Love the Maldives and Seychelles? Try These 6 Alternative Indian Ocean Islands

The Indian Ocean has long been cast as the ultimate once-in-a-lifetime escape. Paradisical blues, white-sand beaches and swaying palm trees conjure images of honeymoon bliss, making it feel like the sort of destination you visit just once and spend years reminiscing about. Yet, the reality is rather different. After experiencing this corner of the world for the first time, chances are you'll be planning your return before you've even unpacked.

Fortunately, a second trip doesn't have to mean retracing your steps. Beyond the region's best-known destinations — Mauritius, the Maldives and the Seychelles — lie quieter islands with wilder landscapes and various unique cultural experiences. Here are six alternatives to consider.

For surfer cool

Love Bali? Try: Mentawai, Indonesia

Bali may have helped put surfing on the map, but those craving the laid-back atmosphere that first made the island famous should set their sights on the Mentawai Islands.

Around 90 miles west of Sumatra, this remote Indonesian archipelago is made up of around 70 islands. They’re best known for their long, reef-break waves, but inland the islands offer a different kind of draw: Indigenous Mentawai communities, many of whom still practise traditional tattooing and live off the rainforest much as their ancestors did.

Consistent swells and warm tropical waters have made the Mentawais one of the world’s most celebrated surf destinations, attracting everyone from seasoned professionals to adventurous intermediates. Yet despite its reputation, the islands retain a wonderfully remote feel. Direct charter flights from Kuala Lumpur are expected to launch in 2027, but for now, a journey of around 10 hours including a flight to Padang followed by a ferry, helps to keep visitor numbers low.

Days are spent chasing legendary reef breaks such as Lance’s Right, snorkelling coral reefs or exploring jungle-fringed shores, before gathering for sunset drinks and fire-cooked seafood with fellow surfers.

 The Mentawais remain largely low-key. Accommodation is centred around relaxed surf camps and intimate beachfront resorts rather than large-scale developments, preserving the easygoing spirit that has long defined the islands.

For wildlife

Love Madagascar? Try: Comoros

Madagascar is rightly celebrated for its wildlife, but neighbouring Comoros offers remarkable biodiversity in a far more intimate setting. Set between Madagascar and mainland Africa, the volcanic archipelago is one of the Indian Ocean’s least-visited destinations, and its pristine reefs, lush forests and marine reserves shelter an impressive array of wildlife.

A guided tour is the best way to explore responsibly. Highlights include the Mwali Unesco Biosphere Reserve, where humpback whales, spinner dolphins, manta rays and tropical fish thrive alongside one of the world’s most important green turtle nesting beaches. Inland, forests shelter Livingstone’s fruit bats and mongoose lemurs.

For historic wonder

Love Zanzibar? Try: Lamu, Kenya

If it’s the winding streets, carved wooden doors and rich Swahili history of Zanzibar that appeal, Kenya’s Lamu Archipelago offers a quieter but equally captivating alternative. At its heart lies Unesco-listed Lamu Old Town, a settlement continuously inhabited for more than 700 years and once East Africa’s most important trading centre. Built from coral stone and mangrove timber, its elegant houses reveal Arabic, Persian, Indian and European influences, while labyrinthine alleyways lead past mosques, bustling markets, craft workshops and restaurants serving freshly grilled fish and fragrant coconut curries.

Spend a few days wandering its atmospheric streets, watching traditional dhows drift across the harbour, browsing artisan workshops or taking a boat to seven-mile-long Shela Beach.

Subira House, set behind the carved facade of a 200-year-old Arab-style building, is an ideal base. Meals showcase produce from the property’s own farm, and guests can take part in activities including Arabic calligraphy, woodcarving and Swahili poetry.

(Want to See a Different Side of Kenya? Explore its Sacred Swahili Coast.)

For outdoor adventure

Love Mauritius? Try: Réunion, France

With its lush mountains, rainforest hiking trails and wealth of outdoor activities on offer, Mauritius has long appealed to travellers who prefer to stay active between beach days. Some 140 miles to the south west of Mauritius, its Mascarene archipelago neighbour Réunion offers a similarly adventurous
spirit, but perhaps on an even grander scale.

Rising dramatically from the Indian Ocean, the volcanically active island is a landscape of soaring peaks, lava-formed valleys and deep forest, with nearly half its territory protected as a Unesco-listed national park. Hikers are spoiled for choice, whether tackling Piton des Neiges — a 9.5-mile round-trip climb that’s either a challenging one-day excursion or a two-day outing — or exploring the island’s three cirques, vast natural amphitheatres carved by ancient volcanic collapse. Cirque de Salazie, with its waterfalls, cloud forest and rare orchids, is among the most accessible.

The islands also share a rich cultural heritage, shaped by French, African, Indian and Chinese influences. Réunion’s cuisine reflects this diversity, with everything from fragrant cari (curry) and samosas to baguettes and stir-fried noodles. Refuel with traditional rougail (sausage stewed in a spiced tomato sauce) or chicken cari at Chez Maillot in Cilaos or sample vanilla-infused duck at the farm-to-table Ferme Auberge Annibal.

For island-hopping

Love Seychelles? Try: Lakshadweep, India

Island-hopping is one of the great pleasures of the Indian Ocean, and while the Seychelles has long been the region’s classic multi-island escape, India’s little-visited Lakshadweep archipelago offers a quieter alternative. Scattered across the Arabian Sea, off Kerala’s coast, its 36 coral islands are fringed by dazzling lagoons, powder-soft beaches and vibrant reefs, yet receive only a fraction of the visitors.

Travelling between inhabited islands such as Agatti, Kavaratti and Kadmat by ferry or high-speed boat is all part of the experience. Along the way, you’ll encounter deserted sandbanks, crystal-clear waters and some of India’s finest diving and snorkelling, alongside a distinctive Muslim culture shaped by centuries of maritime trade.

Tourism is carefully managed, with all visitors requiring permits to enter the islands. Travelling with a specialist operator such as State Express makes exploring straightforward, with itineraries taking in Kochi, Agatti and Bangaram.

Accommodation is low-key, with simple cottages and thatched stays beneath coconut palms. For added comfort, Bangaram Island Resort offers spacious sea-facing suites.

(Can AI Save the Maldives’ Coral Reefs?)

For castaway luxury

Love the Maldives? Try: Bazaruto Archipelago, Mozambique

Honeymooners and families have long been drawn to the Maldives for its private-island resorts, turquoise lagoons and barefoot luxury. But travellers seeking a more remote castaway experience should look to Mozambique’s Bazaruto Archipelago, a protected national park set around 10 miles off the mainland’s south coast. Its five main islands —Bazaruto, Benguerra, Magaruque, Santa Carolina and Bangué — offer the same dreamlike combination of low-lying white sands, turquoise shallows and lush greenery, while adding a wilder sense of adventure.

Days here can be spent snorkelling coral reefs, sailing traditional dhows between islands, spotting marine life on boat safaris, diving in clear waters or heading inland to discover towering sand dunes, freshwater lakes and remote communities. The waters surrounding the islands are also home to one of the Indian Ocean’s richest marine ecosystems, with nesting turtles, whale sharks, dolphins and dugongs.

For those who want to combine wilderness with comfort, there are a handful of standout lodges. The flagship is Kisawa, a 740-acre retreat in the south of Benguerra Island, whose thatched-roof bungalows blend into the landscape. On the island’s west coast, andBeyond Benguerra Island Lodge offers beachside accommodation plus experiences including dhow sailing and horse-riding.