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The British Indian Ocean Territory is located in the Indian Ocean between Africa and Indonesia. This British Overseas Territory consists of seven atolls and the largest and most important island of Diego Garcia. The atolls together form the Chagos Archipelago, which includes 7 atolls and about 60 islands and more than 2000 smaller rocks or mini-islands. Diego Garcia has been a British and American military base since the 1970s. In total, about 4000 people live on the islands, this includes the military personnel stationed here. The only airport of this atoll is also located on the military base. The other atolls belonging to the British Indian Ocean Territory are Salomon Island, Danger Island, Nelson’s Island, Eagle Island, Three Brothers, Peros Banhas, and Egmont Island. The airport at the military base is the only paved road on the archipelago. In an emergency, it can serve as an emergency landing site for the space shuttle. Tourists mainly come here for the beautiful beaches and the beautiful nature on and around the islands. The underwater life is of unparalleled beauty. These tourists will have to come to the island by boat.

The British Indian Ocean Territory has a tropical maritime climate, which is influenced by its location in the Indian Ocean. On the islands, the temperature is the same throughout the year, as is the average precipitation, and they are both on the high side. The islands are under the constant influence of the trade winds that blow past them. Due to the higher temperatures and the large amount of precipitation, there is a high average humidity on the islands, which is occasionally moderated by the trade winds. Tropical storms and hurricanes can occur here from December to May.

Climate figures

The figures below are based on long-term average climate statistics. The temperatures are displayed in degrees Celsius (°C).

Best time to visit the British Indian Ocean Territory

Do you want to know when is the best time to travel to the British Indian Ocean Territory? You can determine the best time to travel to a destination based on the weather and climate. In addition, there are other factors that are not directly related to the weather and that can influence the best travel periods for a travel destination. Think, for example, of holidays or festive periods, which makes traveling more interesting or not, because daily life comes to a standstill as a result. The chances that you will ever travel to the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) are very slim. The Chagos Archipelago, as these islands are collectively also called, is not accessible to tourists or other visitors, with a few exceptions. The British Indian Ocean Territory is set up as a military base for the United Kingdom. As a result, access is limited and you can only travel to the British Indian Ocean Territory by invitation. The largest atoll is Diego Garcia. About 4,000 people live here, made up of a mix of military personnel and subcontractors from the British and US military.

Best months

If you have to (or are allowed to) travel to the British Indian Ocean Territory because of your work, you can count on tropical temperatures, a fair amount of sun, but also a chance of showers. The best time to travel to the British Indian Ocean Territory is from May to august. This is the period in which there is less precipitation than in the other months.