Le Lyrial, Madagascar, Reunion and Mauritius ex Mahe to Port Louis

Details

13 Night Cruise sailing from Mahe to Port Louis on aboard Le Lyrial.

13 Night Cruise sailing from Mahe to Port Louis on aboard Le Lyrial.

PONANT invites you on a brand-new expedition cruise in the Indian Ocean. From the Seychelles to Mauritius via Madagascar and Reunion Island, take a 14-day cruise aboard Le Lyrial to enjoy beaches, nautical activities, and discovering endemic fauna and flora as well as places of breathtaking natural beauty that few tourists visit.

From Victoria on the island of Mahé, you will first sail to La Digue, where a veritable picture-postcard of the Seychelles awaits you: palm trees, granite rocks, white sand and crystal-clear waters. Further on, on the small island of Alphonse, you will have the opportunity to go snorkelling and scuba diving to among the brightly-coloured sea life, before reaching 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 ship will then set sail for Madagascar, the island continent. On the west coast first, you will discover Nosy Komba, also known as “lemur island”, home to large colonies of these small, agile primates, Nosy Mitsio and its immaculate beaches, and Majunga from which you’ll be able to explore Ankarafantsika National Park. On the east coast, Île Sainte-Marie, once a lair of pirates, has successfully retained its authentic and untouched character.

After calling at Reunion Island, you will reach Port Louis in Mauritius, where this unforgettable cruise will draw to an end.

The encounters with the wildlife described above illustrate possible experiences only and cannot be guaranteed.

Highlights of this cruise:

Victoria, Mahe
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.

La Digue Island
A sprinkling of islands scattered in the Indian Ocean, the Seychelles exude calm and beauty against a backdrop of leafy coconut trees, white sand and crystal-clear water. In addition to the tranquility of its green lagoons and its idyllic beaches, this remote paradise also boasts an exceptional fauna and flora. In the many parks and nature reserves, come and observe colourful birds, giant turtles and the numerous marine species living in the turquoise waters. Before reaching the archipelago’s capital, Mahe, your ship will introduce you to La Digue. Time stands still here on this small stretch of land protected from all motorised traffic, where the only mode of transport is the bicycle or the oxcart.

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!

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.

Nosy Konba
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.