Which island is located in the Indian Ocean. Indian Ocean description, interesting facts. Mauritius - a holiday paradise
Indian Ocean - most warm ocean our planet. Occupying a fifth of the Earth's surface, the Indian Ocean is not the largest ocean, but at the same time it has a rich flora and fauna, as well as many other advantages.
Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean occupies 20% of the entire globe. This ocean is characterized by a rich and varied natural life. 
shows huge territories and a large number interesting islands for explorers and tourists. If you do not yet know where you are located Indian Ocean, map will tell you.
Indian Ocean Currents Map
The underwater world of the Indian Ocean
Rich and varied underwater world of the Indian Ocean... In it you can find both very small aquatic inhabitants and large and dangerous representatives water world.
Since ancient times, man has been trying to subjugate the ocean and its inhabitants. In all centuries, hunting has been arranged for the inhabitants of the underwater world of the Indian Ocean.
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There are even those who are capable of causing trouble for a person. For example, these are anemones that live in almost all seas and oceans of our planet. Sea anemones can be found not only in the depths, but also in the shallow waters of the Indian Ocean. They almost always feel hungry, so they sit hiding with their tentacles widely spaced. Predatory representatives of this species are poisonous. Their shot can hit small organisms, as well as cause burns in people. In the waters of the Indian Ocean live sea urchins, seals, the most exotic species of fish. Vegetable world diverse, which makes diving truly exciting.
Fish in the Indian Ocean
Often, a person who chooses a route for a tourist trip has no preference for a specific country. For example, any tropical island will suit him, but that there must be: sea, sun, beaches, beautiful nature, fishing, diving, luxury service, good food, beer (cross out unnecessary). Let's try to consider what island options 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 of strategic importance, 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 areas 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 watching 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 of getting there. The French Southern and Antarctic Territories already by their name hint at what to expect there - an icy desert. French polar explorers and individual tourists get here on expensive Antarctic eco-cruises.
Sri Lanka has recently ended a bloody conflict between government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. For security reasons, you should not go to the territory controlled by the "Tigers", although, however, tourists did not go 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 to people who are indifferent to underwater world, it will be difficult to occupy oneself 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. High season for diving on indian islands lasts from mid-November to May.
wild nature 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 travel 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, there 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 Europeanization, but it can boast of not the worst diving.
Seychelles and Maldives have a lot in common. Both countries have long since 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- 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.
In Zanzibar, Comoros, Mauritius (this island was described in some detail in the last issue of the "Guide" - see "Money" of June 8), the Maldives, Seychelles and Phuket sea fishing is common.
Have a snack and a drink
It is logical that in the island states, seafood traditionally occupies an important place in the cuisine.
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, the local cuisine is a kind of hybrid of European, Indian and Arabic.
In Madagascar, it seems, they are fed up with fish, the favorite dishes of the local population are meat, including pork, which is absent on many other islands of the Indian Ocean. Vanilla is very popular as a seasoning for various dishes.
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. During Ramadan, foreigners are not allowed to drink alcoholic beverages outside 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 made 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 goods are sold in opaque black bags so as not to offend the 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). Southwest monsoon dominating the rest years, - time cloudy and inclement weather, which, however, is good for surfers. Divers can come to the Maldives all year round, just in the dry season you can dive at east coast any atoll, and in the rainy season - in 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 and 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). At the same time, 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.
Visa
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 the French overseas territories (DOM / TOM), which requires additional time and hassle.
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 a 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 in all possible ways: in person at the consulate, via the Internet and at the airport of arrival. In this case, 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.
Today we will take a look at the islands of the Indian Ocean. After all, it is the third largest body of water in the world. In its warm waters, there are many very spectacular tropical islands that simply cannot leave travelers indifferent. In addition, they are all classified as nature reserves... Most of them are mainly concentrated in the western part. Now we will take a closer look at some of them, as well as what types they are divided into. Genetically, they are: coral, volcanic and mainland.
Mainland and volcanic islands
The first include the largest ones - Sri Lanka, Madagascar, Masirai, Kuria Muria, Socotra, Big Sunda, as well as many small islands located along the shores of Western Australia, Indochina and Arabia. Most of them are a limestone plateau on ancient Precambrian granites. There are also mountainous ones. Everyone who is known has their own special structure. Within the ocean floor, these are the only structures composed of granites. The islands of the Indian Ocean, which are of volcanic origin, are in turn divided into islands of the open ocean and islands of the transition zone. The latter are elements of island arcs.
They have mountainous relief, their tops are crowned with cones of volcanoes. These are Nicobar, Andaman and they are based to a lesser extent on and to a greater extent - on basalt. The volcanic islands of the Indian Ocean, such as Prince Edward, Crozet, Kerguelen, Saint-Paul, Amsterdam, Mascarene, Comoros, are small in size and are the summits of volcanoes. Around them there are almost always
Coral islands
The most important feature of this part of the terrestrial body of water is the islands made of corals. They are for the most part typical atolls, which are composed of a large number of musli, coral sand, rubble and gravel. A striking example of such an atoll is Diego Garcia. But the islands of the Indian Ocean of coral origin are also more complex atolls, consisting of many small atolls, and are up to 150 km in diameter. These are huge ring-shaped structures, such islands as Cocos, Amirant, Chagos, Maldives, Lakkadiv. Many of them were formed due to the rise of the reefs.
