Join us aboard the MS Island Sky for this island hopping expedition through the Indian Ocean which will appeal to those who enjoy the natural world and all its wonders, travelling aboard a small ship and staying clear of the well-beaten tourist tracks. The all-suite MS Island Sky with her fleet of Zodiac landing craft is the perfect vessel for such an enterprise. Carrying just over 100 guests, she is a far cry from the latest breed of cruise ships and can visit small islands and backwaters that are denied to larger vessels. Your experience will be made all the more memorable by the expert crew and officers, who along with our expedition team of marine biologists, ornithologists and botanists have many years of experience in the Indian Ocean and will provide commentary on all we see.
Setting sail from Mauritius we will land on its nearest neighbour, Reunion, a little bit of France in the Indian Ocean and a truly stunning place. We will spend the day exploring its truly awesome and dramatic landscape before continuing to Madagascar where we will have four days to explore the incredible verdant and beautiful island and its unique flora and fauna. Continuing to the Seychelles, for many the highlight of the voyage will be our time spent exploring the Aldabra Islands, the last breeding ground of the giant tortoise and in addition to seeing some of these endearing creatures we should also encounter dolphins, turtles and whales as well as countless birds including the flightless rail, the last flightless bird in the Indian Ocean. To explore the abundant crystal clear waters of the vast lagoon and to set foot on atolls that have never been exploited by the hand of man is a rare experience.
This itinerary is a veritable feast of beauty and the natural world. You will witness the bounty of the islands, the wildlife from the lemurs of Madagascar to the giant tortoises of Aldabra, an amazingly prolific birdlife and a mesmerising underwater life.
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 the ship’s log from last season which will provide you with an idea of what to expect.
Nosy Mangabe: This morning we were anchored off the Masoala Peninsula and we disembarked the long and ‘birder’ walks first followed by the medium and short walks on a beautiful golden beach backed by primary rainforest. Once ashore we were on the lookout for creatures big and small, and we found them. The lemurs appeared, racing through the treetops. The inquisitive white-fronted brown lemurs came and had a good look at us. Frogs were everywhere. There were the greenbacked mantellas, quite brash in their black and green colours and tiny nondescript frogs laying their single egg in the stumps of bamboo. There were several leaf-tailed geckos that were so well camouflaged that they were almost impossible to see even at close range. We needn’t have walked far from the landing stage at all. As we were starting to leave the lemurs came down to check us out and allowed for some great close up photographs. On walks inland, there were huge boulders of 3.2 billion year old granodiorite to be seen. The afternoon offered us an opportunity to land at the camp for a second time for an exploratory walk or a long Zodiac cruise down the peninsula. Both options were rewarded with excellent sightings of lemurs, chameleons and a variety of bird species. We were all back on board for a quick recap followed by dinner. Those who chose to dine outside were rewarded with a lovely sunset and the noises of the rainforest.
Aldabra: We were here at last – Aldabra! The sun appeared as a large orange ball and rapidly rose over the research station on Picard Island as the Zodiacs were readied for our landing. The timing of the tides necessitated a 7.30 am start. We were soon all ashore and split off into various groups for walks along the shore and into the undergrowth, a resident ranger accompanying each group. There was no need to search for the endemic, flightless land rails as they came to greet us emerging from beneath the ranger accommodation buildings or from the bushes, some of them shepherding chicks. Giant tortoises were obviously accustomed to people and wandered alongside us searching for any juicy leaf that may come within reach. The “raised coral” was much in evidence alongside the beach paths with very prominent pavement like protrusions clearly showing the constituent fan, plate and cushion forms of old reef growths. Out in the lagoon we could see the very characteristic mushroom, shaped champignon rocks. The dark shapes of rays could be seen swimming over the sand in the clear turquoise blue sea.
Island Sky
The MS Island Sky is one of our two flag ships and sister vessel to the MS Hebridean Sky. Both vessels were built in the same ship yard in Italy at similar times and share the same excellent attributes that make them two of the finest small ships in the world.
Itinerary
Day 1 London to Port Louis, Mauritius.
Fly by scheduled indirect flight.
Day 2 Port Louis.
Arrive this afternoon and transfer to the MS Island Sky in Port Louis. Enjoy welcome drinks and dinner as we sail tonight.
Day 3 Reunion Island.
