An island in the western Indian Ocean. Islands of the Indian Ocean: description and photos. Traveling to the islands of the Indian Ocean. And about the weather

Today we will look at the islands of the Indian Ocean. After all, it is the third largest body of water in the world. In its warm waters there are many very spectacular tropical islands that simply cannot leave travelers indifferent. In addition, they are all classified as nature reserves. Most of them are predominantly concentrated in the western part. Now we will take a closer look at some of them, as well as what types they are divided into. Genetically they are: coral, volcanic and continental.

Mainland and volcanic islands

The first include the largest - Sri Lanka, Madagascar, Masirai, Kuria Muria, Socotra, Greater Sunda, as well as many small islands located along the coasts of Western Australia, Indochina and Arabia. Most of them are limestone plateaus on ancient Precambrian granites. There are also mountainous ones. Everyone knows them and have their own special structure. Within the ocean floor, these are the only structures composed of granites. The Indian Ocean islands, which are of volcanic origin, are in turn divided into open ocean islands and transition zone islands. The latter are elements of island arcs.

They have mountainous terrain, their peaks are crowned with volcanic cones. These are Nicobar, Andaman and they are based to a lesser extent on and to a greater extent on basalt. The volcanic islands of the Indian Ocean, such as Prince Edward, Crozet, Kerguelen, Saint-Paul, Amsterdam, Mascarene, Comoros, are small in size and are surface peaks of volcanoes. Around them there are almost always

Coral Islands

The most important feature of this part of the earth's water bodies are the islands consisting of corals. They are for the most part typical atolls, which are composed of a large amount of moss, coral sand, rubble and gravel. A striking example of such an atoll is Diego Garcia. But the Indian Ocean islands of coral origin are also more complex atolls, consisting of many small atolls, and are up to 150 km across. These are huge ring-shaped structures, such islands as Cocos, Amirant, Chagos, Maldives, Laccadive. Many of them were formed due to the rise of reefs.

A few examples. Christmas Island, 365 meters above sea level, was formed at the top of the Cocos Rise, Tromelin Island is five meters above water level, and below it is 4000 meters of the Mascarene Trench. What else stands out about the coral islands of the Indian Ocean? Because dense impenetrable thickets of mangrove forests mainly grow and have been preserved on them. This is especially typical, for example, for the Amirant Islands. Thanks to all their beauties and unexplored places, such places are especially attractive to travelers and tourists.

Indian Ocean Islands, list of islands in the eastern region

Now we will list you the islands that belong to the region of East India: Andaman, Ashmore and Cartier, Christmas, Kakadu, Coconut (Keeling), Dirk Hartog, Garden Island, Jaffna, Kangaroo, Langkawi, King Island, Mentawai, Nias, Nicobar , Penang, Phi Phi, Phuket, Simelue, Sri Lanka, Mannar.

Let's continue the topic of what islands are in the Indian Ocean, in its western part. These are: Agalega, Banc du Geyser, Bassas da India, Cargados Carajos, Chagos Archipelago, Comoros, Europe, Juan di Nova Islands, Lakshadweep archipelago, Madagascar, Mafia, Maldives, Mauritius, Mayotte, Pemba, Reunion, Rodrigues , Seychelles, Tromelin, Zanzibar. And finally, just a few southern islands that are located south of Madagascar: Amsterdam, Crozet, Heard, Macdonald, Kerguelen, Prince Edward, Saint-Paul.

Madagascar - a unique island of the Indian Ocean

If we consider the largest islands of the Indian Ocean, we cannot help but pay attention to Madagascar, whose history begins from the moment it broke away from Africa, approximately a couple of hundred million years. It is the fourth largest among all the islands in the world. It contains an amazing variety of plants, animals and birds, most of which - about 80% - are unique. The huge forests found here attract researchers and scientists from all over the world.

Even the tropics of South America cannot compete with them in terms of biological diversity of flora. In these places you can even find creatures from the time of dinosaurs, for example chameleons, which have forty species. Take fifty more varieties of lemurs. Together they chose such wonderful trees as baobabs and thorny forest. Thanks to its stunning uniqueness, Madagascar makes itself considered the eighth continent.

