Seychelles Odyssey
An Island Hopping Expedition in the Indian Ocean aboard the MS Serenissima
- 11 February 2020
Join us aboard the delightful MS Serenissima as we explore the bountiful islands of the Indian Ocean. The Seychelles offers the visitor a tropical beauty that is difficult, if not impossible to match anywhere else in the world. Spread out over a vast area of the Indian Ocean, they offer everything from quiet sophistication and enchanting scenery to wild and uninhabited nature reserves, where the very remoteness of the islands, has protected them from the worst excesses of mankind. We know the region well having operated vessels here for the past twenty five years and those who have sailed with us through these extraordinary waters have experienced the magic of dropping anchor off a remote atoll at first light to watch the dawn illuminate the watery horizon. Then, as the sun rises, we have ventured ashore by Zodiac, landing on a deserted beach to discover the rich bird and marine life, the exotic flora, nature reserves and working estates. If ever there was a region perfect for expedition cruising it is here and the MS Serenissima is the perfect size and equipped vessel for our voyage.
Our journey will include all aspects of this extraordinary island nation from the developed Inner Seychelles with staggeringly beautiful islands such as Praslin, La Digue and Aride to the less known and rarely visited Outer Seychelles. Here we will sail all the way to Aldabra, the world’s largest coral atoll and a World Heritage Site. Being one of the most difficult places in the world to access and having a lack of freshwater has saved Aldabra from any tourism development and only small vessels like the MS Serenissima are allowed to visit. It is therefore a great privilege to be able to land on the untouched beaches of Aldabra, the breeding ground for thousands of giant tortoise and home to some of the rarest birds in the Indian Ocean. To explore the abundant crystal clear waters of the vast lagoon and to set foot on atolls which have never been exploited by the hand of man is a rare experience.
Useful links & Travel Advice
Please find a selection of useful websites to refer to for information from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, on visa requirements, NHS travel health advice and other useful travel tips.
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What To Expect…
Flexibility is the key to an expedition cruise; sometimes the whole day’s schedule will be changed to maximise your experience, something that would not be possible on a large cruise ship. Each day holds something new and below are some extracts from recent ship logs to provide you with an understanding of what you can expect from such an expedition:
Cosmoledo: Today we had another day in the Aldabra group this time to the island of Cosmoledo. Like the other islands of the Aldabra group this is an uplifted coral island. It was an early start due to the tide times and at 7:30am the flotilla of Zodiacs made the journey into the mouth of the atoll, across the lagoon to the eastern shore. Once we arrived the site was wondrous. Thousands of nesting birds sitting on the coral rock. They were mostly boobies, both red footed and masked, but there were also species of herons, terns, noddies, frigate birds and tropic birds. The sea was also full of turtles. There seemed to be hundreds darting about in the shallow water. The Zodiacs took their time passing up the shore, allowing plenty of bird photos to be taken. We then found little patches of beach to land on and to have a small walk about or a little swim or paddle. All the while the tide was quickly dropping and the beaches were becoming larger and larger. Soon it was time to head back to the ship and set sail for the Farquhar Group of islands. Once back aboard we enjoyed lunch, followed by great talk all about the biology of coral reefs.
Aride & La Digue: Aride is a nature reserve famed for its birdlife. The keen birders set off at 0630, hoping to get the best of the birdlife. The intrepid birders set out and were rewarded with the sight of birds that were totally unafraid of man, many of them at very close range. The birds were certainly friendly as were the two species of skink. White-tailed tropicbirds swooped through the woodland and crash landed in the shrubbery on their way to their nests, their landing technique a stark contrast to their grace in flight. The fairy terns sat on their branches and met us eye to eye. Most people got to see the fluffy little chicks, hatched on a bare branch and now moving around, waiting for their feathers to grow so that they could fly. Seychelles fodies were everywhere while common moorhens ran around in the undergrowth, far away from water. This afternoon we were back in our trusty Zodiacs for a short ride to a very civilised landing on a floating pontoon inside the busy little harbour at La Digue. Here we boarded our camionettes, converted trucks with seats in the back, for our tour of the island. The more adventurous among us boarded bicycles and headed off to explore independently. We drove through the little village of La Passe, full of weaving bicycles, to the l’Union Estate where we were shown all the processes used in exploiting the coconuts, from dehusking to the copra kiln and the coconut oil mill, powered by a very patient and placid bull. We were also taken to the original old plantation house. We clambered back aboard our camionettes for a short ride to the beach at L’Anse Source d’Argent for a swim. The beach is famous, much photographed because of the dramatic contrast of rugged granite boulders, white sand and clear blue sea.
