Experience the Indian Ocean with expertly guided small group tours. Our Indian Ocean Island Holidays are designed for travellers seeking remote beauty, cultural depth, and unspoilt landscapes, combining guided exploration with time to relax on some of the world’s most pristine beaches.
The Indian Ocean Islands stretch across turquoise waters between Africa and Asia, encompassing some of the world's most diverse and least-visited destinations. From the UNESCO-listed Stone Town of Zanzibar and the volcanic drama of Réunion to the extraordinary isolation of Rodrigues and the lush shores of Mahé, this is a region shaped by African, Arab, European and Creole influences — and still largely untouched by mass tourism.
Our small group Indian Ocean Islands tours bring seven of these remarkable islands together in a single 18-day journey. The Indian Ocean Explorer visits Zanzibar, the Comoros, Mayotte, Réunion, Rodrigues, Mauritius and the Seychelles — a rare island-hopping itinerary that combines cultural discovery, volcanic landscapes, pristine beaches and genuine off-the-beaten-track exploration in equal measure.
Indian Ocean Island
Small-group departures led by local experts, plus private tailor-made itineraries shaped around your interests, pace and dates.
Few tour operators offer a single journey that takes in Zanzibar, the Comoros, Mayotte, Réunion, Rodrigues, Mauritius and the Seychelles. Indian Ocean Islands tour packages that cover all seven in 18 days are extraordinarily rare.
The Comoros Islands and Rodrigues rank among the least-visited inhabited islands on earth. These are not destinations found in mainstream travel brochures — they reward curious travellers who want authentic encounters, real community life and landscapes that haven't been shaped around tourism.
The Indian Ocean Islands offer a range of landscapes found nowhere else in such proximity — active volcanoes and lava fields on Réunion, forested peaks above spice plantations on Zanzibar, coral lagoons around Rodrigues, and the lush granite shores of the Seychelles. One journey holds extraordinary natural variety.
African, Arab, French, British and Creole influences have shaped these islands over centuries of spice trading, colonial rule and cultural exchange. Stone Town's UNESCO-listed architecture, the Tamil temple hidden among Mauritian sugar cane fields and the French colonial waterfront of Réunion's capital all tell parts of the same complex story.
See itinerariesIndian Ocean Island rewards travellers who slow down — the best stories are found off the tour-bus route.
From the field
The Indian Ocean Islands span a wide geographical range, and climate varies between destinations. Generally, the region experiences a warm tropical climate year-round, with a wetter season from November to April — when cyclone risk is highest across Mauritius, Réunion and Rodrigues — and a drier, cooler season from May to October that brings calmer seas, clearer skies and more comfortable conditions for travel. Zanzibar and the Comoros follow a similar pattern, with the long rains arriving from March to May and shorter rains in November. The Seychelles receives rainfall throughout the year but remains pleasant outside the wetter months. Our Indian Ocean Islands tours depart in June, timed to catch the heart of the dry season across all seven destinations.
Looking to travel outside the typical windows? Our Indian Ocean Island tailor-made team can advise on the best time for you.
Dispatches, field notes and practical advice from our specialists.
Reviews from across our small-group programme. Independently rated 4.9 Excellent on AITO by 250+ travellers.
“An amazing trip! We had the most amazing holiday — over two weeks we had a taste of the cities, the culture, the mountains, a safari, and time at the beach. Our driver/guide made the whole trip very relaxing, and we were welcomed warmly by everyone we met, enjoying fabulous food and drink along the way. Undiscovered Destinations planned a really amazing itinerary for us with great hotels, a fabulous guide/driver, and interesting places to visit — they took great care to ensure we had an excellent holiday. We look forward to booking another holiday with them in the future. Thank you, Mark!”
