Dolphin Encounters, Ile Aux Benitier & Crystal Rock: Full-day (Lunch & Transfer)

Appalling lack of safety this is an accident waiting to happen. More than 18 people on one tiny old boat that looks like it’s designed for 4-6 people maximum. The staff were acting like people smugglers trying to squeeze as many on as possible. Every safety rule broken taking people out on a boat this trip should not be advertised by Tripadvisor or viator. The boat looks nothing like the photos. The staff were unfriendly and just interested in trying to make as much money as possible without any care for safety. This is a danger to life hazard Shame on this company allowing this to continue until there’s an accident ! I’m a U.K. Doctor this should never be allowed ! VIATOR AND TRIPADVISOR ACT NOW !

I had an amazing time, it has been easily one of the highlights of my trip. Everything was very well organized from start to finish. The boat crew were friendly and knowledgeable, and seeing the dolphins in their natural environment was truly unforgettable. My only complaint is that I would loved to have spent more time watching the dolphins. The visit to Crystal Rock and the relaxing time on Ile aux Benitiers were both beautiful and perfectly paced, and the lunch was fresh, tasty, and exactly what you want after a morning on the water. I also want to give special praise to the transfer driver. Radhika was extremely professional, punctual, and made the whole journey smooth and stress-free. It really made a difference knowing we were in safe, capable hands, and her friendly attitude added to the great experience. I would absolutely recommend it to anyone visiting Mauritius who wants a well-run, enjoyable, and memorable day out.

Excellent day. Picked up at our hotel in Trou aux Biches at 6:15am & driven to Flic en Flac to meet they boat. Snorkeling kit provided but many brought their own. Well worth bringing a GoPro or similar as they're not supplied but you'll treasure the memories. Swam with Spinner Dolphins then snorkeled in the clearest water I've ever seen with the coral fishes before stopping for lunch and drinks at Ill aux Benitier. Music & dancing as we made our way back to Flic en Flac & left the boat at 2:30 pm. Back in the hotel an hour later. Glorious day. Unforgettable. Excellent crew.

Awesome experience with great guides (with a great sense of humour) and delicious beach lunch. Once in a lifetime experience swimming with the dolphins. Would definitely do this again if given the opportunity.

I went on this tour with my two teenage children and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and would recommend the trip, we particularly enjoyed the dolphin encounter and snorkeling. The staff were excellent and informative and friendly. Even the speed boat ride was thrilling and fun, the lunch was amazing and delicious, there was plenty to eat and drink. Our friendly taxi driver was waiting for us at the beach at the end of the day to take us home, the day ran smoothly from hotel pick up to hotel drop off, I can’t recommend this trip enough, a great experience thank you.

I recently used the pick-up and drop service provided by Radhika, and I must say it was an excellent experience. She was punctual, polite, and very professional throughout the ride. The car was clean and comfortable, and she ensured a smooth and safe journey from start to finish.

For starters : pickup was advised for 7am But got text it was 530. The driver in the rain and fog drove over 100pmh for most of the journey. Basically we were so scared - that no one spoke !! The journey was approximately 1.5 hours long. The company should not employ drivers like this. The actual boat trip/dolphins/island lunch was great but then again the driver drove like a maniac - this time good weather, nearly rear ended 2 other vehicles, and due to speed had the cheek to bib at a lady who was in the distance to cross road quicker!!

Terrible service, if you are considering booking try to find it directly as TripAdvisor messed up this booking. I provided my hotel details at the time of booking but during the day an email was sent requesting this information again and as I didn't have internet during the day I only saw this in the evening and by this time it was too late and I got no response from the supplier. We got up early the next day and got a car and drove for over an hour to get to the pickup location, my wife waited by the boats whilst I parked up, but there was no sign and when we finally found that trip provider (by asking everyone on the beach) he said it was too late and when we asked if we could go the next day he said we had to contact our agent (TripAdvisor) and they stated no refund was available and that it was considered a 'no show'

The tour was very nice! We saw dolphins and other marine life and had a great day altogether. We were especially satisfied with our driver Manav. He was on time, has a very tidy car and treated us really well with his friendly personality! Definite recommendation!

