A visa and a permit are required to visit these islands.
See Reunion Formalities for visa information.
Applications for permits must be made at least 2 months prior to the intended visit date. Permits are issued by TAAF (see details below) and the various forms and instructions can be downloaded from their website.
There is a mooring fee and a local tourist tax to pay.
The main anchorage is close to Ile du Lys and the French police are based on Glorieuse Island. They may or may not visit you to check your papers.
Last updated: November 2015
Siège des Terres Australes et Antarctiques Françaises (TAAF)
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Posted on behalf of Anton Kosi, of SY Mala – 10 November 2015:
We just left Juan de Nova, another French island in the Mozambique channel. We arrived, anchored, went swimming and were contacted by the French military over the VHF (there is a meteorological and military post on the island).
They instructed us to leave as soon as we had solved the reason for stopping there. Whilst we did not have any “good reason” on a beautifully sunny and perfectly calm day, we did not argue and left Juan de Nova before dark. So, generally, no “tourists” are welcome on the island.
Posted on behalf of Anton Kosi of S/Y Mala:
We stopped at the Glorieuse islands for two nights while in transit from Seychelles to Mayotte. French scientists on a large sailing boat who were there at the same time told us on the third day of our stay that a permit is needed to visit the islands, but short stays of a few days are tolerated without a permit if in transit to Mayotte.
No French police approached us. They are located on Glorieuse island while the main anchorage is close to Ile du Lys. And, indeed this is a wonderful place under and over the water. My suggestion to everybody sailing close to the islands is to stop there at least for a day or two.
We (Pakia tea) just thought we’d give it a chance and went to Glorioso without a permit. We anchored SW of Ile du Lys, stunning Lagoon, amazing Birdlife. Scientists from Reunion who visited the Island at the same time asked us to stay on the beach and not to venture inland to not disturb the animals, as it is a strict nature reserve.
On the second day of our stay, a RIB with young French Soldiers and a Police Officer came alongside and asked for our permit. Since we didn’t have one he said we should leave immediately.
We asked the Police Officer to come on board and explained that we originally hadn’t planned to visit this place, but that we were Biologists and very curious about the state of the local reefs – especially in the light of the current major bleaching event. He was friendly and understanding, we were allowed to stay one more night but had to leave early the next day.
For anyone who would like to visit this fantastic place in the future, permits can be obtained at Reunion, from TAAF.
Please respect the nature reserve – strictly no fishing and taking of wildlife!
From stormy Richards Bay 🙂
Tom