Serenissima
The charming MS Serenissima began her career as the Harald Jarl, cruising the Norwegian coastline and fjords. Since 2003, when she was extensively renovated, she has been operating as a classic cruise ship. Previously known as the MS Andrea, she was upgraded again in 2013 and started her new life as the MS Serenissima. With her small size she can navigate into small, remote ports inaccessible to the big cruise ships and appears an impressive sight when moored. With her fleet of Zodiacs, she is capable of both destination and expedition cruising.
Itinerary
Day 1 - London to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Fly by scheduled indirect flight.
Day 2 - Dar es Salaam.
Arrive today and transfer to the MS Serenissima. Welcome Dinner and Drinks on board as we sail this evening and spend the night at our anchorage off Zanzibar.
Day 3 - Zanzibar.
Here the colourful harbour will be crowded with dhows, very much setting the scene for our visit to the Arab style city with its long narrow streets, bazaars, houses with overhanging balconies and intricately carved doorways. On a morning tour, soak up the timeless atmosphere of Stone Town including Livingstone House, Sultan’s Palace, the slave market and the Old Fort. The afternoon is free to relax and explore independently or join a tour to a spice farm to experience the various fruits and spices cultivated on the island. Alternatively, join a tour to the Jozani Forest which sustains a variety of wildlife and birds, including the rare red colobus monkey, indigenous to the island.
Day 4 - Kilwa Kisiwani.
Our final call in Tanzania will be at Kilwa Kisiwani, a site of exceptional historical interest, where the atmospheric ruins represent a wide sweep of East African coastal history, from the heights of the Swahili and Shirazi trading civilisation to the darker days of slavery and the uprisings against German rule. Once one of Africa’s wealthiest towns, Kilwa Kisiwani is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and contains the world’s most extensive and best-preserved Swahili ruins. After a morning at sea we will spend the afternoon on a walking tour and see the prominent fort and the Great Mosque which stood at the heart of the ancient city and was once the largest in East Africa.
Day 5 - At Sea.
Spend a relaxing day at sea as we cross to the Seychelles.
Days 6 to 8 - Aldabra Islands, Seychelles.
We have three days to enjoy the Aldabra group of islands and our itinerary will be in the hands of our Expedition Leader and Captain who will monitor the local conditions to ensure we maximise our time here. Whilst our itinerary is flexible we will hope to call at the island of Assumption which was ruthlessly plundered for its vast deposits of guano in the early 20th century. Happily, peace has returned, and the wildlife of rare birds and green turtles are once again in abundance. Our time here will be spent beachcombing, on a nature walk or snorkelling. We also hope to reach Cosmoledo where a huge ring of twelve islands circle a lagoon. Many of the atolls are still to be surveyed and we will explore some of them by Zodiac. This is an important bird area with all three species of booby found in the Seychelles including the last breeding site for the brown booby. Also spot sooty terns and great frigate birds. We will also spend time on Aldabra, the island referred to by Sir Julian Huxley as “One of nature’s treasures and should belong to the whole world”. Aldabra is unique and every time we call at what is believed to be the world’s largest atoll we find something new of interest. Sightings have been made of the extremely rare white throated rail and the atoll is also home to the world’s second largest colony of frigate birds and to the largest crab, the coconut crab. Whilst exploring by Zodiac it is difficult to know in which direction to look. The clear blue seas abound with life, the skies are alive with varied birdlife and ashore giant land tortoises forage as they have done for millions of years. We hope to land at Picard Island with a short walk to see some of the tortoises and numerous robber crabs or swim in the lagoon, a vast 17 mile stretch of shallow clear water. From our Zodiacs we can watch the ever-changing undersea world and snorkel in colourful coral waters.