Manav our driver offered invaluable advice and recommendations. He also went out of his way to accommodate requests. The speedboat trip was fun very respectful of the dolphins, unlike other operators. Snorkelling was good and lunch delicious.

The dolphin swim was very dangerous in my opinion. There were at least 25 boats surrounding one pod of dolphins. Boats would chase dolphins and you would have to jump into the water and try to avoid other boats trying to get to the dolphins. We did not find it safe at all and did not attempt to swim with the dolphins. Our driver left early because there was just too much traffic and the rest of the day just felt like he was killing time because we didn’t get to swim.

We had the chance to meet Manav from.Freshverde Holidays from our pick up . He is very nice patient and very professional.highly recommended 👌. Very kind person.he help us for the trip . Fresh erreur provided us ahigh quality service . Do not hesitate !!

Me and my partner had this booked a while in advance and we were both super excited for this. We woke up to meet the driver for 6am. We waited until this was meant to start being 7am, and no one had showed up. We waited a little longer just to be sure and still nothing. While we were waiting we had the hotel call the international number multiple times but there was no answer. We ended up getting someone to call an Australian customer service number and they were able to speak to a representative who said they tried to contact us, which we didn’t receive any communication. We are very disappointed with this experience that we cancelled another activity we had booked a couple of days later through the same company. The only positive thing is that we were able to get a refund for both activities, but I won’t be booking through this company again.

Manav our driver was very good arrived on time and drove very carefully. He was very helpful at offering us advice on local trips and restaurants we could visit which was very helpful given it was our first time in Mauritius. In our way to the destination Manav told us about the islands history and culture which was also very interesting. Would recommend this company to anyone who wishes to tour around the island

My favorite part about each excursion was my driver Sahil♥️ Sahil is so kind, patient and knowledgeable! I only gave 5 stars for my experience with Sahil not the excursions. If I ever visit again Sahil is the only driver I’d trust to transport me or any of my relatives around the island. He literally goes over and beyond to make your experience beautiful! If In Mauritius you should definitely request Sahil as your driver to and from any excursions! As for the dolphin tour I did love crystal rock! I do suggest that life jackets, better snorkeling gear and or noodles need to be provided or at least mentioned that no life jackets are provided. Snorkeling gear was provided but, it was not up to part at all. Chasing the dolphins & snorkeling would be much easier with life jackets or noodles.

We had an amazing time on this group excursion! Although it’s an early start, it's absolutely worth it for the chance to see the dolphins. The snorkeling experience was fantastic, and the BBQ on the island was the perfect way to unwind; great food, a laid-back atmosphere, and plenty of time to relax. Overall, we would highly recommend this tour to anyone looking for a memorable day out!

Excellent day out, be warned it's a very early pick up...6am!! Taxi to the rendezvous and speedboat for our voyage. The crew were great and explained everything well, although more attentive to our French counterparts than the English. First stop was the dolphin swim. Your better off staying in the boat and watching the lovely creatures as being wild they don't hang around to be petted or swum with, I don't think anyone got within 20feet. Second stop at rhe reef to snorkel, saw a few varieties of fish, nothing to big either. Then onto benetiere island for a bbq and sunbathing. The locals have stalls selling clothes, jewelry and ornaments. Not too badly priced and you can haggle. The bbq was excellent, very tasty. After a 2hr stop a speedboat ride back Note to all, take your own towels and water for the boat and snorkels of you have as theirs aren't great It's a brilliant day out and a stunning island, enjoy Simon & Claire

We had such a fabulous time. We saw dolphins swam around the coral reefs saw the crystal rock, time on lie six benitiers island and a bbq on the beach. The guys on the speed boat were great fun too. Great day out

We booked the dolphin tour. Not only did we see dolphins, snorkeled in the sea and enjoyed delicious mauritian bbq on an island. We also have to mention, how well-organized the whole tour was. Starting with our driver Sahil, who told us a lot about Mauritius wile driving us from the hotel to the meeting point and back. A really pleasant person. All in all we can recommend this trip to everybody, who likes the sea, good food and good people. Thank you!

Snorkeling from the boat was great and we saw many different fish species. The dolphin encounter was a little disappointing. There were rather a lot of boats and not a lot of dolphins so there was no opportunity to swim with them. The few hours spent on Benitier Island was enjoyable and Crystal Rock was amazing.

