Adventure in Madagascar with Ponant aboard Le Bellot

Description

PONANT invites you on a brand-new expedition cruise in the Indian Ocean to discover “the island continent” of Madagascar. From Mauritius to the Seychelles, set off for 16 days aboard Le Bellot, between beaches, dives, encounters with local populations and the discovery of endemic fauna and flora in rarely visited places of stunning natural beauty.

From Port Louis, on the island of Mauritius, you will first sail to Réunion, before reaching the shores of Madagascar.

Out at sea await turquoise waters, the magnificent coral reefs and the natural pools of Nosy Ve, an islet of white sand that shelters a large colony of red-tailed tropicbirds.

You will discover the wild expanses of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserves in the south-west of Madagascar. Along the immense beaches edged with dunes in Sarodrano, you will experience an exceptional encounter with one of the planet’s last “sea nomad” people, the Vezo. You will discover their fishing villages and ancestral maritime know-how.

Near the mouth of the river Onilahu, Tulear enjoys an exceptional flora that will delight botanical lovers.

After exploring the picturesque and sumptuous city of Belo sur Mer, you will join Majunga where you will visit Ankarafantsika National Park, home to numerous bird and lemur species

Your ship will then set sail for the northern tip of Madagascar. You will be dazzled by the beauty of the deserted beaches and preserved coral reefs of the idyllic islets in the Nosy Tanikely, Nosy Komba and Nosy Hara marine parks, renowned for their fabulous underwater life.

Le Bellot will then sail for the island of La Digue, a veritable post card of the Seychelles: palm trees, granite rocks, white sand and crystal-clear waters. Finally you will reach Victoria on the island of Mahé, where your fabulous trip in the Indian Ocean ends.

Trip Name

Adventure in Madagascar with Ponant aboard Le Bellot

Days

Overview

Vessel Type: Luxury Expedition / Cruise Ship Length: 131 metres Passenger Capacity: 184 Built: 2019-2020 Featuring innovative and environmentally-friendly equipment, elegantly designed staterooms, spacious suites with large windows, and lounge areas that open onto the outside, this new limited-capacity yacht boasting just 92 staterooms and suites will offer you a truly unique cruising experience. As the first ship in a new series that remains true to the Ponant spirit, Le Bellot will embody the unique atmosphere that is the cruise line’s hallmark: a subtle blend of refinement, intimacy and comfort. Aboard this ship that flies the French flag, you will experience the incomparable pleasure of an intimate cruise, with the possibility of exploring an ever-increasing range of destinations in an ethnic-chic ambiance with luxury service. Experience a luxurious setting where the accent is on authenticity and passion for travel. RESTAURANTS As it is an essential part of French culture, gastronomy will naturally have pride of place aboard this new ship. To the back of Deck 4, you will find a 260 m² panoramic restaurant which can accommodate all of our passengers in a single sitting. Designed differently to that on our other ships, this dining area, which opens onto the outside, will have a buffet of salads, desserts and cheeses at your disposal. Our discreet and attentive crew will provide table service for hot meals. In a relaxed atmosphere, an outdoor grill on Deck 3 will serve grilled meats with a variety of salads and desserts. PUBLIC AREAS Le Bellot has many common areas that are designed and equipped to meet all of your needs while preserving the intimacy of each passenger. A 140 m² reception area includes: A reception/concierge desk, An excursions desk, The ship’s administrative services, The sales office, manned by our Guest Relations Officer, Our 50 m² boutique which sells clothing, jewellery, beauty products, postcards and various accessories, Toilets accessible to passengers with reduced mobility. A new hydraulic platform with adjustable height provides: Easier boarding than on any other cruise ship, Easier Zodiac embarkation and disembarkation for expeditions, Easier access to the sea for swimming and practising various water sports such as kayaking or paddle-boarding. A pool deck offering: A pool with a panoramic view, equipped with a counter-current swimming system, A pleasant solarium, An outdoor bar and lounge with armchairs and sofas. A 200 m² main lounge which can accommodate all of our passengers to share convivial moments and to host activities organised during the day or evening. Lastly, a theatre that seats 188, equipped with: The latest sound and lighting technology, A LED wall as the stage backdrop, for the projection of high-resolution images and videos.

