An island located in the Indian Ocean. Islands of the Indian Ocean - the place where the paradise is located

Often the person choosing the route tourist trip, has no preference for a specific country. For example, any tropical island will suit him, but it must be there: sea, sun, beaches, beautiful nature, fishing, diving, luxury service, good food, beer (strike out the unnecessary). Let's try to consider what options for islands for recreation are available in the Indian Ocean.

Inaccessible, specialized and popular

Let's start by taking a list of all the archipelagos and individual islands in the Indian Ocean and work on it by the method of elimination. For example, the British territory in the Indian Ocean (Diego Garcia Atoll, Chagos Archipelago) is excluded: you are unlikely to be able to fly here if you are not a member of the US or British army. The islands of Basa da India, Europe, Juan de Nova and Glorioso are of strategic importance, although they are comparable in area to not the largest apartments. Controlled by France. Disputed by Madagascar. Do not get in, and there is no need. Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Christmas Island, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Ashmore and Cartier Islands - all of these so-called Australian Outer Territories are not included in the destinations mass tourism. Tourism is just emerging in the Cocos Islands (so, in order to dine at a local restaurant, you need to apply at lunchtime - otherwise how will the chef know how many people he needs to cook food for?). Christmas Island is famous for the seasonal migration of red crabs - apart from watching these creatures, there is nothing to do on the island. To the rest of the islands listed above simple tourist there's just no way to get there. The French Southern and Antarctic Territories already by their name hint at what you can expect there - an icy desert. French polar explorers and individual tourists come here during expensive Antarctic eco-cruises.

Sri Lanka has recently ended a bloody conflict between government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. For security reasons, you should not go to the territory controlled by the "Tigers", although, however, tourists did not go there much before.

Madagascar is popular with fans wildlife, which sometimes call the island Lemuria - in honor of the animals that live on this island in abundance. Beach holidays on the island are also very good. Some islands are interesting only for divers, and people who are indifferent to the underwater world will find it difficult to occupy themselves in the surface world. Such is, for example, french island Mayotte (Maore). On the independent Comoros Islands, which are part of the same archipelago, diving is also in the first place, but you can still see flying foxes, lemurs (not as many and not as easy as in Madagascar), sea turtles, humpback whales.

Reunion is highly praised by wildlife and diving enthusiasts, but they warn that it is better not to consider the island as a separate destination, but to combine it with a visit to Madagascar. A fairly common practice is to combine the Comoros and Madagascar into one route. Of the islands of the Indian Ocean, which are the territory of India, Lakshadweep is a purely diving destination, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands can also offer a beach holiday. High season for diving Indian islands lasts from mid-November to May.

Wildlife and diving ( high quality, high prices, poor infrastructure, the best season lasts from February to March) - the main thing for which they go to the Yemeni island of Socotra.

Bahrain (high season from November to March, it is preferable to avoid traveling during the holy month of Ramadan) - beach place, does not suffer from an excess of attractions.

Tanzanian archipelago Zanzibar, former Islands spices are fantastic beaches, diving, not the most impressive ruins and a few colonial-style buildings. As well as monkeys (red colobuses) and, of course, spices.

Located almost on the opposite end of the ocean, Thai Phuket is similar to Pattaya in its Europeanization, but it boasts not the worst diving.

The Seychelles and Maldives have a lot in common. Both countries have long been accustomed to the role of tourism powers operating in approximately the same sector: beach tourism plus a large list of related tourism services plus diving - all this in price category from medium and above, sometimes much higher.

The Maldives is about 1200 islands, of which about 200 are inhabited, including about 70 allocated to tourists (no one lives on these islands, except for the attendants). This is the policy of the country's authorities, aimed at preventing a possible conflict of cultures. At the same time, tourists are taken on excursions to folklore villages, and in the capital of the Male archipelago, two worlds - local and tourist - freely intersect.

There are 115 islands in the Seychelles archipelago. The best beaches- Beau Vallon and a few more beaches on the island of Mahe. The beach at the Silver Spring on the island of La Digue, replicated by tourist literature, is beautiful, but unsuitable for swimming.

Sea fishing is common in Zanzibar, Comoros, Mauritius (this island was described in some detail in the last issue of the Guide - see Money, June 8), the Maldives, the Seychelles and Phuket.

Eat and drink

It is logical that in the island states important place the cuisine is traditionally occupied by seafood.

So, the most popular dish in the Seychelles is poisson-ek-diri - fish and rice, sorry for their French.

In the Maldives, almost all food, except for seafood, is imported, but there are no problems with good food in hotel restaurants.

Zanzibar is one of the most interesting places in Africa from a culinary point of view, the local cuisine is a kind of hybrid of European, Indian and Arabic.

In Madagascar, it seems, they are fed up with fish, the favorite dishes of the local population are meat, including pork, which is absent on many other islands of the Indian Ocean. Vanilla is very popular as a seasoning for various dishes.

Comoros cannot boast of great culinary achievements. In Phuket, as you might guess, Thai cuisine is well represented - both adapted for foreigners and close to natural, as well as restaurants serving dishes of almost any cuisine of the peoples of the world.

The islands of the Indian Ocean vary greatly in their attitude to alcoholic beverages. In the Maldives, it is forbidden to import alcoholic beverages into the country, including beer (they will confiscate it right at the airport), however, in tourist bars and restaurants you can buy all this, only at an inflated price (from $3 per can of beer). There are no non-tourist bars, by the way. Locals do not drink alcohol, and even Indians usually work as bartenders in hotels. During Ramadan, foreigners are not allowed to drink alcoholic beverages outside of hotels, so as not to offend the local population.

