British Indian Ocean Territory

The British Indian Ocean Territory, also known as the Chagos Islands, is centrally located in the Indian Ocean, south of the Maldives, about halfway between Madagascar and Indonesia. The main island, Diego Garcia, is a military facility off limits to anyone not on official duty, but some of the uninhabited outer islands can be visited by independent yachters with advance permission. To quote the British Indian Ocean Territory travel advice through the British Foreign Office: "The British Indian Ocean Territory is not a tourist destination. Access is restricted and a permit is required in advance of travel. There are no commercial flights and permits are only issued to yachts in safe passage. Access to Diego Garcia is only permitted to those with connections to the military facility." In 2024, Britain announced that the Chagos Islands except Diego Garcia would be handed over to Mauritius. However, the final treaty is yet to be negotiated and no Chagossians have moved back yet, meaning that opening to tourism is still years away. For now, visiting yachters still need to follow the British government's entry requirements.