Madagascar and Seychelles: Natural Treasures of the Indian Ocean – with Smithsonian Journeys

In alliance with Smithsonian Journeys. This cruise is part of a collection of PONANT voyages that are specially-tailored for English-speaking travelers who want to engage with the world. In addition to the usual elements of the PONANT experience, the listed price for these voyages includes transfers to and from the ship, talks and discussions aboard ship by world class experts, and a shore excursion or activity in each port of call that encourages guests to embrace the sights, sounds, tastes, and smells of the local environment and culture. The western reaches of the Indian Ocean contain some of the most beautiful tropical islands in the world, and this 11-day voyage aboard Le Dumont-d’Urville introduces the very best of them, as you sail more than 1,000 miles through the Seychelles Archipelago to northern Madagascar. Along the way, you will encounter coral reefs teeming with fish, colonies of seabirds breeding and nesting on jagged volcanic cliffs, lush vegetation, unbelievably picturesque beaches, and the opportunity to enjoy the natural beauty of an expansive open sea. Leaving the Seychelles' capital of Victoria on the island of Mahé, sail north to a group of small granite islands, where you spend two full days immersed in the essence of a tropical paradise—turquoise waters inviting you to swim, vegetation sheltering giant tortoises, and beaches of fine sand fringed with coconut trees. Explore La Digue, home to the iconic picture-postcard beach at Anse Source d'Argent; the bird sanctuary of Aride Island, where more than 1.25 million seabirds breed; and the "red island" of Curieuse, with its endemic coco de mer palms and free-roaming population of Aldabra giant tortoises. Turning to the southwest, Le Dumont-d’Urville sets a course for Remire Island, prized for its extraordinary biodiversity, especially its rich marine life, and then on to two pristine atolls in the heart of the Outer Islands of the Seychelles. Saint-François, covered in coconut trees, provides ideal habitat for myriad birds and sea turtles and is a splendid location for both hiking and snorkeling. Farquhar Atoll, the most southerly atoll in the Seychelles and a popular destination for fly fishermen, is your last call before reaching Madagascar—and your final opportunity to take advantage of the extraordinary birding and snorkeling offered by these tiny islands in the middle of the Indian Ocean. Your experience of northern Madagascar begins with two full days in Diego Suarez, the second-largest bay in the world, after Rio de Janeiro. The city (renamed Antsiranana in 1975), was an important naval outpost for the French until the late 20th century, and their influence remains clearly evident in the colonial architecture of the old town. But the primary attraction of the region is the bay itself. Comprising several smaller bays, including the famous Emerald Sea Lagoon and Andovazaha Bay, home to emblematic Sugarloaf Island, Diego Suarez offers splendid beaches, panoramic views, and an inviting, laid-back approach to life. Rounding the northern tip of Madagascar, Le Dumont-d’Urville arrives at Nosy Hara, a marine protected area and national park remarkably rich in wildlife: 279 species of coral fish, 108 species of corals, 5 species of sea turtles, whales, dolphins, 31 species of birds, and 18 species of reptiles including the smallest chameleon in the world. The final day before your voyage ends in Nosy Be is spent exploring two islands: the "lemur island" of Nosy Komba, covered in dense tropical rainforest that is the ideal habitat for the small mammals that are emblematic of Madagascar; and Nosy Tanikely, a tiny islet with a magnificent white sand beach on an unbelievably blue lagoon with an exceptional diversity of marine and terrestrial life. The encounters with the wildlife described above illustrate possible experiences only and cannot be guaranteed.