Natural Wonders Of The Seychelles & East Africa aboard the SH Diana
As we work our way south and west from Mahé, the main island in the Seychelles, toward the African coast, we stop to explore some of the islands in the 1,000-mile-long Seychelles Archipelago—Bijoutier, Farquhar, Cosmoledo, Aldabra, and Assumption— all of which are tropical paradises, providing habitat for endemic flora and fauna and serving as important nesting grounds for sea turtles and seabirds. They all also provide stunningly beautiful beaches and coral reefs teeming with fish, places ideally suited for swimming and snorkeling. But the highpoint of this part of our voyage is undoubtedly the UNESCO Heritage Site of Aldabra, which is, in the words of Sir David Attenborough, “one of the wonders of the world.”
Leaving this idyllic scene, we set course for Tanzania and Kenya, where, in Zanzibar and Lamu, we discover something of the history and culture of the people of the Swahili Coast, while our exploration of the rich biodiversity of the Indian Ocean continues in the forests, mangroves, and offshore reefs of Pemba.
Countries Visited:
Kenya, Tanzania, Seychelles
Starts/Ends:
Mahe Island, Seychelles (SEZ) | Mombasa, Kenya (MBA)
Duration:
13 days/11 nights
Activity Level:
Moderate
Accommodation:
Luxury ★★★★★
International Air Route:
USA>MAHE (SEZ) | MOMBASA (MBA)>USA
Group Size:
Max 192
Experiences:
Culture, Food, Wildlife, Cruise
Swim among exotic marine life alongside pristine palm-fringed beaches with white sand
Visit the world’s largest tortoise colony with more than 100,000 giant tortoises
Take in the aromas of Zanzibar’s market stalls heaped with locally grown spices like nutmeg and cinnamon
Hike through biodiverse forests in Tanzania, keeping a lookout for the Pemba flying fox
Learn about Swahili culture in the Swahili settlement of Lamu in Kenya
Itinerary changes and surprising experiences are part of expedition cruise life. The world has a habit of amazing us with incredible things when we yield to the unexpected. Join us with an open mind and a sense of adventure and you’ll find that this can pay off in the most rewarding ways.
Coda Tours signature deluxe accommodations aboard the NGI II, intimate, yacht-like ship
Built in Finland, and launched in May 2023, Swan Hellenic's Diana is a new- generation expedition cruise ship. Although at 12,100 tons the ship is large enough to accommodate more than 350 passengers, Diana will accommodate a maximum of 192 guests in 96 spacious staterooms and balcony suites. The low guest density results in one of the most generous indoor and outdoor space-to- guest ratios among cruise ships.
Featuring the latest advances in technology and engineering, Diana is among the world's first environmentally-responsible ships. Equipped with hybrid engines, a system of powerful batteries, and a unique water filtration system, Diana leaves a minimal footprint. For cruising in Polar regions, the ship meets the stringent requirements of the new Polar Code with its high PC5 Category A ice-strengthened hull and other advanced features. A computer-controlled Dynamic Positioning System allows the ship to maintain position without anchoring. Operated by a complement of 135 experienced European officers and international crew members, Diana will carry a fleet of Zodiacs, versatile landing boats, and kayaks. Powerful stabilizers provide a smooth ride.
Diana's interior spaces exude sophisticated elegance, with most rooms opening to panoramic views of the sea. All staterooms and suites face outside and are equipped with private facilities, climate control, TV, Wi-Fi and USB connections and other amenities. Of the ship's 96 staterooms, 76 have balconies. Public areas include a spacious observation lounge equipped with state-of-the-art facilities for lectures and presentations; a club lounge; a restaurant that accommodates all guests at one seating; an outdoor café/bar that surrounds the heated swimming pool; a wellness area with gym, spa, and sauna with an adjoining outdoor jacuzzi; library; beauty salon; and an infirmary that is attended by a full- time doctor and nurse. The ship also features expansive open-deck areas. Two elevators connect all decks. Attentive service is provided on a 24-hour basis. The outstanding cuisine is complemented by fine wines at lunch and dinner.
Cat. E - Oceanview staterooms with two large oval windows. Deck 4. Staterooms 401 – 404.
Cat. D - Oceanview staterooms with two large oval windows. Deck 4. Staterooms 405 – 420.
Cat. C - Suites with balcony & living room area. Deck 5. Suites 501 – 504, 538 – 541.
