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Paradise Islands of the Indian Ocean

Seychelles, Aldabra, Zanzibar with Lamu: From Port Victoria, Mahe Island to Mombasa 12 Day Expedition Cruise

D2523102411
Dates
10/24/23 - 11/04/23
Ship
SH Diana
Duration
11 Nights
Guests
2 Guest
Price From
$ 6,568
Per Person
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Trip Details

Explore palm-fringed beaches with white sands and discover the unique wildlife of the Seychelles from the luxury of our five-star expedition ship on our 11-night Seychelles & East Africa Discovery cruise. You’ll explore a handful of the remote 115 islands that make up this Indian Ocean archipelago, before heading to Tanzania and Kenya, known for their rich cultures and pungent spices, and ending our cruise in Mombasa. Diving, snorkelling and even surfing in these waters filled with colourful fish is pure joy. Head on land and you’ll encounter nesting turtles, giant tortoises, pink flamingos and red fodies who make these lush shores home. Board our boutique ship and join us as we uncover a slice of tropical paradise far from the crowds.

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Trip Highlights
Swim among exotic marine life alongside pristine palm-fringed beaches with white sand
Visit the world’s largest tortoise colony with more than 100,000 giant tortoises
Take in the aromas of Zanzibar’s market stalls heaped with locally grown spices like nutmeg and cinnamon
Hike through biodiverse forests in Tanzania, keeping a lookout for the Pemba flying fox
Learn about Swahili culture in the Swahili settlement of Lamu in Kenya
Itinerary Map
Itinerary
Port Victoria, Mahe Island Day 1

Backed by lush mountains, Victoria is the Seychelles’ compact capital city, home to charming Creole houses and two elegant cathedrals. Stalls at the bustling Sir Selwyn Selwyn-Clarke Market are piled high with spices, seafood and tropical fruit, while the Botanical Gardens are famed for slender coco de mer palms and ambling giant tortoises. You can learn about the islands’ colonial past and rich cultural traditions such as fishing and cooking at the National Museum of History.

Poivre Island Day 2

Ringed by white sand and topped with thick vegetation, Poivre Island is known for its astonishing array of marine life and birds. Part of a remote atoll 268 km southwest of Mahé, it’s a nesting ground for multiple species, including wading whimbrels and darting red fodies. Watch for hawksbill and green turtles who glide beneath the water and bury their eggs on the island’s beaches. This tropical islet was named after Pierre Poivre, who first brought spices to the Seychelles.

Bijoutier Island Day 3

Tiny Bijoutier Island is popular for beach picnics, snorkelling and wildlife-spotting. You can stroll around the palm-fringed shore of this remote Outer Islands gem in mere minutes, keeping an eye out for spotted tiger cowrie shells and scuttling giant crabs on the white sand. Accessible only at high tide, the circular islet is surrounded by clear, shallow waters and is a sanctuary for soaring frigatebirds and wedge-tailed shearwaters. It’s also a nesting site for turtles.

At Sea Day 4

You can spend your day at sea enjoying the many facilities available. Head to the sauna, get in a workout in the state-of-the-art gym or relax in the jacuzzi whilst taking in incredible views along the way. If you prefer to learn a little more about your surroundings, listen to an informative talk or have a chat with one of our knowledgeable on-board experts.

Aldabra Islands Day 5 - 6

Comprising 13 islands around a lagoon, this massive raised coral atoll is home to the world’s largest tortoise colony. More than 100,000 lumbering giant tortoises inch their way around the isolated archipelago’s protected landscape, which features hundreds of flowering plant and fern species. You might be lucky enough to spot swooping Aldabra drongos - endemic to the islands - or wading pink flamingos. Look out too for scavenging white-throated rails, the only flightless bird remaining in the Indian Ocean.

Assumption Island Day 7

A tranquil white-sand beach stretches for miles alongside brilliantly turquoise water on the west coast of Assumption Island. Part of the Aldabra Group, the kidney-shaped island lies more than 1,000 km southwest of Mahé and is known for its colourful butterfly species, including the belenois aldabrensis. You may bump into sauntering giant tortoises or catch a flash of green as an Assumption day gecko scampers past. Keep an eye out for evidence of nesting sea turtles near the shoreline.

At Sea Day 8

You can spend your day at sea enjoying the many facilities available. Head to the sauna, get in a workout in the state-of-the-art gym or relax in the jacuzzi whilst taking in incredible views along the way. If you prefer to learn a little more about your surroundings, listen to an informative talk or have a chat with one of our knowledgeable on-board experts.

Zanzibar Day 9

Cosmopolitan Zanzibar Island (Unguja) has a captivating mix of heritage architecture and spectacular beaches. Zanzibar City’s walkable old quarter, Stone Town (Mji Mkongwe), is a lively warren of narrow winding streets dotted with 18th- and 19th-century buildings. Highlights here include the Old Fort, which hosts performances in its outdoor amphitheatre, and the House of Wonders, an 1883 ceremonial palace with a grand clock tower. You’ll also come across stalls heaped with locally grown spices like nutmeg and cinnamon.