Itinerary

Day 1 - Day 1 PORT LOUIS

On the north-west coast of Mauritius, discover Port-Louis, the country’s multicultural capital. Constantly in movement, the city, which was once a port of call on the route to India, is home to many cultural and historic treasures. In addition to the city’s market where you will be able to discover all the local flavours and many handicrafts, make sure that you visit Fort Adelaide. Nestling on the heights of Port-Louis, this citadel built in the 16th century, classified as a national heritage monument, offers sumptuous views over the surroundings. Not far from there, the Pamplemousses Botanical Garden will reveal to you its countless plant species, coming from all four corners of the world.

Day 2 - Day 2 POINTE DES GALETS

At the end of the 19th century, the construction of the port of Pointe des Galets lasted seven years, with the town called Le Port emerging in its wake. You’ll also hear the name “Port-Réunion” used to designate the Pointe des Galets, which is the main port on the island of Réunion. In fact, it is the only port in France that has five functions: naval base, passenger terminal, commercial port, fishing port and marina. The old town of the Port conjures up the area’s rich history, which is connected to transport. Here you’ll be able to discover the former house of the Réunion Railway and Port Company (1878), its marine cemetery and its teeming covered market.

Day 3 - Days 3 - 4 AT SEA

During your day 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 centre. Depending on the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. This day without a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or shows proposed on board, to do some shopping in the boutique or to meet the PONANT photographers in their dedicated space. 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 4 - Day 5 NOSY VE

Five kilometres out to sea from the Malagasy village of Anakao, Nosy Ve is an unspoilt paradise of exceptional wild beauty. Located on a two-kilometre (1.2 miles) long coral bank, this island is unique in that it is home to a colony of endemic birds commonly called red-tailed tropicbird. This nature reserve, a nesting site for rare birds, is unique because it is this species’ only reproduction site. The duckboards installed on the island will enable you to observe the birds hidden from view under the forest of Madagascar jewel. This Eden dotted with natural pools is also a setting for coral, fish and sea turtles you can discover while snorkelling.

Day 5 - Day 6 SARODRANO & TOLIARA

Sarodrano is a small village in the south-west of Madagascar in the province of Atsimo-Andrefana, at the mouth of the Onilahy River. This village of Vezo fishermen possesses the authentic and unspoiled charm of remote places. You will be surprised by the dexterity with which these “nomads of the sea” steer their outrigger canoes to fish, or keep up their ancestral traditions like seaweed cultivation. If the tide allows it, you will also have the possibility of discovering the sacred cave of Sarodrano, a natural fresh water pool separated from the sea by just 10 metres (33 feet) of rocks.

Day 6 - Day 7 TOLIARA

Located to the south-west of the island of Madagascar, near the mouth of the River Onilahy, Toliara is a port town that opens onto the Mozambique Channel. Inhabited for several centuries, becoming prosperous during the colonial period in the 19th century, Toliara is a cheerful town with unspoilt nature and exceptional flora that will certainly appeal to fans of botany. The Antsokay Arboretum botanical garden with nearly 1,000 Madagascar plant species, 90% of which are endemic, is worth a fragrant and charming detour. Cultural heritage will not be outdone, with the interesting museums of Mahafaly ethnology and the Museum of the Sea.

Day 7 - Day 8 BELO SUR MER

In the south west of the Menabe Region, in the district of Morondava, you will marvel at the picturesque beauty of Belo sur Mer. This peninsula edged with mangroves alternates fine sandy beaches with rocks plunging into a sea whose shades fall between deep blue and crystal-clear green. This fishing village is renowned for its dhows, the traditional sailing boats of Madagascar, which are built in situ, in the local artisanal boatyard. The choreography of these vessels coming and going on the beach sets the pace of life in the village, bestowing it with a unique charm.

