Private North Day Tour: Botanical Garden, Sugar Museum, Rum Tasting, Port Louis

North is not as exciting as the South. Driver was nice. Sugar Museum was closed due to PM’s visit. Nothing wrong here. Could include something more and Port Louis should be at the end of the trip. Driver took us there at the start of the day. Hardly any activity at the Caudan Waterfront

Nice North Island tour , San our driver was lovely and friendly, rum tasting was a bit overrated, overall fine experience

Our tour guide was very kind and gave us all sorts of information. He waited for us in the car while visiting, which gave us privacy. The Botanical Garden is absolutely stunning!

Our driver took us to Port Louis before the shops opened and we had 40 mins there. We then went to Botanical Gardens for 40 mins and then he took us to a place to have lunch. Only set menus no choice very expensive we were ripped off costing us nearly £100 for two lunches having paid for the driver who hardly spoke to us. He then gave us a choice between the Sugar museum and the colonial house we thought both were included. So very disappointing. Not enough time to explore things properly.

San was absolutely amazing ! Taught and showed me so much even stopping to point things out! 100% would recommend!

Amazing time exploring and extra effort made! Had alot of fun! Driver was attentive and friendly. Will definitely recommend this trip

This is a great way to do this tour. The transport was a 14 Seater which had a great air conditioning system and was really clean and neat. The driver was superb and left us on our own at the various venues, which was great as we could explore at leisure. The driver was polite and professional, and when we got to the market, he made sure to walk us to the right places so we did not get lost. All in all, this is definitely worth the money you pay, and it was great to see all these special places in one tour.

My wife and I had a lovely trip with our driver San. He was very informative, accommodating to our requests and funny. His car was very comfortable (both my wife and I are over 6 foot and had good space). He is also an excellent driver, able to cope well with some adverse weather conditions. We would recommend San for anyone wanting to explore the North of Mauritius.

Our driver was San who took us on a wonderful journey round the northern part of Mauritius. San was very knowledgeable and informative. A fantastic guide and very personal thank you for a wonderful day!

San is a very friendly and knowledgeable guide and I had a wonderful day exploring the North of Mauritius The itinerary was perfectly planned and I visited great places

It was a great day. Driver was lovely very chatty and gave lots of info as we drove around. The rum tasting was nice as you get to try five different ones all very nice and even some jams which were really good. The château was beautiful. The garden was huge and had plenty of time to explore all of it. There’s even deers and tortoises you can see in pens which was awesome. The sugar mill was very interesting and had lots of information and you also get a sugar tasting which for someone was has a big sweet tooth was a very nice ending. There’s lots of different sugars and all fantastic. There’s another rum tasting there but unfortunately we didn’t get to that as there was a big group there and we decided we didn’t want to stand around waiting for them to be finished. The car was very comfortable as well as it individual back seats you could recline as well as back seat A/C. Got to see some great views over looking Port Louis and visit the shopping centre. Overall lovely day.

Satya Reddy was an amazing driver, very professional with great interpersonal skills. We had a grest experience and I would definately recommend him as a driver 100%

Wow, wow, wow. Absolutely brilliant. A great day out with a great experience and with jays taxi service it was brilliant 5 star.

Sam our taxi driver was very informative. Loved talking about his country, culture and his family. No questions were too hard and had a great sense of humour! Gave us a good suggestion where to have lunch.

Our driver San was very helpful and gave us a lot of information about life in Mauritius for him and his family. We felt the visit to the “castle” was overpriced for the experience we received it didn’t offer value for money. We enjoyed the Botanical gardens, and opted to take a guided tour which we could recommend. Thank you to San.

The driver was courteous, professional, accommodating and made our experience very pleasant! I highly recommend this tour.