Cat. B - Suites with balcony & living room area. Deck 5. Suites 505 – 518, 521 – 537.
Cat. A - Suites with balcony & living room area. Deck 6. Suites 601 – 618, 6
Cat. AA - Suites with large balcony, separate bedroom & living room. Decks 5 & 6. Suites 519, 520, 619 & 620.
$10490
$10990
$12990
$13590
$14890
$18890
$Inquire
$Inquire
$Inquire
$Inquire
$Inquire
$Inquire
206 sq. ft.
206 sq. ft.
300 sq. ft.
300 sq. ft.
300 sq. ft.
474 sq. ft.
A deposit of $1,500 per person is required to reserve your space on the tour. Final payment is due 90 days prior to departure. Payment can be made by personal check or charged to a credit card.
• Single Occupancy rates can be avoided if you wish to be matched
with another single traveler who also wishes to share. If no share
is available, the single rate will apply..
• Rates are based on current rates and currency exchange rates at
the time of publishing the tour online.
• Rates are subject to change until final payment has been made.
Rates are based on a minimum participation and if the minimum
participation is not met rates may need to be revised.
Depart the USA on any reguarly scheduled flight to Mahe, Seychelles.
Arrive in Victoria, capital of the Seychelles and the main island of Mahé, and transfer to our hotel. Join fellow travelers this evening for a welcome dinner. (D)
After breakfast at the hotel, travel to Le Jardin Du Roi, a spice garden near the southern tip of Mahé, where the air is filled with aromas of vanilla, nutmeg, and cinnamon and where we are reminded that the Seychelles were once at the very center of the spice trade. Returning to Victoria, visit the excellent National Museum of History, with particularly informative exhibits on Creole culture, and explore the National Botanical Gardens, home to palms, fruit trees, and other characteristic flora. After a relaxing lunch and some time at leisure, transfer to the harbor and embark Diana. (B,L,D)
Tiny Bijoutier Island is popular for beach picnics, snorkeling, and wildlife-spotting. Stroll around the palm-fringed shore of this remote gem in mere minutes, keeping an eye out for cowrie shells and
The largest and most southerly atoll of the Seychelles, Farquhar is a recognized important birding area. Surrounded by ten islands, the large, shallow lagoon with its network of channels is fringed by powder-white beaches and coconut trees supporting large colonies of Sooty, Roseate, and Black-naped Terns as well as Red-footed Boobys and White-tailed Brown Morphs. While gold-dust geckos and coconut crabs favor shallow rock-pools, the saltwater flats team with Napoleon wrasse and several species of grouper making Farquhar a magnet for fly fishing activities. Recent conservation efforts have rescued and released giant tortoises and begun monitoring of nesting green sea turtles. (B,L,D)
Cosmoledo Atoll is comprised of thirteen uninhabited islands surrounding a circular lagoon with channels, mangroves, white sand flats, dunes and raised coral reefs. This remote and rarely visited group offers an ideal nesting location for rare and endemic species not found elsewhere in the Seychelles. The atoll is home to endemic Sunbirds, Turtle Doves, Cisticola and large populations of Masked and Red-footed Boobies and Sooty Terns. Green and Hawksbill turtles thrive in the lagoon and nest along its sandy beaches while a network of channels are home to bonefish, milkfish, Indo-Pacific permit, triggerfish, bluefin trevally, and others. (B,L,D)
Today we call at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Aldabra, situated in the very heart of the Seychelles Archipelago. It is one of the last virtually untouched sanctuaries on earth—Sir David Attenborough has called it “one of the wonders of the world”—and home to the world’s largest population (over 100,000) of giant tortoises. The vast atoll, comprising four small reef islands separated by narrow passes into an emerald-water lagoon, hosts hundreds of flowering plant and fern species, as well as endemic Aldabra Drongos and Pink Flamingos. Perhaps we will spot scavenging White-throated Rails, the only flightless bird remaining in the Indian Ocean. We spend two days in this remarkable environment, swimming, snorkeling, and simply enjoying being surrounded by the beauty of the largest raised coral reef in the world. (B,L,D)
In the early afternoon of our second day in Aldabra, we call briefly at nearby Assumption Island. This tiny (4.5 square miles) islet was nearly destroyed in the early 20th century when its vegetation was cleared to allow for guano mining. But much of Jacques Cousteau’s The Silent World was filmed on its still robust coral reefs, teeming with life. Note: Weather permitting, enjoy swimming and snorkeling at all the islands we will visit in the Seychelles. (B,L,D)
Enjoy a day at sea learning from our guest lecturer and expert naturalists. Sample the many amenities of Diana. (B,L,D)
