Snorkeling with Giant Turtles, The Red Church, Pamplemousses Garden & Port Louis
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Snorkeling with Giant Turtles, The Red Church, Pamplemousses Garden & Port Louis
By Bonjour Mauritius Day Tours & Excursions
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About
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 0-99, max of 15 per group
Duration: 8h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Live guide: English, French
More
- Snorkeling with turtles
- Snorkeling gear (masks and tubes - fins ar enot allowed)
- Hotel pickup, dropoff and transportation in a private vehicle
- Services of a fully licensed, qualified driver
- Air-conditioned and insured taxi, minibus or coach
- Entry/Admission - Plage de Trou aux Biches
What's not included- Entrance fees to Pamplemousses Garden are Rs. 300 (6 Euros) per person
- Lunch or snacks
- Entry/Admission - SSR Botanic Garden
- Start:Multiple pickup locations offered.Pickup details
- We pick up at all hotels, B&Bs, apartments on the island. Please let us know which hotel, B&B or apartment you're staying at. We will let you know your exact pickup time upon booking, but it will generally be at between 8:00am and 9:00am.
Hotel pickup offeredDuring checkout you will be able to select from the list of included hotels.End:This activity ends back at the meeting point. - Not wheelchair accessible
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 9433P46- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not recommended for pregnant travellers
- Most travellers can participate
- The swimming with turtles portion of this outing is not recommended for pregnant women. All children under 12 years old should be accompanied.
- In most cases you will see turtles. However, if this is not the case, a second outing will be offered on the boat free of charge (transportation to and from your hotel are not included for the second outing). It’s important to note that there will be no refund once you have completed the activity.
- This tour lasts up to eight hours, and you will be able to choose how long you spend at each attraction (except for the turtles portion). Depending on your group’s speed you may not have time to see all the listed attractions. You will be able to stop for lunch but the price of the lunch is not included
- Bring swimwear and a towel for the swimming with turtles portion, and a change of clothes and comfortable walking shoes for the rest of the tour
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travellers
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 9433P46
From
AU$141.78
per adult (price varies by group size)
Select date and travellers
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About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- Natpebbles0 contributionsI still enjoyed it, life is what you make itThe driver was on time and friendly. The trip was pleasant, however, without guided commentary. I asked questions that were answered, with occasional repeating to clarify, otherwise the drive was quite. The car was clean but felt aged, driving style was slow and relaxed, I never felt unsafe although the brakes shuddered slightly on the long downhill on the way back. I did sleep on the way back, which is testament to the relaxed drive style. Probably the only thing that was a downer was the expectation to buy the driver lunch when I asked if I could please try a local dish, mini bouille. While he found me the meal I requested, he chose a meal twice the price of mine and asked if I would buy him lunch, how could I say no? We did not do the last stop on the tour. We ended it after parc la Vanillie.Written 11 October 2024
- Mayanqueen170 contributionsWonderful sightings of Whales carried out in a respectful mannerAn amazing tour and had many sightings of Sperm Whales. Our boat kept a sensible distance but close enough to great a view. Many of the other boats were allowing people to jump off and swim with the whales - this is strictly prohibited in Mauritius. As soon as people did this the whales dived down - it was awful to watch people harassing the whales like this. Purely selfish behaviour with no regard for the Whales. Bonjour Mauritius was very respectful towards the Whales and I would recommend using company. A few tips - wear flip flops as we had to walk through the water to get to the boat. It was only up to ankles so not a big deal. Shoes come off and go in a basket. Make sure you have plenty of time if you are being picked up by taxi. The traffic is very bad at that time of the morning and we only just made it!Written 24 September 2024
- angelaottaway0 contributionsEarly morning hike with swimAbsolutely fabulous experience. Guide was brilliant, helpful and knowledgeable. We would thoroughly recommend. Followed by lunch at a local restaurant.Written 12 September 2024
- X8007BQdavidm0 contributionsA Lovely way to see some of MauritiusA lovely trip which felt more like 2 trips "bolted together" Kayaking was physical work but well worth the effort seeing amongst other things waterfalls , monkeys & Bats Re the Sunset , we were basically dropped of at Flic-en-Flac about 2 hours before sunset and then left to our own devices until sunset . As soon as the sun had gone our driver was looking for us , to take us back to hotel Still worth doing but you'll not be kayaking at sunsetWritten 9 September 2024
- Charlotte E0 contributionsFun, amazing and beautifulIt was so much fun too swim with the dolphins and we even got to see a whale!! The beaches are beautiful and very picture friendly (most forbidden to swim by) To see many animals at la vanille nature park was so much fun. A lot of time in the car since we lived in the north but it was worth it, we got a tour on almost everything in Mauritius from our amazing tour guideWritten 4 September 2024
- martaaG4243PW0 contributionsWonderful tour of theisland in three daysWonderful tour of the North and the South of the island. Great driving and wonderful conversations with our guide San. Would definitely recommendWritten 31 August 2024
