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12 Night Zanzibar Aldabra and the Treasures of the Indian Ocean Cruise from Victoria

Ship: Le Champlain

Cruise Line: Ponant Cruises

Sailed: Monday, Feb 19, 2024 from Victoria, Seychelles

Ended: Saturday, Mar 2, 2024

The itinerary information below reflects the original day-by-day port of call schedule for the Monday, Feb 19, 2024 departure of the Le Champlain. If Ponant Cruises modified this itinerary for weather or operational reasons after departing , the modified schedule would not be reflected here.

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Itinerary

Day by Day Summary and Map

Day 1 - Monday - Feb 19, 2024

Victoria, Seychelles

Depart: 7:00 pm

Discover Mahe, the main island of Seychelles and also the largest of the archipelago, home to the capital Victoria. Mahe has almost 70 beaches of fine sand, framed by the emblematic granite rocks, and whose crystal-clear waters are renowned for their rich underwater life. The island is also famous for its splendid mountain panoramas accessible on hikes, such as the Morne Seychellois, which is 905 metres high and overlooks the Indian Ocean. Mahe is also an island full of history where fine colonial properties rub shoulders with Creole houses - and don't forget the marvellous Botanical Gardens in Victoria.

Day 2 - Tuesday - Feb 20, 2024

La Digue, Seychelles

La Digue Island is a veritable concentration of all the beauty of the Seychelles. Located 6 kilometres south-east of Praslin, this small piece of land that looks like paradise is the third-largest island in the Seychelles, despite its modest size (5 km by 3 km)! Turquoise waters just asking you to swim in them, lush vegetation sheltering giant tortoises, beaches of fine sand fringed with coconut trees and surrounded with those emblematic large granite rocks with their pink highlights like at the famous Anse Source d'Argent: the perfect picture postcard... Authentic and preserved, the island follows a peaceful rhythm, with the only means of transport along its little roads being bikes or traditional oxcarts.

Day 3 - Wednesday - Feb 21, 2024

St. Francois Island, Seychelles

In the heart of the Outer Islands of the Seychelles, St. Francois Atoll paints the Indian Ocean in an infinite palette of blues. This coral atoll, made up of the Bijoutier and St. Francois islands, is exactly what people imagine when they think of the Seychelles. Formed around volcanos having vanished into the abyssal depths of the Indian Ocean, its islands are protected by splendid and fragile coral reefs. Here, the population is composed of myriad birds on land and of sea turtles and a multitude of fish in the water, making this the ideal place for hiking or snorkeling.

Day 4 - Thursday - Feb 22, 2024

At Sea

During your journey at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on board. Treat yourself to a moment of relaxation in the spa or stay in shape in the fitness center. Depending on the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. As for lovers of the open sea, they will be able to visit the ship's upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observe marine species. A truly enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest, and entertainment.

Day 5 - Friday - Feb 23, 2024

Astove, Seychelles

Closer to Madagascar than to Victoria, Astove is the southernmost island in Seychelles. It is part of the Aldabra group in the Outer Islands. Now uninhabited, this coral island covered in coconut trees was once home to the employees that worked on the coconut plantations. Renowned for the richness of its seabeds, Astove Atoll is now a top destination for fishing enthusiasts. It also attracts experienced divers, who visit the atoll to explore the "Astove Wall", where the sea floor drops to a depth of about 40 metres. The wall is covered in coral and many fish and green sea turtles can be found there.

Day 6 - Saturday - Feb 24, 2024

Aldabra Island, Seychelles

Located in the very heart of this faraway archipelago, the Aldabra Atoll is considered to be one of the last virtually untouched sanctuaries on earth, where a large population of sea turtles has found refuge. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this vast tract of land is formed by four small coral reef islands separated by narrow passes and containing an emerald-water lagoon lined with mangrove and fine-sand beaches. As your ship slowly nears the clear, reflective waters along its shoreline, do not miss your chance to discover this natural wonder, which is considered to be the largest atoll in the world and once fired the imagination of many an explorer.

Day 7 - Sunday - Feb 25, 2024

Aldabra Island, Seychelles

Day 8 - Monday - Feb 26, 2024

Assumption Island, Seychelles

Assumption Island is part of the Aldabra group (Outer Islands), situated in the south-west of Seychelles. Discovered in the mid-18th century by the French captain Nicholas Morphey, this bean-shaped island covered in dunes and shrubs is relatively flat. A handful of people live there in a small village in the island's west. The island's beaches are a major egg-laying and breeding site for sea turtles. The surrounding waters are ideal for scuba diving. This is where Jacques-Yves Cousteau filmed some of the scenes for his famous documentary film "The Silent World", released in 1956.

Day 9 - Tuesday - Feb 27, 2024

At Sea

Day 10 - Wednesday - Feb 28, 2024

Kilwa Kisiwani, Tanzania

Near the Tanzanian coast, around 300 kilometres south of Dar es Salaam, the island of Kilwa Kisiwani is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Occupied from the 9th century to the 11th century, it reached its heights in the 13th and 14th centuries. It was described by the Moroccan explorer Ibn Battouta as "one of the most beautiful cities in the world". 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.

Day 11 - Thursday - Feb 29, 2024

Pemba, Tanzania, Tanzania

The second-largest island in the Zanzibar Archipelago, edged with fine sand and bathed in a sea in infinite shades of turquoise, Pemba Island astounds with the whiteness of its shores and its abundant tropical forest. It is mountainous with hills full of fertile land and has the nickname "Green Island". You'll fall in love with its quiet shores, full of authenticity. Banana trees, coconut trees, clove trees, nutmeg trees... its lush vegetation ensures the local production of spices that have made its reputation (essentially cloves but also nutmeg, vanilla, cinnamon, turmeric, pepper, etc.).

Day 12 - Friday - Mar 1, 2024

Mesali, Tanzania, Tanzania

Renowned for its underwater world, Misali became a protected conservation area in 1998. So, it's possible to admire its sea beds and swim there, but not to fish. If conditions allow, you'll perhaps have the chance to see varied underwater fauna. To the north-east of the island, a white sandy beach, bathed in stunningly transparent turquoise water, is an ideal place to relax.

Day 13 - Saturday - Mar 2, 2024

Zanzibar

Once a mythical post along the legendary Indian Ocean trade route, today a certain whiff of adventure still pervades in Zanzibar. Located off the coast of Tanzania, this place often referred to as "spice island" is brimming with natural treasures, such as Jozani Forest, the last remains of the huge primeval forest that once covered the island, home to a unique ecosystem. This port of call will also be the moment to discover "Stone Town", the historical centre of Zanzibar, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A veritable labyrinth of narrow streets lined with houses made from coral stone, it is home to sumptuous buildings in a multitude of architectural styles, the result of the blending of African, European, and Indian cultures.