Cosmopolitan Zanzibar Island (Unguja) has a captivating mix of heritage architecture and spectacular beaches. Join a walking tour of the city’s old quarter, Stone Town, a warren of narrow winding streets permeated with the exotic scent of spice and dotted with 18th- and 19th-century buildings. Highlights here include the Old Fort, built by Omanis when they drove out the Portuguese in 1698, and the House of Wonders, an impressive palace overlooking the waterfront and housing a museum of history with interesting exhibits on Swahili civilization and the peoples of the Indian Ocean. (B,L,D)
Pemba Island, separated from mainland Tanzania by the Pemba Channel, is known for its lush vegetation and extensive clove plantations. 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. The warm waters of the Channel are home to vibrantly colored coral, teeming with marine life including green turtles, whitetip reef sharks, and nudibranchs. Weather permitting, enjoy swimming and snorkeling. (B,L,D)
The Old Town of Lamu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the oldest and best-preserved Swahili settlement in East Africa. Once an important center of trade, its architecture is a fascinating blend of Bantu, Arab, Persian, Indian, and European motifs. Clusters of ornate, well-preserved buildings built from coral stone and mangrove timber and decorated with intricately carved wooden doors and arcaded facades line the maze of narrow streets. The Lamu Museum offers an excellent introduction to the island’s rich history, and the affiliated Lamu Fort, built by Omanis in the early 19th century and used by the British as a prison, is now a library housing one of the best collections of Swahili poetry in Kenya. (B,L,D)
After breakfast aboard, disembark and transfer to the airport for flights homeward. (B)
The rates are all-inclusive. There are no hidden costs and no additional charges such as shore excursions or embarkation and port charges. Other than the international airfare and expenses of a personal nature, all else is included. Specifically, the rates include:
One night at a hotel in Victoria, Mahé, breakfast included.
Welcome dinner in Victoria, and lunch on the day of embarkation.
Airport/hotel/pier transfers and handling of luggage on arrival and departure dates.
Educational program of lectures and discussions with Wayne Sentman, Dr. Nigella Hillgarth, and expert expedition staff.
Complete program of tours and excursions as mentioned in the itinerary with professional English-speaking guides.
All meals aboard the ship, with a selection of wines, beer and soft drinks during lunch and dinner.
Open bar with select alcoholic beverages.
Coffee, including espresso and cappuccino, tea and soft drinks throughout the day and night.
24-hour room service.
Gratuities to the ship’s crew, guides, porters and drivers.
Basic Wi-Fi aboard the ship.
The services of an experienced Thalassa Journeys Trip Director.
All local taxes and service charges, including port and embarkation taxes.
Complete pre-departure material.
International airfare and baggage fees
International airfare from home city to home city. Coda Tours can provide airfare quotes upon request.
Travel insurance, highly recommended and a quote is available through Coda Tours.
Expenses of a personal nature.
Expenses for passports or visas. Travelers are responsible to have required travel documents and visas.
Any meals and other items not mentioned in the itinerary and the Program Inclusions.
The routing needed for this cruise is: USA>MAHE (SEZ) /
MOMBASA (MBA)>USA
Please request a quote if you would like Coda Tours to assist
with international airfare bookings. We often can offer
favorable rates for Business or Economy class at a standard
fee of $35 per ticket.
No internal flights during the cruise.
A valid passport is required for international travel and must be valid for 6 months after the return date of travel and have two blank pages available per country visited.
Visas are required for Kenya and Tanzania. Instruction about visas will be sent you in ample time to obtain them.
Expedition cruises are primarily concerned with what happens outside the ship, so dress codes are relaxed. There are no formalities at mealtimes. At breakfast and lunch, you wear the clothes you are going outside in unless that means you are wearing your swimsuit! On board the ship, you will want to put on something casual and comfortable – trousers, jeans, dress shorts or smart sportswear. We can characterize evenings aboard ship as country-club casual.
The cruise is guaranteed. A Coda representative will accompany Coda clients if 6 or more book through Coda Tours.
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The routing needed for this cruise is: USA>MAHE (SEZ) /
MOMBASA (MBA)>USA
Please request a quote if you would like Coda Tours to assist
with international airfare bookings. We often can offer
favorable rates for Business or Economy class at a standard
fee of $35 per ticket.
