Water activity

Mauritius: Dolphin Encounter, Trou aux Cerf and Grand Bassin

4.6 / 5

41 reviews

Activity provider: Turquoise Voyages / Samtours
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    Water activity

    Mauritius: Dolphin Encounter, Trou aux Cerf and Grand Bassin

    Activity provider: Turquoise Voyages / Samtours

    4.6

    41 reviews

    From US$ 109.05 per person

    Swim with wild dolphins in the open seas of Mauritius. Visit the dormant volcano of Trou aux Cerfs. Explore the sacred Hindu pilgrimage site of Grand Bassin. Discover the Seven Colored Earths and giant tortoises at Chamarel.

    About this activity

    Free cancellation
    Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
    Reserve now & pay later
    Keep your travel plans flexible — book your spot and pay nothing today.
    Covid-19 precautions
    Special health and safety measures are in place. Check your activity voucher once you book for full details.
    Duration 7 hours
    Check availability to see starting times.
    Live tour guide
    English
    Pickup included
    Pickup available from hotels in Mauritius

    Experience

    Highlights
    • Enjoy an unforgettable dolphin encounter and snorkeling adventure
    • Visit the crater of the dormant volcano of Trou aux Cerfs
    • Discover the popular site of Chamarel and marvel at the famous Seven Colored Earths
    Full description

    Begin your full-day experience with a visit to the wild dolphins who live off the coast of the Black River in the Indian Ocean. Swim with the playful creatures in their natural environment. Learn about their habits and receive guidelines for a sustainable trip once you have boarded the boat. 

    The skippers will accompany you in the water when it's your turn to swim. Take in stunning views over the open sea and of these amazing creatures before heading to the popular diving and snorkeling site (time permitting). Dive in and marvel at the beautiful coral gardens and tropical fish.

    Proceed then to the dormant volcano of Trou aux Cerfs for beautiful panoramas. Take a stroll around the crater, situated 2,000 feet above sea level, for breathtaking views of the whole island on clear days. 

    Continue to the temples and shrines of the peaceful Grand Bassin. See the 108-foot statue of Shiva and climb the highest temple for more stunning views. 

    Look out for the resident monkeys and other wildlife while you're there. Drive through the park to Plaine des Champagnes, stopping to admire Alexandra Falls on the way.

    Finally, head to Chamarel to discover the geological miracle that is the Seven Colored Earths. Get a view of Chamarel Falls, Mauritius' most famous waterfall. Say hello to one of the giant tortoises before concluding the tour and heading back to your hotel.

    Includes
    • Driver and guide
    • Hotel pickup and drop-off
    • Activities as per itinerary
    • Food
    • Entrance to Chamarel
    Not suitable for
    • Pregnant women
    • People with mobility impairments

    Select participants and date

    Participants

    Date

    Important information

    What to bring

    • Comfortable shoes
    • Sunscreen
    • Water
    • Swimwear
    • Change of clothes

    Not allowed

    • Luggage or large bags

    Know before you go

    •  This tour lasts up to 8 hours. You can choose how long you spend at each attraction (except for the dolphin encounter, which lasts around 2.5 hours). Depending on your group’s speed, you may not have time to see all the listed attractions.
    •  Please be advised that an encounter with the dolphins is not 100% guaranteed.
    • You will have time for lunch at your own expense.
    • It may not be possible to stop at Grand Bassin in February or March, as the area is a pilgrimage site during the festival of Mahashivaratree.
    •  Please be advised that if you are staying on the north side of the island, pickup will occur slightly earlier.
    Customer reviews

    Overall rating

    4.6 /5

    based on 41 reviews

    Review summary

    • Guide
      4.9/5
    • Transportation
      4.9/5
    • Value for money
      4.6/5

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    Wow what a fantastic experience!!! Rajesh our driver for the day collected us from the hotel, took us to the boats to go out and swim with the dolphins. He gave us a fantastic oversight of the country, its people and history during the journey. We got to swim with the dolphins, the guides helping us locate them. Be aware there will be quite a few boats trying to find the dolphins, so this is not a 1:1 experience but was still worth the journey. Snorkel and flippers were provided and take a Gopro if you have one! After this experience (around 2 hours) we were taken by Rajesh to see the waterfall, 7 coloured earth and giant tortoises (this is Rs500 pp extra) plus taken to see the Hindu temple at the great lake. Rajesh can explain everything to you, his knowledge was extensive. My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience, however I would say this trip is NOT for families with young children, the dolphins are but not the whole tour as its a very long day.

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    March 30, 2023

    G
    GetYourGuide traveler – United Kingdom Verified booking

    Helpful?

    What an amazing day. Firstly we were super lucky to see and swim with an entire pod of dolphins - they’re honestly such magical creatures. Lots of speedboats with many swimmers - the dolphins seemed happy enough playing amongst everyone. However not being an expert I can’t comment on their well-being. The tour of the West with our guide Deepak, was absolutely brilliant. I cannot rate Deepak highly enough. He was incredibly insightful, with so much information about the Island. He taught us about the Hindu Faith, Temples, and their Gods. What a beautiful religion. The island’s landscape is just breathtaking with such rich flora and fauna. I went to Mauritius for the beaches but I’d honestly say the main event is the rainforest/national parks. Thank you so much for a wonderful tour, and making our trip unforgettable.

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    March 30, 2023

    G
    GetYourGuide traveler – United Kingdom Verified booking

    Helpful?

    We truly recommend it!! Not only the experience is unique totally worth it, but for us the most important thing that we won’t to pinpoint is the people! We were very lucky to have as our tour guide RAJ - made us feel like we were all a family he knew literally everything, we called him a bible, and he gave us such an amazing time and for that all together is the day of our vacations that we will never forget. Exploring + hospitality with people who care is an excellent combination! THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING US

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    March 30, 2023

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    GetYourGuide traveler – United Arab Emirates Verified booking

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    Product ID: 360500

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