Day 9 - Farquhar Islands.
After a morning at sea we will anchor off Farquhar over lunch where we will use our Zodiacs to explore the sparkling lagoon of this remote atoll ringed island of coconut and casuarina trees. Hawksbill and green sea turtles come to the atoll to nest, and several of the Farquhar Group’s islands are Important Bird Areas. The island is a haven providing us with a delightful afternoon of bird watching or snorkelling.
Day 10 - Alphonse Islands.
There are three islands in the Alphonse group which is located directly south of the Amirantes. As we approach the islands over lunch you will understand why they are regarded by many to be the most beautiful of the 115 islands in the Seychelles archipelago. On the main island the circular lagoon offers good snorkelling and there are several tracks across the island to enjoy island walks.
Day 11 - Amirante Islands.
This morning we arrive at the 28 islands in the Amirante Group of islands which were discovered by Vasco de Gama in 1501 and are, considered to be some of the most pristine and untouched islands in the world. If conditions permit we will spend the day on Desroches, the largest of the islands, although still only measuring six kilometres by 1.5 kilometres. Enjoy nature walks with our naturalists and the island’s conservation team observing the flora and fauna and in particular the giant tortoises. Whilst keen snorkellers will have the chance to swim over the outlying coral.
Day 12 - Aride & Curieuse.
Sail in the early morning to Aride one of the finest and most important seabird islands in the Indian Ocean. Over one million seabirds breed on the island including tropical shearwater, lesser noddy, frigate birds and roseate tern in addition to five species unique to the Seychelles such as the Seychelles warbler and Seychelles magpie robin. The island is largely covered in native woodland, including the endemic Wright’s gardenia, a shrub with beautifully scented flowers found nowhere else in the world. We will sail over lunch to Curieuse, a rugged island which was once home to a leper colony and now houses an eco-museum and visitor centre. The island is an important nesting site for hawksbill turtles and boasts endemic vine and mangroves which we explore on an island walk.
Day 13 - Praslin & La Digue.
From our overnight anchorage we will land on Praslin to explore the ‘Vallee de Mai’, the last remnant of the original high canopied Seychelles palm forest and home to the coco de mer. We will walk its paths looking out for the rare black parrot and enjoying its natural beauty. Return to the ship for lunch as we sail the short distance to La Digue where huge granite boulders lie like giant sculptures on the brilliant white beaches of the island. Tour the forested nature reserve and the L’Union Estate, a superbly restored 19th century colonial house. Rent a bicycle, relax or swim from one of the beaches. Tonight, we will sail to Mahe where we moor overnight.
Day 14 - Mahe to London.
Disembark this morning and transfer to the airport for our scheduled indirect flight to London. Arrive this evening.
Dates and Prices
Prices per person based on double occupancy11 to 24 February 2020 | ||
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Category | Price | |
2 Standard Stateroom | £6895 | |
3 Classic Stateroom | £7095 | |
4 Superior Stateroom | £7295 | |
5 Deluxe Stateroom | £7595 | |
6 Junior Suite | £7695 | |
7 Owner’s Suite | £8495 | |
8 Serenissima Suite | £8995 | |
10 Standard Single | £6895 |
Tour Reference Code: SCSE1102020
PRICE INCLUDES: Economy class scheduled air travel • 12 nights aboard the MS Serenissima on a full board basis • House wine, beer & soft drinks with lunch and dinner on board • Noble Caledonia onboard expedition team • Shore excursions • Gratuities • Transfers • Port taxes.
Not Included: Travel insurance, visa.
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Deckplan
Serenissima
The charming MS Serenissima began her career as the Harald Jarl, cruising the Norwegian coastline and fjords. Since 2003, when she was extensively renovated, she has been operating as a classic cruise ship. Previously known as the MS Andrea, she was upgraded again in 2013 and started her new life as the MS Serenissima. With her small size she can navigate into small, remote ports inaccessible to the big cruise ships and appears an impressive sight when moored. With her fleet of Zodiacs, she is capable of both destination and expedition cruising.