Booked on Viator, I received a message from Freshverde saying to be in my hotel lobby at 7:30 am. At 8:00 am I attempted to message them asking if there was a delay… no reply. At 8:30 I contacted Viator and was told “driver on way” at 8:50 (1 hour and 20 mins late) a taxi pulls up and says he’s here for us. We are taken to a beach where some dive boats and fishing boats are and are taken to a ratty fishing boat as our “private speed boat “. Quickly I see that the itinerary promised isn’t what I’m getting. No water on board, when I asked driver of the itinerary and if this is the normal tour I was sold, he went silent . We were taken to the bay and a previous review was correct, you aren’t privately swimming with dolphins .. you are with 15 other boats chasing them and watching people exit boats like commandos out of a helicopter … our boat had no fins, no water, no snacks, just old masks. Then onto the island for a bbq with unlimited beverages! See my picture below… this was Fyre festival part 2. I reached out to both Viator and Fresh Verde asking for a partial refund, both said no. Apparently having a guest wake up 1 hour earlier than needed and not showing up anywhere near pickup time is ok… shame on both of them . Deleted and deactivated my Viator app. I was scammed. Have a look at the private boat and unlimited beverages we were offered. Other tour operators available with much better as advertised service .

Our driver was on time and brought us safely to our meeting point at Flic en Flac beach. After a while we boarded our speed boat. Staff on the boat was really nice and helpful. We were the only English speaking people on that boat. All other spoke French but the guides explained everything to us very well. Reason for only 3 stars. As soon as we found our first group of dolphins, they were practically hunted down by about 30-40 boats. I didn't feel great at that moment and regretted having booked this tour. Even more when I saw the behavior of a few people who jumped into the water. It was like dropping bombs. The greed and over desire on some of the faces was just not nice to see. I hope that the dolphins are not stressed by this behavior. Some people said they like to put on a show for humans. Well, hard to believe for me but I sincerely hope they are right. On the other hand, the dolphins could easily swim away what they didn't do. Who knows. Snorkeling: They throw some bread into the water to attract more fish. Questionable. However, the fish are pretty and plenty. Chrystal Rock: It is just a rock. Nothing special about it. The island: Beautiful beach with a space for each boat. There are a lot of stalls where you can buy souvenirs. We bought some and the prices were way cheaper than in our hotel for example. You can also buy some cocktails which we didn't do. Lunch & Drinks: was very good. Chicken, Sausages (beef I believe), Fish, Salad and bread plus a variety of drinks. Overall, it was a nice day out but I still have my concerns regarding the dolphins. I would rather have this tour just watching the dolphins and not swimming with them.

The driver was really professional and even the skippers were fabulous, we have really enjoyed out trip and will definitely recommend it to our friends as well

This tour should be called harassing dolphins. There will be 2-3 dolphins and over 10 boats with 10-15 people each. The boat will drop you off as close to the dolphin as possible so you can chase after them. This tour will not provide fins because they “are not there to harass the dolphins.” Other than that, the island is lovely, the food is decent, and the boat driver is nice. I would still not recommend this tour, it’s a waste of time and it is animal abuse. The only reason the dolphins come to that area is because the boat drivers will give throw them some bread.

We booked this excursion based on the photo above and the selling point of swimming with the dolphins and snorkeling. The dolphin encounter was the biggest let-down of any vacation I've ever been on. There were 7 or 9 speed boats that went to the same spot at the same time and were zig-zagging all around each other and occasionally the driver of the boat would signal for anyone interested to jump in the water, but there were boats criss-crossing the waters where all of the people were trying to swim! It was super dangerous! The water was completely opaque and we didn't see any dolphins whatsoever. The post mentions that the boat operator will give a talk about dolphins on the way over, but he didn't at all. He was aloof and a borderline unsafe driver. We participated in the dolphin farce for about 30 minutes then headed to the Crystal Rock, which was picturesque, but you just do a circle around it (all 7 - 9 boats at once) and proceed on to a "snorkeling spot." There were fish to see, but the other 10 people on our boat didn't participate, they just sat on the boat. So I felt rushed and didn't get to snorkel as much as I wanted. Then we proceeded to a beach for the "seafood barbecue." It was anything but! There were drinks in that there was crappy wine and beer in a cooler by your picnic table (with stumps for seats) and after a while someone brought over chicken, hot dogs, slaw, and overcooked white fish to eat. And that was it! I've never been so disappointed in an excursion in my life. You should find a private tour or something like that if you actually want to see dolphins.