In the Seychelles, alcohol legislation is much more liberal. Here they drink local Seybrew beer, as well as local drinks made from fermented juice of young coconut and sugar cane. Foreign alcohol - too, of course.

In the Comoros, beer and wine are sold to foreigners by foreigners - Hindu and Chinese merchants. The goods are sold in opaque black bags - so as not to offend the indigenous population. There are no alcohol restrictions in Phuket. Popular alcoholic drinks of Madagascar are the local Three Horses Beer, coconut liqueur and homemade rum. In Muslim Zanzibar, alcohol is prohibited in many hotels and restaurants, and this does not depend on the price category of the hotel.

In Bahrain, the sale of alcohol is limited mainly to hotel restaurants, and the possibility of a complete ban on alcohol in the country was recently discussed in the national parliament.

And about the weather

The high season in the Maldives is from December to April, when the northeast monsoon brings dry and hot weather. The closer to April, the higher the air temperature, as well as hotel prices (but the most expensive is the Christmas and New Year holidays). Southwest monsoon, dominating the rest of years, time cloudy and inclement weather, which, however, suits surfers well. Divers can come to the Maldives all year round, just in the dry season you can dive on east coast any atoll, and in the rainy season - on the western one. Those wishing to come in the month of Ramadan should come to terms with the fact that institutions, shops, restaurants may be closed or have a reduced working day.

In Phuket, the high season is also the time of the northeast monsoon (December-March). During this period, the island is not hot and dry. April-May is a hot season, precipitation at this time is unpredictable: maybe there will be, or maybe not. The rest of the time the rainy season lasts: hot, humid and wet - it is not surprising that the low season begins on the island.

The weather in Madagascar depends on both the season and the area of the country. Madagascar has two seasons and five climatic zones. On a high plateau in the center of the island, it is never very hot, and in July the temperature at night can drop to almost zero, in January-March it rains heavily. It is almost always hot in the west of the island, especially in March, April and December, while in January-March it is also wet. The northwest is hot and humid most of the year. In the east, the coldest months are August-September (average temperature + 15 ° C), it rains from November to April, while cyclones occur from January to March, sometimes of terrible force. In the south, it is almost always hot and dry. The tourist high season in Madagascar does not depend on the weather, but depends on European customers and falls on the Christmas and New Year holidays, as well as in July-August.

The season of guaranteed good weather in the Seychelles is March-April and October-November. At this time, most often it is not hot and calm. From December to February, and especially in January, there are occasional short heavy rains. In May-September, a strong wind makes staying on many beaches of the archipelago uncomfortable. Prices reach their peak during Christmas and New Year and summer holidays in Europe.

The worst time to visit Zanzibar is the long rainy season (April-May) and the short rainy season (November-December). At the same time, in any of the rainy seasons, it does not rain every day; in the dry season, it also rains.

In the Comoros (including Mayotte), it rains from October to April, starting from December - very heavy. It is warm on the islands all year round, while in the center of the islands it is usually cooler than on the coast.

Visas

Russian citizens do not need visas to visit the Seychelles and Maldives for a period not exceeding 30 days.

A visa to Madagascar can be obtained at the embassy of this country in Moscow, but it is easier, although more expensive (equivalent to $ 118), to obtain a tourist visa for up to 90 days upon arrival at the airport.

When traveling to the Comoros, a visa can also be obtained upon arrival (equivalent to $18 for up to 5 days and $36 for up to 15 days).

To visit Mayotte and Reunion, as well as the French Southern and Antarctic territories, Russians need a special visa for French Overseas Territories (DOM/TOM), which requires additional time and hassle.

For a flight from the territory of mainland India to the Andaman Islands, an additional visa is not needed, but a permission to visit the territory is required, which, from the point of view of a tourist, is not much different from a visa on arrival.

Phuket, like the rest of Thailand, is visa-free for Russians for up to 30 days.

At the border with Tanzania (including if the entry is from another country to the island of Zanzibar), you can apply for a visa for up to 90 days (visa fee - $ 50, children included in the parental passport are free).

Mauritius. A visa for a period of 60 days is issued upon arrival at the airport free of charge.

A visa to Bahrain is available for registration in all possible ways: in person at the consulate, via the Internet and at the airport of arrival. At the same time, the consular fee will be equivalent to $13 at the airport, $18 - on the Internet and $26 - at the consulate.

And of course, one of the main factors influencing the decision is the price. The fact that most of the island states listed above do not impose visa barriers to visitors makes it possible, when considering a trip, to view special offers from airlines, hotels and travel agencies.

The Indian Ocean Islands are an all-season destination for luxury holiday. It remains to decide what you prefer: relaxation and contemplation, active sports, the opportunity to touch the antiquities or watch the most unusual creatures on Earth.

Tropical Mauritius was once a favorite haunt of pirates, and now the island attracts thousands of tourists every year with its luxurious hotels and white sandy beaches surrounded by mountains of volcanic origin. This place is suitable not only for heat-loving couch potatoes, but also for inquisitive travelers who want to get acquainted with the amazing colonial architecture of the region, Indian temples and botanical gardens. Here you can also spot rare birds, take a walk in the park with lions or swim with dolphins, or you can even test your strength by going in for extreme sports - windsurfing and kitesurfing are very popular on the island.

Mauritius is located just 20 degrees south of the equator, so the temperature here does not drop below +25 ° C. Most tourists go here on vacation when the cold sets in in the Northern Hemisphere, so the peak tourist season The island is considered to be between October and April. However, at this time of the year it is quite hot and humid, and sometimes rainy. The best time to visit Mauritius is the local winter, which begins in the Southern Hemisphere in May.

Important: when we have summer, it is best to choose the resorts of the north and west coast of Mauritius. Holidays on the east coast will be more pleasant when winter approaches the Northern Hemisphere.

