SSR Botanic Garden

In the historical village of Pamplemousses, you will visit the famous Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden, where you will get to see the giant waterlilies and 85 varieties of palm trees from around the world. You will also discover the various spices and medicinal plants and learn about the various endemic and imported plants in the garden.

In Pamplemousses you will also visit L’Aventure du Sucre, the informative museum set in an old sugar factory. There, you will not only discover the history of sugar but also that of Mauritius, the slave trade and rum. You will leave with a new appreciation of the island and its people and get to sample the different varieties of sugar and delicious local rums.

Chateau De Labourdonnais

Discover the Château de Labourdonnais, a beautifully restored colonial mansion built in 1859 and visit their enchanting tropical garden. The tour includes a visit of the château, a walk through the orchard and the bird garden, a viewing of the giant tortoises, as well as a guided tour of their rum distillery on the estate, and free rum tasting at bar. Note: Bring mosquito sprays. Due to the age and value of certain objects found inside the house, flash-photography is not allowed inside the chateau as this could lead to damage.

Port Louis

A tour of the North isn’t complete without a visit to Port-Louis, the capital of Mauritius. The city is a blend of the old and the new. On one side you have the hustle and bustle of the city’s historical market (bazaar), built in 1828, where you can bargain for different spices and souvenirs and sample Mauritian street food. And on the other side you have the modern Caudan Waterfront, where there visitors can shop at brand name stores and eat at various restaurants. You can visit the areas of Port-Louis that interest you such as the Aapravasi Ghat (UNESCO heritage site), and the smaller streets. For great views, your driver will take you for a stop at the Citadel and you will also get to see the Champs de Mars racecourse on the way.

Discover the tea making process at Bois Chéri, the first tea plantation in Mauritius, founded in 1892. You will visit the plantation, factory, museum and learn about the tea production process from harvest and fermentation to drying, sieving and packaging, and the history of tea in Mauritius. After the guided tour, you can sample the delicious varieties of tea on the terrace of its old chalet and admire a volcanic crater now transformed into a small lake, surrounded by lush greenery.

La Vanille Nature Park

Stroll through La Vanille Réserve des Mascareignes and its 3.5 hectares of lush greenery. Discover its beautiful palm and banana trees, giant bamboos, its impressive animals, including 2,000 Nile Crocodiles and 1,000 giant tortoises. You will also visit their insectarium which boasts one of the best private collections in the world with 23,000 species.

Gris Gris Beach

Admire the rugged scenery of big, powerful waves crashing on the cliffs at Gris Gris. A few metres away, you will see La Roche qui pleure, a natural rock formation that resembles a person crying when the waves hit it.

Tamarin Bay

Note: This part of the tour is optional. You will start your day with the experience of a lifetime, and one of the most popular activities in Mauritius, swimming with wild dolphins in their natural environment. Once you get on board the speedboat, the professional and qualified skippers will start by briefing you on the important aspects of this experience. You will then head to Tamarin Bay for the dolphin encounter. The skippers will accompany you in the water when it’s your turn to swim with the dolphins. You will enjoy 2.5 hours on the open sea viewing the dolphins and swimming with them. Depending on the amount of time left, you will then go to The Aquarium, a popular snorkelling and diving site with beautiful coral and tropical fish.

Trou aux Cerfs

After swimming with wild dolphins, your driver will take you to discover the Trou aux Cerf volcano. You will be able to enjoy the 360 degree views from the top of the volcano while taking a stroll around the crater. This dormant volcano stands at around 600m above sea level, and on clear days offers a breathtaking panoramic view of the island.

Grand Bassin

Drive by the largest reservoir in Mauritius, the Mare-aux-Vacoas, on the way to Grand Bassin, a tranquil and serene crater lake considered sacred by the Hindu population. Discover the Hindu culture by visiting the temples around the lake and enjoy the peace and quiet of the surroundings. You will also be amazed by the tall statue of Shiva and the view from the highest temple. Be sure to watch out for the monkeys and wildlife. Note: It may not be possible to make this stop in the month of February or March as the area is also a pilgrimage site during the festival of Mahashivaratree.

Black River Gorges National Park

Nature lovers will enjoy the incredible views of the Black River Gorges, the largest national park in Mauritius. Covering an area of 6754 hectares, the park is home to numerous endemic flora and fauna and provides visitors with beautiful hikes, with varying levels of difficulty. During your drive through the park and Plaine des Champagnes, you will also get to stop and admire Alexandra falls and viewpoint, and if they’re in season, like the locals, you’ll want to pick a few goyaves de chine!

Chamarel Seven Coloured Earth Geopark

Visit the popular Chamarel, the coloured earth site, where in addition to the geological wonders of the seven coloured dunes, you can view the Chamarel Falls, the most famous waterfall in Mauritius! And, make sure you stop by the giant tortoise pens before leaving the park!