7 Insta-Perfect Islands That Indians Can Visit Without a Visa

Run-Down:

Seychelles is a marine nation in East Africa. The Three Main Islands of Seychelles are Mahé, Praslin and La Digue. Mahe is the largest island of Seychelles where the majority of the population lives and is the main point of entry for tourists. Islands are not too far apart in the Seychelles and tourists can get around from the inter-island ferry services.

For example, Mahe to Praslin takes about 50 minutes and Praslin to La Digue is about 15 minutes.

Visa:

Seychelles visa for Indians can be obtained on arrival for free for a maximum stay of 30 days.

Things To Do:

1.) Cycle around the unadulterated island of La Digue.

2) Head to the beaches of Anse Source D’Argent or Anse Coco in La Dingue.

3) Watch out for the panoramic views over Anse Possession and Curieuse Island from the highest point on Praslin Island.

4) Visit Vallée De Mai, a UNESCO heritage site, to see the world-famous Coco de Mer Palm (world’s heaviest seed).

5) Beach-bumming at Anse Lazio, Anse Georgette, and Beau Vallon beaches that are to die for.

6) A boat trip over to Curieuse Island to spot the giant tortoises.

7) Chill Out MAX at the insanely amazing beach-side resorts.

How To Reach:

Seychelles has two major airports: Seychelles International Airport (SEZ) in Victoria and Praslin Island Airport. Mumbai airport operates a direct flight to Seychelles, while from Delhi Airport one can get connecting flights.

You can check it out here.

Best Time To Visit: The best months to visit Seychelles are April, May, October, and November.

Known for its private-islands, all-inclusive resorts, top spas, culinary destinations, and outdoor adventures, Fiji simply translates to a gorgeous island that is teeming with things to do.

Run-Down:

Fiji is archipelago of 333 tropical islands in the middle of the ocean, where the two major islands, Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, account for over 80% of the country’s population. Suva, the nation’s capital, is also located on Viti Levu.

You can check out Fiji's official travel website for more details.

Visa:

Fiji tourist visa is not required for citizens of India for a stay up to 120 days. All you need is a passport that is valid for at least 6 months beyond your stay and a return ticket.

Things To Do:

1) Get up close and personal with the marine inhabitants with an unforgettable scuba diving experience.

2) Fulfill your travel dreams by checking-in Fiji’s ultra-famous over-water bungalows.

3) Let your hair down at the electrifying party scene of the Beachcomber Island.

4.) Tick off skydiving from your bucket-list. Fly over Fiji’s coral reefs, clear waters, and sandy beaches.

5.) Shout out the jungle cry as you zip-line like Tarzan through the trees.

6.) Get wrapped in a banana leaf for a massage or just dump yourself in some therapeutic mud followed by a cleansing dip in a natural hot spring in Sabeto Hot Springs.

How To Reach:

Connecting flights to Nadi International Airport on the island of Viti Levu from Mumbai, New Delhi and Kolkata are available.

Fiji’s national airline also has regular direct flights from New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Honolulu, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

You can check it out here.

Best Time To Visit: Winter is from May to October, and temperatures dip to 26 °C, which is also the best time to visit. November to March is the wet season and there will be daily drizzles, however, that is the off-season so the prices will be heavily slashed making it ideal for budget travelers.

Run-Down:

Samoa, officially the Independent State of Samoa is a country consisting of two main islands, Savaii and Upolu, and four smaller islands. The capital city is Apia. Head to Samoa's official travel website for more details.

Visa:

Tourists to Samoa are not required to obtain an entry permit for stays of less than 60 days. However, you must have a return or onward ticket and your passport must be valid for at least six months at the time of entry into the country.

Things To Do:

1) Walk over cooled lava and witness semi-buried churches. A unique geological phenomenon, the Mt Matavanu eruption buried five villages throughout its three-year-long eruption.

2) Hike to Lake Lanotoo, Samoa’s largest volcanic crater lake, which is crystal green in colour.

3) Explore Cape Mulinu's dramatic scenery with towering cliffs and secluded beaches.

4) Relive your childhood days at the natural waterfall slides of Papase’ea Sliding Rocks. Or just swim away at the Afu Aau falls that cascade from the rain-forest into a natural plunge pool.

5.) Explore the magical underwater cave that connects to another cave through the lake in Piula Cave Pool.

6) Capture some mandatory "fake candids" at the many Samaon beaches for the gram!

7) Overnight in a ‘fale’. It is an open-sided, thatched-roofed hut along with a circular bed on the beach. There are no walls, however, blinds or mosquito nets can be lowered.

How To Reach:

There are no direct international flights. However, you can opt for connecting flights to reach Faleolo International Airport, Samoa from Mumbai and Delhi.

Check out here.

Best Time To Visit: July to November. Samoa's weather is warm and tropical all year round.

Run-Down:

This South Pacific Ocean nation is made up of roughly 80 islands that stretch 1,300 kilometers. Harborside Port Vila, the nation’s capital, is on the island of Efate which is also the most visited.

There are six main provinces each of which consists of a series of islands. You can check out the official tourism website for all the details.

Visa:

Vanuatu tourist visa is not required for citizens of India for a stay up to 30 days.

Things To Do:

1.) Get up close with erupting active magma at Mount Yasur volcano on Tanna island. It has been continuously erupting for centuries, but it can be approached safely.

2.) Trek through the jungle, across creeks, over bamboo bridges, through cascades and climb down a ladder to the huge Millennium Cave (almost like an Indiana Jones movie.)

3.) Mele Cascades is a series of clear aquamarine pools sprinkled all over the hillside with a striking waterfall finally flowing into a heavenly natural pool for you to dive into.