Mauritius is quite small, only 45 × 65 sq. km, however, due to the unique landscape, the weather here is very changeable. You are unlikely to be able to quickly go around this small island, and all because it is riddled with narrow and winding roads, on which it is simply impossible to accelerate. In addition, when planning excursions, it is worth remembering that left-hand traffic has remained on the island since the British colonial era. Therefore, it is better for tourists to use the services of a taxi or an organized transfer.

The tourist center of Mauritius is the resort town of Grand Baie in the northeast of the island, it is here that the most hotels and entertainment venues. The west coast is the most expensive and prestigious: those who are accustomed to relaxing in the most luxurious hotels and who want to sunbathe on the most beautiful beaches with white sand. The south is considered the greenest, wildest and very interesting part of the island.

WHERE TO STAY

Those who prefer solitude and silence on vacation will surely like the Angsana Balaclava hotel, located in the north west coast Mauritius in the Turtle Bay area. This 5-star boutique hotel is surrounded by gardens where island birds sing their gentle songs, and its secluded beach is perfect for relaxing in the sun during the day and watching spectacular sunsets in the evenings. Romantic and very intimate Angsana Balaclava is loved by couples and newlyweds who come here for their honeymoon.

Another pearl of Mauritius is located on the Le Morne peninsula. Paradis & Golf Club is considered one of the the best hotels southwest coast. It is especially remembered by the guests due to the breathtaking views from the rooms on picturesque beach and the lagoon.

Whether you're looking for a relaxing getaway with several restaurants, a renowned beauty brand spa, the largest fitness center in Mauritius, its own international golf course and a golf academy, Paradis Resort is the perfect choice for those who prefer leisure and is engaged water sports sports. On the beach, hotel guests can use any equipment free of charge, including masks with a snorkel and windsurfing equipment. A separate fee will be asked only for the services of a personal instructor. By the way, this hotel hosts the Kite Jam Festival, which every year gathers professionals and amateurs of wind and kite surfing from all over the world. Within the framework of the festival, amateur competitions, master classes from world champions and the best athletes of the planet are held, as well as surfing and kiteboarding schools.

Timezone: There is no time difference between Mauritius and Moscow. So it doesn't matter how long your vacation is - you won't remember what jet lag is after returning home.

Visa: visa for up to 60 days is issued upon arrival. To do this, at the customs, you must provide a passport valid for at least 6 months after the end of your stay in the country, a return ticket, a hotel reservation, a completed entry form and pay a fee of $ 17.

How to get there: the best way to fly with an airline Air France to Paris with a flight change airlines Air Mauritius. Travel time, including docking, is about 16 hours. The price of a round-trip ticket is from 49 thousand rubles.

Madagascar - largest island Indian Ocean, one of the poorest countries in the world, but at the same time one of the most safe countries Africa. Such nature as in Madagascar cannot be found anywhere else. The flora and fauna of the island are rich in absolutely endemic plants and animals that cannot be found in other parts of the world.

Baobabs grow everywhere in Madagascar. In some areas, impressive rows of giant trees line up, in the crowns of which an African sun pancake beautifully "gets stuck" during sunset, giving tourists the opportunity to take photos of amazing beauty.

Here you can see 70 species of lemurs and chameleons and even watch humpback whales. The best time to see whales migrating 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 and representing sharp karst spiers, the approximate age of which is a million years. Stone Forest consists of intricate labyrinths, through which tours are organized for tourists.

As a rule, travelers go to Madagascar to see the jungle, wild animals, take part in a safari or walk through adapted and safe tourist routes, which are complemented by a few days of relaxation on the coast. The most popular recreation areas for foreign tourists are the resorts of the Anakao Peninsula and the beaches of a tiny island near Madagascar - Nosy Be.

The north of the country is very fond of divers all over the world, including from Russia. Extended coastline with unique underwater plants and animals gives them a completely new diving experience.

The climate of Madagascar is very diverse: on the coast it is tropics, in the depths it is closer to subtropical, and in the south it is dry (arid), with high air temperatures that experience large daily fluctuations and with negligible rainfall. The island has two seasons. The hot and humid season - the Madagascar summer - lasts from November to April, the air temperature in these months is + 25 + 27 ° C, the cooler dry season is set from May to October (+ 20 + 24 ° C).

WHERE TO STAY

One of the best hotels the popular resort island of Nosy Be - Ravintsara Wellness Hotel. "Fantastic holidays", "royal vacation", "heaven on earth" - these are the reviews of tourists that Ravintsara received for its beautiful and spacious beachfront bungalows, green gardens around, excellent service and gourmet cuisine. The hotel also offers entertainment for every taste: boat trips, quad bike rides. The cost of accommodation is from 300 dollars per day.

Timezone: Madagascar time is one hour behind Moscow time.

Visa: A tourist visa for up to 90 days can be issued upon arrival. To do this, you must provide a passport valid for at least 6 months and a return ticket.

How to get there: You can get to Madagascar's largest airport Antananarivo from Moscow via Paris (Air France). Flight time is 14 hours, excluding connections. Ticket price - from 50 thousand rubles.

Seychelles- an archipelago of magical beauty, 115 islands, many of which are 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 Seychelles are one of the few resort areas, where you can just take and fly at any time of the year, without worrying about seasonal weather changes. The climate here is quite stable throughout the year, the average air temperature on the islands is + 26 + 30º C. During the peak season (December-January), precipitation becomes more frequent on the islands, which disappear only by mid-March, but they cannot be called plentiful and in fact they do not interfere with the rest of tourists.