- 817evieh0 contributionsMostly a good day but not the dolphin sectionMost of the day was fabulous- we had a private taxi to escort us between locations who was fairly knowledgeable on the local area. We specifically enjoyed the Seven Coloured Earth, home to the coldest ice cream in the world and giant tortoises. The snorkelling was very enjoyable however the beginning of the trip observing 2 pods of dolphin (we were recommended not to actually get into the water due to poor visibility) we found to be borderline unethical and cruel. This was because there were over 50 boats chasing the dolphins in a lagoon where the dolphins were trying to protect their young. It made us uncomfortable.Written 17 August 2024
- StiflersDad0 contributionsExcellent full day outingThe swimming with dolphins exceeded our expectations. The water is clear, calm and warm - so even the weaker swimmers are comfortable to get in. We had a bonus on the day as we saw two whales on top the dolphins. Rest of the tour was restful with lots of stops at wonderful viewpoints. The seven coloured earth is an experience - even after some rain we found the colours striking.Written 16 August 2024
- 344trudeb0 contributionsGreat morning at Le Morne Brabant and ChamarelWe got picked up at 5.15am by our taxidriver, and drove in the dark night towards the starting point of our hike. Met our guide Daryeau, and started the ascent, it was just the three of us, which is preferred, bigger group will take a longer time. We walked through the forest with frogs jumping around the path in our guides torchlight, and as we came further up we got to see the sun rise in the east We met one other small group on our way up. We had the top to our self, the view is amazing! You definitely need a guide up this mountain. It can be quite dangerous on your own. After the hike we drove to Chamarel, and got to see the beautiful waterfall and the seven colored earth. It's nice to be there early, not many people there then. We had been on Macondé on a different trip, so we did not go there by request. Definitely recommend this trip with Bonjour Mauritius. Ask for Daryeau to be your guide up Le Morne Brabant.Written 7 August 2024
- Ifa19950 contributionsUNPLEASANT EXPERIENCEThe drivers car broke down twice during our way to the nature park, he was bluntly rude numerous times and took us to destinations that were not as per our schedule. It was such a waste of time and tourists would not enjoy the company and experience at all!Written 25 July 2024
- Anna K0 contributionsNice day out on Ile aux Cerfs but a veggie option for lunch would be perfectI was taken to Trou d’Eau douce to board the boat by taxi driver Avinash, he was very nice and friendly and his driving is nice and smooth, which made me feel safe in the car. As to the boat tour itself it was very pleasant. We arrived on Ile aux Cerfs around 9am, it was very quiet and peaceful and we got plenty of time to enjoy the beach and different activities available on the island. I had a chance to do some snorkelling off a glass bottomed boat which was great, for an extra 1500 rupees as the day trip didn’t include water activities. Giving 4 stars instead of five as there was no vegetarian option for lunch, I was given a curry with big chunks of meat in it (after informing Bonjour Mauritius ahead of time and one of the staff cooking at the barbecue place before lunch that I don’t eat meat.) however, the side dishes of potato salad, garlic bread and rice were very tasty! After lunch I was brought back to the main shore where Avinash was already waiting for me, to bring me back to my hotel, really appreciate the punctuality!Written 23 July 2024
- niknak220 contributionsAmazingWe immensely enjoyed our couple of hours whale watching with Fletcher and his captain on the day, on the Dolphswim boat. They were both so professional and knowledgeable which meant we were lucky enough to see Sperm whales almost as soon as we left the jetty. Wouldnt have missed this for the world.Written 23 July 2024
- marcelkM4332JC0 contributionsA Great day with SanFirst of all, many thanks to our tour guide San. In addition to the well-known excursion destinations, he also showed us one or two great viewpoints. He also gave us lots of background information about Mauritius. He also let us be part of his life and his wonderful family.Written 12 July 2024
- Alison F0 contributionsWell worth it, once in a lifetime experienceWe did this experience on Tuesday and it was fantastic !! We were so lucky to see 4 sperm whales dive and reappear 3 times. Obviously, it can't be guaranteed, but the whales are there all year round, so it seems you have a good chance. The guys doing the trip were very informative and answered any questions we had. They knew where to look, and where to move on to after they'd dived.Written 4 July 2024
- sallen19810 contributions3 day private tourOur guide Satya Reddy was lovely, we had a great 3 days with him. He took us to some lovely restaurants for lunch and we saw so much. Thank you for helping to make our trip specialWritten 22 June 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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4.0
43 reviews
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20
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9
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5
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5
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4
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Damien l
2 contributions
we enjoyed the turtles and the grapefruit garden but did not know how to make the most of our day because from the start our guide took us to merchants that they apparently knew at the Port Louis market and we were all simply taken for wallets on legs. They advised us against places where the items we wanted were two to three times cheaper. We no longer had confidence for the rest of the day; we remained on our guard at all times. Just disappointed
Written 26 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bonjour Damien, merci pour votre avis et vos commentaires. Nous ferons un suivi avec votre chauffeur concernant votre expérience. Généralement, nos chauffeurs peuvent vous proposer de l'aide si vous souhaitez acheter quelque chose, mais nous ferons un suivi auprès du chauffeur pour voir ce qui s'est passé dans ce cas.