Pemba Island Day 10

Cloaked in lush vegetation, hilly Pemba Island is famed for its extensive clove farms, peaceful islets and white-sand beaches. The island’s biodiverse forests are a haven for grazing blue duiker (small antelope), and the Pemba flying fox, identifiable by its distinctive rusty-red fur and enormous wingspan stretching over 5 feet. Offshore, you can snorkel or dive in warm water among vibrantly coloured coral teeming with marine life including green turtles, whitetip reef sharks and nudibranchs.

Lamu Day 11

A storied Swahili settlement and former major trading hub dating back 700 years, Lamu is a delightful seafront town on the island of the same name. Clusters of ornate, well-preserved buildings built from coral stone and mangrove timber fill its maze of narrow streets. As you stroll the tiny alleyways, you can admire intricately carved wooden doors and arcaded facades, or take a peek into hidden courtyards. The fort and museum are fantastic places to learn about Swahili culture.

Mombasa Day 12

A dynamic coastal metropolis, Mombasa draws you in with its rich history and beguiling blend of cultures. For centuries, Arabs, Portuguese, Asians and British settlers have lived side by side in the enchanting old town, whose buildings meld African, European and African styles. Perched above the sea, Fort Jesus was built by the Portuguese in the 1590s to protect the city, while the bustling spice market is packed with fragrant stalls selling pepper, ginger and cardamom.

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Rates Include
Return regional flights to the port of embarkation and/or disembarkation (where specified)
Group return transfers from the airport to the cruise port (via our included accommodation where applicable)
One night pre-cruise accommodation with breakfast in a 4/5-star hotel or onboard
All meals onboard
Onboard accommodation in a stateroom selected category
24-hour room service
Coffee, tea, soft drinks and selected alcoholic beverages available 24-hours per day
Lecture programmes by our experienced expedition team and guest speakers
One selected shore excursion/expedition activities per port of call (Kayak not included, bookable for a fee on board)
Branded Swan Hellenic expedition parka and use of rubber boots in Polar Regions
Standard WiFi
Onboard gratuities & port taxes
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Itinerary Map
Itinerary changes and surprising experiences are part of expedition cruise life. The world has a habit of amazing us with incredible things when we yield to the unexpected. Join us with an open mind and a sense of adventure and you’ll find that this can pay off in the most rewarding ways.

09:00 AM – 05:30 PM (EST)

+1 (800) 537 6777
ARRANGE A CALLBACK
Stateroom
Number of Guests
Oceanview D4
20 m2 Sleeps 2
Oceanview staterooms features 2 single beds, bedroom and living room and a luxurious ensuite bathroom.
Price From
$ 0
Oceanview M4
20 m2 Sleeps 2
Oceanview staterooms features 2 single beds, bedroom and living room and a luxurious ensuite bathroom.
Price From
$ 0
Balcony D5
28 m2 Sleeps 2
Located on decks 5, these balcony staterooms feature 2 single beds or a double bed, distinct bedroom and living room areas, a luxurious bathroom and your own private 6 sq. m balcony.
Price From
$ 0
Balcony M5
28 m2 Sleeps 2
Located on decks 5, these balcony staterooms feature 2 single beds or a double bed, distinct bedroom and living room areas, a luxurious bathroom and your own private 6 sq. m balcony.
Price From
$ 0
Balcony D6
28 m2 Sleeps 2
Located on decks 6, these balcony staterooms feature 2 single beds or a double bed, distinct bedroom and living room areas, a luxurious bathroom and your own private 6 sq. m balcony.
Price From
$ 0
Junior Suite
35 m2 Sleeps 2
SH Diana’s Junior Suites features a Super King Size bed, separate living room area with homely flame-effect fireplace, private kitchen, luxurious en-suite bathroom and a 7 sq. m private balcony.
Price From
$ 0
Suite
44 m2 Sleeps 2
Our Suites features a superking bed and separate living room with and a soothing flame-effect fireplace a luxurious ensuite bathroom and a 12 sq.m. private balcony.
Price From
$ 0
Premium Suite
47 m2 Sleeps 2
SH Diana’s Premium Suites feature a Super King Size bed, separate living room with homely flame-effect fireplace, luxurious en-suite bathroom, spacious walk-in wardrobe and a 12 sq. m private balcony.
Price From
$ 0
Itinerary changes and surprising experiences are part of expedition cruise life. The world has a habit of amazing us with incredible things when we yield to the unexpected. Join us with an open mind and a sense of adventure and you’ll find that this can pay off in the most rewarding ways.

09:00 AM – 05:30 PM (EST)

+1 (800) 537 6777
ARRANGE A CALLBACK