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Peregrine Travel Centre

Zanzibar and the Treasures of the Indian Ocean 2021

Zanzibar and the Treasures of the Indian Ocean 2021

From AUD $10,720

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Description

Embark with PONANT for a 13-day expedition cruise in the Indian Ocean. A chance to discover stunning natural environments, exceptional wildlife, and UNESCO World Heritage sites loaded with history.

From Victoria on the island of Mahé, you will first sail to La Digue, where a veritable picture-postcard of the Seychelles awaits you: palm trees, granite rocks, white sand and crystal-clear waters. Further on, the small islands Alphonse and Astove, in the southern part of the Seychelles archipelago, will be an opportunity to snorkel and dive among brightly-coloured sea life, before reaching Aldabra Atoll, a largely untouched natural sanctuary listed as World Heritage by UNESCO.

After calling at the Glorioso Islands, part of the Scattered Islands, your ship will set a course for Mayotte. This small French archipelago protected by a double barrier reef is the refuge of an incredibly rich fauna: dolphins, rays, giant turtles, and the region’s last dugongs can be observed here.

Your next ports of call will be an opportunity to discover several of the wonders of Tanzania: the ruins of the 13th-century Swahili trading post of Kilwa Kisiwani, as well as Pemba Island and its clove plantations and fantastic scuba diving.

This fabulous trip will draw to an end in Zanzibar, a city with superb UNESCO-listed buildings, blending African, Arab, Indian and European influences over more than a millennium.

Trip Name
Zanzibar and the Treasures of the Indian Ocean 2021
Days
13
Overview
Vessel Type: Luxury Passenger Capacity: 92 cabins Built: 2017/2018 Featuring innovative and environmentally-friendly equipment, elegantly designed cabins, spacious suites with large windows, and lounge areas that open onto the outside, this new limited-capacity yacht boasting just 92 cabins 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 Bougainville 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. Through its two restaurants, Le Bougainville will invite you on a journey to elegance and epicureanism. In a relaxed atmosphere, a first dining area located on Deck 3 and able to seat 70 will serve grilled meats daily, along with a variety of salads and desserts. 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. PUBLIC AREAS Like Le Boréal and its sisterships, Le Bougainville 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 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 2 - Day 2 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 3km)! 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 - Day 3 ALPHONSE ISLAND
Alphonse Island is located off the Seychelles archipelago. Discovered in 1730 by the Knight Alphonse de Pontevez, this island, specialised in coconut processing in the past, is now a veritable natural reserve, home to different species of marine mammals, sea turtles and many birds. Alphonse Island is also renowned for its rich underwater life and coral, among the best preserved in the Indian Ocean. A marvellous spectacle that can be admired with just a mask!
Day 4 - Day 4 ASTOVE ISLAND
Closer to Madagascar than to Victoria, Astove is the southernmost island in the Seychelles. It is part of the Aldabra group, in the Outer Islands of the Seychelles. 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 5 - Day 5 ALDABRA ATOLL
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 4 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 6 - Day 6 ASSUMPTION ISLAND
Assumption Island is part of the Aldabra group (Outer Islands), situated in the south-west of the Seychelles. Discovered in the mid-18th century by the French captain Nicolas 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 7 - Day 7 GLORIEUSES, SCATTERED ISLANDS
The Scattered Islands are like minuscule confetti sprinkled around Madagascar and form an archipelago of unrivalled beauty. Their geographical isolation, and their very limited human settlement make them a true geological sanctuary, classed as a nature reserve since 1975. Regularly used as the “zero point” in scientific studies, they offer their rare visitors almost pristine vegetation composed mainly of mangrove, as well as long beaches of shimmering sand stretching out behind turquoise lagoons, and coral reefs that are home to the world’s highest concentration of sea turtles.
Day 8 - Day 8 MAMOUDZOU
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Day 9 - Day 9 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 10 - Day 10 KILWA KISIWANI
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Day 11 - Day 11 PEMBA ISLAND
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Day 12 - Day 12 PEMBA ISLAND & MISALI ISLAND
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Day 13 - Day 13 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.
Day 14 - Please Note:
Itineraries are subject to change.

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type
12-03-202124-03-2021AUD $10,720Deluxe Stateroom
12-03-202124-03-2021AUD $12,120Prestige Stateroom Deck 4
12-03-202124-03-2021AUD $12,780Prestige Stateroom Deck 5
12-03-202124-03-2021AUD $13,470Prestige Stateroom Deck 6
12-03-202124-03-2021AUD $19,230Deluxe Suite
12-03-202124-03-2021AUD $26,500Prestige Suite Deck 5
12-03-202124-03-2021AUD $27,870Prestige Suite Deck 6
12-03-202124-03-2021AUD $29,310Privilege Suite
12-03-202124-03-2021AUD $32,340Grand Deluxe Suite
12-03-202124-03-2021AUD $34,010Owner's Suite
24-03-202105-04-2021AUD $10,720Deluxe Stateroom
24-03-202105-04-2021AUD $12,120Prestige Stateroom Deck 4
24-03-202105-04-2021AUD $12,780Prestige Stateroom Deck 5
24-03-202105-04-2021AUD $13,470Prestige Stateroom Deck 6
24-03-202105-04-2021AUD $19,230Deluxe Suite
24-03-202105-04-2021AUD $26,500Prestige Suite Deck 5
24-03-202105-04-2021AUD $27,870Prestige Suite Deck 6
24-03-202105-04-2021AUD $29,310Privilege Suite
24-03-202105-04-2021AUD $32,340Grand Deluxe Suite
24-03-202105-04-2021AUD $34,010Owner's Suite

Inclusions

    • Discover the Seychelles, the Scattered Islands, Mayotte and several islands of Tanzania during one same cruise.
    • Outings in Zodiac® inflatables with a team of experienced naturalist guides and landings on idyllic beaches.
    • UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Aldabra, the largest coral atoll in the world, the ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani, and Zanzibar’s Stone Town.
    • Discover the Glorioso Islands, a geological sanctuary with nature reserve status since 1975.
    • 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.
    • The possibility of observing tortoises and many species of birds on Aldabra.
    • Flora, coral reefs and marine fauna of the archipelago of Zanzibar, the “Spice Island”.
    • Possibility of diving (PADI Advanced Open Water Diver or equivalent) with an experienced instructor on board and of snorkelling with your expedition team.

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