Zanzibar & the Seychelles in Luxury

Your cruise starts in Victoria, the beautiful capital of the Seychelles which is located on Mahé, the largest island in the archipelago. You may wish to arrive here a few days early to enjoy some of the island’s 70 beaches, each one as stunning as the next. Embarkation will begin in the afternoon.

Your first stop will be the magnificent Anse Source d’Argent beach on the wonderful island of La Digue. A perfect picture postcard scene, La Digue exemplifies everything about the Seychelles and its striking beauty. The turquoise waters invite you for a swim or a snorkel in search of the giant tortoises, the emblematic large granite rocks with their pink highlights are a sight to behold, and the beaches fringed with coconut trees are simply unforgettable. What a way to start your adventure!

Next up we head for the beautiful Remire Island which is renowned for its unique biodiversity, especially underwater. The exceptionally rich underwater life here make snorkelling a real delight, with a myriad of colourful fish living among the coral reefs that border the island. Above the water, the birdlife here is also fantastic and we will hope to view many different species as we enjoy a walk along the island’s lush vegetation.

One of the three idyllic islands in what is considered to be the most unspoiled archipelago in the Outer Islands of the Seychelles, Bijoutier Island is part of the Alphonse Atoll and is set within beaches lined with coconut trees and surrounded by beautiful coral reefs. The island is home to a conservation centre which can be visited to learn all about the island’s natural treasures, including its populations of frigate birds, herons, giant crabs and tortoises.

Staying within the Outer Islands of the Seychelles, in the afternoon we make our way to St. François Island, a coral atoll covered in coconut trees that exemplifies the Seychelles’ picture-postcard beauty to a tee. The immaculate crescent-shaped beach is simply stunning, and occupied solely by birds and turtles. With a multitude of tropical fish in the surrounding waters, this is another ideal spot for a snorkel.

Day 5 will be spent at sea relaxing after what will have been a busy first few days of our trip. Make use of the many luxury facilities and amenities onboard including the swimming pool, spa, fitness suite and observation lounge.

On day 6 we will reach Astove, an uninhabited island which is the southernmost island in the Seychelles. This coconut-lined island is a top destination for divers and snorkellers thanks to the richness of its seabeds and its famous “Astove Wall” where the sea floor drops to a depth of about 40 metres and where many fish and green sea turtles can be found.

Known as the “Galapagos of the Indian Ocean” thanks to its amazing underwater world that attracts divers from all over the globe, the Cosmoledo Atoll is home to a fascinating array of marine wildlife including giant rays, parrotfish and clams to name just a few. The island is uninhabited apart from an eco-resort in the heart of the nature reserve which you can visit to see the green turtles that are sheltered here along with colonies of red-footed boobies and sooty terns.

Our next adventure takes us to the bean-shaped island of Assumption. Covered in shrubs and dunes, the island is home to a small population and was the setting for some scenes in Jacques-Yves Cousteau’s famous documentary film “The Silent World”. The main draw for tourists here is the fact that the beaches are a major egg-laying and breeding site for sea turtles.

We will enjoy another relaxing day at sea before arriving at the island of Kilwa Kisiwani which lies close to the Tanzania coast and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Described by the famous Moroccan explorer Ibn Battouta as “one of the most beautiful cities in the world”, Kilwa Kisiwani is well-known for its ruins. A former Swahili trading city, the island prospered from the trade of gold and ivory from the inland regions. The remains of its former port city cover a large part of the island. Those of its superb Great Mosque, the oldest mosque remaining on the coast of East Africa, are well worth a visit.

Moving into the beautiful Zanzibar archipelago, we now reach the idyllic Misali Island where you can enjoy a spot of relaxation along the immaculate white sandy beach surrounded by stunning turquoise waters. You may also enjoy a swim or snorkel to see the island’s varied underwater fauna.

Staying within the Zanzibar region, our last full day of adventure will bring us to Pemba Island, the archipelago’s second-largest island. The bright white shores, which lead to fertile hills and abundant tropical forest are like something from a movie scene and need to be seen to be fully appreciated. Banana trees, coconut trees, clove trees, nutmeg trees… its lush vegetation ensures the local production of spices that has made its reputation (essentially cloves but also nutmeg, vanilla, cinnamon, turmeric, pepper, etc.).

There will be two optional excursions offered today. The first one will bring you to meet the seaweed farmers and school children of the local fishing village of Tumbe, and the second excursion will take you to the Kidike Flying Fox Sanctuary to see the famous Pemba Flying Fox which is a species of bat endemic to the island, and then on to the town of Chake Chake. Full details and prices for these excursions are available on request.

Your luxury Indian Ocean cruise ends in the centre of Zanzibar, home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of “Stone Town”. After disembarkation in the morning, you may wish to spend some further time here to discover this labyrinth of narrow streets lined with houses made from coral stone. For advice on extending your stay here please ask one of our destination experts.