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Victoria, Mahe Island

Paradise Islands of the Indian Ocean

Mahe Island - Mombasa - Example 13 Day Cruise aboard SH Diana
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Embark on a 13-day expedition cruise aboard the SH Diana and explore the diverse landscapes of Seychelles and East Africa. Discover palm-fringed beaches and unique wildlife as you explore a selection of the remote 115 islands within the Indian Ocean archipelago. Then, journey to Tanzania and Kenya to immerse yourself in their rich cultures and flavorsome spices. Enjoy activities like diving, snorkeling, and surfing in these vibrant waters teeming with colorful fish. On land, encounter nesting turtles, giant tortoises, and pink flamingos thriving in lush environments.
White Sand Beach of Pemba IslandGiant TortoiseGreen Sea TurtleLamu Old Town WaterfrontVictoria, Mahe Island
Highlights
  • Explore Victoria, the vibrant capital of Seychelles, with its mix of cultures and traditions
  • Discover Poivre Island's astonishing array of marine life and nesting grounds for various bird species
  • Experience the beauty of Bijoutier Island, with its palm-fringed shore and clear, shallow waters
  • Enjoy the tranquil white-sand beaches of Assumption Island
Places Visited
Activity Level: Relaxed
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Full Itinerary

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Day 1: Victoria, Mahe Island

Arrive in Victoria, relax, and spend the overnight here preparing for your adventure.

*Specific hotel and location to be announced

Day 2: Victoria, Mahe Island | Embark

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Victoria is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Seychelles, situated on the northeastern side of Mahé Island, the archipelago’s main island. It is a vibrant city with a mix of cultures and traditions, home to many attractions such as Victoria Market (Sir Selwyn Selwyn-Clarke Market), the Clock Tower and National Museum of History, Arul Mihu Navasakthi Vinayagar Temple, the colorful house "Jivan Imports," the Botanical Gardens, and more.

Day 3: Poivre Island

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Ringed by white sand and topped with thick vegetation, Poivre Island is known for its astonishing array of marine life and birds. Part of a remote atoll 268 km southwest of Mahé, it’s a nesting ground for multiple species, including wading whimbrels and darting red fodies. Watch for hawksbill and green turtles, which glide beneath the water and bury their eggs on the island’s beaches. This tropical islet was named after Pierre Poivre, who first brought spices to the Seychelles.

Day 4: Bijoutier Island

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Tiny Bijoutier Island is popular for beach picnics, snorkeling, and wildlife spotting. You can stroll around the palm-fringed shore of this remote Outer Islands gem in mere minutes, keeping an eye out for spotted tiger cowrie shells and scuttling giant crabs on the white sand. Accessible only at high tide, the circular islet is surrounded by clear, shallow waters and is a sanctuary for soaring frigatebirds and wedge-tailed shearwaters. It’s also a nesting site for turtles.

Day 5: Day At Sea

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Sea days are rarely dull. Take the time to sit back and let the world go by. The ship’s observation decks provide stunning views of the passing ocean. A day at sea gives you the opportunity to mingle with other passengers and share your experiences of this incredible trip, or head to the library, which is stocked full of reference books. Get an expert’s view in one of the on-board lectures, or perhaps perfect your photography skills with invaluable advice from the onboard professional photographers.

Day 6-8: Aldabra Island | Assumption Island

  • Ship
  • 3 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches, 3 Dinners
Comprising 13 islands around a lagoon, this massive coral atoll is home to the world’s largest tortoise colony. More than 100,000 lumbering giant tortoises inch their way around the isolated archipelago’s protected landscape, which features hundreds of flowering plant and fern species. You might be lucky enough to spot swooping Aldabra drongos—endemic to the islands—or wading pink flamingos. Look out too for scavenging white-throated rails, the only flightless bird remaining in the Indian Ocean.

A tranquil white-sand beach stretches for miles alongside brilliantly turquoise water on the west coast of Assumption Island. Part of the Aldabra Group, the kidney-shaped island lies more than 1,000 km southwest of Mahé and is known for its colorful butterfly species, including the belenois aldabrensis. You may bump into sauntering giant tortoises or catch a flash of green as an Assumption Day gecko scampers past. Keep an eye out for evidence of nesting sea turtles near the shoreline.

Day 9: Day At Sea

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Days at sea are the perfect chance to relax, unwind, and do whatever takes your fancy. So whether that is going to the gym, visiting the spa, trying to spot a whale from the deck, reading a chapter or two, or simply topping up your tan, these blue sea days are the perfect balance to the green days spent exploring on land.

