Easiest Indian Ocean cruise ports to explore on your own

Ranked: easiest first

1. Nosy Be (Hell-Ville) Madagascar Moderate
   The market and main streets start within a few minutes' walk, though pavements are rough and it's hot. · Tender
2. Port Louis (Mauritius) Mauritius Moderate
   Caudan Waterfront is 8–10 minutes' walk; central market and city sights 15–20.
3. Antsiranana (Diego Suarez) Madagascar Moderate
   The town centre (Rue Colbert, Place Joffre and the market) is about 1.5 to 2 km from the port: 15 to 25 minutes on foot, but hot, dusty and with little shade. · Tender
4. Colombo Sri Lanka Moderate
   Galle Face Green is about 3 km away: shuttle, taxi or tuk-tuk (10–20 minutes plus traffic).
5. Goa (Mormugao) India Moderate
   Vasco da Gama town is about 4 km from the berth.
6. Mangalore (Mangaluru) India Moderate
   The city centre (St Aloysius Chapel, the markets) is about 10 km, roughly 30 minutes by taxi in traffic.
7. Réunion (Le Port / Pointe des Galets) Réunion (France) Moderate
   Saint-Denis, the capital, is about 20 km away (20 to 40 minutes by road); the beaches of Saint-Gilles are a similar distance south.
8. Kochi (Cochin) India Moderate
   Fort Kochi is not a practical walk from the secure port; use a shuttle, taxi, auto-rickshaw or ferry.
9. Malé Maldives Moderate
   Malé is compact and walkable from the jetty. · Tender
10. Mumbai India Moderate
    The Gateway of India and Colaba are about 20 minutes by taxi.
11. Victoria (Mahé, Seychelles) Seychelles Moderate
    Victoria's small centre (clock tower, market) is a short walk or taxi; distances vary by berth.

How we rank

Ports are grouped by our rating (Easy, then Moderate, then Book a tour). Within each group, the shortest walk to town or the main sights that our guide states comes first, then the shortest stated distance. The quote under each port comes from its guide; check your pier, because some ports have more than one. How we rate ports.