux with its postcard-pretty chapel fronting a peaceful lagoon.
Halfway through the tour, soak up the slow pace of your free day for another big day of adventure up ahead. Get up close to wildlife in captivity, such as in Casela’s Big Cats viewing area and La Vanille Nature Reserve where you can view the giant tortoises and Nile crocodiles. Later, swim with dolphins n their natural habitat.
(Treat yourself to the ultimate Mauritian holiday with this exhaustive 10-day itinerary packed with excursions into the best of what the island has to offer.)
Dig deeper into the history of Mauritius with a tour of the tea route at Bois Cheri Tea Factory and at a former sugar plantation and a working rum distillery at Saint Aubin, with a tasting afterward. Power up with traditional Mauritian lunch before heading out to Gris Gris in the island’s southernmost tip to see the power show of Indian Ocean waves crashing against black cliffs.
Round out your Mauritian adventure with an eco-hike up Le Morne mountain. Keep an eye out for wild pigs, RESA deer and avian residents like the quail, pheasant and guinea foul. At the peak, breathe in the view of jungle-clad mountains and shimmering lagoons and coastlines spread out before you. Enjoy a well-deserved dinner back at your resort before departing the next day.
Willing to splurge for a luxurious holiday? This package is available in the “Comfort” version offering 4-star accommodation and a “Comfort Plus” version offering 5-star accommodation. Excursion lunches are not included.
Across Africa Tours & Travel offers a range of tour packages at various price points, with a focus on offering comfort and luxury to travelers yearning to “live the dream” and willing to pay a premium. A local representative makes regular visits to ensure a smooth experience throughout.
In a nutshell
All the clichés in one well-deserved holiday packed into a 10-Day Mauritius Experience tour with an option to vacation in utmost comfort and luxury.
Mauritian Wonders
Summertimes
Location: North–West–Southwest
Itinerary: Grand Baie – Trou-Aux-Cerfs – Black River Gorges – Chamarel
Group Size: 30
Age Range: 10-99
Physical Activity: Medium
Operator: SummerTimes DMC
Length: 8 Days
What to Expect
Geologic highlights with several days to explore the rest of the island at your own pace.
- Dormant volcano
- Crater lake
- Forested plateaus
- Single-drop waterfalls
- Colored Earth
- Lots of free time for a la carte trips
What the Experience is Like
Discover Mauritius in this eight-day partially guided tour that starts and ends in Grand Baie, your base for the next eight days. Breathe in the island’s verdant Southwest scenery on your way to the dormant volcano at Trou aux Cerfs and the crater lake in Plaine Champagne sacred to the Hindus.
Drop in for a quick look at an artisan shop crafting model ships, then continue on through the ancient Mauritian forest of the Black River Gorges National Park where you stop for lunch and enjoy views of the coast.
Past pineapple and sugarcane fields arrive at the stunning waterfalls of Chamarel postcard-pretty for its straight-down plummet over a basalt ledge. Be enchanted by the multi-colored bands of clay sediments making up the Seven-Colored Earth before your drive back to the hotel with the Le Morne mountain in sight.
Spend time at your own pace from Days 3 to 7, taking advantage of the hotel’s free land and water sports activities such as water skiing and banana boat rides. Relax by the pool or swim in the gin-clear waters of the nearby beaches.
(Want to go on spontaneous trips after a set itinerary? This 8-Day tour hits all the Mauritian highlights while giving you plenty of space to go where your whimsy takes you.)
Alternatively, venture out on one of the many optional day trips or sailing excursions that will take you anywhere on or around the island. Mauritius is surrounded by the ocean on all sides, and it would be easy to hop onboard a catamaran for a cruise along the East Coast and into the sheltered lagoon and pristine white sand beaches of Ile aux Cerfs island, spotting historical locations along the way where the Dutch, French and British left their marks.
Enjoy an optional day trip to the North Coast with its red-roofed church at Cap-Malheureux, or through the capital Port Louis’ central market filled with culinary offerings of Indian and Chinese influences.
Explore other famous landmarks in the capital that speak of Mauritius’ ties with tea, sugarcane and rum production. Stroll through leafy and blooming gardens, and get up close to wildlife such as Nile crocodiles, giant Aldabra tortoises and geckos housed in nature parks. Let these optional itineraries inspire you to venture out and experience more of Mauritius.
Book this as a private tour if you wish to vacation in Mauritius as an exclusive group.
SummerTimes is a destination management company (DMC) offering a range of land, sea and air excursions alongside a la carte trips to satisfy their clients’ desire for ‘an eternal carefree summer.’ Enjoy standard hotel accommodation for 7 nights, 7 breakfasts and one lunch. As a DMC, take advantage of their onsite assistance at the airport arrivals hall and flight check-in assistance before departure.
In a nutshell
Are you a slow traveler and want to savor your vacation at your own pace while enjoying assistance on the ground? This 8-Day Mauritian Wonders tour will take you around the North–West–Southwest circuit while giving you the flexibility to see other highlights as you go.
