10 of the best Indian Ocean adventures, from sailing to star-gazing

From bird watching to star gazing, Nick Trend picks the best trips

1. Touring the Spice Islands

The islands off the coast of Tanzania offer a wide range of exotic experiences. Audley Travel offers a two-week itinerary that includes a five-night Robinson Crusoe-style experience on the private island of Fanjove in the southern Songo Songo Archipelago. The island’s eco lodge relies on solar power and has no TVs, radios or Wi-Fi. Further highlights include swimming with whale sharks, a trip to the marine park of Mafia Island and a tour of the archaeological sites of Chole Island.

Tanzania’s Spice Islands from £4,895 for 14 nights including flights, transfers and some meals. Departs June to March. Audley Travel (audleytravel.com).

2. Christmas Island Birding

In the eastern reaches of the Indian Ocean, 220 miles (350km) south of Java, but under Australian rule since 1958, this small island is home to a wealth of birdlife, some of it unique. It is the only place in the world to spot the large, albatross-like Abbott’s booby and the Christmas Island frigatebird, but visiting seabirds take shelter in its rainforests. Accommodation is mostly in simple lodges and travel is by four-wheel drive vehicles.

Christmas Island from £969 self- catering or £1,049 B&B for five nights, including flights from Jakarta and car hire. Wildwings (wildwings.co.uk).

3. A Beach stay in Sri Lanka

This is one of the best-value winter sun beach destinations and the security situation has eased with the lifting of the state of emergency (see gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice). Galle in the south-west combines a Dutch fortress, colonial buildings and boutique hotels, with excellent restaurants serving freshly caught fish. The beaches are among the best on the island and there are visits to wildlife reserves, temples and tea plantations.

The Frangipani Tree near Galle from £1,750 B&B for seven nights including flights and transfers. Yonder (yonder.co.uk).

4. Sailing in Mauritius

With its secluded coves, idyllic beaches and steady breezes, Mauritius is a great destination for relaxed sailing. Dream Yacht Charter offers trips on a crewed catamaran, sleeping up to 10, departing La Balise Marina in Rivière Noire on the south-west coast. Sailing to the point of Cap Malheureux, the itinerary takes in Mon Choisy and Tamarin beaches, the resort of Grand Baie and offshore islands of L’Ile Plate and Ilot Gabriel.

Mauritius Dream from £883 for seven nights full-board. Excludes flights and transfers. Dream Yacht Charter (dreamyachtcharter.co.uk).

5. Cast away in the Seychelles

Virtually car-free, the Seychelles island of La Digue is a three-hour transfer by boat from the main island of Mahé or via a short flight to Praslin followed by a 45-minute ferry ride. Measuring just three miles by two (5km by 3.2km), it has particularly beautiful beaches including Anse Source d’Argent and Grand Anse. Activities include boat trips, diving and hiking trips in the Veuve Nature Reserve, home to the rare black paradise flycatcher. Giant tortoises also live on the island.

Le Domaine de l’Orangeraie from £1,989 B&B for seven nights including flights and transfers. Tropical Sky (tropicalsky.co.uk). 

6. Watch whales in La Reunion

East of its much larger neighbour, Madagascar, the French island of La Réunion has spectacularly mountainous and forested landscape, dominated by the Piton des Neiges volcano at 10,069ft. Saint-Gilles-les-Bains, on the west coast, is one of the most popular resorts and a starting point for trips to spot sperm, fin and humpback whales plus blower and pantropical spotted dolphins. Formerly a small fishing village, it has several beaches, watersports and a lively centre.

Lux Saint Gilles Reunion from £1,424 B&B for seven nights including flights and transfers. Turquoise Holidays (turquoiseholidays.co.uk).

7. Watersports in Zanzibar

Officially called Unguja, Zanzibar is the largest Tanzanian island in an archipelago scattered a few miles from the African mainland. The island’s southwest coast has idyllic white-sand beaches backed by bush and mangroves, where upmarket hotels offer plenty of watersports, including kayaking, snorkelling and diving on the offshore coral reef. Zanzibar City’s historical Stone Town is a Unesco World Heritage Site with a large spice bazaar and a medieval layout.

The Residence Zanzibar from £1,519 half-board for seven nights including flights and transfers. Travelbag (travelbag.co.uk).

8. Stargazing in the Baa Atoll

In the west of the Maldives is Baa Atoll, comprising 75 islands of which just over a dozen are inhabited – some of them housing exclusive resorts with overwater villas and spas. One of these – Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas – has its own observatory: light pollution is low, and the dark skies make the resort ideal for stargazing. Designated a Unesco World Biosphere reserve, Baa also has coral reefs frequented by marine turtles, parrot fish, bottlenose dolphins and whale sharks. Other activities include yacht charter, reef diving and snorkelling with mantra rays.

Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas in Baa Atoll from £4,469 half-board for seven nights including flights, seaplane transfers and stargazing sessions. Destinology (destinology.co.uk).

9. Wildlife in Madagascar

Around 250 miles (400km) off the east coast of Africa, this large island is home to plants and animals which are unique to its shores – including lemurs. A long list of national parks and nature reserves make it a great destination for wildlife lovers and walkers. Trailfinders offers a small group tour which takes in the Andasibe National Park with its Indri reserve for lemurs, chameleons and blue boas, plus Isalo National Park with its lagoon and waterfalls and the beaches of Ifaty on the south-west coast.

Highlights of Madagascar from £2,149 for 13 nights including flights, transfers and some meals. Trailfinders (trailfinders.com).

10. Island hopping in the Maldives

A small boat cruise is an excellent way to explore this region of coral reefs, sandy islands and blue lagoons. The four-star MV Yasawa Princess has 33 cabins and departs from Villingili, a 20-minute boat ride from Male international airport. Depending on wind and sea conditions, the itinerary takes in the North and South Male Atolls, Maadhoo Finolhu Picnic Island and the Vaavu Atoll, with its pale turquoise-coloured waters. En route there is time to snorkel, fish and relax over beach barbecues on deserted stretches of sand.

Maldives Island Hopping Cruise from £1,845 full-board for seven nights including flights and transfers. Orbital Travel (orbitaltravel.co.uk).