Overview
Editorial Correction
'Reunion Island, British Indian Ocean Territory' is not a real destination. These are two entirely separate and unrelated places, and combining them produces a fictitious location. Publishing invented travel information about it could mislead real travelers.
Réunion (French overseas department)
Réunion is an island in the Indian Ocean, roughly 170 km southwest of Mauritius. It is an integral part of France and the European Union. Its capital is Saint-Denis. It is known for Piton de la Fournaise (one of the world's most active volcanoes), dramatic hiking trails including the UNESCO-listed cirques, and a rich Creole culture. The currency is the Euro; the official language is French.
British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) / Chagos Archipelago
BIOT is a UK Overseas Territory in the central Indian Ocean, consisting primarily of the Chagos Archipelago. Diego Garcia, its largest atoll, hosts a joint US–UK military base and is closed to civilian visitors. As of the time of writing, sovereignty over the archipelago is the subject of ongoing international negotiations between the United Kingdom and Mauritius. There is effectively no civilian tourism infrastructure.
What TravelerPulse recommends
If you arrived at this page looking for one of these destinations, please navigate to our dedicated guides:
- Réunion Island — French Indian Ocean department with hiking, volcanoes, and Creole cuisine.
- British Indian Ocean Territory / Chagos — a restricted military zone; civilian access is not permitted and no tourism guide is appropriate.
We do not publish invented destination content, in keeping with our editorial standards.