Video Library
What To Expect…
Flexibility is the key to an expedition cruise; sometimes the whole day’s schedule will be changed to maximise your experience, something that would not be possible on a large cruise ship. Each day holds something new and below are some extracts from recent ship logs to provide you with an understanding of what you can expect from such an expedition:
Cosmoledo: Today we had another day in the Aldabra group this time to the island of Cosmoledo. Like the other islands of the Aldabra group this is an uplifted coral island. It was an early start due to the tide times and at 7:30am the flotilla of Zodiacs made the journey into the mouth of the atoll, across the lagoon to the eastern shore. Once we arrived the site was wondrous. Thousands of nesting birds sitting on the coral rock. They were mostly boobies, both red footed and masked, but there were also species of herons, terns, noddies, frigate birds and tropic birds. The sea was also full of turtles. There seemed to be hundreds darting about in the shallow water. The Zodiacs took their time passing up the shore, allowing plenty of bird photos to be taken. We then found little patches of beach to land on and to have a small walk about or a little swim or paddle. All the while the tide was quickly dropping and the beaches were becoming larger and larger. Soon it was time to head back to the ship and set sail for the Farquhar Group of islands. Once back aboard we enjoyed lunch, followed by great talk all about the biology of coral reefs.
Aride & La Digue: Aride is a nature reserve famed for its birdlife. The keen birders set off at 0630, hoping to get the best of the birdlife. The intrepid birders set out and were rewarded with the sight of birds that were totally unafraid of man, many of them at very close range. The birds were certainly friendly as were the two species of skink. White-tailed tropicbirds swooped through the woodland and crash landed in the shrubbery on their way to their nests, their landing technique a stark contrast to their grace in flight. The fairy terns sat on their branches and met us eye to eye. Most people got to see the fluffy little chicks, hatched on a bare branch and now moving around, waiting for their feathers to grow so that they could fly. Seychelles fodies were everywhere while common moorhens ran around in the undergrowth, far away from water. This afternoon we were back in our trusty Zodiacs for a short ride to a very civilised landing on a floating pontoon inside the busy little harbour at La Digue. Here we boarded our camionettes, converted trucks with seats in the back, for our tour of the island. The more adventurous among us boarded bicycles and headed off to explore independently. We drove through the little village of La Passe, full of weaving bicycles, to the l’Union Estate where we were shown all the processes used in exploiting the coconuts, from dehusking to the copra kiln and the coconut oil mill, powered by a very patient and placid bull. We were also taken to the original old plantation house. We clambered back aboard our camionettes for a short ride to the beach at L’Anse Source d’Argent for a swim. The beach is famous, much photographed because of the dramatic contrast of rugged granite boulders, white sand and clear blue sea.

Tour Extensions
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Before embarking the MS Serenissima, we are offering an extension to the Selous Game Reserve which is home to over 1,000,000 large animals and over half of Tanzania’s elephant population. However, one of the major attractions must be the mighty Rufiji river, home to one of the largest crocodile and hippo populations in Africa, swarming with fish which in turn bring about some of the world’s best water birding. The river has also formed several large lakes on its northern bank, navigable by boat, Siwandu Camp is situated on one of these lakes. All safari tents at the camp are widely spaced along the lake shore ensuring maximum privacy and wonderful views. Each tent sits atop its own raised timber platform with two large verandas. The spacious tents are luxuriously appointed, with en-suite bathrooms and open air hot-water showers. The camp has its own swimming pool, enabling guests to cool off in the heat of the day. The dining area and bar areas are raised on viewing platforms, with large comfortable sofas and a wildlife reference library.
Hippos
The Itinerary
Day 1 London to Dar es Salaam. Fly by scheduled indirect flight.
Day 2 Dar es Salaam. Arrive today and transfer to the Serena Hotel (or similar) for an overnight stay.
Day 3 Dar es Salaam to Selous. After breakfast we transfer to the airport for our 45-minute scheduled flight to Mtemere Airstrip in the Selous Game Reserve. On arrival transfer to the Siwandu Camp and this afternoon enjoy your first game experience with a boat safari on the Rufiji River or on a nearby lake looking for hippos, crocodiles and birdlife. This evening enjoy dinner at the camp.