A few examples. Christmas Island, 365 meters above sea level, was formed at the highest point of the Coconut Rise, Tromelin Island is five meters above the water level, and below it is 4000 meters of the Mascarene depression. What else makes the coral islands of the Indian Ocean stand out? The fact that they mainly grow and remain dense, impenetrable thickets of mangrove forests. This is especially true, for example, for the Amirant Islands. Due to all its beauty and unexplored places, such places are especially attractive for travelers and tourists.
Indian Ocean islands, list of islands in the eastern region
Now we list you the islands that belong to the region of East India: Andaman, Ashmore and Cartier, Christmas, Kakadu, Cocos (Keeling), Dirk Hartog, Garden Island, Jaffna, Kangaroo, Langkawi, King Island, Mentawai, Nias, Nicobar , Penang, Phi Phi, Phuket, Simelue, Sri Lanka, Mannar.
Let's continue the topic, which islands are in the Indian Ocean, in its western part. These are: Agalega, Banque du Geyser, Bassas da India, Kargados Carajos, Chagos Archipelago, Comoros, Europe, Juan di Nova Islands, Lakshadweep archipelago, Madagascar, Mafia, Maldives, Mauritius, Mayotte, Pemba, Reunion, Rodriguez , Seychelles, Tromelin, Zanzibar. And finally, just a few southern islands located south of Madagascar: Amsterdam, Crozet, Heard, MacDonald, Kerguelen, Prince Edward, Saint Paul.
Madagascar - a unique island in the Indian Ocean
If we consider the largest islands in the Indian Ocean, then one cannot but pay attention to Madagascar, whose history begins from the moment when it broke away from Africa, about a couple of hundred million years. It is the fourth largest island in the world in size. It contains an amazing variety of plants, animals and birds, most of which - about 80% - are unique. The huge forests here attract researchers and scientists from all over the world.
Even the tropics cannot compete with them in terms of biological diversity of flora. South America... In these places, you can even find creatures from the time of dinosaurs, such as chameleons, which have forty species. Take another fifty varieties of lemurs. Together they took a fancy to such wonderful trees as baobabs and thorny forest. Due to its stunning uniqueness, Madagascar makes it consider itself the eighth continent.
Seychelles
If you take largest islands Indian Ocean, then they include the Seychelles, which became independent in 1976. They cover an area of 455 square kilometers, are divided into 23 districts, and are 1600 kilometers from Africa. Around them are the following and Mauritius - in the south, the Maldives - in the northeast and Comoros - in the southwest. There are about 80 thousand local residents here, most of them are of Chinese, Indian, Arab, African and French origin.
The native language is Creole, but English and French are also widely spoken. Seychelles consist of 115 islands of the archipelago, of which 33 are inhabited. The climate here is subtropical marine, the average annual temperature is 29 degrees, in March and November there is a lot of rain. Most tourists come here for beach holidays, diving and natural sightseeing.
Mauritius - a holiday paradise
If we consider one single island in the Indian Ocean, which is most suitable for a comfortable stay, then you need to pay attention to Mauritius. The country of the same name is one of the richest in Africa, characterized by colonial French mansions, vibrant Indian temples, croissants for breakfast and curries for dinner. Various religions and peoples coexist here in a friendly way, and a successful multicultural society has been created.
The size of the island is small, can be circled in one day, it is a top-class resort, where excellent service is combined with immense popularity. In the presence of a wide range of beach activities, you can even go fishing for large fish.
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 of strategic importance, 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 of getting 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.
Sri Lanka has recently ended a bloody conflict between government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. For security reasons, you should not go 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 almost at 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 since 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 folk 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 not very suitable for swimming.
In Zanzibar, Comoros, Mauritius (this island was described in some detail in the last issue of the "Guide" - see "Money" of June 8), the Maldives, Seychelles and Phuket sea fishing is common.
Have a snack and a drink
It is logical that in the island states, seafood traditionally occupies an important place in the cuisine.
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, the local cuisine is a kind of hybrid of European, Indian and Arabic.
In Madagascar, it seems, they are fed up with fish, the favorite dishes of the local population are meat, including pork, which is absent on many other islands of the Indian Ocean. Vanilla is very popular as a seasoning for various dishes.
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, including beer, is prohibited (they are confiscated right at the airport), although all this can be bought in tourist bars and restaurants, 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. During Ramadan, foreigners are not allowed to drink alcoholic beverages outside 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 made 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 goods are sold in opaque black bags so as not to offend the 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 during 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). At the same time, 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.
Visa
Russian citizens do not need visas to visit the 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 Réunion, as well as the French Southern and Antarctic Territories, Russians need a special visa for the French overseas territories (DOM / TOM), which requires additional time and hassle.
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 in 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.