Wild South Mauritius: Trou aux Cerfs, Grand Bassin & Chamarel 7 Coloured Earth Day Tour

Curepipe•easy

Difficulty

easy

Duration

8 hours

Fitness Level

Suitable for travelers with basic mobility; involves short, accessible walks and several vehicle transfers.

Overview

Swap sand for ridge-line views and sacred lakefronts on an eight-hour guided loop through Mauritius’s wild south. Visit the crater of Trou aux Cerfs, the spiritual shores of Grand Bassin, forested valleys of Black River Gorges, a working rhumerie, and Chamarel’s seven-coloured sands.

Wild South Mauritius: Trou aux Cerfs, Grand Bassin & Chamarel 7 Coloured Earth Day Tour

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bus-tour

Select participants and date

Date

Thu, Nov 6

Travelers

You step off an air-conditioned minivan into an island that trades beach postcards for green, vertiginous views. The rim of Trou aux Cerfs opens like a dark eye over Curepipe — an almost-perfect crater rim with a glassy pond at its floor — and the air tastes cooler, threaded with eucalyptus and sugarcane smoke. This guided day trip stitches together the island’s highland geology, its spiritual life, and the slow craft of rum: volcano rim, sacred lake, rainforest escarpments, a working rhumerie, and the chromatic sands at Chamarel.

Adventure Photos

Wild South Mauritius: Trou aux Cerfs, Grand Bassin & Chamarel 7 Coloured Earth Day Tour photo 1

Adventure Tips

Comfortable, grippy shoes

Wear closed-toe shoes with good tread — viewpoints and short trails have loose rock and steps.

Respect Grand Bassin rituals

Dress modestly around the lake; remove hats and follow any signs near shrines.

Bring reusable water and snacks

There are stops for refreshments, but a full day of walking and sun needs extra water on hand.

Cash for local purchases

Small vendors, donations at Grand Bassin, and souvenir stalls at Chamarel may not accept cards.

Local Insights

Wildlife

Mauritius olive white-eye (endemic bird)
Mauritian kestrel

History

These sites reflect Mauritius’s volcanic origin and layered cultural history: Hindu pilgrimage at Grand Bassin dates from early 19th-century indentured-worker communities, while Chamarel’s estates recall colonial sugarcane agriculture.

Conservation

Black River Gorges is a conservation priority for endemic flora and fauna; visitors are urged to stay on trails and minimize plastic waste to protect fragile habitats.