4.) Swim to the underwater, fully functional Vanuatu Post-office which is one of its kind.

5.) Plunge into the Blue Lagoons, situated on the eastern part of Efate Island. It is a large swimming hole located next to the sea making it uniquely salty at high tide and fresh at low tide. The lagoon is crystal clear! You can see everything until the bottom, which is approximately 6 meters deep.

6.) Shriek your guts out at the Pentecost Island by doing the world’s most primitive form of bungee jumping that is super fun.

How To Reach:

Bauerfield International Airport is the main airport of Vanuatu, located about 6.6 km from Port Vila. There are plenty of connecting flights to Vanuatu from Delhi, Mumbai and many other major Indian cities.

Check here.

Best Time To Visit:

Vanuatu has a tropical climate throughout the year, but the best time to visit is from April to October when the weather is much cooler. This season is ideal for exploring the islands and hiking through the rain-forest.

Run-Down:

The Cook Islands is a self-governing island country of 15 islands in the South Pacific Ocean in free association with New Zealand. Rarotonga, the visible tip of a volcanic cone, is the largest of the Cook Islands, and its capital, Avarua, is the commercial and cultural center of the islands.

Check out their travel website here.

Visa:

Cook Islands give visa on arrival to Indians for a period of 31 days. You must hold a passport valid for at least six months on entry with one blank visa page.

Things To Do:

1) Paddle-boating at Rarotonga’s Muri lagoon. The lagoon is so clear that you can see vivid coral and marine life right from your boat. They also have really cool LED lit boats.

2) Take a dip at the ravishing Wigmore’s waterfall on the trek to Needle mountain.

3) Stroll through the Muri beach night market with the sea-breeze wafting around.

4) Buy some exclusive black pearls and watch pearl farming at Manihikii the island of black pearls, located on top of an underwater mountain.

5) Cheer for your fave boats at the regattas and races of the unique Vaka sailboats that only exist in the Cook Islands.

6.) On Sunday morning, head to the CICC (Cook Islands Christian Church) that is made of coral and reverberates with the tunes of Maori hymns.

7.) Shops in Rarotonga sells perfumes and colognes scented with local flowers and is a great spot to pick up some gifts.

How To Reach:

All flights are to the capital island, Rarotonga. There are many connecting flights from Mumbai and New Delhi to Rarotonga.

You can check here.

Best Time To Visit: There is no bad time weather-wise to visit the Cook Islands, although the months of April, May, September, and October usually prove to be the best, climate-wise.

Run-Down:

Rising dramatically from the sea, a submerged mountain chain makes up most of the British Virgin Islands. It is part of a volcanic archipelago in the Caribbean and is a British overseas territory. They comprise of four main islands and more smaller ones. The largest island, Tortola, is home to the capital, Road Town.

Visa:

Indian citizens are granted a 31-day visa-free stay in the British Virgin Islands for tourism purposes.

Things To Do:

1) Immerse in The Baths, a spectacular rock formation on Virgin Gorda’s northwest shore, where huge granite boulders form a fascinating beach-front labyrinth of pools and caves.

2) Sail to Anegada and check out the Horseshoe Reef. Unlike the usual volcanoes or granite erosion, it was coral that raised this land-mass above the Caribbean sea millions of years ago.

3) On the north-eastern edge of Gorda, is a place sprinkled with docks and harbours, from charter yachts to jet skis, take your pick and hit the seas.

4) Take a walk through the by-lanes of Road Town, the bustling capital of the British Virgin Islands. Discover the bright hued walls and the main street sprawling with colorful Caribbean shacks.

5) Snorkel deep into the sea to experience the underwater Rhone National Maritime Park which houses a World War II ship-wreck.

6) Play in nature’s own Jacuzzi at The Bubbly Pool. This pool is a geological marvel where frothy white waves flow into a rock pool whenever the surge hits, making it a Jacuzzi with the onslaught of the swells.

How To Reach:

Terrence B International Lettsome Airport at the Beef Island is the main airport. Connecting flights from Mumbai and Delhi fly to Beef Island regularly.

Check it out here.

Best Time To Visit:

The best time to visit the British Virgin Islands is from early March to May and September to December.

Run-Down:

They are situated off the south-east coast of Africa, to the east of Mozambique and north-west of Madagascar. Travelers have yet to see and discover the great wonders that Comoros has to offer. The archipelago is made up of three islands: Grand Comore (the biggest one) Moheli and Anjouan.

Visa:

For Indian nationals, visa on arrival is available in Comoros. One must hold a return ticket, valid passport, accommodation proof and sufficient funds to cover the stay.

However, the applicant must have approval from the Consulate in India before obtaining the Visa on arrival.

Things To Do:

1) Find a scenic stretch of sand anywhere on Comoros and settle in. It is all untouched, deserted and beautiful.

2) Explore the Swahili-Shirazi style architecture at the town of Mutsamu in Anjouan, also famous for its waterfalls and abundant vegetation.

3.) Hit the white sand beaches in Mitsamiouli and visit the palaces belonging to the ancient Sultan.

4) Soak in the French charm at the island of Mahore.

5) Hike up to the Karthala volcano, which is an active volcano and the highest point of the island.

6) Traverse through Moroni, the capital of Comoros archipelago. Explore the Medina (the old town) with its narrow streets and the Grand Mosque Du Vendredi.

How To Reach:

There are plenty connecting flights to Prince Said Ibrahim International Airport in Moroni from New Delhi and Mumbai. The top airlines flying this route are Ethiopian Airlines, Jet Airways, Air India, and Vistara.

Best Time To Visit: July to November. This is the time when the weather remains more or less dry, and the beaches are least crowded.