Zanzibar and the Jewels of the Indian Ocean

Discover Mahé, the main island of the Seychelles and also the largest of the archipelago, home to the capital Victoria. Mahé is home to nearly 70 fine sandy beaches framed by the emblematic granite rocks, bathed in crystal clear waters renowned for their rich seabed. The island is also famous for its splendid mountainous panoramas accessible by hiking, such as the Morne Seychellois, overlooking the Indian Ocean from the top of its 905 metres. Mahé is also an island full of history where beautiful colonial properties and Creole houses stand side by side, not forgetting the marvellous botanical garden of Victoria.

The island of La Digue is a true summary of all the beauties of the Seychelles archipelago. Situated 6 km south-east of Praslin, this small piece of land with the appearance of paradise is, despite its modest size (5 km by 3 km), the third largest island in the Seychelles! Turquoise water inviting to swim, luxuriant vegetation sheltering giant turtles, fine sandy beaches fringed with coconut palms and surrounded by the emblematic large granite rocks with pink reflections such as the famous Source d’Argent cove: the postcard is perfect… Authentic and preserved, the island lives at a peaceful pace, the only means of transport along its small roads being the bicycle or the traditional bullock carts.

Coconut palms, filaos, white sandy beaches, warm and transparent waters: everything here lends itself to reverie and idleness, in an intimate setting where the blue of the sky completes this true postcard image. You are on Desroches Island, the largest of the Amirantes group, in the Outer Islands of the Seychelles. This 6 km long coral atoll, covered with lush vegetation, is surrounded by spectacular seabed where it is not uncommon to come across sharks and manta rays. On the beach, you may be lucky enough to spot sea turtles, which have come here to lay their eggs. In the north of the island, a lighthouse still in activity stands guard, while the small village houses a chapel and a cemetery.

Alphonse Island is located off the Seychelles archipelago. Discovered in 1730 by the knight Alphonse de Pontevez, this island, formerly specialised in the processing of coconuts, is today a true nature reserve, home to various species of marine mammals, sea turtles and numerous birds. Alphonse Island is also renowned for its rich seabed and corals, which are among the best preserved in the Indian Ocean. A marvellous spectacle that can be admired with a simple mask!

During your day at sea, enjoy the many services and activities on board. Treat yourself to a moment of relaxation at the spa or keep fit in the gym. Depending on the time of year, you can also enjoy a swim in the pool or sunbathing. This non-stop day will also be an opportunity to attend the conferences and shows offered on board, to do some shopping in the shop or to meet the Ponant photographers in the space dedicated to them. Lovers of the open sea will go to the upper deck of the ship to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps have the chance to observe marine species. A truly enchanted interlude between comfort, rest and entertainment.

Closer to Madagascar than to Victoria, Astove is the southernmost of the Seychelles islands. It is part of the Aldabra group in the Outer Islands of the Seychelles. Now uninhabited, this coconut-covered coral island was once populated by workers in the coconut groves. Renowned for its rich seabed, Astove Atoll is now a favourite spot for fishing enthusiasts. It also attracts experienced divers, who come to explore the “Astove Wall”, a 40-metre deep underwater fault covered in coral and frequented by many fish and green turtles.

Cosmoledo Atoll owes its nickname of the Galapagos of the Indian Ocean to the beauty of its seabed, which attracts the most experienced divers: parrotfish, giant rays and clams populate the reefs of its crystal clear waters. Fascinating marine life comes to life as colourful fish, protected by the extraordinary coral reef, flock to feed in the currents formed by the vast tidal movements. Once exploited for coconuts and agave, the atoll is now uninhabited, apart from an eco-resort in the heart of the nature reserve which is home to green turtles and large colonies of sooty terns and red-footed boobies.

Assumption Island is part of the Aldabra (Outer Islands) group, located in the southwestern part of the Seychelles archipelago. Discovered in the middle of the 18th century by the French captain Nicolas Morphey, this bean-shaped island, covered with dunes and shrubs, offers a relatively flat relief. A handful of people live in a small village on the west side of the island. The island’s beaches are a major nesting and breeding site for marine turtles. In addition, the surrounding waters are an ideal place for scuba diving. It was here that Jacques-Yves Cousteau filmed some of the scenes in his famous documentary film “The Silent World”, released in 1956.

During your day at sea, enjoy the many services and activities on board. Treat yourself to a moment of relaxation at the spa or keep fit in the gym. Depending on the time of year, you can also enjoy a swim in the pool or sunbathing. This non-stop day will also be an opportunity to attend the conferences and shows offered on board, to do some shopping in the shop or to meet the Ponant photographers in the space dedicated to them. Lovers of the open sea will go to the upper deck of the ship to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps have the chance to observe marine species. A truly enchanted interlude between comfort, rest and entertainment.

Close to the Tanzanian coast, about 300 km south of Dar es Salaam, Kilwa Kisiwani Island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Occupied from the 9th to the 19th century, it reached its peak 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 around the gold and ivory trade from the hinterland. The remains of its former port city cover a large part of the island. Those of its superb Great Mosque, the oldest surviving mosque on the East African coast, are worth a visit.

Known for its seabed, Misali became a protected conservation area in 1998. It is therefore possible to admire and swim on the seabed, but not to fish. If conditions permit, you may be lucky enough to see a variety of underwater wildlife. To the north-east of the island, a white sandy beach, bathed in crystal clear turquoise water, is an ideal place to relax.

The second largest island in the Zanzibar archipelago, bordered by fine sand and bathed in an infinite shade of turquoise sea, Pemba Island is astonishing for the whiteness of its shores and its abundant tropical forest. With its rolling hills and fertile land, it is known as the “Green Island”. You will be seduced by its uncrowded shores, vibrant with authenticity. Banana trees, coconut palms, clove trees, nutmeg trees… its luxuriant vegetation ensures a local production of spices which has made its reputation (cloves, mainly, but also nutmeg, vanilla, cinnamon, turmeric, pepper…).

A mythical stopover on the legendary route to India, Zanzibar still retains a sense of adventure. Off the Tanzanian coast, the “spice island” abounds in natural treasures, such as the Jozani forest, a remnant of the immense virgin forest that once covered the island with its unique ecosystem. The very rare red-crested colobus, an endemic monkey of the region, can be observed here. This stopover will also be an opportunity to discover the “stone city”, the historic centre of Zanzibar, classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site: a real labyrinth of narrow streets lined with houses built of coral stone, it is home to sumptuous buildings with a variety of architecture, the result of a mixture of African, European and Indian cultures.