Backpacking is a fantastic way to travel, explore and experience the beautiful world that we live in. It allows travellers to see the world outside of prim and proper resorts and gives visitors a more accurate picture of the country.
Though the world is rife with beautiful places to backpack, the Indian Ocean provides many fantastic travel opportunities that backpackers often overlook. Below we have outlined three of our favourite destinations on the Indian Ocean, each providing travellers with unique experiences and landscapes that will provide a lifetime of memories as this is most important.
Jervis Bay
Jervis Bay is the mecca for backpackers in Australia. With plenty of hotels to choose from and odd jobs for backpackers, it can be an affordable vacation spot where you can stop to make a little extra money for your travels. Whether you hope to hike, kayak, watch, surf, or participate in a wildlife cruise, many exciting adventures await you in Jervis Bay. We recommend snorkelling or diving in Jervis Bay Marine Park, where you’ll likely see sea creatures like cuttlefish, octopus and sea dragons.
Mauritius
Mauritius is a tiny volcanic island nation that can be found 1200 miles off of the southeastern coast of Africa. The island is small enough to be driven up and down in one day. Mauritius is famous among resort tourists because of its tropical climate, beautiful azure waters and sandy beaches, but it is doable by backpackers on a budget as well. A great feature of Mauritius is that all of the island’s beaches are public. As such, those folks paying top dollar at villa resorts will have access to the same beaches as someone staying in a much more modest (and affordable) hostel. The island is home to colonial-era architecture, waterfalls, and no shortness of adventure.
Madagascar
On the southeast coast of Africa lies the beautiful island of Madagascar. It’s the fourth largest island in the world, and a whopping 80% of the plant and animal life on the island is not found anywhere else on Earth. Because of the unique landscape, including rainforests, beaches, and mountains, Madagascar is a favourite tourist place, with no shortage of sights. Hotels are relatively cheap in this country, though you may need to budget more for airfare. We recommend viewing the national tree of Madagascar – baobabs – at Andohahela National Reserve, or if you’re in the country anytime between June and September, you can watch whales migrate on the northern edge of the east coast.
Whether you’re hoping to live like the locals, spend time on the beach, explore the country on foot, hike, kayak or learn the history of the country you’re visiting, the destinations in our backpacking guide will provide you with some of the most memorable experiences you’re likely to have on your journey. If you are unsure how to book your backpacking tours, you can contact a tour operator. These days with the help of free, open-source software like WordPress, every tour company has an online presence. You can also make a simple Google search and reach out to many tour organizers who can guide you in making the right choice!