Dream dates INDIAN OCEAN
The Indian Ocean is an aspirational destination for many clients, a castaway or special occasion choice. Yet Mauritius, Seychelles, Maldives and Sri Lanka all have so much more to offer BY JANE ANDERSON
M
auritius is the most southerly of the group of nations that are often collectively referred to as Indian Ocean destinations.
Located west of Madagascar, and with
a sophisticated upmarket tourism industry that has attracted the likes of the new St Regis resort, its assets are diverse. Alongside the palm-fringed pristine white- sand beaches Mauritius has volcanic peaks, sugar plantations, verdant forests and an eclectic mix of culture and history. Snorkelling, scuba diving and kitesurfing are popular watersports with some of the best deep-sea fishing in the world alongside hiking in the Black River Gorges National Park. Seychelles lies north of Mauritius but still resides in the southern hemisphere. It
offers excellent island hopping between its diverse group of 116 islands, both coralline and granitic. It has two World Heritage Sites, The Vallée de Mai and Aldabra. New developments include the opening of Raffles hotel on Praslin in January 2011 and the launch of Zil Air helicopter service, now merged with Helicopter Seychelles. It has some of the world’s most sought-after beaches, diverse eco-systems and the opportunity to see some of the world’s rarest plants and birdlife. There is a range of accommodation from uber-chic private island resorts to charming guesthouses. The Maldives lies southeast of the tip of
India. This low-lying, fragile group of atolls are renowned for their five-star resorts, which in recent years have been outdoing
one another in terms of luxury. Think overwater villas and underwater spas. Known as a honeymooners’ and divers’ paradise, the islands have been savvy enough to diversify. They now attract families from toddlers to teens, the grey market, spa and yoga lovers to its 97 established resorts – like Vivanta by Taj, Coral Reef, which offers personalised holidays based on anything from diving to dining, in its protected lagoon. Now firmly back in favour, Sri Lanka
holds the key for clients looking to combine rich culture with a beach holiday or incredible forts, palaces and cities rich in heritage. A new draw card for Sri Lanka is that all of its national parks are
Diving is a key sector for Indian Ocean holidays
www.sellinglonghaul.com • September 2010 45
TONY BASKEYFIELD
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