The Indian Ocean is the youngest and warmest of the world's oceans. Most of it is located in the southern hemisphere, and in the north it extends far into the mainland, which is why the ancient people considered it to be just a large sea. It was here, in the Indian Ocean, that man began his first sea voyages.

The largest rivers flow here: the Ganges, Tigris, Euphrates, Limpopo, etc. Because of them, the water off the coast of the ocean is muddy, with a high content of sedimentary rocks - sand, silt and clay. But the open ocean waters are strikingly clear. The tropical islands of the Indian Ocean are renowned for their cleanliness. A variety of animals have found their place on coral reefs. The Indian Ocean is home to the famous sea devils, rare whale sharks, bigmouths, sea cows, sea snakes, etc.

Often a person choosing a route tourist trip, has no country-specific preference. For example, any tropical island will be fine with him, but it must be there: sea, sun, beaches, beautiful nature, fishing, diving, luxury service, good food, beer (cross out 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 working on it by elimination.

For example, the British Indian Ocean Territory (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, Europa, Juan de Nova and Glorioso are strategically important, although in terms of area they are comparable to not the largest apartments. Controlled by France. Contested by Madagascar. Not to get in, and there is no need.

Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Christmas Island, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Ashmore and Cartier Islands - all these so-called Outer Australian Territories do not belong to destinations mass tourism... Tourism is just emerging on Cocos islands(so, to dine at a local restaurant, you must submit an application at lunchtime - how else will the chef know how many people to cook for him?). Christmas Island is famous for the seasonal migration of red crabs - apart from observing these creatures, there is nothing to do on the island.

To the rest of the islands listed above, a simple tourist simply has no chance to get there. The French Southern and Antarctic Territories, by their very name, hint at what to expect there - an icy desert. French polar explorers get here and individual tourists on 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, it is not worth going to the territory controlled by the "Tigers", although, however, tourists have not traveled there much before.

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

Reunion is highly praised by lovers of wildlife and diving, but they warn that the island should not be considered as a separate destination, but combined with a visit to Madagascar. A fairly common practice is to combine the Comoros and Madagascar into one route. Of the Indian Ocean islands, which are the territory of India, Lakshadweep is a purely diving destination, while the Andaman and Nicobar Islands also offer beach vacations. The high season for diving in the 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 reason for going 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) is a beach destination that does not suffer from an abundance of attractions.

Tanzanian Archipelago Zanzibar, former Islands spices are fantastic beaches, diving, not the most impressive ruins, and a few colonial-style buildings. And also monkeys (red colobus) and, of course, spices.

Located almost at the opposite end of the ocean, Thai Phuket is similar to Pattaya with its Europeanization, but it can boast of not the worst diving.

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 of this in the price range from average to higher, 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.

The Seychelles archipelago has 115 islands. The best beaches- Beau Vallon and several other beaches on the island of Mahe. The beach at the Silver Spring on the island, spread by tourist literature, is beautiful, but unsuitable for swimming.

List of Pacific Islands described on our website:
(no islands have been described at the moment)

List of Pacific Islands

A
Agalega
Adam's bridge
Aldabra
Aldabra (group of islands)
Amirant Islands
Amsterdam (island, Indian Ocean)
Andaman islands
Ashmore and Cartier Islands

B
Bangaram
Banyak
Barren (Andaman Islands)
Barrow (island)
Batu (islands)
Bald Island
Greater Sunda Islands
Big Andaman

V
Wai (island)
External Seychelles

D
De Witt (island)
Denis (island)
Geely Motang

Z
Sunda Island Arc
Sunda Islands

AND
Interview (island)

TO
Kar-Nikobar
Kargados Carajos
Catchall
Kerguelen (archipelago)
Komodo
Crozet Islands
Curia-Muria

L
Langkawi
Louise (island, Tasmania)