Anna
“This adventure was always going to be very full-on, which is how we like our trips. I didn't count on getting bronchitis and ending up in hospital, however. The itinerary was quickly amended to avoid high-altitude destinations as much as possible while still making sure we had a chance to enjoy interesting experiences. While obviously sad to have missed some of the original sites, the revised itinerary was the only sensible option under the circumstances. I was extremely impressed with how Undiscovered Destinations and their local team handled the situation — taking the stress out of it, smoothing the way, rearranging the itinerary and booking new hotels, translating for me with the medical staff, and making sure I always had transport, medicines and anything else I needed. Nothing was too much trouble, and they kept in touch with me, each other, and the insurance company throughout. I can't recommend them enough!”
Grete
“My wife and I had a wonderful tour with Undiscovered Destinations. We had a different guide at each stop, and all of them were friendly, cheerful and knowledgeable. The local people were welcoming, and we always felt safe and comfortable. The beaches were spectacularly beautiful and empty of people, with warm, clear water, and each stop had its own character — some we loved for their unspoiled scenery, others for their history and the warmth of the welcome. We took the opportunity to snorkel on one of the most pristine reefs we've experienced, swimming with sea turtles and enormous manta rays that came right up to us out of curiosity. A wonderful destination for nature lovers.”
Frank
“Excellent. Action packed. Our local agent was excellent, and a good choice by Undiscovered Destinations. Because there were only two of us on the holiday, we had different guides at each stop, each one making sure we were handed over safely. All manner of transport was used, and we appreciated the different guiding strategies, the wealth of information given, the high level of English, and the genuine wish to show off their country at its best. Excellent.”
Cathy
“Far exceeding my expectations, this was one of the best trips I've ever done. A beautiful destination, with interesting history, lively ceremonies, lovely people and — surprisingly, for somewhere that sees so few tourists — absolutely no hassle on the streets. Excellent service from start to finish, with a first-class tour leader.”
Lynn
“We had a two-week trip with Undiscovered Destinations, flying in for two days first to break up the journey. It was a great trip, because we managed to see so much more than just the capital cities. This was the fourth trip we've taken with Undiscovered Destinations, and each one has been wonderful. Our guides were lovely — very professional and helpful. We rate UD very highly.”
Andy
“We had a fabulous trip with an excellent local guide, who took great care of us and enthusiastically shared his knowledge of both ancient and recent history, with lots of fascinating personal stories of his own life. We highly recommend this trip — Undiscovered Destinations were great to work with, and we hope to use them again.”
Jennie
“Everything was great — we got to witness a wonderful variety of wildlife, and thoroughly enjoyed the scenery and the hospitality of the people. A fabulous trip from start to finish.”
Debbie
“Excellent all-round trip. Drivers were conscientious and careful, accommodation was better than expected, and the scenery was stunning throughout.”
Alexis
“Fabulous, unusual destination, and great people. A private tour of somewhere little-visited, with great service from start to finish and excellent knowledge and advice from Undiscovered Destinations throughout.”
Steve
“An amazing trip! We had the most amazing holiday — over two weeks we had a taste of the cities, the culture, the mountains, a safari, and time at the beach. Our driver/guide made the whole trip very relaxing, and we were welcomed warmly by everyone we met, enjoying fabulous food and drink along the way. Undiscovered Destinations planned a really amazing itinerary for us with great hotels, a fabulous guide/driver, and interesting places to visit — they took great care to ensure we had an excellent holiday. We look forward to booking another holiday with them in the future. Thank you, Mark!”
Anna
“This adventure was always going to be very full-on, which is how we like our trips. I didn't count on getting bronchitis and ending up in hospital, however. The itinerary was quickly amended to avoid high-altitude destinations as much as possible while still making sure we had a chance to enjoy interesting experiences. While obviously sad to have missed some of the original sites, the revised itinerary was the only sensible option under the circumstances. I was extremely impressed with how Undiscovered Destinations and their local team handled the situation — taking the stress out of it, smoothing the way, rearranging the itinerary and booking new hotels, translating for me with the medical staff, and making sure I always had transport, medicines and anything else I needed. Nothing was too much trouble, and they kept in touch with me, each other, and the insurance company throughout. I can't recommend them enough!”