Written 2 October 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Tatjana K
1 contribution
Aug 2023 • Family
Snorkeling with turtles was actually only about 10-15 minutes long. The rest was driving back and forth, half an hour from the hotel to Port Louis, about 2 hours in the city (center, bazaar, tea factory), then about 40 minutes drive to Grand Baie, where we got on a boat and drove to the place where the turtles are. It was not far from the beach, about 5-7 minutes drive. Then, as I said, 10 minutes swimming with turtles (that was beautiful). Then we went to the botanical garden and a red church and drove back to the hotel. If we had known that snorkeling was so short, we would not have booked this trip. We asked on the beach, you can actually just come privately and go snorkeling with turtles for 1000 rupees. So you can just come to the beach in Grand Baie at about 1 p.m. and book this trip privately, without this unnecessary 8-hour drive.
Written 2 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi, thanks for your review and feedback. While Snorkeling with the turtles is the highlight of the tour, it is also designed to give you the opportunity to explore the North of the island, which does involve some driving between attractions. We hope you enjoyed your stay in Mauritius!
Written 8 October 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
begoña g
1 contribution
The driver was very punctual and very friendly.
The church with a very beautiful red roof and the experience with beautiful turtles, it was very fast and some of the occupants did not have time to see them from the water. I don't give it 5 stars because we had an incident on the boat: There was a lot of current and the children were getting on the boat because they were tired and one of them caught his fingers on the boat ladder, El Capitan yelled at the child because he was crying , the boy has a broken finger. We explained to the captain what had happened and he didn't even apologize. Since there was so much current, they could throw a life preserver or something into the water to hold you, especially for children.
In PortLoius he dropped us off in a modern shopping area, it was cool but we would have liked to see something older and more authentic
The church with a very beautiful red roof and the experience with beautiful turtles, it was very fast and some of the occupants did not have time to see them from the water. I don't give it 5 stars because we had an incident on the boat: There was a lot of current and the children were getting on the boat because they were tired and one of them caught his fingers on the boat ladder, El Capitan yelled at the child because he was crying , the boy has a broken finger. We explained to the captain what had happened and he didn't even apologize. Since there was so much current, they could throw a life preserver or something into the water to hold you, especially for children.
In PortLoius he dropped us off in a modern shopping area, it was cool but we would have liked to see something older and more authentic
Written 20 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Begoña, thanks so much for your review! We're glad you enjoyed the day. We'll also follow up with the boat operator. We hope you enjoyed your vacation in Mauritius!
Written 24 September 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Inge O
Oslo, Norway4 contributions
Oct 2023 • Family
The snorkelling with turtles was absolutely fantastic, but the boat driver had a poor overview of how many people were in the boats and was about to drive to shore without a helmsman. The guide on the road trip was more of a driver than a guide. He drove us from place to place without telling us much about what we saw. The red church didn't give us anything special, but the surrounding area was nice. Pamplemousse Garden was exciting thanks to the fact that we paid for a guide who took us around. Unfortunately, the guide was more interested in talking about himself and his family. He guided in English and French. The group was approx. ten people, two of whom were French-speaking. Still, I think 80% of the conversation was in French. Port Louise was somewhat amputated due to bad weather. The driver drove us around, but the trip could have been much more if the driver had told us more about what we saw.
Written 9 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Inge, thanks for your review and feedback. We're glad you enjoyed the day overall, and we'll follow up with the driver regarding your feedback. We hope you enjoyed your stay in Mauritius!
Written 13 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Uschi K
Mauritius1 contribution
Oct 2023 • Couples
We were particularly disappointed with the snorkeling with the giant turtles. There were so many people there (8 boats at the same time!) that you could hardly move in the water! You constantly had arms, legs or butts in your face! That's why we got out of the water pretty quickly!