M
Mauritius (island)
Madagascar (island)
Madura
Lesser Sunda Islands
Small Andaman
Small Nicobar
Manda (island)
Maria Louise Island
Matsiker (island)
Mafia (island)

N
Nankauri
Narcondam
Nias
Nicobar islands
Nosy Be

O
Prince Edward Islands

P
Pathé (island)
Pemba (island)
Perim
Penang (island)
Pipi (islands)
Poda (island)
Phi Phi Le
Phuket

R
Rinka
Rowley's Reefs
Christmas Island (Australia)
Rottnest

WITH
North Andaman
Seychelles (inland)
Saint-Paul (island)
Shimolue (island)
Similan
Middle Andaman
Sumba (Indonesia)
Sumbawa

T
Tapu
Teressa
Tumbatu

F
Flores (island)

X
Heard Island and McDonald Islands

Sh
Sri Lanka (island)

All this becomes a reality for tourists coming to the resorts of the Indian Ocean.

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

Mauritius

Tropical Mauritius was once a favorite haven for pirates, and now the island attracts thousands of tourists every year with its luxury hotels and white beaches surrounded by mountains of volcanic origin. This place is suitable not only for warm-loving sloths, 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 find rare birds, walk in the park with lions or swim with dolphins, or you can even test your strength by taking up extreme sports - wind and kitesfring are very popular on the island.

Mauritius is located only 20 degrees south of the equator, so the temperature here does not drop 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 travel to Mauritius is the local winter, which begins in the Southern Hemisphere in May.

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 time of the British colonial era. Therefore, tourists are better off using 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 of the hotels and entertainment venues are concentrated. The West Coast is the most expensive and prestigious: those who are used to rest in the most luxurious hotels and want to sunbathe on the most beautiful beaches with white sand. The greenest, wildest and most interesting part of the island is its south.

Where to stay

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

Paradis Resort is suitable for both lovers of a relaxing holiday (here they offer several restaurants, a spa center of a famous cosmetic brand, the largest fitness center in Mauritius, its own international golf course and a golf academy), as well as for those who prefer leisure and is engaged aquatic species sports. On the beach, hotel guests have free use of any equipment, including snorkel masks and windsurfing equipment. A separate fee will be asked only for the services of a personal instructor. By the way, it is this hotel that hosts the Kite Jam Festival, which every year brings together professionals and amateurs of wind and kitesurfing 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 a jet lag is after you return 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 for a flight with Air France to Paris with a transfer Air Mauritius. Travel time, taking into account the connection, is about 16 hours. The price of a round-trip ticket is from 49 thousand rubles.

Madagascar

Madagascar - largest island Indian Ocean, one of the poorest countries in the world, but 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 world.

Baobabs grow ubiquitous in Madagascar. In some areas, impressive rows of gigantic trees are built, in the crowns of which an African sun pancake is beautifully "stuck" during sunset, giving tourists the opportunity to take pictures 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 they appear in the waters of the east coast all year round.

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 excursions for tourists are arranged.

Typically, travelers go to Madagascar to see the jungle, wildlife, take part in a safari or hike in an adapted and safe tourist routes, which are complemented by several days of relaxation on the coast. The most popular recreation areas for foreign tourists are the resorts of the Anacao Peninsula and the beaches of a tiny island near Madagascar - Nosy Be.

The north of the country is very fond of divers from 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 the tropics, in the depth it is closer to the subtropical, and in the south it is dry (arid), with high air temperatures, experiencing large daily fluctuations and with negligible rainfall. The island has two distinct seasons. The hot and humid season - Madagascar summer - lasts from November to April, the air temperature in these months is + 25 + 27 ° С, the cooler dry season is set from May to October (+ 20 + 24 ° С).

Where to stay

One of the best hotels in the popular resort island of Nosy Be - Ravintsara Wellness Hotel... "Fantastic vacation", "royal vacation", "heaven on earth" - these are the reviews of tourists that Ravintsara was awarded for the beautiful and spacious bungalows on the coast, green gardens around, excellent service and exquisite cuisine. The hotel also offers entertainment for all tastes: boat trips, ATV trips. Accommodation cost - from $ 300 per day.