We were off the Princess 2025 world cruise. We pick the private tour to get out before the large tour buses. San (our driver and guide) meet us just out side the terminal. Port Louis traffic is very heavy in the morning and again in the late afternoon. San use many many side streets to get us to the fort on top of the hill (all the time give detailed information on the city). In fact we got there so quick there were only one other couple there. (Note the fort has many steps to climb). San used his skills to get us to all three tour sites (Château de Labourdonnais, Sugar Museum, and Botanical Gardens), Note first two tours had rum and juice tasting. We bought our tour tickets online so there would be no problem with what credit card were excepted, what cash might be taken USD, Euros, ect. Driving between tour sights, San gave info on Mauritius history and culture. We learned a lot. I would like to add, Sugar Museum tour building is not air conditioned and gets very hot. Also, there are a ton of stairs to go up and back down on the tour. Having a private driver/guide allow us to get in front of the large tour buses and allowed us as much or as little time we wanted to spend at each site. We had a great day. Thanks San.

I was amazed to find myself the only participant on this great tour. The historical and interesting places visited were better than the description, and the guide/driver, San, was very interesting and informative.

We had a great time on this tour from start to finish. We got a text in the morning to let us know when we would be picked up. The driver was so friendly and nice. He told us a lot about the island and some really interesting stories about his family that gave us some insight into life on the island. I really enjoyed the look into the culture and every day life of people there. The car was clean and air-conditioned which was great, and the driver was safe despite some of the crazy driving of others on the road. The stops were great, we really loved the botanical garden and the old plantation house. The rum tastings were great, you get to sample a lot of different types. The trip into Port Louis was short, but that was okay for us. We opted to skip lunch, so we can't speak to what the driver would have recommended.

You can easily spend 2-3 hours here. If you like nature you will enjoy it here. Lovely to see the giant tortoises. If you are near Grande Baie you can probably get a bus there but we were taken by family

One of the best tours we have done. Our driver San picked us up from the hotel right on time for the North tour of Mauritius. We did not have the best start because the first stop, the Chateau de Labourdonnais, was closed for a function. We therefore stopped a bit longer in Port Louis to walk round the shops and the local market. We then went for some lunch at a very good and reasonably priced local restaurant and on to the Pamplemousses botanic gardens. We stopped at the local sugar museum which by then was closing but we managed to fit in a rum tasting. San was an excellent guide, his English is very good and he told a lot about the island, it's people and his family. There were 4 of us in a fairly new private air-conditioned minibus and an an 8 hour tour cost just £27 each. This tour is recommended, thank you San.

Satya was a fabulous guide on our trip, nothing was any trouble for him. Very knowledgeable and a great ride in his lovely clean, airconditioned car. We really enjoyed our trip seeing all the sights and getting some history of the island, the meal we had at ‘Restaurant La Poule D’or was awesome! Some of the best tandoori chicken we have ever tasted! Thank you once again to Satya your have made our Mauritian stay all the more memorable, we would highly recommend him. 👍👍

We experienced A fun knowledgeable tour or the North with San. He shared a lot of insights and stories about the island which made it all worth it!

Our hotel was located in the south of Mauritius but this tour was to the North. That meant a drive of 1 1/2 hours to get to Port Louis from our hotel. We should have left at 8:30 instead of 9am because of traffic. Our driver/guide, Robert was pleasant and a good driver. We were surprised he showed up in a taxi and asked if he was just a driver or a guide. He was basically a driver and not a guide. His commentary and explanations were just adequate when we asked questions. But we had to ask. At times he was difficult to understand. It was very hot and humid when we got to Port Louis. Our first stop was the Waterfront. Could have skipped this - only some shops. He next walked us to the market which was the usual fruits/vegetables and cheap souvenirs. Could have skipped this as well. We knew the Botanical gardens was closed due to the cyclone the week before and we substituted the Photography Museum. Unfortunately Robert walked us to the History museum (which was also closed due to heavy water damage.) At the closed History Museum they told Robert where the Photography museum was located but it too was closed. This should have been known in advance. Because my wife was affected by the heat Robert left us to get the car. He really wanted us to walk back as he did not want too move the car. We decided to visit the Slavery Museum which thanfully was open. The Slavery Museum is just an acknowledgement that there was slavery in Mauritius. Most of the descriptive text is in French or Creole which made it almost impossible for a comprehensive understanding of the museum. There are no artifacts. The so called museum is free. Our next stop was at the Sucrè Experience a very extensive display of the machinery and process of the sugar industry in Mauritius. You can easily spend 4-hours reading all the displays. At the end of the museum is a gift shop and sugar and rum tasting. We paid admission but it was worthwhile. From there we went to Chateaux Labourdonnais. it is in great condition for a 200-year old mansion. Period furniture and displays made it very interesting. Oh yes save your ticket for (more) rum tasting at the end of the chateaux tour. It was delicious. We paid admission. Our final stop was to the Notre Dame Auxiliatrice (Red Roof Church) which we added since the botanical garden was closed as was the photography museum. Then to the airport for our flight home. Please note due to traffic we did not have time for the lunch break. In the future No Markets.