A lovely morning seeing the dolphins and the beach for the bbq is beautiful!! Ashish the driver and the boys were wonderful!

The day started off good, our driver picked us up from out hotel on time and was very friendly and efficient! If you are not a morning person please note that the start time is NOT the pick up time and if your hotel is not located near the beach then you may have to wake up earlier. For us we has to wake up at 5am for a 6am pickup time from the east. We arrived at the location on time and our driver took us to some toilets before we got there which was super considerate! However when we got there, we spent a lot of time just stood about and we weren't really sure what we were supposed to do/who we were going with. There were a lot of other tourists as well who I assume were waiting for similar things but again no one looked like they knew where to go. Eventually our guides came and walked us to the boat we were going to be using for the trip. We had Vic and Zen (sorry if this is misspelled) who were super informative and really cared about our experience. I have to say their energy and commitment really made this trip worth it and I'm very glad we had them! First they explained that we would need to look for the dolphins to swim and we ended up finding some where a lot of the other boats were. These are wild dolphins and the reason why the excursion is so early is because that is the only time they will be close to the shore. It was a bit difficult to swim with the dolphins because they would often submerge themselves in the sea to get away from all the boats, so you'd have to time it really well to swim with them. I was somewhat lucky and got to see them swim under me but they weren't very close. You can request a life jacket if you're not a strong swimmer. My mum didn't even get a chance to swim 'with' them because as she got in the water they'd be gone. After a few attempts our guides asked us if we wanted to move on (again really lovely people) and our group agreed that it would be best to start the next activity. Something to be mindful of when you're in the water is where your boat is! I lost my bearings and was swimming in the opposite direction but luckily my mum called out to me. I don't think I wouldve been left stranded in the water as there are so many boats around and someone would've helped but still a bit of a scary situation. Our next activity was snorkelling in a lagoon area with lots of fish! They put some fish food in the water so you end up being surrounded by them which is quite cool! And the water is not to deep and not too shallow so you can really explore. After, we when you Crystal Rock which is a gorgeous coral which grows outside the water! I recommend wearing some goggles/snorkelling here because the water is shallow enough that you can stand up in it, however there are a lot of sea urchins and sea cucumbers so it's easier to avoid them if you can see them. Our last stop was the island which we spent a lot of time on. There are no toilets on the island so if you need to do your business, you either do it in the water or in the woody areas. Also because the boats they use are speed boats, again no toilets on there, so your only option is really when you are in the water. Where we were sat there were loads of flies which is quite off putting when you're eating but hey, that's nature. I'm not sure if it was just where we were sat or if other groups experienced it too but just something to note. There isn't a lot to do on the island except swim or buy items from some of the stalls they have. Quite good prices and lots of variety too! I guess my issue was the amount of time we spent on the island, because we had to wait almost an hour before we ate, and then after we ate we had an additional 2 hours. So a total of around 3 to 4 hours on there which isn't super entertaining when there's not much to do except sunbathe, shop or swim. For food we had a BBQ lunch which was delicious, accompanied by unlimited drinks. Again our guides were amazing, serving us our drinks and telling us about things you can do on the island. They always made sure we were feeling good and were having fun! I booked this trip for just me and my mum and we had it nearer the end of our holiday. That being said we had experienced some excursions in Mauritius before this so I think our opinion would be different if this had been the first excursion on our holiday.

What an amazing experience. Everything was beautiful. Crystal rock is stunning. The food was excellent.

Great speedboat and crew - a skilled driver and a superb guide. The lunch was delicious and truly food and drinks were unlimited. We saw the dolphins, but it was challenging because there were just a few of them and many boats. We would be happy to give a five star review, except for the fact that the taxi that was supposed to be included never picked us up after the trip. Together with two more couples we waited for 20 minutes and then asked another taxi to take us home; the phone number given as company contact didn't work and when we messaged them, we never received a reply.