Days 4 & 5 Siwandu Camp, Selous Game Reserve. Enjoy two full days in the Reserve with included game drives each day. Maybe enjoy a full day game viewing with a picnic lunch or a half day walking safari through the bush with a ranger. Alternatively join another boat safari or simply relax in your tent. In the evening enjoy a delicious dinner at the camp.
Day 6 Selous Game Reserve to Dar es Salaam. Enjoy breakfast in the hotel and a final safari option before transferring to the airstrip for your flight to Dar es Salaam where we transfer to MS Serenissima.
Prices per person based on double occupancy
7 to 12 February 2020 Category Price Twin £3295 Single £4195 Price Includes: Overnight hotel accommodation in Dar es Salaam on a bed & breakfast basis, three nights accommodation at Siwandu Camp on a full board basis, internal flights between Dar es Salaam & Selous Game Reserve, transfers, gratuities.
Not Included: Travel insurance, Tanzania visa.
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Also of Interest
Christmas & New Year in the Indian Ocean
Celebrate the festive season surrounded by the warmth & beauty of the Indian Ocean aboard the MS Serenissima
Serenissima
Serenissima
Itinerary at a glance
- Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
- Zanzibar
- Kilwa Kisiwani
- Aldabra Islands, Seychelles
- Farquhar Islands
- Diego Suarez, Madagascar
- Masoala National Park / Nosy Mangabe
- Reunion
- Mauritius
Wonders of Madagascar
An exploration of the natural wonders of Madagascar aboard the MS Serenissima
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Serenissima
Itinerary at a glance
- Mauritius
- Reunion
- Ile Sainte Marie, Madagascar
- Nosy Mangabe / Masoala National Park
- Diego Suarez
- Nosy Hara
- Nosy Tanikely
- Mahajanga
- Morondava
- Tulear
Indian Ocean Island Odyssey
Discover the beauty of Mauritius, Madagascar, the Seychelles and Tanzania aboard the MS Serenissima
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Serenissima
Itinerary at a glance
- Mauritius
- Reunion
- Ile Sainte Marie, Madagascar
- Nosy Mangabe / Masoala National Park
- Diego Suarez
- Aldabra Islands, Seychelles
- Zanzibar
- Dar es Salaam
Wildlife & Wonders of the Indian Ocean
A voyage from Mauritius to Tanzania including Madagascar & the Outer Seychelles aboard the MS Caledonian Sky
Caledonian Sky
Caledonian Sky
Itinerary at a glance
- Mauritius / Reunion / Madagascar / Diego Suarez / Aldabra / Kilwa Kisiwani / Zanzibar / Dar es Salaam
Splendours of the Seychelles
An island hopping expedition cruise through the Seychelles aboard the MS Caledonian Sky
Caledonian Sky
Caledonian Sky
Itinerary at a glance
- Mahe / Praslin /Grande Soeur / Amirante / Farquhar Islands /Aldabra / Alphonse Island / Aride /Curieuse
Islands of the Indian Ocean
An expedition from Mauritius to Mahe including Madagascar aboard the MS Caledonian Sky
Caledonian Sky
Caledonian Sky
Itinerary at a glance
- Mauritius / Reunion / Nosy Mangabe / Masoala national Park / Diego Suarez / Aldabra / Alphone Islands / Praslin / Grande Soeur / Mahe
Christmas & New Year in the Seychelles
An expedition cruise through the Inner and Outer Seychelles aboard the MS Caledonian Sky
Caledonian Sky
Caledonian Sky
Itinerary at a glance
- Mahe / Aride / Curieuse / Amirante Islands / Farquhar Islands / Aldabra / Alphonse Islands / Praslin / Grande Soeur / Mahe
Madagascar & Beyond
Discover the wonders of Aldabra & Madagascar aboard the MS Caledonian Sky
Caledonian Sky
Caledonian Sky
Itinerary at a glance
- Mahe /Praslin /Grande Soeur /Alphone Islands / Aldabra / Diego Suarez /Nosy Hara / Nosy Tanikely / Mahajanga / Morondava / Tulear / Portuguese Island / Maputo
Book with Confidence
Speak to one of our advisors on 020 7752 0000