Trip was OK if I wanted to know all about our driver and his family,,,unfortunately we booked to learn about the island...driver was very friendly but wanted to rush us in Port Louis until I pointed out we wanted to spend some time here..

We loved the history of each place. Our guide at the Botanic Gardens was very funny. A lot of the history a the Sugar factory was the same, so I would recommended only readying the information in regards to the factory and slavery. We spent extra time at the previous attractions so did not get enough time at the sugar factory but we had made that choice earlier in the day. We really enjoyed going at our own place and we were able to be very flexible.

The overall experience was exceptional. Our driver was exactly that. He drove us from one place to another with very little comment. We are grateful for the extra stop he made at Aapravasi Ghat for us. It was worth the stop and very interesting. Should perhaps be replacing the 2 hours of shopping in Port Louis since it was interesting but of very little cultural value to us. Our stop in Port Louis, we could’ve done without. The market was interesting but disconcerting. The Botanical Gardens were fascinating and beautiful. Our guide, who’s name escapes me, was hilarious, extremely knowledgeable about the trees and plants and his breadth of languages admirable. The Sugar Museum was amazingly well planned and thought out. Very interesting. The High-Light for us was the meal we had at the Sugar Plantation Restaurant. Well Presented and Extremely Flavoursome. Compliments to the Chefs. Our waiter, Vitrash and Vidal were attentive and pleasant. The Rum Tasting was good too. Labourdonnais is a Beautiful Home which was a glimpse into the past of the wealth and affluence that existed due to the labours of places like the sugar plantation. Very well appointed although the staff seemed bored and were uninformative. It was overall a very good day out. The entry prices quoted are out of date as they were all slightly more,

Wonderful experience. My driver Satya Reddy did a very good job. Very friendly, punctual and a safe driver. We started with the market in Port Louis, followed by a short stop at a Chinese tea factory (small tasting), then Pampelmousse garden (just ok), L‘Aventure de sucre (very interesting) and finished with Château Labourdonnais (pretty). Had a great day and can hofhly recommend Bonjour Mauritius as a company and Satya as a driver/guide.

The places we visited were very interesting. The sugar plantation we stayed out for an hour and 15 minutes including the rum tasting. A very diverse tour and beautiful to see a plantation operation. The sugar factory museum exceeded our expectations and we could’ve spent 2 1/2 hours there. We only had an hour and it was fascinating. The botanical garden was run down and uninspiring so I would’ve preferred to add that hour to the sugar museum. We love botanical gardens, but this one is pretty neglected. The city tour was interesting and able to be done fairly quickly. All told me enjoyed the tour however, our driver operated more like a taxi and did not give us much information about what we were seeing. We never even learned his name and he drove a little too fast for our comfort level. I recommend the tour, but the guy needs to be a little more responsive.

