Ponant's Expedition Cruise | Jewels of the Indian Ocean

PONANT invites you on an expedition cruise in the Indian Ocean to discover 'the island continent' of Madagascar and Tanzania from Mauritius, set off for 11 days aboard Le Champlain, between beaches, dives, encounters with local populations and the discovery of endemic fauna and flora in rarely visited places of stunning natural beauty.

Tropical Expedition 

Explore the planet’s most remote tropical regions during a PONANT expedition cruise. In the heart of Oceania’s archipelagos or the Indian Ocean atolls, along the wild coastlines of Central America or Australia, our luxury amenities and services will make your expedition cruise an unforgettable experience. Our expedition leaders and their teams of naturalist guides devise exceptional itineraries and organise daily outings, shore visits in Zodiac® dinghies, or snorkelling when the cruises are conducive to it, to take you as close as possible to nature. Aboard the ship, they share their knowledge during lectures on a variety of topics such as the fauna and flora, the history of the great explorations, geology and climatology. On land, using the local transport options or during hikes, discover the must-see natural sites and, for a few hours, partake in the life and ancestral customs of the local populations.

Diving

During an introduction to scuba diving or a more advanced dive for holders of the necessary certifications (level 1 on yachting cruises and 2 on expedition cruises), explore the planet’s most beautiful underwater environments in the company of a PONANT diving instructor, as well as a local instructor when required by local legislation. They will ensure that your dives are conducted smoothly and safely: supervision of four certified divers at a time, evaluation of diving skills and experience, adherence to safety stops, zones and the maximum depth authorised.

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Multiple floors of pure luxury, scenic views, drinks on board. Bring your best moves to the dance floor and don't forget to pack your binoculars amongst other travel essentials to savior every inch of the magnificent scenery of the African skyline and the Indian ocean turquoise. Come aboard to sail away your 11 days among the waves!

The softness of the trade winds, the turquoise of the ocean, the shimmer of the verdant vegetation… the incredible beauty of the islands in the Indian Ocean is striking. During an 11-day expedition cruise aboard Le Champlain, time stands still and, between the island country of Madagascar, Seychelles and Tanzania, nature will plunge you into a dream. 

The shores of Mauritius grow distant as you arrive in flamboyant Madagascar. To the north-east of the largest island in the Indian Ocean, the island of Île Sainte-Marie appears on the horizon. The days of pirates, who occupied the territory for almost two centuries, seem long gone now, as peace prevails in this tropical paradise. To the far south, the island of Île aux Nattes is a treasure just asking to be discovered. Its coral reef lies in the translucent waters of its lagoon, dotted with natural pools. You will spend your time here swimming, meeting the local population and discovering the abundant fauna and flora. Before leaving the 'Great Red Island', you will visit Nosy Hara, renowned for its incredible marine wildlife, with over 280 different species.

Sheltered from the world, take the time to wonder at the splendour of the Seychelles. On Astove Island, in the mythical Aldabra Atoll, the underwater world fascinates experienced divers, who come here to explore the “Wall of Astove“, a 40-metre (130-foot) deep underwater fault covered in coral and teeming with fish and green turtles.

Your next ports of call will be an opportunity to discover several of the wonders of Tanzania. You will explore the ruins of the 13th-century Swahili trading post of Kilwa Kisiwani, the small coral island of Misali as well as Pemba Island and its clove plantations and fantastic scuba diving.

This fabulous trip will draw to an end in Zanzibar, a city with superb UNESCO-listed buildings, blending African, Arab, Indian and European influences over more than a millennium.

▪︎Visit exclusive African ports and immerse yourself in the wild, natural beauty of the Indian Ocean Southern African blend with a cruise to Madagascar and Tanzania.

▪︎You can’t afford to miss out on spectacular beaches, picturesque adventure spots and the “do-nothing” relaxation havens.

About the ship

Le Champlain is the second ship of the Ponant Explorers-class of cruise ships operated by Ponant. Each member of the class has been allocated the name of a famous French explorer, and Le Champlain is named after Samuel de Champlain, "The Father of New France"

We have put together a variety of useful tips when aboard the GloriousPonant, from Documents Needed to book, Safety Tips and Items we recommend you bring while on tour dream vaccation 

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