The food was awesome, the view of the mount was wonderful. The stuff really kindly we when over there for breakfast and lunch the same day

Fantastic speed boat trip to see the dolphins and lunch on the Island. Our driver Agi was amazing collecting us on time from our hotel and getting us home safely. All included in the tour.

We loved swimming with the dolphins and the BBQ lunch afterwards. There were only 2 things that stopped us giving this experience 5 stars and that was that it was about an hour and a half too long and the water was a bit murky...which, of course, is not anything the tour operator could do about!

Boat was good and food was good. Didn’t get much chance with dolphins as so many boats and they moved very quickly. Wouldn’t try swimming with them unless a strong swimmer. Island okay but basically a long stretch of beach with some stalls selling tourist goods at inflated prices. Scenery excellent and sea lovely to swim in but nothing really to explore on the island. Also no real health and safety - no life jackets in speed boats and no warning about scalding hot plastic seats when got back on boat which resulted in a very burnt bottom!

We had a great time and saw dolphins. The food was also delicious and the guide was super nice. It was also great that we were only a small group. The stay on the island after the meal was a bit too long for us and unfortunately it was very hectic when we wanted to swim with the dolphins because there were quite a lot of boats and people. But it was also great fun to go on the speedboat, which was very fast. The transfer was perfect with a private taxi and friendly driver.

Ieri abbiamo fatto l’escursione a Mauritius, nuotare con i delfini in mare aperto, crystal rock and also ile Bénitier. We really enjoyed. Our driver Avish was very professional and friendly and he got for us also two bottles of water on his car for us. The two guys driving the boat were friendly as well. I definitely recommend to book via Viator this excursion if you will visit Mauritius!

Perfect trip, saw dolphins, had a great snorkelling, tasty food and the guides have been friendly and helpful

This trip was amazing, we saw the dolphins and had many opportunities to jump in and swim with them & we also saw humpback whales. The snorkelling was unreal, the water was crystal clear and there was lots of fish around. Good food for the bbq, simple but perfect end to the day. On the beach there are lots is market type stalls to buy souvenirs, they take cash but some will deliver to your hotel later that day to give you an opportunity to get cash out. Our driver was lovely and very prompt. Oliver & Brian were our tour guides on the boat and they were fantastic, really great tour guides and made us feel very comfortable and made the day more enjoyable.

The service is poor, driver keep look at my girlfriend. He looks like a pervert to me. The car smell cigarette. This is the worst service ever. Not recommanded.

Great trip. Saw the dolphins, swam with them. The boat driver was very nice and funny! Music on the boat, food was delicious and great trip overall :)

An experience of a day and worth doing. Firstly the positives. The guide/boat captain was really good and friendly and helpful. The day started at the beach waiting for everyone to turn up. Going in to this just be aware there is some standing around and there are no toilets for the entire thing. On the boat it was a fun but choppy ride out to sea. Once out there there are at least a dozen other boats all looking for the same thing. You have to appreciate that you're looking for dolphins in their natural environment so there are no guarantees of seeing any let alone swimming with them. We caught glimpse of 3 dolphins during the time at sea which was nice but never any where close enough to actually think "wow". After that it's off for some snorkeling and then to an island for a BBQ. Beautiful island, drinks and there are some market stalls set up. Again this is just an island, no amenities so if you need to pee it's off in to a bush or out to sea. The food was nice and plentiful however given the lack of any sanitary cleaning facilities (the plates get washed in the ocean water) my intestines did not agree it was that wonderful the following day. But it was an experience and fun at the time. Overall it was an enjoyable trip out in a speed boat and a nice few hours on an island. Just don't expect to be actually swimming with dolphins unless you get incredibly lucky

The team were very friendly and welcoming. Sunil the boat driver thoroughly looked after us. My daughter has visual impairment, he was very understanding and helped me to cater for my daughter. I highly recommend this experience and if you can request for Sunil to be your guide. He is brilliant and a gentleman. Excellent customer service.