The warmest and calmest weather is set in April-May and October-November. During this period, the islands have ideal conditions for swimming, snorkeling and diving: the water temperature reaches +29º C, and visibility often exceeds 30 meters.

Period from October to April the best time for lovers of fishing, and from April to October - the season for watching exotic birds. It is during these months that they breed, nurse their offspring and migrate to other lands. From May to September, fans of surfing and windsurfing flock to the Seychelles.

The main island of the archipelago, on which the international airport is located, is about. Mahe. Those who fly to the Seychelles in search of peace and secluded relaxation are unlikely to appreciate the hustle and bustle of Mahe, but it is worth staying here if only to study the colonial architecture of the capital of the Seychelles - the city of Victoria, or visit the botanical garden, which contains dozens of species of tropical plants. The surroundings of Mahe Island have great opportunities for deep-sea diving: here you can not only swim with magnificent tropical fish, but also walk through the habitats of reef and nosed sharks, stingrays, sea urchins, sea turtles.

Each island of the archipelago has its own atmosphere, and if you don’t want the noise of Mahe at all, then you can go to small islands where complete peace and quiet reigns.

WHERE TO STAY

One of the best hotels in Mahe is Banyan Tree Seychelles, located on the picturesque southwestern coast of the island. There are 60 villas on the territory of Banyan Tree, each of which has its own pool.

This resort is in a quiet location away from anything that might disturb you during your holiday. This sometimes makes the guests think that they are on desert island, on which someone invisible provides round-the-clock comfort. Nearby there are no places of entertainment and significant tourist places, so it is chosen by those who are going to enjoy their vacation away from civilization. The cost of renting a villa is from $ 1,200 per day.

Timezone: in the Seychelles, the time coincides with Moscow.

Visa: Russian citizens arriving in the Seychelles for a period not exceeding 30 days do not need a visa. It is placed at the border at the entrance to the country.

How to get there: from Moscow to the Seychelles you can fly by plane Emirates airlines with a transfer at the home airport (Dubai). Travel time, including docking, is 12.5 hours. Ticket price - from 30 thousand rubles.

The Maldives is 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 Republic of Maldives For the first time and looking for some general recommendations on choosing a resort, then you need to remember the main thing: each of the Maldivian resorts is on its own island, the sizes of the islands vary from 2.5 km to 150 m (from coast to coast). This means that all facilities in the resort (restaurants, bars, sports facilities, etc.) will be the only entertainment for the duration of your stay in the Maldives. Therefore, their infrastructure must be carefully studied in advance in order not to fall into deep despondency on a long-awaited vacation. In general, there are offers for tourists for every taste: from affordable bungalows adjacent to diving equipment rental points, to secluded luxury villas on stilts in the sea, from the terrace of which you can hang your legs and admire the colored fish swimming in the water.

The Maldives archipelago is located almost on the equator, the climate here is tropical, the temperature is stable all year round (about +28+30º C). The hottest season on the islands falls on our winter: from December to April, the islands are dry, and the air temperature reaches its highest levels.

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 most 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, cutting the waves on the board. Fans of a more relaxing holiday may be interested in fishing in open water.

WHERE TO STAY

One of the most famous Maldivian resorts Shangri-La's Villingili Resort & Spa is located on the large and very picturesque Addu Atoll, on Villingili Island. Shangri-La offers accommodation in fully equipped villas in traditional style. Guests can choose a house in the garden, on the shore or on stilts right above the water. It offers vacationers several restaurants, an outdoor pool, a gym, a kids club, a beauty salon and a spa center that offers various face and body care programs, scrubs, body wraps, as well as massage and stone therapy. On the territory there are tennis and badminton courts, a small golf course, as well as everything you need for snorkeling, diving, windsurfing and fishing.

To the resort from international airport Male tourists are delivered by plane or speedboat.

Timezone: time for Maldives ahead of Moscow by an hour.

Visa: For citizens of Russia, it is not required to apply for a visa in advance if the tourist arrives in the country for a period of not more than 30 days. It is placed at the border when entering the country, which will require a valid passport and a dated return ticket.

How to get there: international flights arrive at Hulule Airport, which is located next to the capital island of Male. Flights to the Maldives are regularly operated by Emirates airlines (via Dubai), Singapore Airlines(via Singapore), Qatar (via Doha). Travel time depends on the length of the connection at the carrier's home airport.

In the winter season, a direct flight to Male is opened by Aeroflot. Travel time is about 9 hours. The cost of the flight is from 49 thousand rubles.

Ceylon Island (Sri Lanka) – real corner eternal holiday. The number of significant events that are celebrated here is more than 160 a year! Add to this colorful beaches, misty mountains, tea plantations and luxurious hotels - and you get a truly unforgettable vacation in the realm of nature on the shores of the Indian Ocean.

Developed tourism infrastructure Sri Lanka provides holidaymakers with great leisure opportunities for all tastes, from "doing nothing" on the beaches and pampering in local spas to wildlife watching, extreme sports and pilgrimages to ancient cities.

The climate in Sri Lanka is equatorial. It is warm and humid all year round, with a rainy season in summer. Average annual temperature air on the island is +28º C, the water temperature in the Indian Ocean reaches +26º C.

The largest city island nation- noisy, crazy Colombo. Tourists come here to get acquainted with the main attractions: admire the colonial buildings, mosques, churches, Buddhist and Hindu temples, see the presidential residence (or the Queen's House), visit National Museum and an art gallery. There is also a wonderful zoo in Colombo, where tourists tend to get to the elephant show.

The beaches of the island enjoy great love of tourists. Moreover, Sri Lanka is gaining more and more popularity among those who love active views. water sports. Surfers managed to take a fancy to Arugam Bay - a place 314 km from Colombo, on the southeast 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, but for experienced athletes, the west coast has become a point of attraction, where you can catch an impressive wave. The town of Negombo on the west coast of Sri Lanka has become a hangout for kitesurfers who come here for the winds from May to the end of September.

