Chamarel Rum Distillery
A craft distillery nestled among cane fields and mountains, producing agricole rum. Guided tour of the cellars and stills, followed by a full tasting.
Tip: Closed Sunday; the on-site L'Alchimiste restaurant is excellent. A sober driver is essential for the hairpins home.
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An agricole rum distillery
La Rhumerie de Chamarel makes agricole rum, distilled from fresh sugar cane juice rather than the molasses used for most of the world's rum. It sits in a valley in the south-west, around 300 m above the coast, surrounded by cane fields.
The tour follows the cane to the bottle: the distillation column, small copper pot stills and the cellars where rum ages in oak barrels. Bagasse, the crushed cane fibre, fuels the distillery.
The buildings were designed by Mauritian architect Maurice Giraud to sit quietly in the valley landscape, and the setting among cane and hills is half the reason to come.
Prices, hours and booking
Guided tour with tasting: Rs 800 per adult, Rs 400 for 16 and 17 year olds (checked October 2026). A private tour costs Rs 1,500 per person, by reservation, in groups of up to 15.
Standard tours run Monday to Saturday from 9.30am to 4.30pm with no booking; expect about 20 minutes' wait at reception. The distillery is closed on Sundays. Check the official site before visiting on a public holiday.
The tasting and the restaurant
The tasting covers the full house range: white rums, wood-aged rums, old rum, flavoured rhums arrangés and rum liqueurs. The measures are small but there are plenty of them, so eat something first.
L'Alchimiste, the on-site restaurant, serves lunch Monday to Saturday from 11.30am to 3.30pm, public holidays included, and takes table bookings. A shop sells the distillery's bottles.
Getting there
The distillery is on Chamarel's main road, a few minutes from the Seven Coloured Earth Geopark. As a rough guide, allow 40 minutes by car from Flic en Flac and about 1 hour 15 from Port Louis. There is visitor parking.
The road back down to the coast is a string of tight hairpins, so either choose a driver who skips the tasting or come by taxi or with a driver.
Good to know and nearby stops
The tour takes about an hour including the tasting. It is a sensible plan when rain sets in over the highlands, as much of it is under cover.
Pair it with the Seven Coloured Earth and Chamarel Waterfall, Ebony Forest or Curious Mauritius, then finish at Le Morne Public Beach for sunset.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Chamarel Rum Distillery tour cost?
Rs 800 per adult and Rs 400 for 16 and 17 year olds, tasting included. A private tour is Rs 1,500 per person and must be booked.
Is the Chamarel Rum Distillery open on Sundays?
No. Tours run Monday to Saturday from 9.30am to 4.30pm and the distillery is closed on Sundays.
Do I need to book the Chamarel rum tour?
Not for the standard tour, which runs without reservation with roughly a 20-minute wait. Only private tours need booking.
Can you have lunch at the Chamarel Rum Distillery?
Yes, L'Alchimiste restaurant is open Monday to Saturday from 11.30am to 3.30pm, and you can reserve a table.