Grete
“My wife and I had a wonderful tour with Undiscovered Destinations. We had a different guide at each stop, and all of them were friendly, cheerful and knowledgeable. The local people were welcoming, and we always felt safe and comfortable. The beaches were spectacularly beautiful and empty of people, with warm, clear water, and each stop had its own character — some we loved for their unspoiled scenery, others for their history and the warmth of the welcome. We took the opportunity to snorkel on one of the most pristine reefs we've experienced, swimming with sea turtles and enormous manta rays that came right up to us out of curiosity. A wonderful destination for nature lovers.”
Frank
“Excellent. Action packed. Our local agent was excellent, and a good choice by Undiscovered Destinations. Because there were only two of us on the holiday, we had different guides at each stop, each one making sure we were handed over safely. All manner of transport was used, and we appreciated the different guiding strategies, the wealth of information given, the high level of English, and the genuine wish to show off their country at its best. Excellent.”
Cathy
“Far exceeding my expectations, this was one of the best trips I've ever done. A beautiful destination, with interesting history, lively ceremonies, lovely people and — surprisingly, for somewhere that sees so few tourists — absolutely no hassle on the streets. Excellent service from start to finish, with a first-class tour leader.”
Lynn
“We had a two-week trip with Undiscovered Destinations, flying in for two days first to break up the journey. It was a great trip, because we managed to see so much more than just the capital cities. This was the fourth trip we've taken with Undiscovered Destinations, and each one has been wonderful. Our guides were lovely — very professional and helpful. We rate UD very highly.”
Andy
“We had a fabulous trip with an excellent local guide, who took great care of us and enthusiastically shared his knowledge of both ancient and recent history, with lots of fascinating personal stories of his own life. We highly recommend this trip — Undiscovered Destinations were great to work with, and we hope to use them again.”
Jennie
“Everything was great — we got to witness a wonderful variety of wildlife, and thoroughly enjoyed the scenery and the hospitality of the people. A fabulous trip from start to finish.”
Debbie
“Excellent all-round trip. Drivers were conscientious and careful, accommodation was better than expected, and the scenery was stunning throughout.”
Alexis
“Fabulous, unusual destination, and great people. A private tour of somewhere little-visited, with great service from start to finish and excellent knowledge and advice from Undiscovered Destinations throughout.”
Steve
Every one of our Indian Ocean Island journeys can be rebuilt around your dates, pace and interests — or we’ll design something entirely new.
We’ll build one around you.
The Indian Ocean Islands lend themselves naturally to a tailor-made approach — the islands are spread across a vast ocean, and the right combination depends entirely on your interests, your pace and how long you have. A private itinerary might linger longer on Zanzibar for deeper cultural exploration of Stone Town, extend time in the Seychelles for snorkelling and diving on Mahé, or add a few days on Rodrigues to absorb the island's extraordinary isolation without a group timeline to follow.
Undiscovered Destinations can design a private Indian Ocean Islands itinerary around your preferred islands, with private transport, local guides and accommodation chosen to suit your travel style. Speak to our team to start planning.
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Our Indian Ocean Islands tour packages start from £9,950 per person. This includes accommodation throughout, most meals, all internal flights between islands, guided excursions and the services of a professional tour leader. A single room supplement of £1,995 applies for solo travellers who prefer their own room.
Shared across all tours that visit this destination. Read alongside your individual tour dossier for trip-specific details.
We constantly monitor official travel advice, including the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) Indian Ocean Islands Travel Advice, and will always advise clients of any warnings before departure. At the time of writing, there are no specific warnings against travel to the islands we visit on our Indian Ocean Islands tours — Zanzibar, the Comoros, Mayotte, Réunion, Rodrigues, Mauritius and the Seychelles.
Please contact us if you have any specific concerns or would like to understand what measures are in place to ensure your trip remains safe and trouble-free.
Join a small-group departure, or let our Indian Ocean Island specialists craft a private journey shaped around your dates and interests.
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