Due to the diverse relief of the island, Ceylon has excellent conditions for rafting, 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 time year you can also see sea turtles that come ashore to lay their eggs.

WHERE TO STAY

Most famous resort for beach holiday in Sri Lanka - the town of Bentota and its environs. Most of the hotels offering accommodation for every taste are located here. Nevertheless, the hotels are located at a considerable distance from each other, so tourists can enjoy a relaxing holiday.

Beautiful secluded hotel in Benot - Saman Villas, which is located on a small rocky hill, right on the ocean. It is quiet and comfortable here, the number of rooms (and especially the bathroom under open sky) pleases travelers who do not skimp on positive reviews. Tourists also note the excellent cuisine at the hotel restaurant and praise the treatments at the local spa. The cost of living is about 300 dollars per day.

The small village of Hikkaduwa is popular with divers and surfers, who are known to be not too whimsical, so there are mainly cheap hotels and apartments.

You can swim with a mask, swim in calm waters, which are protected from waves by a coral ridge, in the resort of Trincomalee, which is located on the east coast of the country.

Timezone: time in Sri Lanka ahead of Moscow by 1.5 hours.

Visa: It is not necessary for Russian citizens to apply for a visa in advance. It is placed at the airport upon arrival.

How to get there: the flight to Colombo is carried out by Etihad (with a change in Abu Dhabi), Emirates (with a change in Dubai), as well as Aeroflot. Travel time is about 10 hours. The cost of a round-trip ticket is from 25 thousand rubles.

Irina Lavery

January 23rd, 2012

In this post, I decided to make a general overview of the islands of the Indian Ocean. All major islands in one place.
It will be about Madagascar, Seychelles, Mauritius, Maldives and Sri Lanka. And a lot of photos.

The history of Madagascar has a couple of hundred million years and begins from the moment when the island broke away from the African continent. There is no typical African fauna on the island. With the exception of bats capable of crossing the water barrier between the island and the continent, there is not a single species of mammal that can be seen anywhere else. As the fourth largest island in the world, Madagascar is home to an amazing variety of animals and plants, eighty percent of which are unique, including birds.

The vast rainforests of Madagascar, like El Dorado, attract scientists and researchers from all over the world. Even large rainforests South America unable to compete with the vast biodiversity of the flora, which creates a unique habitat for some refugees from the time of the dinosaurs, such as chameleons. 40 different species of which, together with fifty species of lemurs, inhabit wonderful tree species such as spiny forest and baobabs.

The stunning uniqueness of this island makes it the eighth continent. The diverse populations of Madagascar, its unexplored coral reefs along with other attractions, provide a constant stream of visitors looking for walks along the beaten paths of huge national parks, among rare and endangered species, friendly locals and exciting marine life with moonlit paths on the surface of the ocean.

Seychelles

After a long struggle over the islands between France and Great Britain, which ended in 1814, independence came in 1976. And the first, elected through democratic elections, the president took office in 1993.

455 square kilometers of the Republic of Seychelles divided into 23 administrative districts, lie in the Indian Ocean, 1600 kilometers from Africa and northeast of Madagascar. Surrounded by other islands: Mauritius and Reunion in the south, Comoros in the southwest and Maldives in the northeast.

Eighty thousand inhabitants of the Islands are of French, African, Arabic, Indian and Chinese origin. Creole is the mother tongue of the vast majority of the population, but French and English are also widely spoken.

The islands include 115 islands in the archipelago, 33 of which are inhabited. The most populated is a group of granite islands around Mahe, on which the capital, the city of Victoria, is located. A smaller outer portion of the islands are coral atolls, including the world's largest listed atoll Aldabra world heritage UNESCO and home to hundreds of thousands of turtles.

The islands enjoy a subtropical maritime climate, with an average annual temperature of 29 degrees Celsius and plenty of rain in March and November. The cool southeast monsoon season is from late May to September, while the northwest monsoon brings warmth from March to May. Because most of the island lies outside the cyclone belt, severe storms are rare.

The main holiday destination on the islands is beach, with visits to natural attractions and diving in unique coral underwater landscapes.

Like the Seychelles, Mauritius is one of the richest countries in Africa and a successful multicultural society, in which the friendly coexistence of peoples and religions is expressed in croissants for breakfast and curry for lunch, as well as colorful Indian temples adjacent to French colonial mansions.

Despite the fact that the small island of Mauritius can be completely driven around in less than a day, it has a wonderful reputation as a resort where the highest and value for money service is combined with high popularity.

Mauritius hotels rightfully occupy high places in the ratings, and marvelous sandy beaches and lush tropical nature provide a full range of beach holidays, from diving and snorkeling to fishing for big fish.

The season consists of two periods from October to January and from April to May, the best time is December and May, in July-August the temperature drops and the season of strong winds begins. The temperature in late summer is moderate.

The Maldives is synonymous with luxury, romance and tropical happy serenity. Scattered specks of low coral islands in the Indian Ocean; paradise for lovers of diving and sunbathing.

Twenty-six natural atolls and a thousand islands, with perfect white sandy beaches in lagoons bathed in turquoise water with bath temperature. Tourism here began to develop relatively recently - since the 70s, but at the moment it is the most important industry in the Maldives. The main offer in the market is concentrated in the luxury segment, which means that the Maldives is home to some of the best hotels in the world.