Mauritius Experience 5D/4N
Across Africa Tours & Travel
Location: North – West – Southwest – East
Itinerary: Île aux Cerfs – Trou aux Cerf – Cap Malheureux
Group Size: 25
Age Range: 4 to 94
Physical Activity: Medium
Operator: Across Africa Tours & Travel
Length: 5 Days
What to Expect
Coast to crater explorer tour alongside culinary and cultural highlights.
- Catamaran cruise
- Crater and crater lake tour
- Capital city tour
- Cap Malheureux tour
What the Experience is Like
By way of introduction, get up close into the rushing waters of the Grand River South East Waterfalls and gaze up at the ravines that enclose it. In the afternoon, cruise into the protected lagoon of Ile Aux Cerfs island and hop off the catamaran for a walk on the white sand beaches or a snorkel in the gin-clear waters.
Embark on another full-day tour that will first take you to a dormant volcano and onto a crater lake, with a quick visit along the way to an artisan shop crafting model ships. Then continue on through the dense forest of the Black River Gorges National Park, one of the island’s largest protected areas and home to the last stands of ancient Mauritian trees.
(There’s more to the Seven-Colored Earth than meets the eye. Dig deeper into its unique story and be amazed in this 5-day Mauritius Experience tour.)
The Chamarel Waterfalls plummeting to a single drop is another highlight of your tour today. Round it out with a walk around the aptly named Seven-Colored Earth to marvel at how the basalt bedrock transformed into multicolored bands of clay minerals due to weathering processes.
Tickle your taste buds as you walk around the capital city’s central market and the Caudan Waterfront, sampling culinary offerings with thick Indian influences and dashes of Chinese flavor. Cool off in the leafy spaces of botanical gardens and religious sites before taking a jaunt to the North to see the red-roofed Notre Dame church backed by a placid lagoon, a postcard-pretty site to cap off your Mauritian holiday.
This package is available in the “Comfort” version offering 4-star accommodation and a “Comfort Plus” version offering 5-star accommodation. Food and drinks on excursions are not included.
Across Africa Tours & Travel offers a range of tour packages at various price points, with a focus on offering comfort and luxury to travelers yearning to “live the dream” and willing to pay a premium. A local representative makes regular visits to ensure a smooth experience throughout.
In a nutshell
The Mauritius Experience 5D/4N tour is a short but jam-packed excursion into top Mauritius attractions from coast to crater with an option to upgrade accommodations.
Simply Mauritius
Summertimes
Location: North – Southwest – West
Itinerary: Grand Baie – Black River Gorges – Chamarel – Le Morne
Group Size: 30
Age Range: 10 to 99
Physical Activity: Low to Medium
Operator: SummerTimes DMC
Length: 6 Days
With a boutique hotel in North Coast’s Grand Baie as your base, embark on a full-day tour of Mauritius’ West and Southwest Coast starting on the second day. Drive to a dormant volcanic crater to breathe in panoramic views before continuing to a lake sacred to Hindus. Breathe in coastline views after coming out of the densely forested mountains and plateaus of the Black River Gorges National Park.
The stunning single-drop Chamarel Waterfall greets you as you emerge from pineapple and sugarcane plantations. Feast your eyes upon the aptly named Seven Colored Earth, a geological marvel that transformed basalt oxides into a range of colored clay minerals. On your journey back to the hotel, gaze up at the Le Morne mountain dominating the skyline.
(Are the “underwater waterfalls” off the coast of Le Morne real or an illusion? See for yourself in this 6-Day Simply Mauritius tour.)
Enjoy the next three days at leisure at the hotel, taking advantage of their free land and water sports activities such as waterskiing and banana boat rides. Or venture into a choice of optional catamaran cruises, sailing expeditions and land trips that will take you into the bustle of the capital city Port Louis and the culinary offerings at the central market.
Delve deeper into history and go on a sugarcane plantation and rum distillery tour. Or visit a lakeside tea estate to see where the Tea Route begins. To befitting your Mauritian holiday, hop on a cruise and glide into the protected lagoon of Île aux Cerf on the East coast to enjoy its crystal-clear waters and pristine white sands.
Book this as a private tour if you wish to enjoy this itinerary as an exclusive group.
SummerTimes is a destination management company (DMC) offering a range of land, sea and air excursions alongside a la carte trips to satisfy their clients’ desire for ‘an eternal carefree summer.’ Enjoy 4-star hotel accommodation for 5 nights, 5 breakfasts and one lunch. As a DMC, take advantage of their onsite assistance at the airport arrivals hall and flight check-in assistance before departure.
In a nutshellWant to enjoy your Mauritius holiday at your own pace? This 6-Day Simply Mauritius tour will take you to the highlights of the West and Southwest while giving you the flexibility to see other highlights as you go.
If none of these tours work for you in Mauritius, please do not worry. There is a wide variety of tour options in the country, and we are confident that there will be something that fits your needs and interests.
Take a look at all the group tours in Mauritius now, which you can sort by private or group, maximum sizing, budget, dates and much (much more). The team at TourRadar is also always more than happy to answer any questions, provide further information or assist in any way in finding the perfect tour for you.