Day 8 - Day 9 AT SEA

Day 9 - Day 10 MAJUNGA

A lively and cosmopolitan town on the west coast of Madagascar, Majunga, also called Mahajanga, will be a port of call rich in discoveries. The former capital of the Sakalava kingdom, then a significant interchange due to its prime position between Africa and the Middle East, the city displays an interesting cultural patchwork. Also renowned for its outstanding natural sites, this port of call will provide you with the opportunity to discover Anakarafantsika National Park, home to many endemic animal and plant species, or the Cirque Rouge, immense red sandstone formations classified as national heritage.

Day 10 - Day 11 NOSY TANIKELY & NOSY KOMBA

In the heart of the Nosy Be archipelago, discover Nosy Tanikely, nicknamed the “island of little earth.” In addition to a magnificent white sand beach bordering a lagoon of crystal-clear waters, the island, which is uninhabited, has exceptional marine and terrestrial biodiversity. Thanks to this, the area has been classified as a “marine and coastal protected area” since 2010. It is a perfect spot for swimming and snorkelling. Hiking fans won’t be left out either: a stunning walk that climbs to the summit of the island will enable them to discover the old lighthouse built at the beginning of the 20th century and enjoy superb views over the ocean and surrounding islands.During your cruise, your ship will stop in Nosy Komba, otherwise known as “lemur island”. Not far from the Madagascar mainland, this volcanic island shaped like a gigantic turtle shell is covered in dense tropical rainforest. This vegetation is home to amusing black lemurs – furry orange-brown and black creatures that are surprisingly agile and call to each other from amongst the trees. The many small beaches and the emerald-coloured water make Nosy Komba a natural gem that only a select few visit.

Day 11 - Day 12 NOSY HARA

Its limestone rock formations rising from the waters, or marine “tsingies” typical of Madagascar, make Nosy Hara both exceptional and immediately recognisable. Located to the north-west of Madagascar, the island is a protected area due to its incredible biodiversity. It is a veritable open-air aquarium inhabited by around 280 marine species. The rocky columns edged with gorgeous white-sand and pebble beaches fading into shades of deep blue make an idyllic place cut off from the world. Succumb to the charms of this untouched jewel that will welcome you into its stunning decor for a special experience. This is an ideal location for snorkelling.

Day 12 - Days 13 - 14 AT SEA

Day 13 - Day 15 LA DIGUE ISLAND

La Digue Island is a veritable concentration of all the beauty of the Seychelles. Located 6 km 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 14 - Day 16 VICTORIA, MAHÉ

Discover Mahé, the main island of the Seychelles and also the largest of the archipelago, home to the capital, Victoria. Mahé 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. Mahé 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 15 - Please Note:

Itineraries are subject to change. The encounters with the wildlife described above illustrate possible experiences only and cannot be guaranteed.

Trip Dates

Start	End	Price From	Room Type

Inclusions

A brand-new cruise discovering the incredible natural riches of Madagascar and its people with their authentic traditions.
Outings and shore visits in Zodiac® inflatables with a team of experienced naturalist guides.
UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the Biosphere Reserves in the south-west of Madagascar (Belo sur Mer, the coastline of Toliara and Sarodrano, Nosy Ve), the area of Pitons, cirques and remparts of Reunion Island.
A variety of idyllic landscapes: coral reefs, lagoons, rainforests or thorny forests, white-sand beaches, granite islands, volcanoes.
In the Seychelles, Anse Source d’Argent, the most famous beach of La Digue, surrounded by large blocks of granite and edged with coconut palms.
In Madagascar, a rich and preserved endemic flora and fauna: multi-coloured fish and green turtles, lemurs (ring-tailed and red ruffed), baobabs, chameleons, red-tailed tropicbirds, radiated tortoises.
An exceptional encounter with one of the planet’s last “sea nomad” people, the Vezo.
In the Seychelles, Anse Source d’Argent, the most famous beach of La Digue, surrounded by large blocks of granite and edged with coconut palms.
Possibility of diving (PADI Advanced Open Water Diver or equivalent) with an experienced instructor on board and of snorkelling with your expedition team.