Day 10: Zanzibar

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Cosmopolitan Zanzibar Island (Unguja) has a captivating mix of heritage architecture and spectacular beaches. Zanzibar City’s walkable old quarter, Stone Town (Mji Mkongwe), is a lively warren of narrow, winding streets dotted with 18th- and 19th-century buildings. Highlights here include the Old Fort, which hosts performances in its outdoor amphitheater, and the House of Wonders, an 1883 ceremonial palace with a grand clock tower. You can also come across stalls heaped with locally grown spices like nutmeg and cinnamon.

Day 11: Pemba Island

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Cloaked in lush vegetation, hilly Pemba Island is famed for its extensive clove farms, peaceful islets, and white-sand beaches. The island’s biodiverse forests are a haven for grazing blue duiker (small antelope) and the Pemba flying fox, identifiable by its distinctive rusty-red fur and enormous wingspan stretching over 5 feet. Offshore, you can snorkel or dive in warm water among vibrantly colored coral teeming with marine life, including green turtles, whitetip reef sharks, and nudibranchs.

Day 12: Lamu

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
A storied Swahili settlement and former major trading hub dating back more than 700 years, Lamu is a delightful seafront town on the island of the same name. Clusters of ornate, well-preserved buildings built from coral stone and mangrove timber fill the maze of narrow streets. As you stroll the tiny alleyways, you can admire intricately carved wooden doors and arcaded facades or take a peek into hidden courtyards. The fort and museum are fantastic places to learn about Swahili culture.

Day 13: Mombasa | Disembark

  • 1 Breakfast
A dynamic coastal metropolis, Mombasa draws you in with its rich history and beguiling blend of cultures. For centuries, Arabs, Portuguese, Asians, and British settlers have lived side by side in the enchanting old town, whose buildings meld African, European, and African styles. Perched above the sea, Fort Jesus was built by the Portuguese in the 1590s to protect the city, while the bustling spice market is packed with fragrant stalls selling pepper, ginger, and cardamom.

Ship/Hotel

SH Diana

Dates & Prices

My Preferred Start Date

Per person starting at
$8,591
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Oceanview D4
Oceanview staterooms features 2 single beds, bedroom and living room and a luxurious ensuite bathroom.
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Oceanview M4
Oceanview staterooms features 2 single beds, bedroom and living room and a luxurious ensuite bathroom.
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Balcony D5
Located on decks 5, these balcony staterooms feature 2 single beds or a double bed, distinct bedroom and living room areas, a luxurious bathroom and your own private 6 sq. m balcony.
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Balcony M5
Located on decks 5, these balcony staterooms feature 2 single beds or a double bed, distinct bedroom and living room areas, a luxurious bathroom and your own private 6 sq. m balcony.
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Balcony D6
Located on decks 6, these balcony staterooms feature 2 single beds or a double bed, distinct bedroom and living room areas, a luxurious bathroom and your own private 6 sq. m balcony.
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Junior Suite
SH Diana’s Junior Suites features a Super King Size bed, separate living room area with homely flame-effect fireplace, private kitchen, luxurious en-suite bathroom and a 7 sq. m private balcony.
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Suite
Our Suites features a superking bed and separate living room with and a soothing flame-effect fireplace a luxurious ensuite bathroom and a 12 sq.m. private balcony.
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Premium Suite
SH Diana’s Premium Suites feature a Super King Size bed, separate living room with homely flame-effect fireplace, luxurious en-suite bathroom, spacious walk-in wardrobe and a 12 sq. m private balcony.

Notes


Included
  • 12 Breakfasts, 11 Lunches, 11 Dinners
  • 12 Nights Accommodations
  • Accommodations as listed
  • Ground transportation as listed
  • Activities as listed
  • Meals as listed
  • Access to a 24-7 Emergency line while traveling
  • Room Service 
  • Wifi
  • Coffee, tea, soft drinks and selected alcoholic beverages available 24-hours per day
  • Lecture programs by our experienced expedition team and guest speakers
  • Onboard gratuities & port taxes
  • Branded Swan Hellenic expedition parka and use of rubber boots in Polar Regions.
  • All transfers between Airport, Hotel and Ship
  • One night pre-cruise accommodation with breakfast in a 4/5-star hotel or onboard
Excluded
  • Travel Insurance
  • Personal Expenses
  • Flight costs (please request a quote)
  • Additional excursions during free time
  • Fuel and transportation surcharges (when applicable)
  • Passport and Applicable Visa Expenses
  • We recommend every traveler to take out a travel cancellation insurance, travel interruption insurance and a travel health insurance policy with an assumption of the return transport costs of repatriation

Map

When to Go

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Dec
Good to ideal period to travel, and many people choose to visit at this time.

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The trip was terrific with great planning on your part. Most of the adventures were not mainstream and somewhat off the beaten path which made it especially enjoyable!! We felt taken care of and you all were readily available to respond to questions and issues. I would highly recommend your company and friends have already expressed interest based on our pictures and excitement.
Gale Cantor
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