	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 ticket.
	How to get there: you can get to the largest Madagascar airport Antananarivo from Moscow via Paris (Air France). Flight time is 14 hours, excluding connection. The ticket price is 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 the 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 take and fly at any time of the year, without worrying about seasonal changes in the weather. The climate here is quite stable throughout the year, the average air temperature on the islands is + 26 + 30 ° C. During the peak season (December-January), precipitation is 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 most windless weather is set in April-May and October-November. During this period on the islands ideal conditions for swimming, snorkeling and diving: the water temperature reaches + 29º C, and the visibility often exceeds 30 meters.

Period from October to April - 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 reproduce, nurture 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, where 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 is worth staying here at least to explore the colonial architecture of the capital of the Seychelles - the city of Victoria, or to visit the botanical garden, which contains dozens of tropical species. 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 long-nosed sharks, rays, sea ​​urchins, sea turtles.

Each island of the archipelago has its own atmosphere, and if you do not want the noise of Mahe at all, then you can go to the small islets, where complete calmness and silence reigns.

Where to stay

One of best hotels Mahe - 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 has a quiet location, away from anything that might disturb you during your vacation. 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 nearby and no significant tourist places, therefore, it is chosen by those who are going to enjoy their vacation far from civilization. The cost of renting a villa is from $ 1200 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 when entering the country.
	How to get there: you can fly from Moscow to the Seychelles by air Emirates airlines with a transfer at the home airport (Dubai). Travel time including connection is 12.5 hours. The ticket price is 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 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 Maldivian resorts is located 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 the facilities in the resort (restaurants, bars, sports facilities, etc.) will be the only entertainment during your stay in the Maldives. Therefore, their infrastructure must be carefully studied in advance so as not to fall into deep despondency on a long-awaited vacation. In general, there are offers for tourists for all tastes: from affordable bungalows adjacent to the rental of equipment for diving, to secluded luxury villas on stilts in the sea, from the terrace of which you can dangle your legs and admire the colored fish swimming in the water.

The Maldives archipelago is located almost at 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 marks.

Most of the activities in the Maldives are centered around water entertainment... 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 athletes and beginners alike) are also happy to come here for an invigorating vacation, breaking 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 in the large and very picturesque Addu Atoll, on the island of Villingili. Shangri-La offers accommodation in fully equipped traditional style villas. Guests can choose a house in the garden, on the beach 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, where they offer various programs for face and body care, scrubs, body wraps, as well as massage and stone therapy. There are tennis and badminton courts, a small golf course, and everything you need for snorkeling, diving, windsurfing and fishing.

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

	Time zone: time in the Maldives is one hour ahead of Moscow time.
	Visa: Russian citizens do not need to apply for a visa in advance if the tourist arrives in the country for a period not exceeding 30 days. It is placed at the border when entering the country, which requires a valid passport and a date stamped return ticket.
	How to get there: international flights arrive at Hulule airport, which is located near 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 the 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 have truly unforgettable vacation in the kingdom of nature on the shores of the Indian Ocean.

The developed tourist infrastructure in Sri Lanka provides vacationers with excellent opportunities for recreation for all tastes: from "doing nothing" on the beaches and self-care 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 the rainy season in the 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 the bustling, crazy Colombo. Tourists come here to get acquainted with 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 the art gallery. There is also a wonderful zoo in Colombo, where tourists tend to get to the elephant show.

The beaches of the island are very popular among tourists. Moreover, Sri Lanka is gaining more and more popularity among those who love active sports water sports... Surfers have already chosen Arugam Bay - a place 314 km from Colombo, on the southeast coast of Ceylon, which is included in the honorable list of the ten best surf beaches in the world. Arugam Bay is popular with beginners, and 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 late September.