Thus, now is the best time to visit this country, which has gone into a frenzy of development. New resorts, boutiques of the world's leading brands and wonderful ecologically perfect hotels open here every month. This resort isn't cheap by any means, but if you're looking for adventure amid breathtaking views of nature and absolute beauty that will stay with you long after your tan has faded, then it's worth it.

The island's ocean coast lined with soft golden sandy beaches is now recovering from the devastating 2004 tsunami. Looking closer we will find artificial reservoirs built by the first rulers of Singapore around ancient city Anuradhapura. In this country of hills, clouds often restrict the traveler's view from exploring waterfalls and tea plantations.

To the northwest, a web of natural earth bridges nearly connects fragile Sri Lanka with modern-day giant India. Two and a half decades of civil war extend this bridge to Tamil Nadu, both geographically and culturally.

Regardless of the national and cultural identity: Senegalese, Tamil or Muslim, the locals will be very friendly and hospitable to you. And proudly present you their criminally underrated cuisine, National parks wildlife and especially their national cricket teams.

The climate on the island is tropical, with a summer monsoon season during which 95 percent of the annual precipitation falls. Therefore, in winter months, from November to April, the weather is quite dry and in general, this is the best season for travelers.

Having suffered from the war and the consequences of the global financial crisis, the people of Sri Lanka have spent the next few years in hard work to restore the tourism infrastructure. And at the moment Sri Lanka is a fusion ancient history, culture and modern scenery of the developed tourist business.

A noteworthy feature of Sri Lanka is diving not only among the exotic inhabitants of the deep sea, but also visiting grottoes, underwater rocks and sunken ships.

That's all. Thanks for reading us.

I made a small plan for the reports. Read soon:
- A trip to Sri Lanka. Personal experience.
- Neuschwanstein Castle
- Port Aventura Amusement Park in Spain
- European and Scandinavian ferries
- Lithuania, Klaipeda and the Baltic Sea

Indian Ocean is an integral part of the world's oceans. Its maximum depth is 7729 m (Zonda trench), and the average depth is slightly more than 3700 m, which is the second result after the depths Pacific Ocean. The size of the Indian Ocean is 76.174 million km2. This is 20% of the world's oceans. The volume of water is about 290 million km3 (together with all the seas).

The waters of the Indian Ocean are distinguished by their light blue color and good transparency. This is due to the fact that very few freshwater rivers flow into it, which are the main "troublemakers". By the way, due to this, the water in the Indian Ocean is much saltier compared to the salinity of other oceans.

Location of the Indian Ocean

Most of the Indian Ocean is in the Southern Hemisphere. It borders Asia to the north, Antarctica to the south, Australia to the east, and the African continent to the west. In addition, in the southeast, its waters connect with the waters of the Pacific Ocean, and in the southwest with the Atlantic Ocean.

Seas and gulfs of the Indian Ocean

The Indian Ocean does not have as many seas as other oceans. For example, compared to Atlantic Ocean they are 3 times smaller. Most of the seas are located in its northern part. In the tropical zone are: Red (the most salty sea on Earth), Laccadive, Arabian, Arafura, Timor and Andaman seas. The Antarctic zone hosts the d'Urville, Commonwealth, Davis, Riiser-Larsen, Cosmonauts seas.

The largest bays of the Indian Ocean are the Persian, Bengal, Oman, Aden, Prydz and the Great Australian.

Indian Ocean islands

The Indian Ocean is not distinguished by an abundance of islands. The largest islands of continental origin are Madagascar, Sumatra, Sri Lanka, Java, Tasmania, Timor. Also, there are volcanic islands, such as Mauritius, Renyon, Kerguelen, and coral - Chagos, Maldives, Andaman, etc.

Underwater world of the Indian Ocean

Since more than half of the Indian Ocean is located in the tropical and subtropical zones, its underwater world is very rich and diverse in terms of species. The coastal zone in the tropics is replete with numerous colonies of crabs and unique fish - mudskippers. Corals live in shallow waters, and various algae grow in temperate waters - calcareous, brown, red.

The Indian Ocean is home to dozens of species of crustaceans, molluscs and jellyfish. Enough also lives in ocean waters a large number of sea snakes, among which there are also poisonous species.

Sharks are a special pride of the Indian Ocean. Many species of these predators ply its waters, namely tiger, mako, gray, blue, great white sharks, etc.

Mammals are represented by killer whales and dolphins. Several species of pinnipeds (seals, dugongs, seals) and whales live in the southern part of the ocean.

Despite all the richness of the underwater world, seafood fishing in the Indian Ocean is rather poorly developed - only 5% of the world's catch. Sardines, tuna, shrimp, lobsters, rays and lobsters are harvested in the ocean.

1. ancient name Indian Ocean - East.

2. In the Indian Ocean, ships are regularly found in good condition, but without a crew. Where he disappears is a mystery. Over the past 100 years, there have been 3 such ships - Tarbon, Houston Market (tankers) and the Cabin Cruiser.

3. Many species of the underwater world of the Indian Ocean have a unique property - they can glow. This is what explains the appearance of luminous circles in the ocean.

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Sun all year round, unique nature, quiet hotels lost in bays with turquoise water and on paradise islands with white sand - an idyllic picture that we are used to seeing on advertising brochures. All this is becoming a reality for tourists coming to the resorts of the Indian Ocean.

The Indian Ocean Islands are an all-season destination for luxury holidays. It remains to decide what you prefer: relaxation and contemplation, active sports, the opportunity to touch the antiquities or watch the most unusual creatures on Earth.

MAURITIUS

Tropical Mauritius was once a favorite haunt of pirates, and now the island attracts thousands of tourists every year with its luxurious hotels and snow-white beaches surrounded by mountains of volcanic origin. This place is suitable not only for heat-loving couch potatoes, but also for inquisitive travelers who want to get acquainted with the amazing colonial architecture of the region, Indian temples and botanical gardens. Here you can also spot rare birds, take a walk in the park with lions or swim with dolphins, or you can even test your strength by going in for extreme sports - windsurfing and kitesurfing are very popular on the island.