Seychelles

If we take the largest islands of the Indian Ocean, then we can include the Seychelles, which became independent in 1976. They cover an area of 455 square kilometers, are divided into 23 districts, and are located 1,600 kilometers from Africa. Around them are the following and Mauritius - in the south, the Maldives - in the northeast and Comoros - in the southwest. There are about 80 thousand local residents here, most of them are of Chinese, Indian, Arab, African and French origin.

The native language is Creole, but English and French are also widely spoken. The Seychelles consists of 115 islands in the archipelago, of which 33 are inhabited. The climate here is maritime subtropical, the average annual temperature is 29 degrees, and there is a lot of rain in March and November. Most tourists come here for beach holidays, diving and natural sightseeing.

Mauritius - a holiday paradise

If we consider one single island in the Indian Ocean that is most suitable for a comfortable holiday, then you need to pay attention to Mauritius. The country of the same name is one of the richest in Africa, characterized by colonial French mansions, colorful Indian temples, croissants for breakfast and curries for lunch. Various religions and peoples coexist friendly here, and a successful multicultural society has been created.

The size of the island is small, you can go around it in one day, this is a top-class resort where excellent service is combined with enormous popularity. There is a wide range of beach holidays available, you can even go fishing for big fish.

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

Tropical Mauritius was once a favorite haven of pirates, and now the island attracts thousands of tourists every year with its luxury hotels and white beaches surrounded by volcanic mountains. This place is suitable not only for heat-loving couch potatoes, but also for curious 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, walk through the park with lions or swim with dolphins, or you can even test your strength by doing extreme sports - wind and kite surfing 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 weather sets in in the Northern Hemisphere, so the peak tourist season on the island is considered to be from October to April. However, at this time of year it is quite hot and humid and sometimes rainy. The best time to holiday in Mauritius is the local winter, which begins in the Southern Hemisphere in May.

Important: When we have summer, it is best to choose resorts on the northern and western coasts of Mauritius. Holidays on the East Coast will be more enjoyable when winter approaches the Northern Hemisphere.

Mauritius is very small, only 45x65 square meters. km, however, due to the unique landscape, the weather here is very changeable. You are unlikely to be able to quickly drive 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 taxi services or organized transfers.

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

WHERE TO STAY

Those who prefer privacy and silence on vacation will certainly like the Angsana Balaclava hotel, located on the northwestern coast of Mauritius in the Turtle Bay area. This five-star boutique hotel is surrounded by gardens where the island's birds sing their sweet songs, and its secluded beach is perfect for relaxing with sunshine during the day and spectacular sunsets in the evenings. The 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 best hotels on the southwest coast. It is especially memorable for guests due to the breathtaking views from the rooms of the picturesque beach and lagoon.

The Paradis resort is suitable for both lovers of a relaxing holiday (there are several restaurants, a spa center of a famous cosmetic brand, the largest fitness center in Mauritius, its own international golf course and golf academy), and for those who prefer an active holiday and enjoys water sports. On the beach, hotel guests can use any equipment for free, including snorkel masks and windsurfing equipment. A separate fee will be asked only for the services of a personal instructor. By the way, this very hotel hosts the Kite Jam Festival, which every year brings together professionals and amateurs of wind and kitesurfing from all over the world. The festival includes amateur competitions, master classes from world champions and the best athletes on the planet, 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: A visa for up to 60 days is issued upon arrival. To do this, at 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 flight option is with Air France to Paris with a transfer to an Air Mauritius flight. Travel time including connections is about 16 hours. The price of a round-trip ticket is from 49 thousand rubles.

Madagascar is the largest island of the Indian Ocean, one of the poorest countries in the world, but it is also 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 planet.

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

Here you can see 70 species of lemurs and chameleons and even watch humpback whales. The best time to see whale migration is from June to September, but they appear in east coast waters year-round.

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

As a rule, travelers go to Madagascar to see the jungle, wild animals, take part in safaris 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 the tiny island near Madagascar - Nosy Be.

The north of the country is very fond of divers all over the world, including those from Russia. The long 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 tropical, in the interior it is closer to subtropical, and in the south it is dry (arid), with high air temperatures experiencing large daily fluctuations and with negligible amounts of precipitation. 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 established from May to October (+20 + 24 ° C).

WHERE TO STAY

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

Timezone: Madagascar time is an hour behind Moscow.

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 air 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.

The 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. Breathtakingly secluded beaches, unique nature and climate make the islands perhaps the most idyllic tourist destination in the world.

