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Peregrine Travel Centre

The Vanilla Islands 2021

The Vanilla Islands 2021

From AUD $9,250

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Description

Embark with PONANT on an expedition cruise to the “Vanilla Islands”, from the Seychelles to Madagascar via the Comoros and Mayotte. This 10-day itinerary aboard Le Bougainville will be an opportunity to discover little-known places of breathtaking natural beauty, an original fauna and flora, as well as meet the locals.

Thanks to the on-board presence of a diving instructor, you will be able to enjoy unforgettable dives in an exceptional underwater environment.

From Victoria on the island of Mahé, you will first sail to Praslin island. Don’t miss the chance to visit the Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve. There you will find sea coconuts, gigantic endemic fruits with a very evocative shape, nicknamed the “love nut”.

Further on, the small islands of Alphonse, Astove and Assumption, in the southern part of the Seychelles archipelago, will be an opportunity to snorkel and dive among brightly-coloured sea life.

You will then reach the Glorioso Islands, part of the Scattered Islands. This beautiful archipelago with very few inhabitants is home to exceptional fauna and flora including, in particular, marine turtles.

Your next ports of call will be Mohéli in the Comoros Islands, known for its incredible biodiversity, followed by Mayotte. This small French archipelago protected by a double barrier reef is the refuge of an extremely rich fauna: dolphins, rays, giant turtles, and the region’s last dugongs can be observed here.

Finally, you will reach Madagascar, the island continent, and disembark in Nosy Be, known for its beautiful old-growth forests where rosewood, camphor and ylang-ylang trees thrive.

Please note: your voyage rates include Transfer + flight Nosy Be/Mauritius.

Trip Name
The Vanilla Islands 2021
Days
10
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 PRASLIN ISLAND
Situated some forty kilometres away from Victoria, Praslin is the second largest island in the Seychelles. Its idyllic beaches where granite rocks nestle in immaculate sand correspond perfectly to how we imagine the Seychelles to be. They invite visitors to dive into the turquoise waters, which are ideal for snorkelling. In the centre of the island, hidden in the heart of a stunning tropical rainforest, lies the Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In this veritable plant sanctuary, several endemic species of palm trees can be observed, as well as the famous sea coconut, which can weigh up to 20 kg and is sometimes called “coco fesse” because its shape calls to mind a pair of buttocks.
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 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 6 - Day 6 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 7 - Day 7 MOHÉLI
Moheli is the smallest island in the Comoros archipelago; it is also the wildest. Covered in luxuriant vegetation, it is home to the first protected natural environment in the Comoros: Moheli National Park. A huge sanctuary with rare and endemic fauna, this marine and terrestrial reserve provides the opportunity to discover the island’s incredible biodiversity. Among other animals, the rare visitors to the park may spot the Comoro falcon, the maki (a lemur living exclusively in this region) and Livingstone’s fruit bats, the largest flying foxes in the world with a wingspan of up to 1.5 metres. The site is also an important egg-laying spot for green sea turtles.
Day 8 - Day 8 MAMOUDZOU
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Day 9 - Days 9 - 10 NOSY KOMBA
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 10 - Please Note:
Itineraries are subject to change.

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type
14-02-202123-02-2021AUD $9,250Deluxe Stateroom
14-02-202123-02-2021AUD $10,310Prestige Stateroom Deck 4
14-02-202123-02-2021AUD $10,790Prestige Stateroom Deck 5
14-02-202123-02-2021AUD $11,310Prestige Stateroom Deck 6
14-02-202123-02-2021AUD $15,640Deluxe Suite
14-02-202123-02-2021AUD $21,090Prestige Suite Deck 5
14-02-202123-02-2021AUD $22,130Prestige Suite Deck 6
14-02-202123-02-2021AUD $23,210Privilege Suite
14-02-202123-02-2021AUD $25,470Grand Deluxe Suite
14-02-202123-02-2021AUD $26,730Owner's Suite
23-02-202104-03-2021AUD $9,250Deluxe Stateroom
23-02-202104-03-2021AUD $10,310Prestige Stateroom Deck 4
23-02-202104-03-2021AUD $10,790Prestige Stateroom Deck 5
23-02-202104-03-2021AUD $11,310Prestige Stateroom Deck 6
23-02-202104-03-2021AUD $15,640Deluxe Suite
23-02-202104-03-2021AUD $21,090Prestige Suite Deck 5
23-02-202104-03-2021AUD $22,130Prestige Suite Deck 6
23-02-202104-03-2021AUD $23,210Privilege Suite
23-02-202104-03-2021AUD $25,470Grand Deluxe Suite
23-02-202104-03-2021AUD $26,730Owner's Suite

Inclusions

    • Discover the Seychelles, the Scattered Islands, the Comoros, Mayotte and Madagascar, all on the one same cruise.
    • Outings and shore visits in Zodiac® inflatables with a team of experienced naturalist guides.
    • UNESCO World Heritage Site: in Praslin, the Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve.
    • Encounters with local people.
    • A variety of idyllic landscapes: atolls, coral reefs, lagoons, granite landscapes, white-sand beaches, a rich and preserved fauna and flora.
    • Discover the Glorioso Islands, a geological sanctuary with nature reserve status since 1975.
    • 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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