The time in Port Louis was also far too short! The time stated in the offer was not kept.
The Pamplemousses Garden was beautiful, after we had to argue with the driver that we wanted 1 1/2 hours instead of 45 minutes!
The driver "San" was great though. He told us a lot and explained a lot!
The time in Port Louis was also far too short! The time stated in the offer was not kept.
The Pamplemousses Garden was beautiful, after we had to argue with the driver that we wanted 1 1/2 hours instead of 45 minutes!
The driver "San" was great though. He told us a lot and explained a lot!
Written 2 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi, thanks for your review and feedback. We're glad you enjoyed San's service, and thanks for your feedback regarding the snorkeling with turtles - we will pass this onto the boat skipper. We 're happy you enjoyed the gardens!
Written 2 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Stefán E
5 contributions
What an incredible experience! Snorkelling with the turtles was just amazing! We highly recommend this tour to anyone. As soon as the boat arrived in the lagoon we were greeted by a turtle and for the whole 90 minutes we were there we were swimming with them. Along with countless tropical fish among the corals. You get so close to the turtles, they are not shy. They swim all around you. The rest of the tour was also just excellent. Top marks. Our driver guide, San, was lovely and took us to great places and was very informative. The transportation was very comfortable. Its a long tour though! Overall, absolutely fantastic and we recommend booking this!
Written 9 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Stefán, thanks so much for your wonderful review! We're glad you enjoyed the tour with San, as well as swimming with the wild turtles. We wish you a great rest of your stay in Mauritius and hope to see you again soon!
Written 10 June 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
dubs111
32 contributions
Group of 14 adults attended this trip.
This trip was 1 of 3 trips we had done and was our least favourite
The swimming with turtles, consisted of only 1 small Turtle 🐢 and was a little crowded due to other boats and tourists.
I probably wouldn't recommend this trip.
But would look to find a better Turtle excursion.
This trip was 1 of 3 trips we had done and was our least favourite
The swimming with turtles, consisted of only 1 small Turtle 🐢 and was a little crowded due to other boats and tourists.
I probably wouldn't recommend this trip.
But would look to find a better Turtle excursion.
Written 14 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi, thanks for your review and feedback. While there are usually several turtles, they are wild, and at times there can be fewer that make an appearance. We hope you enjoyed your trip in Mauritius.
Written 19 August 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Helene H
Kristiansand, Norway7 contributions
Feb 2024 • Friends
Do not snorkle with sea turtles! It is forbidden! A poor turtle gets fed so that around 20 tourists can roam around with arms and legs all over. The information about how to snorkle and behave is non-existing. They didn't even bring snorkle equipment for people, even if the description said so. Would never have done it if I knew it was like this! Otherwise we had a lovely day with a very good guide (Manoj). Can recommend him, but not the snorkeling.
Written 25 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Helene, we appreciate your concern, and we will follow up with the skipper regarding your comments. Please note that swimming near (without touching) turtles has been allowed to continue in Mauritius, led by licenced skippers departing from the National Coast Guard station at Trou aux Biches. We'd recommend you contact the Coast Guard for further information. We're glad you enjoyed he trip with Manoj.
Written 26 February 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Karine Techer
Saint-Denis, Reunion Island6 contributions
The outing went really well. We got along well with our private driver who was attentive. Then they suggested different places to visit and waited for us patiently. To continue we visited something else that was planned in the outing like Kuanfu tea which is a tea house, which gave us an extra visit. Then we visited Port Louis, the market, etc. The long awaited visit was that of the turtles where we met two wonderful people with whom we got along quickly (the owners of the boat), especially the youngest with whom have been on the boat. Honestly, I recommend this outing because we visited a lot of things.
Written 6 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bonjour Karine, merci pour votre avis et de partager votre expérience ! Nous sommes très heureux que vous ayez aimé la journée, et nous espérons vous revoir bientôt !
Written 11 August 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Christine L
1 contribution
Feb 2024 • Couples
The trip was very well structured and we saw a lot of the country and its people. All of the program points were covered. There was enough time available.
The snorkeling was also OK. It was exciting to see lots of colorful fish and a turtle.
The snorkeling was also OK. It was exciting to see lots of colorful fish and a turtle.
Written 9 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi, thanks for your review! We're glad you enjoyed the excursion and hope you had a great stay in Mauritius!
Written 11 March 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I have an 18 month old but would love to do this trip, can me and my husband bring a child of this age? Obviously he won’t able to snorkel but we can take it in turns getting in?
Written 4 September 2022
Thank you so much for this information
I can only see the option to book for adults so I have to class him as an adult or do I just book for me and my husband?
Thanks
Written 9 September 2022
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