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

Wildlife enthusiasts come to Sri Lanka to watch whales and dolphins that appear in the waters near Mirissa. At certain times of the year, sea turtles can also be seen coming ashore to lay their eggs.

Where to stay

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

A beautiful secluded hotel in Benota - 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 air) pleases travelers who do not skimp on positive reviews. Tourists also celebrate the excellent cuisine at the hotel's restaurant and compliment the treatments at the local spa. The cost of living is about $ 300 per day.

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

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

	Time zone: time in Sri Lanka is 1.5 hours ahead of Moscow time.
	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: 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 focus on Madagascar, Seychelles, Mauritius, Maldives and Sri Lanka. And a lot of photos.

The history of Madagascar spans 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. Except for bats, which are able to cross the water obstacle between the island and the continent, there is not a single species of mammals that could 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 huge 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 enormous biological diversity of flora that 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, are home to wonderful tree species such as thorny forest and baobabs.

The stunning uniqueness of this island makes it the eighth continent. The diverse peoples of Madagascar, its unexplored coral reefs, along with other attractions, provide a constant influx 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 moon paths on the ocean surface.

Seychelles

After a long struggle for 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.

The 455 square kilometers of the Republic of Seychelles, divided into 23 administrative regions, lie in the Indian Ocean, 1,600 kilometers from Africa and northeast of Madagascar. Surrounded by other islands: Mauritius and Reunion in the south, the Comoros in the southwest and the Maldives in the northeast.

The eighty thousand inhabitants of the Isles are of French, African, Arab, Indian and Chinese descent. Creole is the native language of the vast majority of the population, but French and English are also widely spoken.

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

The islands have a subtropical maritime climate, with an average annual temperature of 29 degrees Celsius and a lot of rain in March and November. The cool southeast monsoon season is between late May and September, while the northwest monsoons bring warmth from March to May. Since most of the island lies outside the cyclone belt violent storms rare.

The main direction of recreation on the islands is the beach, with visits to natural attractions and diving in the 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 curries for lunch, as well as vibrant Indian temples adjacent to French colonial mansions.

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

Mauritius hotels rightfully occupy high places in the ratings, and wonderful sandy beaches and lush tropical landscapes provide a full range of beach activities, from diving and snorkelling 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 are moderate in late summer.

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

Twenty-six natural atolls and a thousand islands, with perfect whites sandy beaches in lagoons washed by turquoise water with bath temperature. Tourism began to develop here relatively recently - from the 70s, but at the moment it is the most important industry in the Maldives. The main supply 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 in a development frenzy. New resorts, world leading brand boutiques and great eco-friendly hotels open every month. This resort isn't cheap anyway, but if you're looking for adventure amid breathtaking views and sheer beauty that stays with you long after your perfect tan is gone, then it's worth it.

The island's ocean coastline, edged with gentle golden sandy beaches, is now recovering from devastating tsunami in 2004. Taking a closer look, we will find artificial reservoirs built by the first rulers of Singapore around ancient city Anuradhapura. In this country of hills, clouds often limit the traveler's view from exploring waterfalls and tea plantations.

In the northwest, a spider web of natural earth bridges almost connects fragile Sri Lanka to today's giant India. Two and a half decades of civil war extend this bridge to Tamil Nadu, both geographically and culturally.

Regardless of nationality and culture: Senegalese, Tamil or Muslim, the locals will be very welcoming and hospitable to you. And proudly present their criminally underestimated cuisine to you, National parks wildlife and especially their national cricket teams.

The island has a tropical climate with a summer monsoon season that receives 95 percent of the annual rainfall. Therefore, during the winter months, from November to April, the weather is rather dry and, in general, this is the best season for travelers.

Affected by the war and the aftermath of the global financial crisis, the people of Sri Lanka spent the next few years in hard work to rebuild the tourism infrastructure. And at the moment, Sri Lanka is an alloy ancient history, culture and modern scenery of the developed tourism 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. Thank you for reading us.

