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10 Indian Ocean trips. Compare tour itineraries from 3 tour companies. 399 reviews. 4.8/5 avg rating.
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Top Indian Ocean Attractions & Experiences
Top Indian Ocean Experiences
- Experiencing Swahili culture on the Indian Ocean spice island of Zanzibar and its old Stone Town
- Touring the Portuguese ruins and relaxing on the golden beaches of Goa in India
- Enjoying the history, architecture and ocean waterfront of the town of Fremantle on the west coast of Australia, near Perth
- Taking a lemur safari on the island of Madagascar off the southeast coast of Africa
- Exploring the rainforests, temples, tea estates and beaches on Sri Lanka, dubbed the “Jewel of the Indian Ocean”
- Discovering the ethnic, cultural, and religious stew that enlivens the island of Mauritius east of Africa
- Getting off the beaten track in the Maldives archipelago southwest of India
- Living the good life while touring the tropical Seychelles islands
- Visiting vibrant Mumbai and its Gateway to India arch, colorful colonial architecture, and nearby sculpted caves on Elephanta Island
- Dining on some of the world’s best Chinese food in the thriving city-state of Singapore at the tip of the Malay Peninsula
- Making a port stop in Muscat, Oman, during a cruise through the Middle East
- Touring the beautiful Garden Route along the Indian Ocean coast of South Africa
Indian Ocean Tours & Travel Guide
Indian Ocean Attractions & Landmarks Guide
The world’s third largest ocean after the Pacific and Atlantic, the Indian Ocean stretches from the east coast of Africa west to Southeast Asia and Australia, and from the shores of the Middle East and India south to the Southern Ocean. Such a vast area encompassing so many remote and exotic ports could take a lifetime to explore -- so what better time to start than now?
With a fifth of the world’s ocean waters, the Indian Ocean borders some three dozen countries on three continents, surrounds numerous sun-drenched tropical islands, and has helped nurture a raft of eclectic cultures. Such exotic waterways as the Red Sea, Arabian Sea, the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Aden, and Andaman Sea are considered part of the Indian Ocean as well.
A vital part of the old Silk and Spice routes that formed the heart of trade between East and West in centuries past, the Indian Ocean remains one of the world’s great shipping corridors. The legacies of past colonial powers – the French, British, Portuguese, Dutch, Arabians and more -- occupying many of its islands and coastal lands have rendered it a melting pot of cultures, ethnicities and religions.
While we can only begin to touch on the array of sights and experiences available on tours in and around the Indian Ocean, here are a few regional highlights to consider:
East Africa
The coasts of Kenya and Tanzania and their offshore islands boast some of the most gorgeous beaches and pure blue waters on the entire Indian Ocean. But you’ll also be treated to the region’s Swahili culture, which mixes Arabic and African influences. The islands of Lamu (Kenya) and Zanzibar (Tanzania) and the coastal port of Mombasa, Kenya, are the top places to experience all things Swahili.
Southern Africa
South Africa has its own stretch of Indian Ocean waterfront, but don’t overlook the island of Madagascar, sometimes called the Galapagos of the Indian Ocean because it harbors some of the world’s most unusual endemic creatures, including a variety of lemurs. Mozambique, with Portuguese influences from its colonial days, is just now being discovered as a hot beach destination.
India
The country that gave its name to the Indian Ocean is home to a number of cities and regions that lie along its shores. Mumbai and Calcutta (Kolkata) are the two best known cities, but there are a number of other ports as well, and enclaves such as Goa, known for its Portuguese ruins lying near golden beaches. Kerala, on the southern tip of India, has both Indian Ocean waterfront and inland canals on which you can sail houseboats.
Sri Lanka
Largely overshadowed by India, its giant neighbor to the north, the island of Sri Lanka offers a relaxed and diverse alternative destination on the subcontinent. In some ways, it’s like India in miniature, with both tropical rainforests and cool hilltop tea estates; temples and historic sites; gems and spices; beaches and wildlife. But it’s also less chaotic and overwhelming.
Malaysia and Singapore
The Malay Peninsula, which lies along the Straits of Malacca at the junction of the Indian and Pacific oceans in Southeast Asia, is a mix of mostly Muslim and Buddhist cultures, with a long history in the colonial spice trade and a current blend of the traditional and ultra-modern. Highlights include the island of Penang, known for its outstanding Malay food; the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, where skyscrapers rise near mosques and luxury hotels; and the fastidiously clean island nation of Singapore, which is largely composed of ethnic Chinese and is the premier port on the entire Indian Ocean.
Other Islands
While it may be a stretch to call visiting islands that are hundreds or thousands of miles apart “island hopping,” many of the Indian Ocean islands are worth the extra effort to reach.
The Seychelles, which lie nearly 1,000 miles off of Africa’s east coast, are the kind of palm-fringed tropical isles that conjure up iconic images of, well, the Indian Ocean.
Another independent island nation, Mauritius, lying some 1,200 miles off southern Africa, offers a fascinating mix of Indian, African, and European ethnicities and cultures, not to mention more gorgeous beaches.
And the Maldives, more than two dozen atolls (including more than 1,000 islands) that dot a vast expanse of ocean southwest of India, blend Indian culture with Islamic faith and island allure. The lowest-lying country in the world, the Maldives are threatened by climate change, however, and suffered severe damage during a 2004 tsunami; tourism income is vital to its economy.
Indian Ocean Reviews & Ratings
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Review
Best Exodus tour yet Personalized attention from Exodus staff Best yet Don't consider travelling with Exodus if it cancels Cuba tours for political reasons - as...
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Excellent
Challenging cycling, interesting and varied, excellent guide Achieving the climb to the Hill station Excellent Well organised Always professional and extremely hel...
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Fantastic - thoroughly recommended!
Really interesting trip. It has a great balance with plenty of cycling but still having time to explore our destinations and some time to relax too. It's a beaut...
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A great holiday with a good mix of cycling (some tough), culture, sightseeing and team bonding.
A great holiday with a good mix of cycling (some tough, and one day in particular-the climb to Nuwara Eliya, not for the faint hearted!) with culture, sightseein...
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Sri Lanka a must
Exodus lived up to expectations .Using local guides ,making sure our money went into local community,giving us an individual holiday. The guide was on duty 24hours ...
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