Vanilla Islands

A tourism alliance of islands in the southwest Indian Ocean (Mauritius, Seychelles, Réunion, Madagascar's Nosy Be, the Comoros and Mayotte), known for beaches, volcanoes and Creole culture.

The Vanilla Islands (Îles Vanille) is a tourism brand launched in 2010 by six island countries and territories of the southwest Indian Ocean: Mauritius, Seychelles, Réunion, Madagascar, the Comoros and Mayotte. The name comes from the vanilla that these islands all produce. For visitors, it is a set of tropical islands that can be linked by island-hopping, sharing a French-Creole culture. Highlights: the granite boulders of Anse Source d'Argent on La Digue and the coco de mer palms of the Vallée de Mai on Praslin in the Seychelles; the lagoon of Le Morne, the Seven Colored Earths and the "underwater waterfall" in Mauritius; the active Piton de la Fournaise volcano, the cirque of Mafate and the Pitons, Cirques and Remparts hikes (a World Natural Heritage site) in Réunion; and the beaches, ylang-ylang and whale sharks of Nosy Be in Madagascar. A common plan is to combine 1–2 islands over 7–12 days, such as Mauritius plus Réunion (a 45-minute flight) or Mauritius plus the Seychelles; honeymooners often choose island resorts in the Seychelles or Mauritius, while hikers favor Réunion. Mauritius is the regional hub, with direct flights or connections via Dubai or Singapore, and Air Mauritius, Air France and others link the islands. Visa rules differ by island: Réunion and Mayotte are French overseas departments outside the Schengen area, so a visa must be arranged separately. Prices on the islands are high, and weather can change quickly on rainforest and volcano trails.

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