The Seychelles is one of the few resort areas where you can simply pick up and fly away 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 on the islands becomes more frequent, which subsides only by mid-March, but it cannot be called abundant and essentially they do not interfere with tourists' recreation.

The warmest and calmest weather occurs 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.

The period from October to April is the best time for fishing enthusiasts, and from April to October is the season for observing exotic birds. It is during these months that they reproduce, nurse their offspring and migrate to other regions. 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 bustle of Mahe, but it’s 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 tropical species plants. The surrounding area of Mahe Island has 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 big-nosed sharks, stingrays, sea urchins, and 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 the 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. Banyan Tree has 60 villas, each with its own swimming pool.

This resort is located in a quiet location, away from anything that might disturb you during your holiday. This sometimes makes guests think that they are on a desert island, where someone invisible provides round-the-clock comfort. There are no entertainment venues or significant tourist sites nearby, 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.

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 require a visa. It is placed at the border when entering the country.

How to get there: You can fly from Moscow to the Seychelles on Emirates airlines with a transfer at your home airport (Dubai). Travel time including connections is 12.5 hours. Ticket price – from 30 thousand rubles.

The Maldives is made up of 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, then the main thing you need to remember is that each of the Maldives resorts is located on its own island, the size of the islands varies from 2.5 km to 150 m (from coast to coast). This means that all resort facilities (restaurants, bars, sports facilities, etc.) will be the only entertainment during your stay in the Maldives. Therefore, their infrastructure needs to be carefully studied in advance, so as not to fall into deep despondency on your 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 feet and admire the colorful 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 occurs in 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 living in the Indian Ocean. Surfers (both advanced and beginners) also enjoy coming here to spend an invigorating holiday cutting through the waves on a board. Those who like 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 traditional style villas. Guests can choose a house in the garden, on the shore or on stilts directly over the water. Vacationers have access to several restaurants, an outdoor swimming pool, a gym, a children's club, a beauty salon and a spa center, which offers various face and body care programs, scrubs, wraps, as well as massage and stone therapy. The territory has tennis and badminton courts, a small golf course, as well as everything you need for snorkeling, diving, windsurfing and fishing.

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

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

Visa: For Russian citizens, a visa is not required in advance if the tourist flies into the country for a period of no more than 30 days. It is placed at the border upon entry into the country, for which you will need a valid passport and a dated return ticket.

How to get there: International flights arrive at Hulhule Airport, which is located next to the capital island of Male. Flights to the Maldives are regularly carried out 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, Aeroflot opens a direct flight to Male. Travel time is about 9 hours. The cost of the flight is from 49 thousand rubles.

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

The developed tourism infrastructure in Sri Lanka provides vacationers with excellent opportunities for recreation for every taste: from “doing nothing” on the beaches and self-care in local spas to observing wildlife, practicing extreme sports and pilgrimages to ancient cities.

The climate in Sri Lanka is equatorial. It is warm and humid all year round, with the rainy season occurring 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 state is noisy, crazy Colombo. Tourists come here to see the main attractions: admire colonial buildings, mosques, churches, Buddhist and Hindu temples, see the Presidential Residence (or Queen's House), visit the National Museum and Art Gallery. There is also a wonderful zoo in Colombo, where tourists try to go to the elephant show.

The beaches of the island are very popular among tourists. Moreover, Sri Lanka is gaining increasing popularity among those who love active water sports. Surfers managed to fall in love with Arugam Bay, a place 314 km from Colombo, on the southeastern coast of Ceylon, which was included in the honorary list of the ten best surf beaches in the world. Arugam Bay is popular among beginners, and for experienced athletes, the point of attraction has become the west coast, where you can catch impressive waves. 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.

Thanks to the varied topography of the island, Ceylon has excellent conditions for rafting, the now fashionable hiking and mountain biking.

Wildlife lovers come to Sri Lanka to watch the 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 eggs.

WHERE TO STAY

The most famous beach resort in Sri Lanka is the town of Bentota and its surroundings. This is where the largest number of hotels are located, offering accommodation for every taste. However, the hotels are located at a considerable distance from each other, so tourists can enjoy a relaxing holiday.

