The Indian Ocean

The Indian Ocean is blessed with paradise islands and tropical locations; The Maldives, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Mauritius and Madagascar are a selection of the places you could be exploring in this picturesque area of ocean.

This picture perfect collection of islands features an abundance of natural beauty, coral marine life and scintillating seascapes. The Indian Ocean has many facets to explore; Visit Madagascar’s amazing forests teeming with exciting wildlife, explore the volcanic Rodriguez Island in Mauritius, go diving in the Seychelles, see elephants, buffaloes and deer in the Uda Walawe National Park in Sri Lanka or just kick back and bask in the breathtaking beauty of the beaches in the Maldives.

Resorts.
The Maldives; a myriad of tiny white sands islands within the Indian Ocean, each surrounded by amazing technicolour coral reefs and shallow lagoons. With palm trees swaying in the gentle ocean breeze and dazzling sunsets for romantic memories all combine to create a picture of perfect idyllic holiday bliss.

Anyone who has ever dreamed of escaping to a tropical island basking in year-round sunshine,

surrounded by sparkling white, palm-fringed beaches and turquoise seas will find that the real thing exists in abundance in the Maldives. For this chain of more than 1000 coral islands strung out across the Indian Ocean consists entirely of serious contenders for the title of paradise.

The first-and best-view that most visitors get is from the air as they approach the capital, Male. The islands are arranged in clusters of atolls, a word that the Maldivian language has given to English. Heart-shaped, circular, oblong, they appear as spectacular explosions of green, turquoise and aquamarine in the dark-blue waters of the deep ocean. The most famous coral reefs in the world are found here. All kinds of colourful, tropical marine life can be viewed, simply by putting on some snorkel gear and swimming into the lagoons. Diving is of course, huge, and you can get your PADI certificate at

certain resorts, or improve your existing skills. The pleasures here are mainly quiet and convivial: barbecues on the beach, sunset watching with a cocktail, the gentle rhythms of local music, all contributing to the very special atmosphere of this magical place.

Surfing is big on the east of North Malé Atoll, but you may prefer to come here to relax. Elsewhere, you can visit the sleepy capital, Malé, or take a boat to the town of Seenu, on Addu Atoll, from where you can visit traditional Maldivian island communities.

Mauritius consists of two islands. The largest is Mauritius and then there is the smaller island called Rodriguez; both located east of Madagascar in the crystal clear waters of the Indian Ocean.

Mauritius is surrounded by idyllic white beaches and nestles amidst the azure waters. A tropical island paradise that basks in its world-class offerings; with elegant hotels, fine dining and a level

of service and attention to each individuals needs. In addition to its natural beauty, Mauritius has a valuable tourist resource in the warmth and friendliness of its multi-cultural population. Previously occupied by the Portuguese, the Dutch, the French and the British; all have contributed to the island’s heritage.

Although the majority who visits Mauritius comes for the sandy beaches and blue lagoons, most are delighted to discover that the island has plenty of other attractions, from some of the world’s rarest stamps to the first ever race course to open in the southern hemisphere. Of course no holiday would be complete, either, without good food and entertainment. Mauritius offers both, with some delicious local cuisine and the chance to learn the island’s indigenous wild dance, the Sega.

The Seychelles lay like jewels across the Indian Ocean and casts a spell over everyone that visits its shores. Deserted, pristine white sand beaches bathed by turquoise water gently lapping at its shore with warm tropical breezes swaying coconut palms that bring to life this idyllic paradise.

With powdery beaches that encircle the vast summits emerging from the verdant green rainforest. The islands stretch across nearly one million square kilometers of the Indian Ocean east of Kenya, and even have their own unique suggestively shaped fruit, the famous ‘coco de

mer’ double coconut, to emphasize their seductive charms. Only a few of the 115 islands are inhabited, most of the local population being gathered on the main island, Mahé, around the capital city of Victoria. Each of the Seychelles islands are unique and exhibit their own individual personality and atmosphere; where you can venture between the many inner granite islands via the excellent inter-island connections.

Whether you come to dive among the more than 800 species of fish in the island waters, marvel at flocks of colourful birds flitting among rare jungle trees, soak up the equatorial sun on silver sands or to cement your marriage vows, the Seychelles archipelago will impress as being just about as close to paradise as it is possible to get on earth.

Sri Lanka is a thousand shades of green, from the concentrated emerald of the coconut palms through mid-hues of bamboo to the tender pallor of young rice. This “Auspicious” or “Resplendent” Land is shaped like a pearl dropped from the sub-continent of India. Precious

stones, seas rich in fish, superb beaches, cool highlands and a regal past are part of its appeal and have rightly long been known as the pearl of the Indian Ocean.

Aptly termed ‘A land like no other’, Sri Lanka offers a veritable feast of attractions for the visitor, among them: a myriad of cultural sights (including seven World Heritage sights), an abundance of wildlife (including leopards and the world’s only elephant orphanage), colonial architecture, cascading waterfalls, misty mountain tops, enchanting valleys, lush tea plantations and tropical rainforests. Other vital ingredients are palm-fringed, golden beaches, a tropical climate and the natural charm and hospitality of the locals.

Sri Lanka will leave you with pleasant memories, whether it’s the red roofs of the old royal city of Kandy, the lush jungle or the rice paddies, where girls in bright saris bob like lanterns through waterfields blurred with green.

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