We arrive at breakfast in Reunion where we have a choice of excursions. On a full day tour we will visit the central highlands where spectacularly rugged peaks of dormant or extinct volcanoes cradle huge amphitheatres known as cirques, where mountains tower to over 10,000 feet and beautiful waterfalls plummet hundreds of feet. The rich soil and mellow climate produce a lush and verdant landscape which is dotted with villages and towns with a uniquely French atmosphere. We will enjoy views from the Nez des Boeufs and see the Piton de la Fournaise crater. After enjoying a creole lunch in a local restaurant visit the “Cite du Volcan” museum. Alternatively, enjoy a morning tour to a vanilla plantation in St Andre where we learn about the history and culture of this integral part of Reunion’s heritage. We will also enjoy some free time in St Denis before returning to the MS Island Sky for lunch and an afternoon at leisure before we sail this evening.
Day 4 At Sea.
Spend the day at sea as we sail to Madagascar.
Day 5 Toamasina, Madagascar.
Our first call in Madagascar is at Toamasina, the country’s main port and second largest city but also the gateway to the Pangalanes Canals, a series of rivers, waterways and lakes that extend for over 400 miles down the island’s east coast. Used mainly for transportation and fishing, the canals are also home to unspoiled beaches, lagoons and lakes whilst providing access to national parks and private reserves. This morning we will use local boats to cruise along the canal and to enjoy the scenery followed by a nature walk in one of the private reserves. Take lunch in the reserve before returning to Toamasina this afternoon. Alternatively, visit the Ivoloina Zoological Parc, a 282 hectare property combining a small zoo where we will see up to 12 species of lemur as well as indigenous tortoises and chameleons. Meanwhile in the surrounding forests we can see wild lemurs or malachite kingfishers on one of the many walking trails.
Days 6 & 7 Nosy Mangabe & Masoala National Park.
Spend a day and a half in the Antongil Bay area. Here we discover Nosy Mangabe, a 520-hectare island reserve and one of the most diverse areas of virgin rainforest in Madagascar which has also been an important research centre since the mid-1960s when several ayeayes and lemurs were released into the forest. We will use our Zodiacs to land on the beach next to the forest and will offer a series of nature walks looking at the varied trees, plants and ferns and we hope to spot chameleon, lizards and black and white ruffed lemur. For the birders, we will keep an eye out for Madagascar buzzard, kingfisher and paradise flycatchers. We will also explore Madagascar’s largest protected area, the Masoala National Park, which comprises of coastal rainforest, flooded forests, marsh and mangroves. Mammal species encountered include the red-ruffed lemur, the red-fronted brown lemur and the ring-tailed mongoose. The park is also home to various species of brightly coloured mantella frogs, all manner of extraordinary chameleons and is a refuge of the endangered Madagascar red-owl, Madagascar serpent eagle and many endemic bird species. A series of walks for all levels will operate and there will also be the option to swim off the beach or perhaps visit the local village.
Day 8 Diego Suarez.
After a morning at sea we enter dramatic Diego Suarez, a stunning natural harbour with a cosmopolitan mix of inhabitants including Creoles, Indians, Chinese, Comorans and Arabs. This afternoon choose from a city tour visiting the Commonwealth Cemetery and Place Joffre, or the Malagasy Rainforest at the Mount Amber National Park. Dividing into short and long walk parties we will go in search of lemurs, chameleons and endemic birds as we explore the rainforest.
Days 9 to 11 Aldabra Islands, Seychelles.
After a morning at sea we arrive at the Aldabra group of islands where we have two and a half days to explore. 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 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 circles 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 and Biodiversity 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 whitethroated 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 explore Picard Island with a short walk to see some of the thousands of 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 12 At Sea.
Enjoy a relaxing day at sea as we head to the Inner Seychelles islands. Our lecture programme will continue or maybe find a spot on deck to watch for wildlife.
Day 13 Alphonse.
There are three islands in the Alphonse group which is located directly south of the Amirantes. As we approach the islands over breakfast 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. Spend the morning exploring before returning to the ship for lunch and an afternoon cruising.
Days 14 Aride & Praslin, Inner Seychelles.
Our final day will be spent exploring a couple of islands of the Inner Seychelles. We hope to anchor off 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, frigatebirds and roseate tern and five of the species are 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. Spend the afternoon 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.
Day 15 Mahe to London.
Disembark this morning and transfer to the airport for our scheduled indirect flight to London.
Day 16 London.
Arrive this morning.