A beautiful secluded hotel in Benote - Saman Villas, which is located on a small rocky hill, right on the ocean. It is quiet and cozy 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 in 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 among divers and surfers, who are known to be not too fussy, so there are mainly inexpensive hotels and apartments here.

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

Timezone: Sri Lanka time is 1.5 hours ahead of Moscow.

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: Flights to Colombo are carried out by Etihad (with a transfer in Abu Dhabi), Emirates (with a transfer 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

Indian Ocean Islands

Inaccessible, specialized and generally popular

Let's start by taking a list of all archipelagos and individual islands in the Indian Ocean and working on it using the elimination method.

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 unless you are a member of the US or British army. The islands of Basa da India, Europa, Juan de Nova and Glorioso are of strategic importance, although the area is comparable to not the largest apartments. Controlled by France. Disputed by Madagascar. Don't get in, and there's no reason to.

Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Christmas Island, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Ashmore and Cartier Islands - all these so-called external Australian territories are not mass tourism destinations.

Tourism in the Cocos Islands is just beginning (so, to dine at a local restaurant, you need to apply at lunchtime - how else will the chef know how many people to cook for?). Christmas Island is famous for the seasonal migration of red crabs - apart from observing these creatures, there is nothing to do on the island. An ordinary tourist simply has no chance of getting to the other islands listed above.

Reunion is highly praised by lovers of wildlife and diving, 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 beach holidays.

The high season for diving on the 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) are the main reasons people go to the Yemeni island of Socotra.

Bahrain (high season from November to March, it is preferable to avoid travel during the holy month of Ramadan) is a beach destination without an abundance of attractions.

The Tanzanian archipelago of Zanzibar, formerly the Spice Islands, has fantastic beaches, diving, some not-so-impressive ruins and a few colonial-style buildings. And also monkeys (red colobus monkeys) and, of course, spices.

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

Seychelles and Maldives have a lot in common. Both countries have long mastered 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 the price category from average and above, sometimes much higher.

The Maldives has approximately 1,200 islands, of which about 200 are inhabited, including about 70 allocated for tourists (no one lives on these islands except service personnel). 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 folk villages, and in the capital of the archipelago, Male, two worlds - local and tourist - freely intersect.

There are 115 islands in the Seychelles archipelago. The best beaches are Beau Vallon and several other beaches on the island of Mahe. The beach at the Silver Spring on the island of La Digue, published in tourist literature, is beautiful, but unsuitable for swimming.

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

It is logical that in island countries seafood traditionally occupies an important place in the cuisine.

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

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

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

In Madagascar, it seems that 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.

The Comoros Islands 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, and there are also restaurants offering dishes from almost any cuisine of the world.

The islands of the Indian Ocean vary greatly in their attitudes towards alcoholic beverages. In the Maldives, the import of alcoholic beverages into the country, including beer, is prohibited (they are confiscated right at the airport), although in tourist bars and restaurants all this can be bought, only at an inflated price (from $3 for a can of beer). By the way, there are no non-tourist bars. Local residents do not drink alcohol, and even Indians usually work as bartenders in hotels. During Ramadan, foreigners are not allowed to drink alcohol outside hotels to avoid offending 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 Bahrain, the sale of alcohol is limited primarily to hotel restaurants, and the national parliament recently discussed the possibility of a complete ban on alcohol in the country.

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 period is the Christmas and New Year holidays). The southwest monsoon, which dominates the rest of the year, is a time of cloudy and stormy weather, which, however, is good for surfers. Divers can come to the Maldives all year round; you can simply dive on the east coast of any atoll during the dry season, and on the west coast during the rainy season. Those wishing to come during the month of Ramadan should come to terms with the fact that institutions, shops, and restaurants may be closed or have shortened working hours.

On the island of 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, maybe not. The rest of the time the rainy season lasts: hot, humid and wet - it is not surprising that the island is in low season.

The weather in Madagascar depends on both the season and the region of the country. Madagascar has two seasons and five climate zones. On the high plateau in the center of the island it is never very hot, and in July the temperature at night can drop almost to zero; in January-March it rains heavily. In the west of the island it is almost always hot, 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), from November to April it rains, and from January to March cyclones occur, 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 clients and falls on the Christmas and New Year holidays, as well as July-August.

The worst time to visit Zanzibar is during the long rainy season (April-May) and the short rainy season (November-December). Moreover, 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 in December - very heavy. The islands are warm all year round, with the center of the islands usually cooler than the coast.

