Indian Ocean holidays

The Indian Ocean has a subtropical climate, which means most of the year sees warm and dry weather conditions. The best time to go depends on which country you want to visit. April and May are the best months to visit Seychelles, as the trade winds aren’t blowing, you’ll also experience great weather in October and November. The Maldives sees dry and warm weather from November – April, perfect timing to escape the European winter. Mauritius experiences its hottest weather October – December, with temperatures ranging from 24°C to 29°C. Sri Lanka is an amazing year-round holiday destination. The southwest has the best weather between December – April, whereas the east coast and north experience the best weather between May - September.

Watersports such as diving, snorkelling, tubing, parasailing are all popular activities in the Maldives. If you’re an avid surfer, the Maldives is perfect for you. These waves are some of the best in the world. Take a boat trip and visit one of the many sandbank tiny islands surrounded by glistening, pristine waters.

Mauritius is much more than just a honeymoon destination, wander through lush green rainforests and discover colour-changing sand dunes, majestic waterfalls and botanical gardens.

Explore tiny towns, coconut plantations and a primeval forest in The Seychelles.

In Sri Lanka, you can walk with wild elephants in a national park, discover the ruins of an ancient palace and visit a tea empire in Nuwara Eliya.

Mauritius is a land of glorious, unspoilt beaches with picturesque views. Towards the southeast side, you’ll find the stunning Blue Bay Beach. The bright turquoise lagoon laps against soft white sand, seamlessly blending with the ocean on the horizon. This beach is bordered by coconut trees, giving you a true tropical experience. On the west coast, you’ll find the beautiful Flic en Flac Beach. This beach has pearly white sand, surrounded by an enchanting landscape of casuarina trees and emerald-cloaked mountains.

The Maldives offers a slice of paradise topped with a dollop of luxury, which is largely thanks to its array of idyllic beaches. For a serene stay, visit the blissful shores of Landaa Giraavaru. This beach is made of pristine white sand which seamlessly blends into crystalline waters.

Spices such as tamarind and ginger are widely used in Seychelles cuisine. Ffish is abundant in this part of the world, so traditional meals include fish curry, salted rougaille and fresh grilled fish. The most popular way of cooking fish is directly on the hot coals of a BBQ, with coconut husks for additional flavour. Sri Lankan cuisine shares similarities with South Indian food but does have its own unique taste. As well as a variety of spices, coconut and fish play an important role in Sri Lankan gastronomy, curry and rice are a national favourite.

Mauritius offers a wide variety of cuisines. The most popular dishes are octopus curry, biryani, fried rice and noodles. Don't forget to try "Dholl Puri", one of the locals' favourite dishes. Maldivian cuisine is strongly influenced by its neighbours, India and Sri Lanka. Traditional dishes revolve around three essential ingredients: coconut, fish and starches.

Sri Lanka has a captivating culture, influenced by Theravada Buddhism heritage, which is especially prevalent in its southern and central regions. The remnants of ancient and sacred sculptures, paintings and architecture can be found across the country.

Mauritius has a diverse set of cultural traditions. The population celebrates many festivals including Hindu, Muslim and Catholic festivities. Music is a huge part of Mauritian culture, popular genres included Séga, Reggae and Seggae.

Seychelles’ culture is a melting pot of African, Asian and European influences. You can find some French influences in the Creole language, food and religion, African influence in national music and dance and Asian influences in cuisine and trade.