British Indian Ocean Territory
Eastern Africa
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.
Guide content adapted from the Wikivoyage article "British Indian Ocean Territory". Source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Weather
Live28°C
Overcast · feels like 28°C
- 64%
- 22 km/h
- AQI 28
- SunOvercast27° / 28°
- MonOvercast28° / 28°
- TueOvercast27° / 28°
- WedOvercast27° / 29°
Measured at the country centroid, not a specific city.
Money
LiveUnited States dollar (USD)
- $1 USD
- $1.000
- €1 EUR
- $1.153
Reference rates for 2026-08-07. Indicative — not the rate a bureau will give you.
What a trip to British Indian Ocean Territory costs
Visas, flights, beds, food and everything in between, priced for your party and your dates. Every line shows its own arithmetic, so you can disagree with the parts you know better than we do.
Your trip
8 days on the ground
Estimated cost
$2,488
$1,244 per person · $155 per person per day
- $100
Visa & entry
$50 × 2 — typical tourist visa or eVisa fee
- $1,415
Flights
$707 return × 2 · 9,488 km
- $302
Accommodation
$43/night × 7 nights × 1 room · Standard
- $208
Food & drink
$13/person/day × 8 days × 2
- $80
Local transport
$5/person/day × 8 days × 2
- $16
SIM & internet
$8 per person, once × 2
- $144
Attractions
$9/person/day × 8 days × 2
- $38
Travel insurance
$2/person/day × 8 days × 2
- Subtotal
- $2,303
- Miscellaneous (8%)
- $184
- Total
- $2,488
Budget at a glance
Per day
$311
Per person
$1,244
Family of 4
$4,975
7 days
$2,488
14 days
$3,259
30 days
$5,021
The 7, 14 and 30-day figures re-price the whole trip at that length — flights and visas do not repeat, so a month is far from four times a week.
A planning estimate, not a quote — ground costs are modelled from a cost tier for British Indian Ocean Territory, not scraped from live inventory. Your settings are saved to this device.
Entry requirements
This information is for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK. It is based on the UK government’s understanding of the current rules for the most common types of travel.
The authorities in British Indian Ocean Territory set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the British Indian Ocean Territory administration.
Restricted access
The British Indian Ocean Territory is not a tourist destination. There are no commercial flights, access is restricted and you need a permit before you travel.
Passport validity requirements
To enter the British Indian Ocean Territory, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the date you arrive and have at least 2 blank pages.
Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.
You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.
Yachting permit requirements
Yacht crews must have a mooring permit to enter the British Indian Ocean Territory and make safe passage through the Indian Ocean (outer islands only).
Applying for a mooring permit
You must apply for a mooring permit at least 6 weeks in advance and have proof of appropriate travel insurance. Read guidance on applying for a mooring permit.
Source: UK FCDO, published 2024-04-08 under the Open Government Licence.
Getting help
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) cannot provide tailored advice for individual trips. Read this travel advice and carry out your own research before deciding whether to travel.
British Indian Ocean Territory is a British Overseas Territory, so there is no British Embassy. The British Indian Ocean Territory administration based in London provides assistance for British nationals.
Emergency services in British Indian Ocean Territory
If you are in a life-threatening situation, declare it as a maritime emergency. Authorities will consider all reasonable assistance. You can contact:
- British Indian Ocean Territory authorities in Diego Garcia by radio on 2.182MHz HF SSB or VHF
- British Indian Ocean Territory police station on +246 370 29 38
Contact your travel provider and insurer
Contact your travel provider and your insurer if you are involved in a serious incident or emergency abroad. They will tell you if they can help and what you need to do.
Refunds and changes to travel
For refunds or changes to travel, contact your travel provider. You may also be able to make a claim through insurance. However, insurers usually require you to talk to your travel provider first.
Find out more about changing or cancelling travel plans, including:
- where to get advice if you are in a dispute with a provider
- how to access previous versions of travel advice to support a claim
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