Which island is located in the Indian Ocean. Indian Ocean description, interesting facts. Geological structure of the bottom and the most important features of the relief
Today we will look at the islands Indian Ocean. After all, it is the third largest body of water in the world. In his 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. Indian Ocean islands with volcanic origin, in turn, are divided into islands of the open ocean and islands of the transition zone. 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
Most important feature This part of the earth's water bodies are 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 coral islands of the Indian Ocean 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 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, which 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 largest islands Indian Ocean, then one 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 cannot compete with them in terms of biological diversity of flora. South America. 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 you take largest islands Indian Ocean, these 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. Seychelles consist of 115 islands in the archipelago, of which 33 are inhabited. The climate here is maritime subtropical, the average annual temperature is 29 degrees, 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, it’s a resort top class, where excellent service is combined with enormous popularity. All in stock wide range beach holiday, you can even go fishing for big fish.
Often a person choosing a route tourist trip, has no preference regarding a specific country. He will be quite happy with, for example, any tropical island, but it must have: sea, sun, beaches, beautiful nature, fishing, diving, luxurious service, good food, beer (cross out what is not necessary). Let's try to consider what options for holiday islands are available in the Indian Ocean.
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 have 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 destinations mass tourism. Tourism is just beginning Cocos Islands(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. The French Southern and Antarctic territories already by their name hint at what can be expected there - an icy desert. French polar explorers and individual tourists come here during expensive Antarctic eco-cruises.
In Sri Lanka, a bloody conflict between government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam recently ended. For security reasons, you should not go to the territory controlled by the Tigers, although, incidentally, tourists did not particularly go there before.
Madagascar is popular among wildlife lovers, who sometimes call the island Lemuria - in honor of the animals that live in abundance on this island. Beach holiday on the island is also very good. Some islands are interesting only to divers, and people indifferent to underwater world, it will be difficult to occupy yourself in the surface world. This is, for example, french island Mayotte (Maore). On the independent Comoros Islands, which are part of the same archipelago, diving is also in first place, but you can also see flying foxes, lemurs (not as many and not as easy as in Madagascar), sea turtles, and humpback whales.
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. High season for diving Indian islands lasts from mid-November to May.
Wildlife and diving (high quality, high prices, poor infrastructure, 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, preferably avoid traveling during the holy month of Ramadan) - beach place, does not suffer from an excess 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 big list related tourist 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.
IN Seychelles archipelago- 115 islands. The best beaches are Beau Vallon and several other beaches on the island of Mahe. The beach at Silver Spring on the island of La Digue 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.
Have a snack and drink
It is logical that in island states Seafood traditionally occupies an important place in 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- a kind of hybrid of European, Indian and Arabic.
In Madagascar, they seem to be 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 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. Locals they do not drink alcohol, and even Indians usually work as bartenders in hotels. During Ramadan, foreigners are not allowed to drink alcoholic beverages outside hotels to avoid offending 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 traders. The goods are sold in opaque black bags - so as not to offend indigenous people. There are no restrictions on alcoholic drinks in Phuket. Popular alcoholic drinks in Madagascar include local Three Horses Beer, coconut liqueur and homemade rum. In Muslim Zanzibar, alcohol is prohibited in many hotels and restaurants, although this does not depend on the price category of the hotel.
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). Southwest monsoon, dominant during the rest of the year year, - time cloudy and stormy weather, which, however, is good for surfers. Divers can come to the Maldives all year round, you can just dive in the dry season east coast any atoll, and in the rainy season - in the western one. 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°С), from November to April it rains, while 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 season with guaranteed good weather in the Seychelles is March-April and October-November. At this time, most often it is not hot and windless. From December to February, and especially in January, short heavy rains occur periodically. In May-September, strong winds make staying on many beaches of the archipelago uncomfortable. Prices reach their peak during the Christmas and New Year holidays summer holidays in Europe.
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 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.
For flights from mainland India to Andaman Islands an additional visa is not required, but 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.
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.
January 23rd, 2012
In this post I decided to do general overview on the islands of the Indian Ocean. All the main islands in one place.
We will talk about Madagascar, Seychelles, Mauritius, Maldives and Sri Lanka. And a lot of photos.
The history of Madagascar goes back a couple of hundred million years and begins from the moment when the island broke away from the African continent. The island does not have typical African fauna. Except bats, capable of crossing the water obstacle between the island and the continent, there is not a single species of mammal that could be seen in any other place. As the fourth largest island in the world, Madagascar is home to an amazing diversity of animals and plants, eighty percent of which are unique, including birds.
Madagascar's vast rainforests, like El Dorado, attract scientists and researchers from all over the world. Even the great rainforests of South America cannot compete with the enormous biodiversity of flora that creates a unique habitat for some refugees from the time of the dinosaurs, such as chameleons. 40 different types which, together with fifty species of lemurs, are home to wonderful tree species such as thorny forest and baobabs.
The stunning uniqueness of this island makes it considered the eighth continent. Madagascar's diverse peoples, its unexplored coral reefs and other attractions provide a constant stream of visitors seeking to wander off the beaten path of the vast national parks, among rare and endangered species, friendly locals and spectacular marine life with moonlit paths on the ocean surface.
Seychelles
After a long struggle over the islands between France and Great Britain, ending in 1814, independence came in 1976. The first democratically elected 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 the Maldives in the northeast.
Eighty thousand of the Islands' inhabitants are of French, African, Arab, Indian and Chinese descent. The native language of the vast majority of the population is Creole, 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 the group of granite islands around Mahe, on which the capital, Victoria, is located. The 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 have a subtropical maritime climate, with average annual temperature 29 degrees Celsius and a large number rains in March and November. The cool season of the southeast monsoon occurs from late May to September, while the northwest monsoon brings warmth from March to May. Since most of the island lies outside the cyclone belt, severe storms are rare.