Mauritius is located just 20 degrees south of the equator, so the temperature here does not fall below +25 ° C. Most tourists go here on vacation when it gets cold in the Northern Hemisphere, so the peak tourist season on the island is from October to April. However, at this time of the year it is quite hot and humid, and sometimes rainy. The best time to visit Mauritius is the local winter, which begins in the Southern Hemisphere in May.

Important: when we have summer, it is best to choose the resorts of the north and west coast of Mauritius. Holidays on the east coast will be more pleasant when winter approaches the Northern Hemisphere.

Mauritius is quite small, only 45 × 65 sq. km, however, due to the unique landscape, the weather here is very changeable. You can hardly go around this small island quickly, and all because it is riddled with narrow and winding roads, on which it is simply impossible to accelerate. In addition, when planning excursions, it is worth remembering that left-hand traffic has remained on the island since the British colonial era. Therefore, it is better for tourists to use the services of a taxi or an organized transfer.

The tourist center of Mauritius is the resort town of Grand Baie in the northeast of the island, where most of the hotels and entertainment facilities are concentrated. The west coast is the most expensive and prestigious: those who are accustomed to relaxing in the most luxurious hotels and who want to sunbathe on the most beautiful white sand beaches come here. The south is considered the greenest, wildest and very interesting part of the island.

Where to settle

The pearl of Mauritius - Paradis & Golf Club on the Le Morne peninsula. This hotel is considered one of the best on the southwest coast. It is especially remembered by the guests due to the breathtaking views from the rooms to the picturesque beach and the lagoon.

Whether you're looking for a relaxing getaway with multiple dining options, a brand-name spa, the largest fitness center in Mauritius, its own international golf course and a golf academy, Paradis Resort is the perfect choice for those looking for an active holiday. and enjoys water sports. On the beach, hotel guests can use any equipment free of charge, including masks with a snorkel and windsurfing equipment. A separate fee will be asked only for the services of a personal instructor. By the way, this hotel hosts the Kite Jam Festival, which every year gathers professionals and amateurs of wind and kite surfing from all over the world. Within the framework of the festival, amateur competitions, master classes from world champions and the best athletes of the planet are held, as well as surfing and kiteboarding schools.

Time zone: there is no time difference between Mauritius and Moscow. So it doesn't matter how long your vacation is - you won't remember what jet lag is after returning home.

Visa: A visa for up to 60 days is issued upon arrival. To do this, at the customs, you must provide a passport valid for at least 6 months after the end of your stay in the country, a return ticket, a hotel reservation, a completed entry form and pay a fee of $ 17.

How to get there: the best option is to fly with Air France to Paris with a transfer to an Air Mauritius flight. Travel time, including docking, is about 16 hours. The price of a round-trip ticket is from 49 thousand rubles.

MADAGASCAR

Madagascar is the largest island in the Indian Ocean, one of the poorest countries in the world, but at the same time one of the safest countries in Africa. Such nature as in Madagascar cannot be found anywhere else. The flora and fauna of the island are rich in absolutely endemic plants and animals that cannot be found in other parts of the world.

There is also a unique stone forest on the island, covering an area of more than 150 thousand hectares and representing sharp karst spiers, the approximate age of which is a million years. Stone Forest consists of intricate labyrinths, through which tours are organized for tourists.

As a rule, travelers go to Madagascar to see the jungle, wild animals, take part in a safari or follow adapted and safe tourist routes, which are complemented by a few days of relaxation on the coast. The most popular recreation areas for foreign tourists are the resorts of the Anakao Peninsula and the beaches of a tiny island near Madagascar - Nosy Be.

The north of the country is very fond of divers all over the world, including from Russia. The long coastline with unique underwater plants and animals gives them a completely new diving experience.

Where to settle

One of the best hotels in the popular resort island of Nosy Be is the Ravintsara Wellness Hotel. "Fantastic holidays", "royal vacation", "heaven on earth" - these are the reviews of tourists that Ravintsara received for its beautiful and spacious beachfront bungalows, green gardens around, excellent service and gourmet cuisine. The hotel also offers entertainment for every taste: boat trips, quad bike rides. The cost of accommodation is from 300 dollars per day.

Time zone: Madagascar time is one hour behind Moscow time.

Visa: A tourist visa for up to 90 days can be issued upon arrival. To do this, you must provide a passport valid for at least 6 months and a return ticket.

How to get there: you can get to Madagascar's largest airport Antananarivo from Moscow via Paris (Air France). Flight time is 14 hours, excluding connections. Ticket price - from 50 thousand rubles.

SEYCHELLES

Seychelles is an archipelago of magical beauty, 115 islands, many of which are 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.

Seychelles is one of the few resort areas where you can just pick up and fly at any time of the year without worrying about seasonal weather changes. The climate here is quite stable throughout the year, the average air temperature on the islands is + 26 + 30º C. During the peak season (December-January), precipitation becomes more frequent on the islands, which disappear only by mid-March, but they cannot be called plentiful and in fact they do not interfere with the rest of tourists.

The period from October to April is the best time for fishing enthusiasts, and from April to October is the season for watching exotic birds. It is during these months that they breed, nurse their offspring and migrate to other lands. From May to September, fans of surfing and windsurfing flock to the Seychelles.

Each island of the archipelago has its own atmosphere, and if you don’t want the noise of Mahe at all, then you can go to small islands where complete peace and quiet reigns.