Dates and Prices
11 to 26 April 2023 | ||
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Category | Brochure Price | Special Offer Price |
Magellan Deck Standard Suites | £9995 | £9495 |
Columbus Deck Superior Suites | £10295 | £9795 |
Marco Polo Deck Premium Suites | £10495 | £9995 |
Marco Polo Deck Corner Suites | £10895 | £10395 |
Erikson Deck Deluxe Balcony Suites | £11895 | £11395 |
Explorer Deck Owner's Balcony Suite | £12395 | £11895 |
Explorer Deck Island Suite | £13395 | £12895 |
Magellan Deck Standard for sole occupancy | £12995 | £12495 |
Columbus Deck Superior for sole occupancy | £13595 | £13095 |
Tour Reference Code: SCISK110423
PRICE INCLUDES: Economy class scheduled air travel • 13 nights aboard the MS Island Sky on a full board basis • House wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner • Noble Caledonia expedition team • Shore excursions • Gratuities • Transfers • Port taxes.
Not Included: Travel insurance, Madagascan visa.

During this expedition you will be visiting out of the way destinations and will be accompanied by an expedition team. Landings and excursions will be made by Zodiac landing craft. The use of Zodiacs will be key to the operation of the itinerary as shown. If you have any queries pertaining to the use of Zodiacs or the level of fitness required for this voyage, please do not hesitate to ask one of our experienced travel consultants.
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Deckplan
Island Sky
The MS Island Sky is one of our two flag ships and sister vessel to the MS Hebridean Sky. Both vessels were built in the same ship yard in Italy at similar times and share the same excellent attributes that make them two of the finest small ships in the world.
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 the ship’s log from last season which will provide you with an idea of what to expect.
Nosy Mangabe: This morning we were anchored off the Masoala Peninsula and we disembarked the long and ‘birder’ walks first followed by the medium and short walks on a beautiful golden beach backed by primary rainforest. Once ashore we were on the lookout for creatures big and small, and we found them. The lemurs appeared, racing through the treetops. The inquisitive white-fronted brown lemurs came and had a good look at us. Frogs were everywhere. There were the greenbacked mantellas, quite brash in their black and green colours and tiny nondescript frogs laying their single egg in the stumps of bamboo. There were several leaf-tailed geckos that were so well camouflaged that they were almost impossible to see even at close range. We needn’t have walked far from the landing stage at all. As we were starting to leave the lemurs came down to check us out and allowed for some great close up photographs. On walks inland, there were huge boulders of 3.2 billion year old granodiorite to be seen. The afternoon offered us an opportunity to land at the camp for a second time for an exploratory walk or a long Zodiac cruise down the peninsula. Both options were rewarded with excellent sightings of lemurs, chameleons and a variety of bird species. We were all back on board for a quick recap followed by dinner. Those who chose to dine outside were rewarded with a lovely sunset and the noises of the rainforest.
Aldabra: We were here at last – Aldabra! The sun appeared as a large orange ball and rapidly rose over the research station on Picard Island as the Zodiacs were readied for our landing. The timing of the tides necessitated a 7.30 am start. We were soon all ashore and split off into various groups for walks along the shore and into the undergrowth, a resident ranger accompanying each group. There was no need to search for the endemic, flightless land rails as they came to greet us emerging from beneath the ranger accommodation buildings or from the bushes, some of them shepherding chicks. Giant tortoises were obviously accustomed to people and wandered alongside us searching for any juicy leaf that may come within reach. The “raised coral” was much in evidence alongside the beach paths with very prominent pavement like protrusions clearly showing the constituent fan, plate and cushion forms of old reef growths. Out in the lagoon we could see the very characteristic mushroom, shaped champignon rocks. The dark shapes of rays could be seen swimming over the sand in the clear turquoise blue sea.

Also of Interest
Marvels of Madagascar
Discover the wildlife & wonders of Madagascar aboard the MS Island Sky
Island Sky
Itinerary at a glance
- Johannesburg / Tulear / Morondava / Mahajanga / Nosy Tanikely / Diego Suarez / Masoala National Park / Nosy Mangabe / Mauritius
Passage through the Seychelles
Island Hopping through the beautiful Seychelles aboard the MS Hebridean Sky
Hebridean Sky
Itinerary at a glance
- Dar es Salaam / Zanzibar / Kilwa Kisiwani / Aldabra / Farquhar Islands / Alphonse Islands / Amirante / Aride / Curieuse / Praslin / Grande Soeur / Mahe
Splendours of the Seychelles
Discover the beauty of the Seychelles from aboard the MS Hebridean Sky
Hebridean Sky
Itinerary at a glance
- Mahe / Praslin / Grande Soeur / Amirante / Farquhar / Cosmoledo / Aldabra / Alphonse / Aride / Curieuse / Mahe
Book with Confidence
Speak to one of our advisors on 020 7752 0000