The Glorioso Islands (or Glorieuses) are a group of islands and atolls located off the coast of Mozambique to the southwest and Madagascar to the southeast. The archipelago consists of two main islands, Grande Glorieuse and Ile du Lys, and eight rock islets. Grande Glorieuse is thickly vegetated with casuarina trees and coconut plantations, while Ile du Lys consists of scrubs, sand dunes, and mangroves, which serve as nesting grounds for turtles and migratory seabirds.

The Glorioso Islands was first settled by a Frenchman in 1880 by the name of Hippolyte Caltaux. He set up coconut and maize plantations on the island of Grande Glorieuse. Eventually, the archipelago was colonized by the French in 1892. During the first half of the 20th century, Seychelles companies negotiated to exploit the islands’ phosphate quarries. Today, Glorioso has been designated a nature reserve. There is also a meteorological station that is patrolled by French troops. While the islands are administrated by the French, Seychelles, Madagascar, and Comoros all claim the Glorioso as their own.

Attractions
The Glorioso Islands is not known as a tourist destination. While Grande Glorieuse does have an airstrip, there are no regularly scheduled commercial airlines that travel to the islands. Visitors who do find their way to the Glorioso Islands can enjoy the deserted beaches, explore the island's vegetation, tour the plantations, and admire the various seabirds and nesting turtles.

Climate
The climate in Glorioso is tropical – hot and humid year-round.