Day trips · Mauritius
5 best day trips from Mauritius
Where to go when you want a day away from Mauritius, and how long it really takes.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: "dronepicr", CC BY 2.0
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Quick answer
The classic day trip from Mauritius is Port Louis (About 40 minutes from Grand Baie by car). The closest option is Port Louis, about 25 km away.
Key facts
- Day trips in this guide
- 5
- Closest
- Port Louis (25 km)
- Most popular
- Port Louis
Day trips compared
| Destination | Distance | Travel time | How | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Port Louis | 25 km | About 40 minutes from Grand Baie by car | Car, taxi or express bus | Culture, Food lovers, First-timers |
| Chamarel and the south-west | 75 km | About 1.5 hours from Grand Baie by car | Car or taxi tour | First-timers, Families, Couples |
| Grand Bassin and Curepipe | 55 km | About 1.25 hours from Grand Baie by car | Car or taxi tour | Culture, Families |
| Mahébourg and Blue Bay | 70 km | About 1.5 hours from Grand Baie by car | Car or taxi; boats to the islands from Mahébourg | Families, Quiet stays |
| The wild south coast | 85 km | About 1.5–2 hours from Grand Baie by car | Car or taxi tour | Couples, Quiet stays |
The day trips
25 km · About 40 minutes from Grand Baie by car
1.Port Louis
The capital combines the Central Market, Chinatown, the UNESCO-listed Aapravasi Ghat, Le Caudan Waterfront and the hilltop Citadel (Fort Adelaide) with views over the harbour. A morning visit with a street-food lunch is enough for most visitors.
- Getting there
- Car, taxi or express bus
- Best for
- Culture, Food lovers, First-timers
75 km · About 1.5 hours from Grand Baie by car
2.Chamarel and the south-west
A loop through the Black River Gorges viewpoints, the Seven Coloured Earths and Chamarel waterfall, a rum distillery lunch and the coast road under Le Morne Brabant. Start early to fit everything in before dusk.
- Getting there
- Car or taxi tour
- Best for
- First-timers, Families, Couples
55 km · About 1.25 hours from Grand Baie by car
3.Grand Bassin and Curepipe
Drive up to the cooler central plateau to see the sacred lake of Grand Bassin and its giant Shiva statue, the Trou aux Cerfs crater and the colonial town of Curepipe with its model-ship workshops.
- Getting there
- Car or taxi tour
- Best for
- Culture, Families
70 km · About 1.5 hours from Grand Baie by car
4.Mahébourg and Blue Bay
The south-east combines the historic town of Mahébourg, a guided walk on Île aux Aigrettes and snorkelling or a glass-bottom boat in Blue Bay Marine Park.
- Getting there
- Car or taxi; boats to the islands from Mahébourg
- Best for
- Families, Quiet stays
85 km · About 1.5–2 hours from Grand Baie by car
5.The wild south coast
Where the reef breaks, the south coast turns dramatic: the cliffs of Gris Gris, Rochester Falls and the seaside town of Souillac, plus quiet beaches such as Saint-Félix. Combine with Le Morne on the way back west.
- Getting there
- Car or taxi tour
- Best for
- Couples, Quiet stays
Day-trip tips
- Leave early: most trips are more relaxed with a morning departure and a return before dinner.
- Express buses between Port Louis and Grand Baie or Curepipe are much quicker than local services.
- For trips over about 150 km, an overnight stay or an organised tour saves a lot of travelling.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best day trip from Mauritius?
Port Louis. The capital combines the Central Market, Chinatown, the UNESCO-listed Aapravasi Ghat, Le Caudan Waterfront and the hilltop Citadel (Fort Adelaide) with views over the harbour.
+How long does it take to get from Mauritius to Port Louis?
About 40 minutes from Grand Baie by car — Car, taxi or express bus, about 25 km.
+How long does it take to get from Mauritius to Chamarel and the south-west?
About 1.5 hours from Grand Baie by car — Car or taxi tour, about 75 km.