Last week we visited this place to see the giant turtle. My teenager son actually loved the placed. Lots of Mangos in the garden. However, the medicine corner needs a lot of touched up. Almost all the plants and herbs are dying. and the labelling of the herbs is in bad condition. The Deer and the Giant turtle are actually healthy and fun to see them walking around. Visitors are just stubborn and luck of discipline , with all the reminders don't feed the animals, (still feeding the deer) In our point of view the place is really nice. A must visit when in Mauritius,

Tour for it self sounds great, but it gets better! If you're guide is Eddy Brown 😎 We had a german Guide by the name Eddy. Knows what he is doing as well as the locals on the Tour. Great story teller and all around guy - we're very thankful for him. A recommendation for the couples of all life experience 👌 Thank You Eddy You made us sing when we should of sang 😘🦤

Great trip. While it seems insufficient time to see so much it does work out just about right. Our driver arrived promptly, was helpful and informative without being too chatty and drove sensibly (not always the case we have experienced). We were very surprised by the sugar museum and having since been to a different rum distillery feel the one at the museum was far more informative and had the better tasting rum! If you haven’t eaten by the time you get to the Château there is a gate at the left of the house that takes you into an upmarket but small shopping complex with a great and quick cafe/restaurant that is reasonably priced. We thoroughly enjoyed our day travelling around so would definitely recommend the trip.

The service offered by Bonjour Mauritius was great. They have responded to the calls and messages very promptly. Mr Kesavan was our driver. The vehicle was neat and clean, well maintained. He reported at our place well ahead of schedule. He is thorough with places, good at conveying the details, happy to entertain our questions/queries about the places, socio cultural fabric of Mauritius. Really a knowledgeable guide. He took us to good places, restaurant etc. We enjoyed the trip and learned more about the country. Raphael

Absolutely the best day tour in the North. Our driver Nadeem took us to the best places and offered a wealth of knowledge about his country and its history. He paid keen attention to our preferences and helped us create the perfect day.

Me and my son loved this day. Everything was perfect thanks to our nice guide, Yassir, who is a lovely young man.

We had a average day on this tour. I had impression that I hired a taxi only. We have been driven from place to place and left on our own. If I didn’t go for another tour I would this it’s ok but I have realised that the knowledge of the tour guide makes such a difference. We didn't see much of Port Louis, which was very upsetting. I would recommend the tour but with a tour guide. We had a just a driver. Little things makes a big difference.

I arrived at Port Louis and it was uncharacteristically raining cat and dogs. The flight arrived late, baggage not loaded on time and I was also stopped by the customs for a 'routine check' on the way out. I exited the airport to find my driver/guide Nadhil waiting patiently to pick me up and thus started my day. There was a bit of trepidation in my mind that the scheduled tour might be called off but it went ahead with small changes. Our scheduled walk through Port Louis areas was called off with hints galore that more changes to the itinerary was in the offing. Thankfully, the sun came out in the afternon and we went through the remaining tour without a hitch. Nadhil was kind enough to make a stop for my PCR test appointment and even supported by visit to a retail market for general shopping. The tour went ahead as advertised. He was very engaging and I never felt bored in our conversations about the various topics we discussed. The only con I have to say (if at all) is the price tag of this tour, specially since it doesn't not support attraction tickets or lunch costs. The service is essentially a taxi with driver to take you to spot for you to visit on your own and then return to the car to go to the next location. Discussion with the taxi company indicated that a direct booking with them would have cost only a fraction. Also, the driver/guide's knowledge would vary from person to person and you might end up being disappointed if you are looking for an in-depth discussion on the places you visit. I enjoyed this tour as it was my first trip to Mauritius and the tour took me to places in the North that I was interested in. This tour addresses mainly the north western region and not the true North (Cape Malhereux, etc..). I would recommend this tour if you have the time and money for a jaunt.