I drew up a small outline of the reports. In the near future, read:
- A trip to Sri Lanka. Personal experience.
- Neuschwanstein Castle
- PortAventura amusement park in Spain
- European and Scandinavian ferries
- Lithuania, Klaipeda and the Baltic Sea

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 becomes a reality for tourists coming to the resorts of the Indian Ocean.

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

MAURITIUS

Tropical Mauritius was once a favorite haven for pirates, and now the island attracts thousands of tourists every year with its luxury hotels and white beaches surrounded by mountains of volcanic origin. This place is suitable not only for warm-loving sloths, 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 find rare birds, walk in the park with lions or swim with dolphins, or you can even test your strength by doing extreme sports - wind and kitesfring are very popular on the island.

Mauritius is located only 20 degrees south of the equator, so the temperature here does not drop 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 travel to 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 enjoyable when winter looms in 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 will hardly 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 time of the British colonial era. Therefore, tourists are better off using 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 of the hotels and entertainment venues are concentrated. The West Coast is the most expensive and prestigious: those who are used to rest in the most luxurious hotels and want to sunbathe on the most beautiful white sand beaches come here. The greenest, wildest and most interesting part of the island is its south.

Where to stay

The pearl of Mauritius is the 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 guests due to the breathtaking views from the rooms to the picturesque beach and lagoon.

Paradis Resort is suitable for both lovers of quiet relaxation (here they offer several restaurants, a spa center of a famous cosmetic brand, the largest fitness center in Mauritius, its own international golf course and a golf academy), as well as for those who prefer active holidays and is engaged in water sports. On the beach, hotel guests have free use of any equipment, including snorkel masks and windsurfing equipment. A separate fee will be asked only for the services of a personal instructor. By the way, it is this hotel that hosts the Kite Jam Festival, which every year brings together professionals and amateurs of wind and kitesurfing 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 a jet lag is after you return 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 for a flight is by Air France to Paris with a transfer to an Air Mauritius flight. Travel time, taking into account the connection, 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 it is 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.

Baobabs grow ubiquitous in Madagascar. In some areas, impressive rows of gigantic trees are built, in the crowns of which an African sun pancake is beautifully "stuck" during sunset, giving tourists the opportunity to take pictures 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 they appear in the waters of the east coast all year round.

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 excursions for tourists are arranged.

Typically, travelers go to Madagascar to see the jungle, wildlife, take part in a safari or hike adapted and safe hiking trails, 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 Anacao Peninsula and the beaches of a tiny island near Madagascar - Nosy Be.

The north of the country is very fond of divers from all over the world, including 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 the tropics, in the depths it is closer to the subtropical, and in the south it is dry (arid), with high air temperatures, experiencing large daily fluctuations and with negligible rainfall. The island has two distinct seasons. The hot and humid season - Madagascar summer - lasts from November to April, the air temperature in these months is + 25 + 27 ° С, the cooler dry season is set from May to October (+ 20 + 24 ° С).

Where to stay

One of the best hotels in the popular resort island of Nosy Be is the Ravintsara Wellness Hotel. "Fantastic vacation", "royal vacation", "paradise on earth" - these are the reviews of tourists awarded to Ravintsara for the beautiful and spacious bungalows on the coast, green gardens around, excellent service and exquisite cuisine. The hotel also offers entertainment for all tastes: boat trips, ATV trips. Accommodation cost - from $ 300 per day.

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 ticket.

