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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
$ 8,976
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 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
Victoria, Mahe Island Day 1

Victoria is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Seychelles, situated on the northeastern side of Mahé Island, the archipelago’s main island. It is a vibrant city with a mix of cultures and traditions, home to many attractions such as Victoria Market (Sir Selwyn Selwyn-Clarke Market), Clock Tower & National Museum of History, Arul Mihu Navasakthi Vinayagar Temple, The colorful house “Jivan Imports”, Botanical Gardens and more.

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.

Expedition Activities
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Snorkeling with Swan Hellenic Expedition Team
  • Included
  • Snorkel in the lagoon with your onboard marine biologists
  • Be on the lookout for schools of fish, turtles and rays nearby to the coral reef
Nature Walk with Swan Hellenic Expedition Team
  • Included
  • Explore the beach with your onboard guides
  • Try to see frigate birds, colonies of herons and giant crabs
Day at sea Day 4

Sea days are rarely dull. Take the time to sit back and let the world go by. The ship’s observation decks provide stunning views of the passing ocean. A day at sea gives you the opportunity to mingle with other passengers and share your experiences of this incredible trip or head to our library which is stocked full of reference books. Get an expert’s view in one of our on-board lectures or perhaps perfect your photography skills with invaluable advice from our onboard professional photographers.

Aldabra Atoll Day 5-7

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.

Day at sea Day 8

Days at sea are the perfect chance to relax, unwind and do whatever takes your fancy. So whether that is going to the gym, visiting the spa, trying to spot a whale from the deck, reading a chapter or two, or simply topping up your tan, these blue sea days are the perfect balance to the green days spent exploring on land.

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.

Shore Excursion
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Highlights Of Stone Town
  • Duration: 04 h 00 m
  • Included
  • Visist Stone Town declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in year 2000 and is a fine example of a Swahili Coastal trading town
  • See and smell the tropical fruits piled high and the freshly ground spices neatly packed for sale at the City Market
  • Take some time to learn about the "dark ages" at the East Africa Slave Exhibition, a collection of photographs that documents the role Zanzibar played in it
Sandbank Dhow Adventure
  • Duration: 06 h 00 m
  • Optional
  • Explore Zanzibar's splendid beaches and marine life during this memorable dhow boat and snorkeling adventure to the Sandbank
  • Relex at Pange Sandbank before your guided snorkeling session on a nearby reef
Half Day Jozani Forest
  • Duration: 03 h 30 m
  • Optional
  • Visit the only natural reserve in Zanzibar
  • Rare opportunity to view the (endangered) Red Colobus Monkey
  • Mangrove boardwalk over the swamps
Ruins and Spices of Zanzibar
  • Duration: 04 h 45 m
  • Optional
  • There was a time when the archipelago of Zanzibar produced 90% of the Worlds cloves
  • Smell, taste, touch and see different spice plants as well some of the fruits in season, some unique to Zanzibar
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.

Shore Excursion
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Flying foxes of Pemba
  • Duration: 04 h 40 m
  • Included
  • Enjoy a scenic drive past a lush countryside interspersed with some local villages
  • Explore the Kidike Flying Fox Sanctuary and learn about the Pteropus voeltzkowi, a species of bat endemic to the island of Pemba
  • On the way back to the port enjoy a panoramic drive of Chake Chake and a short walk in the market
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.

Shore Excursion
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Exploring Lamu
  • Duration: 03 h 00 m
  • Included
  • Stroll through the narrow alleys lined with intricately carved Swahili style doors
  • Listen to the fascinating tales of Lamu's past, revealing the influence of Arab, Indian, and European traders who left an indelible mark on this coastal gem
  • Explore the vibrant Lamu Museum, where artifacts and exhibits transport you back in time
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
Regional flights to the port of embarkation and/or disembarkation (ONLY available for Antarctica cruises starting or ending in Ushuaia, Arctic cruises starting and ending in Longyearbyen and Kangerlussuaq)
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

We are providing a list of sample excursions that Swan Hellenic may offer on this itinerary, which are subject to change. We constantly update our shore excursion program with exclusive and genuine experiences, so please do not hesitate to review your excursion program choice closer to your departure date.

We invite all guests to visit swanhellenic.com for the most updated information.

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 Suite features a Super King Size bed, separate living room area, walk-in closet, luxurious ensuite bathroom, and a 7 sq. m private balcony.
Price From
$ 0
Suite
44 m2 Sleeps 2
Our Suites feature a Super King Size bed and separate living room with a soothing flame-effect fireplace, a luxurious ensuite bathroom, a walk-in closet, and a 6 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 ensuite bathroom, spacious walk-in wardrobe and a 12 sq. m private balcony.
Price From
$ 0

We are providing a list of sample excursions that Swan Hellenic may offer on this itinerary, which are subject to change. We constantly update our shore excursion program with exclusive and genuine experiences, so please do not hesitate to review your excursion program choice closer to your departure date.

We invite all guests to visit swanhellenic.com for the most updated information.

09:00 AM – 05:30 PM (EST)

+1 (800) 537 6777
ARRANGE A CALLBACK