The North Tour was not as advertised or as detailed in our confirmation. There was no professional guide, just a taxi driver who hardly said a word all day. We enjoyed the four destinations, the taxi driver waited for us by sleeping in the car. The entry fees to the Botanical Gardens, Sugar factory and Chateaux de Labouronnais were all higher than stated in the Viator confirmation. We got into the taxi off the cruise ship and the taxi driver said “Where would you like to go to today”. All a bit Micky Mouse and a long way from a good standard. Roger and Prue from New Zealand

We both had a very enjoyable day on this tour, mainly thanks to our driver Keshaven. He was knowledgeable, informative and happy to answer any questions we had. Would recommend this tour as a way to gain a little knowledge of the island if this is your first time there.

Having read about this garden it was on our must visit list and we were not disappointed and the water lilies were in flower It is not a large garden an hour is sufficient for this visit which was incorporated in a north island tour Well worth a visit.

Driver was informative and punctual. He answered any questions we had, showed us all the sites. We were given an infant car as well for our little one!

There was no shopping in Port Louis. We just stay there for one hour at least, see the market on 15 min. The meat and chivkenmarket on 10 min. And go back to the car. I guess they park for free the first hour. Sugar museum not good (to boring ), botanical garden and Chateau Labourdenais was oke. Very expensive lunch in a restaurant how wasn't word the name "La poule D'Or", give the main back (so bad it was), had to pay the full price 😨. In a few words? This whole trip is too expensive gor what he is worth !!

The Botanical Gardens were lovely with lots of differenet species of palm tree, bats, and other tropical plants. Huge lilly pads. Port Louis is fine on thr front but leaves something to be desired off the front. Wasn't impressed with Port Louis. The rum tasting is fine if you like rum.

Fabulous gardens , had an hour in here which is long enough to walk around , don’t miss the giant water lilies and the lotus flowers . Some amazing trees and impressive house , great oasis of calm .

Very disappointing Day Trip. The driver had little English so communication was not good at all. Yet, he was able to tell me of his plans to buy his own taxi one day in very good English. Also, he followed me through the Colonial House and took his own pictures on his mobile. He'd told me that he hadn't visited the place before. We either sat in silence as he drove me around places or I had to repeat my questions over and over again. Even then, the driver would obviously give me a wrong answer. He had trouble understanding English too.

We went on a private north tour and had a good day, it was the botanical garden that disappointed. We were dropped there for 2 hours and this included time for our picnic lunch. Only needed 1 hour. I had read up on the gardens and was very much looking forward to it. Perhaps I had to big expectations? It seemed unloved and the amazing photos of the giant lily pond advertised must have been taken some time ago. They looked less then picture perfect. There were no Lotus flowers, any colour just green stalks. There is a house in the gardens but no explanation as to why etc. You could pay for a guide, was told it was about an hour and we did see other families hire one, but I had heard one say exactly what was written in the printed guide you got with your ticket, word for word, so we didn’t. We also, despite putting on tons of spray got bit several times each on lower legs. They really did itch too. But the tour otherwise was enjoyable, the rum Site is much bigger than we thought. The sugar museum combined and tasting for both. We liked Port Louis although I found the market quite overwhelming, lots of stalls selling very similar stuff asking you over and over to view their stall. If you dared looked at anything the staff were in your face trying to barter. It wasn’t for me. But they had some shops too which I much preferred. The car park is very tight, out guide was very good at parking the car but I would have not dared. I’m glad we did the tour.

Lovely half day spend there. Love the giant lilies and the Chateau Mon Plaisir - beautiful old building.

The only bad thing I booked on a Sunday most are closed!! I only visited the Sugar Factory, the Garden and the Colonial House! Overall 8/10 !! Only I wished to visit the other museums in Port Louis :(

The over 200 year old botanical gardens featured a plethora of plant life from different continents. The guides were extremely knowledgeable and I was particularly impressed with their multi-lingual progress. The humidity was pretty unbearable though. Come prepared for the mosquitoes. The sugar experience and rum tasting was a lovely glimpse into the refinement and production process and history of sugar on the island. The versatility of products and possible outputs was a true eye opener for me. Of course getting to taste several samples of the local rum produced at the center was superb. On site shop allows for the purchase of different types of sugar, rum, books and souvenirs.