How to get there: you can get to the largest Madagascar airport Antananarivo from Moscow via Paris (Air France). Flight time is 14 hours, excluding connection. The ticket price is 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 simply take and fly at any time of the year without worrying about seasonal changes in the weather. The climate here is quite stable throughout the year, the average air temperature on the islands is + 26 + 30 ° C. During the peak season (December-January), precipitation is 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 most windless weather is set in April – May and October – November. During this period, the islands are ideal conditions for swimming, snorkeling and diving: the water temperature reaches + 29º C, and the 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 watching exotic birds. It is during these months that they reproduce, nurture 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, where 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 is worth staying here at least to explore the colonial architecture of the capital of the Seychelles - the city of Victoria, or to visit the botanical garden, which contains dozens of tropical species. 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 long-nosed sharks, rays, sea urchins, sea turtles.

Each island of the archipelago has its own atmosphere, and if you do not want the noise of Mahe at all, then you can go to the small islets, where complete calmness and silence 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 has a quiet location, away from anything that might disturb you during your vacation. 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 spots nearby, so it is chosen by those who are going to enjoy their vacation far from civilization. The cost of renting a villa is from $ 1200 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 when entering the country.

How to get there: you can fly from Moscow to the Seychelles by Emirates airlines with a transfer at your home airport (Dubai). Travel time including connection is 12.5 hours. The ticket price is 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 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 Maldivian resorts is located 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 the facilities in the resort (restaurants, bars, sports facilities, etc.) will be the only entertainment during your stay in the Maldives. Therefore, their infrastructure must be carefully studied in advance so as not to fall into deep despondency on a long-awaited vacation. In general, there are offers for tourists for all tastes: from affordable bungalows adjacent to the rental of equipment for diving, to secluded luxury villas on stilts in the sea, from the terrace of which you can dangle your legs and admire the colored fish swimming in the water.

The Maldives archipelago is located almost at 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 marks.

Most of the activities in the Maldives are centered around water sports. 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 athletes and beginners alike) are also happy to come here for an invigorating vacation, breaking 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 in the large and very picturesque Addu Atoll, on the island of Villingili. Shangri-La offers accommodation in fully equipped traditional style villas. Guests can choose a house in the garden, on the beach 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, where they offer various programs for face and body care, scrubs, body wraps, as well as massage and stone therapy. There are tennis and badminton courts, a small golf course, and 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 time.

Visa: Russian citizens do not need to apply for a visa in advance if the tourist arrives in the country for a period not exceeding 30 days. It is placed at the border when entering the country, which requires a valid passport and a date stamped return ticket.

How to get there: International flights arrive at Hulule Airport, which is located near 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 the 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 have a truly unforgettable experience in the realm of nature on the shores of the Indian Ocean.

The developed tourist infrastructure in Sri Lanka provides vacationers with excellent opportunities for recreation for all tastes: from "doing nothing" on the beaches and self-care 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 the rainy season in the 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 the bustling, crazy Colombo. Tourists come here to get acquainted with 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 the art gallery. There is also a wonderful zoo in Colombo, where tourists tend to get to the elephant show.

The beaches of the island are very popular among tourists. Moreover, Sri Lanka is gaining more and more popularity among those who love active water sports. Surfers have already chosen Arugam Bay - a place 314 km from Colombo, on the southeast coast of Ceylon, which is included in the honorable list of the ten best surf beaches in the world. Arugam Bay is popular with beginners, and 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 late September.

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

Wildlife enthusiasts come to Sri Lanka to watch whales and dolphins that appear in the waters near Mirissa. At certain times of the year, sea turtles can also be seen coming ashore to lay their eggs.

Where to stay

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

A beautiful secluded hotel in Benota - 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 celebrate the excellent cuisine at the hotel's restaurant and compliment the treatments at the local spa. The cost of living is about $ 300 per day.

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

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

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

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: 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.

Indian Ocean islands

Inaccessible, specialized and popular

Let's start by taking a list of all the archipelagos and individual islands in the Indian Ocean and working on it by elimination. For example, the British Indian Ocean Territory (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, Europa, Juan de Nova and Glorioso are strategically important, although in terms of area they are comparable to not the largest apartments. Controlled by France. Contested by Madagascar. Not to get in, and there is no need.

Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Christmas Island, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Ashmore and Cartier Islands - all these so-called outer Australian territories do not belong to the destinations of mass tourism. Tourism is just emerging in the Cocos Islands (so, to dine at a local restaurant, you must apply at lunchtime - otherwise the chef will know how many people to cook for him?). Christmas Island is famous for the seasonal migration of red crabs - apart from observing these creatures, there is nothing to do on the island. To the rest of the islands listed above, a simple tourist simply has no chance to get there. The French Southern and Antarctic Territories, by their very name, hint at what to expect there - an icy desert. French polar explorers and individual tourists get here on 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 travel to the territory controlled by the "Tigers", although, however, tourists have not traveled there much before.

Madagascar is popular with wildlife lovers, who sometimes call the island Lemuria - after the animals that live on this island. Beach holidays on the island are also very good. Some islands are of interest only to divers, and people who are indifferent to the underwater world will find it difficult to occupy themselves in the above water world. Such, for example, is the French island of Mayotte (Maore). On the independent Comoros, which are part of the same archipelago, diving is also in the first place, but you can still see flying foxes, lemurs (not so many and not so easily as in Madagascar), sea turtles, 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 Indian Ocean islands, which are the territory of India, Lakshadweep is a purely diving destination, while the Andaman and Nicobar Islands also offer beach vacations. The high season for diving in 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 for going 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 that does not suffer from an abundance of attractions.

The Tanzanian archipelago of Zanzibar, formerly the Spice Islands, is packed with fantastic beaches, diving, underwhelming ruins, and a few colonial-style buildings. And also monkeys (red colobus) and, of course, spices.

Located practically on the opposite end of the ocean, Thai Phuket is similar to Pattaya with Europeanization, but it can boast of not the worst diving.

Seychelles and Maldives have a lot in common. Both countries have long become 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 of this in the price range from average to higher, 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.

The Seychelles archipelago has 115 islands. 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, disseminated by tourist literature, is beautiful, but unsuitable for swimming.

Sea fishing is widespread 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.

Have a snack and a drink

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Indian Ocean islands differ greatly in their attitude to alcoholic beverages. In the Maldives, the import of alcoholic beverages into the country is prohibited, including beer (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 do not drink alcohol, and even Hindus usually work as bartenders in hotels. Foreigners are not allowed to drink during Ramadan alcoholic drinks outside of hotels, so as not to offend the local population.

In the Seychelles, alcohol legislation is much more liberal. Local beer Seybrew is drunk here, as well as local drinks from fermented juices 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 product is sold in opaque black bags - so as not to offend indigenous population... There are no restrictions on alcoholic drinks in Phuket. Popular Madagascar spirits include the local Three Horses Beer, coconut liqueur and homemade rum. In Muslim Zanzibar, alcohol is prohibited in many hotels and restaurants, while 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 the prices in hotels (but the most expensive is the period of the Christmas and New Year holidays). The southwest monsoon, which dominates the rest of the year, is cloudy and inclement weather that is good for surfers. Divers can come to the Maldives all year round, just in the dry season you can dive on the east coast of any atoll, and in the rainy season - on the west. Those wishing to come in the month of Ramadan should come to terms with the fact that offices, shops, restaurants may be closed or have a shorter working day.

In Phuket, the high season is also 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 it will, 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 region of the country. Madagascar has two seasons and five climatic zones... It is never very hot on the high plateau in the center of the island, and in July the temperature at night can drop to almost zero, in January-March there are heavy rains. 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 for 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 July-August.

The season for 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 torrential rains. In May-September, strong winds make the stay on many of the 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 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, while in the center of the islands it is usually cooler than on the coast.

Visas

Russian citizens do not need 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, albeit more expensive (equivalent to $ 118), to issue 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 takes extra time and hassle to set up.

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

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

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

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 by 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 above island states do not pose visa barriers to visitors makes it possible, when considering a trip, to view special offers of airlines, hotels and travel agencies.