The main vacation 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 Africa's richest countries and a successful multicultural society, where the friendly coexistence of peoples and religions is expressed in croissants for breakfast and curries 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 covered in less than a day, it has a wonderful reputation as a resort where the highest service and value for money 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 activities, from diving and snorkeling to big fish fishing.
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. Temperatures in late summer are moderate.
The Maldives is synonymous with luxury, romance and tropical serenity. Scattered specks of low coral islands in the Indian Ocean; a paradise for lovers of diving and sunbathing.
Twenty-six natural atolls and a thousand islands, with perfect white sandy beaches in lagoons washed by 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 on the market is concentrated in the luxury segment, which means the Maldives is home to several best hotels in the world.
So now is the time good time to visit this country, which is in a frenzy of development. New resorts, boutiques of the world's leading brands and wonderful environmentally friendly hotels open here every month. This resort isn't cheap by any stretch of the imagination, but if you're looking for adventure with breathtaking natural views and absolute beauty that will stay with you long after your wonderful tan has faded, then it's worth it.
The island's ocean coast, lined with delicate golden sandy beaches, is now recovering from the devastating tsunami of 2004. Taking a closer look, we will find artificial reservoirs built by the first rulers of Singapore around ancient city Anuradhapura. In this land of hills, clouds often limit a traveler's view from exploring waterfalls and tea plantations.
In the northwest, a web of natural earthen bridges almost connects fragile Sri Lanka with modern giant India. Two and a half decades civil war extend this bridge to Tamil Nadu, both geographically and culturally.
Regardless of your national and cultural background: Senegalese, Tamil or Muslim, the locals will be very friendly and hospitable to you. And they will proudly present you with their criminally underrated cuisine, national parks wildlife and especially their national cricket teams.
The climate on the island is tropical, with summer season monsoon, during which 95 percent of the annual precipitation falls. Therefore, during the winter months, from November to April, the weather is quite dry and, in general, this is the best season for travelers.
Hit by war and the effects of the global financial crisis, the Sri Lankan population spent the next few years working hard to rebuild its tourism infrastructure. And at the moment, Sri Lanka is a fusion of ancient history, culture and modern scenery of a developed tourism business.
A noteworthy feature of Sri Lanka is diving not only among exotic inhabitants depths of the sea, as well as visiting grottoes, underwater rocks and sunken ships.
That's all. Thank you for reading us.
I made a little plan for the reports. Read soon:
- Trip to Sri Lanka. Personal experience.
- Neuschwanstein Castle
- PortAventura amusement park in Spain
- European and Scandinavian ferries
- Lithuania, Klaipeda and the Baltic Sea
Indian Ocean- the warmest ocean on our planet. Occupying a fifth of the Earth's surface, the Indian Ocean is not the largest ocean, but it has rich flora and fauna, as well as a lot of other advantages.
Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean occupies 20% of the entire globe. This ocean is characterized by rich and diverse natural life. 
shows vast territories and large number interesting islands for researchers and tourists. If you don't yet know where it is located Indian Ocean map will tell you.
Indian Ocean Current Map
The underwater world of the Indian Ocean
Rich and varied underwater world of the Indian Ocean. In it you can find both very small aquatic inhabitants and large and dangerous representatives of the aquatic world.
Since ancient times, man has been trying to subjugate the ocean and its inhabitants. In all centuries, hunting has been organized for the inhabitants of the underwater world of the Indian Ocean.
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There are even those that can cause trouble for a person. For example, these are sea anemones that live in almost all the seas and oceans of our planet. Sea anemones can be found not only in the depths, but also in the shallow waters of the Indian Ocean. They almost always feel hungry, so they sit hidden with their tentacles widely spaced. Predatory representatives of this species are poisonous. Their shot can hit small organisms and also cause burns in people. They live in the waters of the Indian Ocean sea urchins, seals, the most exotic species of fish. Flora varied, which makes diving truly exciting.
Fishes in the Indian Ocean
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. The French Southern and Antarctic territories already by their name hint at what can be expected there - an icy desert. French polar explorers and individual tourists come here during expensive Antarctic eco-cruises.
In Sri Lanka, a bloody conflict between government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam recently ended. For security reasons, you should not go to the territory controlled by the Tigers, although, incidentally, tourists did not particularly go there before.
Madagascar is popular among wildlife lovers, who sometimes call the island Lemuria - in honor of the animals that live in abundance on this island. Beach holidays on the island are also very good. Some islands are of interest only to divers, and people indifferent to the underwater world will find it difficult to occupy themselves in the surface world. This is, for example, the French island of Mayotte (Maore). On the independent Comoros Islands, which are part of the same archipelago, diving is also in first place, but you can still see flying foxes, lemurs (not as many and not as easy as in Madagascar), sea turtles, and humpback whales.
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 tourist 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.
Have a snack and drink
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, they seem to be 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 the Comoros, beer and wine are sold to foreigners by foreigners - Hindu and Chinese traders. The goods are sold in opaque black bags so as not to offend the indigenous population. There are no restrictions on alcoholic drinks in Phuket. Popular alcoholic drinks in Madagascar include local Three Horses Beer, coconut liqueur and homemade rum. In Muslim Zanzibar, alcohol is prohibited in many hotels and restaurants, although this does not depend on the price category of the hotel.
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, while 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 season with guaranteed good weather in the Seychelles is March-April and October-November. At this time, most often it is not hot and windless. From December to February, and especially in January, short heavy rains occur periodically. In May-September, strong winds make staying on many beaches of the archipelago uncomfortable. Prices reach their peak during the Christmas, New Year and summer holidays in Europe.
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.
