Indian Ocean resorts attract honeymooners, lovers of romantic journeys, as well as those who simply want to rest in a paradise corner of the planet. Snow-white beaches of Maldives, Seychelles and Mauritius will give a lot of pleasant, incomparable memories. However, you can not confine your vacation to the islands and go on a cruise in the Indian Ocean, where you will find a lot of unusual impressions and amazing discoveries.
Holidaying in the islands is not limited to swimming in the Indian Ocean and getting a nice tan under the warm sun. Although this way of spending time will allow to forget about all the cares and worries of modern life in the metropolis. Beaches, lush tropical greenery, fine white sand, the soft whisper of the ocean waves and impeccable service first-class hotels will help relieve any stress.
Holidays in the Indian Ocean islands can be accompanied by very unusual, interesting entertainment:
- deep-sea fishing and diving;
- interesting excursions to lost bays and cities of ancient civilizations;
- a variety of water sports (kitesurfing, windsurfing, regattas, and more);
- SPA-programs;
- Watching exotic animals (lemurs, sea turtles, etc.).
The Indian Ocean islands are an all-season destination for luxury vacations. The only thing left is to decide what you prefer: relaxation and contemplation, active sports, the opportunity to touch antiquities or watch the most unusual creatures on Earth.
Mauritius
Once a favorite destination for pirates, tropical Mauritius attracts thousands of tourists every year with its luxurious hotels and snow-white beaches surrounded by volcanic mountains. This place is not only suitable for heat-loving layabouts, but also for inquisitive travelers who want to explore the region’s amazing colonial architecture, Indian temples and botanical gardens. You can also spot rare birds, stroll through a park with lions or swim with dolphins, or even test yourself by taking up extreme sports – wind and kitesurfing are very popular on the island.
Mauritius is not a large island, just 45×65 square km, but the weather can change a lot because of the landscape. You will hardly be able to get around this small island quickly, all because it is riddled with narrow and winding roads where you simply can’t speed up.
Tourist center of Mauritius is the resort town of Grand Bay in the north-east of the island, this is where most hotels and entertainment venues are concentrated. The west coast is the most expensive and prestigious: here come those who are used to rest in the most luxurious hotels and wants to sunbathe on the most beautiful white sand beaches. The south of the island is considered the greenest, wildest and most interesting part.
Madagascar
Madagascar is the largest island in the Indian Ocean, one of the poorest countries in the world, but among the safest countries in Africa. Such nature, as in Madagascar, cannot be found anywhere else. Flora and fauna of the island are rich in absolutely endemic plants and animals, which cannot be found in other parts of the world.
Baobabs grow everywhere in Madagascar. In some areas there are impressive rows of giant trees, in the crowns of which during the sunset beautifully “gets stuck” African sun pancake, allowing tourists to take pictures of the amazing beauty.
Here you can see 70 species of lemurs and chameleons and even watch humpback whales. The best time to see the migrating whales is from June to September, but in the waters of the east coast they appear all year round.
Also on the island is a unique stone forest, covering an area of more than 150 thousand hectares, which is a sharp karst spires, the approximate age of which is a million years. Stone Forest consists of intricate labyrinths, through which tours are arranged for tourists.
As a rule, travelers go to Madagascar to see the jungle, wild animals, take part in safaris or walk on adapted and safe tourist routes, which are complemented by a few days of rest on the coast. The most popular vacation areas for foreign tourists are the resorts of the Anacao Peninsula and the beaches of a tiny island near Madagascar – Nusi-be.
The north of the country is very beloved by divers around the world. The long coastline with unique underwater plants and animals gives them a completely new experience of diving.
Seychelles Islands
The Seychelles are an archipelago of magical beauty, 115 islands, many of them uninhabited, scattered in the waters of the Indian Ocean off the coast of East Africa. Breathtaking secluded beaches, unique nature and climate have made the islands perhaps the most idyllic tourist destination in the world.
The period from October to April is the best time for fishing enthusiasts, and April to October is the season for exotic bird watching. It is during these months that they breed, nurse their young and migrate to other parts of the world. From May to September, fans of surfing and windsurfing flock to the Seychelles.
The main island of the archipelago, where the international airport is located – Mahe. Those who come to the Seychelles in search of peace and quiet and solitude are unlikely to appreciate the bustle of Mahe, but you can’t miss it if only to explore the colonial architecture of the capital of the Seychelles – Victoria, or visit the botanical garden, which gathered dozens of species of tropical plants. The area around the island of Mahe has great opportunities for deep-sea diving: here you can not only swim with magnificent tropical fish, but also walk in the habitat of reef and nose sharks, stingrays, sea urchins, sea turtles.
Each island of the archipelago has its own atmosphere, and if you do not want the noise of Mahe, you can go to the smaller islands, where there is complete peace and quiet.
Maldives
The Maldives are about 20 groups of atolls, but only half of the islands that make up them are open to tourists. If you are planning to visit the Maldives for the first time and are looking for some general advice on choosing a resort, you need to remember the main thing: each of the Maldives resorts is located on its own island, the size of the islands varying from 2.5 km to 150 m (shore to shore). This means that all the facilities at the resort (restaurants, bars, sports facilities, etc.) will be the only entertainment for the entire time of your stay in the Maldives. Therefore, their infrastructure should be carefully studied in advance, so that in the long-awaited vacation does not fall into deep despondency. From affordable bungalows next to scuba equipment rentals to secluded luxury villas on stilts in the sea, where you can hang your feet from the terrace and admire the colored fish swimming through the water, there are something for every taste.
Most of the activities in the Maldives are centered around water activities. Snorkeling and diving are very popular – vacationers have the opportunity to see the beautiful coral reefs and get acquainted with 700 species of exotic fish that live in the Indian Ocean. Surfers (both advanced and beginners) also like to come here to spend an invigorating vacation, breaking waves on a board. Fans of a more relaxed vacation may be interested in open water fishing.
ะพ. Ceylon
The island of Ceylon (Sri Lanka) is a real corner of the eternal holiday. The number of important events that are celebrated here is over 160 a year! Add to that the colorful beaches, misty mountains, tea plantations and luxurious hotels and you have a truly unforgettable vacation in the kingdom of nature on the shores of the Indian Ocean.
Well-developed tourist infrastructure in Sri Lanka provides recreation for all tastes: from “doing nothing” on the beaches and self-care in the local spas to wildlife watching, extreme sports and pilgrimage to the ancient cities.
The beaches of the island are much loved by tourists. And the increasing popularity of Sri Lanka is gaining among those who love active water sports. Surfers came to love Arugam Bay – a place 314 km from Colombo, on the south-east coast of Ceylon, which was included in the honorary list of the ten best surf beaches in the world. Arugam Bay is popular with beginners and the west coast, where you can catch big waves, is the place to be for experienced surfers. Negombo on the west coast of Sri Lanka has become a hangout for kite surfers, who come here for the winds from May to the end of September.
Thanks to the varied topography of the island, Ceylon offers excellent conditions for rafting, fashionable nowadays hiking and mountain biking.
Wildlife lovers come to Sri Lanka to watch whales and dolphins that appear in the waters near the town of Mirissa. At certain times of the year, sea turtles can also be seen coming ashore to lay their eggs.