Visas

Russian citizens do not require 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 apply for a tourist visa for up to 90 days upon arrival at the airport.

When traveling to the Comoros Islands, 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 the French overseas territories (DOM/TOM), the registration of which requires additional time and hassle.

To fly from mainland India to the Andaman Islands, you do not need an additional visa, but you do need permission to visit the territory, which, from a tourist’s point of view, is not much different from a visa on arrival.

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

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

Mauritius. A visa valid for 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. In this case, 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 price. The fact that most of the island states listed above do not impose visa barriers on visitors makes it possible, when considering a trip, to view special offers from airlines, hotels and travel agencies.

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

MAURITIUS

Important: When we have summer, it is best to choose resorts on the northern and western coasts of Mauritius. Holidays on the East Coast will be more enjoyable when winter approaches the Northern Hemisphere.

Where to stay

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

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: Visa for up to 60 days is issued upon arrival. To do this, at 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 connections is about 16 hours. The price of a round-trip ticket is from 49 thousand rubles.

MADAGASCAR

Here you can see 70 species of lemurs and chameleons and even watch humpback whales. The best time to see whale migration is from June to September, but they appear in east coast waters year-round.

Where to stay

Time zone: Madagascar time is one hour behind Moscow.

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 air ticket.

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

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 the 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. Banyan Tree has 60 villas, each with its own swimming pool.

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 require a visa. It is placed at the border when entering the country.

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

MALDIVES

Where to stay

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

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

Visa: Russian citizens do not need to apply for a visa in advance if the tourist flies into the country for a period of no more than 30 days. It is placed at the border upon entry into the country, for which you will need a valid passport and a dated return ticket.

How to get there: International flights arrive at Hulhule Airport, which is located next to the capital island of Male. Flights to the Maldives are regularly carried out 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, Aeroflot opens a direct flight to Male. Travel time is about 9 hours. The cost of the flight is from 49 thousand rubles.

O. CEYLON

Thanks to the varied topography of the island, Ceylon has excellent conditions for rafting, the now fashionable hiking and mountain biking.

Where to stay

The small village of Hikkaduwa is popular among divers and surfers, who are known to be not too fussy, so there are mainly inexpensive hotels and apartments here.

You can snorkel and swim in the calm waters, which are protected from the waves by a coral ridge, at the Trincomalee resort, 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 transfer in Abu Dhabi), Emirates (with a transfer in Dubai), as well as Aeroflot. Travel time is about 10 hours. The cost of a round-trip ticket is from 25 thousand rubles.

The Indian Ocean is an integral part of the world ocean. Its maximum depth is 7729 m (Sunda Trench), and its average depth is just over 3700 m, which is second only to the depths of the 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 light blue in color and have 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 levels of other oceans.

Location of the Indian Ocean

Most of the Indian Ocean is in the Southern Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by Asia, to the south by Antarctica, to the east by Australia and to the west by the African continent. 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 bays of the Indian Ocean

The Indian Ocean does not have as many seas as other oceans. For example, in comparison with the Atlantic Ocean there are 3 times less of them. Most of the seas are located in its northern part. In the tropical zone there are: the Red Sea (the saltiest sea on Earth), the Laccadive Sea, the Arabian Sea, the Arafura Sea, the Timor Sea and the Andaman Sea. The Antarctic zone is home to the D'Urville Sea, the Commonwealth Sea, the Davis Sea, the Riiser-Larsen Sea, and the Cosmonaut Sea.

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

Indian Ocean Islands

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

The 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 species. The coastal zone in the tropics is replete with numerous colonies of crabs and unique fish - mudskippers. Corals live in shallow waters, and in temperate waters a variety of algae grow - calcareous, brown, red.

The Indian Ocean is home to dozens of species of crustaceans, mollusks and jellyfish. A fairly large number of sea snakes also live in ocean waters, among which there are poisonous species.

The special pride of the Indian Ocean is sharks. Its waters are plied by many species of these predators, namely tiger, mako, gray, blue, great white shark, etc.

Mammals are represented by killer whales and dolphins. The southern part of the ocean is home to several species of pinnipeds (fur seals, dugongs, seals) and whales.

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

1. The ancient name of the Indian Ocean is Eastern.

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 - the Tarbon, the 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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