Where to settle

This resort is in a quiet location away from anything that might disturb you during your holiday. This sometimes makes the guests think that they are on a desert island, on which someone invisible provides round-the-clock comfort. Nearby there are no places of entertainment and significant tourist places, so it is chosen by those who are going to enjoy a vacation away from civilization. The cost of renting a villa is from $ 1,200 per day.

Time zone: in the Seychelles, the time coincides with Moscow.

Visa: Russian citizens arriving in the Seychelles for a period not exceeding 30 days do not need a visa. It is placed at the border at the entrance to the country.

How to get there: you can fly from Moscow to the Seychelles by Emirates with a transfer at your home airport (Dubai). Travel time, including docking, is 12.5 hours. Ticket price - from 30 thousand rubles.

MALDIVES

The Maldives is 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 Republic of Maldives for the first time and are looking for some general recommendations for choosing a resort, then you need to remember the main thing: each of the Maldives resorts is on its own island, the sizes of the islands vary from 2.5 km to 150 m (from coast to coast). This means that all facilities in the resort (restaurants, bars, sports facilities, etc.) will be the only entertainment for the duration of your stay in the Maldives. Therefore, their infrastructure must be carefully studied in advance in order not to fall into deep despondency on a long-awaited vacation. In general, there are offers for tourists for every taste: from affordable bungalows adjacent to diving equipment rental points, to secluded luxury villas on stilts in the sea, from the terrace of which you can hang your legs and admire the colored fish swimming in the water.

Where to settle

One of the most famous Maldivian resorts Shangri-La's Villingili Resort & Spa is located on the large and very picturesque Addu Atoll, on Villingili Island. Shangri-La offers accommodation in fully equipped traditional style villas. Guests can choose a house in the garden, on the shore or on stilts right above the water. It offers vacationers several restaurants, an outdoor pool, a gym, a kids club, a beauty salon and a spa center that offers various face and body care programs, scrubs, body wraps, as well as massage and stone therapy. On the territory there are tennis and badminton courts, a small golf course, as well as everything you need for snorkeling, diving, windsurfing and fishing.

Tourists are delivered to the resort from Male International Airport by plane or speedboat.

Time zone: time in the Maldives is one hour ahead of Moscow.

Visa: for citizens of Russia, it is not required to apply for a visa in advance if the tourist arrives in the country for a period of not more than 30 days. It is placed at the border when entering the country, which will require a valid passport and a dated return ticket.

How to get there: international flights arrive at Hulule Airport, which is located next to the capital island of Male. Flights to the Maldives are regularly operated by Emirates (via Dubai), Singapore Airlines (via Singapore), Qatar (via Doha). Travel time depends on the length of the connection at the carrier's home airport.

In the winter season, a direct flight to Male is opened by Aeroflot. Travel time is about 9 hours. The cost of the flight is from 49 thousand rubles.

O. CEYLON

The island of Ceylon (Sri Lanka) is a real corner of an eternal holiday. The number of significant events that are celebrated here is more than 160 a year! Add to this colorful beaches, misty mountains, tea plantations and luxury hotels - and you get a truly unforgettable vacation in the realm of nature on the Indian Ocean.

Sri Lanka's well-developed tourist infrastructure provides holidaymakers with great opportunities for recreation for all tastes: from "doing nothing" on the beaches and pampering in local spas to wildlife watching, extreme sports and pilgrimages to ancient cities.

The climate in Sri Lanka is equatorial. It is warm and humid all year round, with a rainy season in summer. The average annual air temperature on the island is +28º C, the water temperature in the Indian Ocean reaches +26º C.

The largest city of the island nation is noisy, crazy Colombo. Tourists come here to get acquainted with the main attractions: admire the colonial buildings, mosques, churches, Buddhist and Hindu temples, see the President's residence (or the Queen's House), visit the National Museum and art gallery. There is also a wonderful zoo in Colombo, where tourists tend to get to the elephant show.

The beaches of the island enjoy great love of tourists. Moreover, Sri Lanka is gaining more and more popularity among those who love active water sports. Surfers managed to take a fancy to Arugam Bay - a place 314 km from Colombo, on the southeast 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, but for experienced athletes, the west coast has become a point of attraction, where you can catch an impressive wave. The town of Negombo on the west coast of Sri Lanka has become a hangout for kitesurfers who come here for the winds from May to the end of September.

Due to the diverse relief of the island, Ceylon has excellent conditions for rafting, 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.

Where to settle

The most famous resort for a beach holiday in Sri Lanka is the town of Bentota and its environs. Most of the hotels offering accommodation for every taste are located here. Nevertheless, the hotels are located at a considerable distance from each other, so tourists can enjoy a relaxing holiday.

Beautiful secluded hotel in Benot - Saman Villas, which is located on a small rocky hill, right on the ocean. It is quiet and comfortable here, the number of rooms (and especially the open-air bathroom) pleases travelers who do not skimp on positive reviews. Tourists also note the excellent cuisine at the hotel restaurant and praise the treatments at the local spa. The cost of living is about 300 dollars per day.

The small village of Hikkaduwa is popular with divers and surfers, who are notoriously picky, so it's mostly budget hotels and apartments.

You can swim with a mask, swim in calm waters, which are protected from waves by a coral ridge, in the resort of Trincomalee, which is located on the east coast of the country.

Time zone: time in Sri Lanka is 1.5 hours ahead of Moscow.

Visa: Russian citizens do not need to apply for a visa in advance. It is placed at the airport upon arrival.

How to get there: flights to Colombo are carried out by Etihad (with a change in Abu Dhabi), Emirates (with a change in Dubai), as well as Aeroflot. Travel time is about 10 hours. The cost of a round-trip ticket is from 25 thousand rubles.