Didn't book this trip through Trip Advisor but a local company. Saw dolphins from boat but unable to swim with them as they were way too fast. Strong swimmers could keep up. Ile aux Bentier has no toilets. Bring your own loo roll! Lunch was simple but nice. Plenty of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks included. Nice walk along beach. Snorkeling was good.

Dear future customers, We wanted to share our experience today with Freshverde Holidays. Unfortunately, our experience did not match our expectations in any way, and we wanted to inform you to prevent you from being disappointed as we were. Contrary to the positive reviews and information we found on TripAdvisor, our experience was far from satisfactory. Not only was the cost of the excursion excessive, but the quality of the experience was also lacking. For instance, another couple at our table during the meal paid only 2,000 rupees, which is 40 € for two people, far from the 199 € for two that were displayed on TripAdvisor. What particularly disappointed us was that we didn't even get a chance to catch a glimpse of dolphins or whales. Despite the presence of around twenty boats on the site, our driver didn't have the patience to wait and quickly moved on to the next step. Moreover, the random diving spots didn't allow for a satisfying observation. We were deprived of the opportunity to learn more about dolphins, which had been promised. It's evident that the excursion is primarily designed to generate revenue, without genuinely caring about the experience that customers are seeking. Additionally, the planned activities did not match what was advertised. No water bottle upon arrival, only 10 minutes at Crystal Rock – the driver must have been in a hurry. The way the boat was operated seemed dangerous to us, and the staff's behavior was arrogant and mocking when we expressed our concerns. The lack of professionalism and failure to uphold commitments left us frustrated. Before you book your own excursion with Freshverde Holidays, we simply want to caution you. Our experience fell well short of what we hoped for, and we suggest exploring other options to avoid similar disappointment. Sincerely,

Basically, all promises of the trip were kept. What they don't tell you: - There's a lot of people looking for the dolphins, this is probably not very safe. - the snorkeling is bland and the equipment very worn - they will keep you in the island for four hours, while hawkers try to get you to shill for their garbage Try to find another offer for the trip, where there's less flubber and more meat.

Amazing tour, everything was perfectly organized. I would always recommend it to anyone who wants to enjoy the islands and the big fishes with a professional company

There were dolphins, to start with the positive. We were picked up by a driver and driven one hour North to Flic en Flac. There we got on a boat with two staff and 17 tourists. The boat drove South again to meet the dolphins. The poor animals were chased by about eight boats and certainly more than a hundred people. Then, we went to an average snorkeling spot and to crystal rock. We arrived on the island after about two and a half hours, but we couldn't leave there for four hours. There are no toilets and a bustling industry tries to sell overpriced trinkets and beverages to the tourists. We were less than 2 km from our hotel and asked if we could be dropped off there. No, not possible, we must go back with our driver. When we arrived back at Flic en Flac, the driver waited until we had almost reached him, then drove away! He came back a few minutes later and drove us back. So we spent a lot of money to be treated like @&!# and kept on a boring island for four hours.

Absolutely fabulous trip. Dolphins were incredible, snorkeling and swimming in the clearest turquoise sea I have ever seen at crystal rock. Benitier island was beautiful. The staff, sights, food, drink, music and atmosphere were superb. The whole family loved it today. The guys on the boat were great and helped make it very memorable. Take cash with you as there are some lovely things to buy on the island

The swimming with dolphins and the snorkeling was fantastic! The skipper’s were really good and the lunch and the free time on the island were great. We spend a wonderful day on this excursion.

Cool to swim with dolphins. Albeit with around 20 other boats, all with roughly 15 people on board chasing a pod of 8 dolphins = carnage. Things lacking from the experience; 1. Bottle of water on arrival (as advertised) 2. ANY toilet or bathroom facilities on the island during the 3 and a half hour lunch stop. My pregnant wife was told to just ‘go behind the bushes’. Which we tried until finding several piles of human sh*t, just a few yards from where lunch was being prepared. 3. BBQ as advertised - it was ok, but pictures showed glamour; including lobster. We had very dry fish and even drier chicken 4. Any direction or greeting at all on arrival into the car park. After waiting an hour (without our eagerly anticipated bottle of water) we were beckoned by our driver to follow one man into the sea who put 15 of us on a boat without saying a word, until we were all settled on board. Apart from that it was a good day (We have raised these issues with Viator)