Whether a couple seeking romance and relaxation or a family needing excitement and entertainment, whatever your ‘must-have’, we’d wager that the Indian Ocean has it, and a whole lot more.
When you think of the Indian Ocean thoughts immediately turn to white sand, turquoise lagoons and exotic cuisine that combines tropical fruits with freshly caught fish. The clichés are a wonderful reality, but there is in fact much, much more to the Indian Ocean’s appeal. From the Maldives to Mauritius, the Seychelles to Sri Lanka or Mozambique to Madagascar, the Indian Ocean has an underwater paradise, wildlife cruises, exotic flora and fauna and bare foot luxury in abundance.
Regarded as the perfect honeymoon destination the Maldives an archipelago of nearly 1200 coral islands grouped into 26 coral atolls is a tropical paradise of pristine beaches lying south-southwest of India is the jewel in the Indian Oceans crown. Renowned for its incredible diving opportunities the underwater world of the idyllic blue waters that surround the Maldives is home to a dazzling array of tropical fish, manta rays, dolphins, coral reef and turtles.
When to Travel - It is hard to beat a Christmas present of the Maldives in your stocking, because December to March are the best times to visit to avoid monsoons. For divers you will see marine marvels such as whale sharks between January and April. If you want to head here later in the year, April until November will be showery, with the worst of the south-westerly monsoons hitting in July and August.
Mauritius is a paradisiacal playground, home to some of the world’s finest hotels, as well as championship golfing courses, a host of water sports such as big game fishing, scuba diving, snorkelling and kite surfing to name a few as well as trekking throughout the islands lush forest, it is little wonder that Mark Twain deemed this the prototype on which paradise was fashioned.
Away from the fun & games, Mauritius offers some stunning natural attractions, the Tamarin Falls also known as the 7 cascades is a stunning a cascading waterfall and the Black RiverGorges the largest protected forest in Mauritius home to over 300 species of native and endemic flowering plants and 9 species of birds, which are found only in Mauritius.
When to travel - The best time to go to Mauritius is from May until October during this islands winter months during the months of November - April the weather is basking, baking and sweaty.
Made up of 115 glittering islands the Seychelles is an island on most honeymooners’ lists. Home to some of most beautiful beaches in the world with talcum-powder beaches and iridescent blue waters has plenty to offer for those looking for an indulgent travel experience.
When to travel - It is hard to imagine that there could be a bad time to visit the Seychelles, but you might struggle to see shells in the Seychelles between May and October, due to the seaweed factor on the south coasts of Mahé and Praslin Island. December to March is the rainy season, but the rest of the year is pretty much ‘a died and gone to heaven’ beach bliss experience.
It may be small but Sri Lanka packs a punch! With exquisite temples, fragrant spice gardens, rolling tea plantations, rich wildlife, colourful markets and great beaches it is little wonder that a holiday in Sri Lanka is a cultural and historic experience like no other.
From the ruins of Polonnaruwa an ancient and culturally opulent city to Sigiriya one of Sri Lanka’s most iconic sites to the elaborate shrines of Kandy a Buddhist relic in the Sacred Temple of the Tooth, Sri Lanka is full of irresistible treasures.
When to travel - There are lots of reasons to go to Sri Lanka apart from the ocean, but for beach lovers there is a north south divide, with two separate monsoons. The stunning beaches of the northeast have their monsoon October to January meaning that the European summer months of July, August and September are perfect here. If you are heading to the south west beaches, stay clear of SW monsoon May to July with sunbathing at its best December to April.
The island of lemurs’ Madagascar showcases the very best of our wild, weird but oh so wonderful world. Nickname “the eighth continent” Madagascar is home to thousands of plant and animal species found nowhere else in the world. Located off the eastern coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean Madagascar is an island of incredible diversity.
When to travel - It’s a big island, and so the climate varies greatly, but for those seeking the Indian Ocean way of life it is usually the north coast beaches that appeal. On the north coast, you are generally talking hot and humid. It can get pretty wet in January, February and March, with cyclones hitting in February. Dry, sunny gorgeousness kicks in for sure around April and May.