EXPLORING PARADISE ABOARD SILVER DISCOVERER October 20 to November 6, 2018 The remote Seychelles in the Indian Ocean combine dramatic tropical beauty and wondrous wildlife, comparable to that found in the Galápagos. The warm, azure waters are teeming with life, making this archipelago a superb destination for snorkeling and diving. The island republic of Madagascar, renowned as a biodiversity “hot spot,” boasts some of the most unique endemic wildlife in the world, including adorable lemurs, colorful chameleons and fascinating birds. We’ll also explore the picturesque colonial town of St. Denis on France’s remote island of Réunion and ascend to the rim of a volcano on Mauritius. On this extraordinary voyage, all aboard will be enraptured by the astonishing richness of these terrestrial and marine environments. A feast for the senses awaits— join us! BRETT S. THOMPSON, ’83, DIRECTOR, STANFORD TRAVEL/STUDY Highlights CAPTION ENJOY two full days at SNORKEL among SNAP photos of the DISCOVER a wealth the magnificent Aldabra stunning coral reefs and picture-postcard-perfect of unusual and endemic Atoll, a World Heritage site marvel at rainbow-hued vistas in La Digue, where species such as Giant that has remained largely fish, manta rays, spinner granite boulders and Aldabra tortoises, crowned untouched by humans dolphins, and green and swaying palms frame lemurs, Seychelles paradise- due to its remoteness and hawksbill turtles. white-sand beaches. flycatchers and Madagascar inaccessibility. crested ibises. PRASLIN Stanford Faculty Leader ROB DUNBAR, whose research interests span climate change, marine ecology, oceanography, glaciology and biogeochemistry, heads a Stanford research group that works on past, present and future climate change as well as its impacts on oceanic and coastal environments. He works regularly with the U.S. government as well as the United Nations to help develop and implement solutions to environmental and resource problems. Professor Dunbar has been studying coral reefs throughout the Pacific and Indian Oceans since 1977. In 2009, 2015 and 2017, he led a group of Stanford undergraduates on a 3,500-mile scientific sailing voyage from Tahiti through various island groups of the South Pacific. In 2016, he began a multi-year project working on the reefs of the Chagos Archipelago “A brilliant scientist! and Mauritius. During our expedition Professor Dunbar will speak about He has so much the coral reefs and marine environments of the western Indian Ocean as well as some of the geopolitics of national sovereignty, fishing rights, knowledge to and oil and gas exploration issues of the region. impart and enjoyed — At Stanford: William Keck Professor of Earth Science; Bass University Fellow in Undergraduate sharing that with Education; senior fellow of the Woods Institute for the Environment every individual.” — Recipient of the Richard W. Lyman Award for exceptional volunteer service to the University NANCY ARNDT — BS, geology, University of Texas at Austin FINKEN, ’56, MA — PhD, oceanography, Scripps Institution of ’57, ANTARCTICA EXPEDITION, 2017 Oceanography, UC-San Diego SIGN UP ONLINE: alumni.stanford.edu/trip?seychelles2018 OR BY PHONE: (650) 725-1093 Praslin La Digue SEYCHELLES Poivre Mahé TANZANIA Aldabra MOUNT AMBER Atoll Nosy NATIONAL PARK Hara Diego Suarez MOZAMBIQUE MASOALA Indian NATIONAL Maroantsetra PARK Ocean Nosy Mangabe MAURITIUS MADAGASCAR FRANCE Réunion MASOALA NATIONAL PARK, MADAGASCAR swaying palms enhance the skink and even two forms of islands separated by channels. Itinerary postcard-perfect white beaches endemic snail. SILVER DISCOVERER Because of the atoll’s extreme of La Digue. Explore this tranquil (B,L,D) isolation, many of Aldabra’s SATURDAY TO MONDAY, island by bike or take a stroll species are endemics. Giant OCTOBER 20 TO 22 along its picturesque, sandy THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25 Aldabra tortoises—estimated to DEPART U.S. / VICTORIA, roads. As we head for the small POIVRE ATOLL, number over 100,000—roam wild AMIRANTE ISLANDS MAHÉ, SEYCHELLES Veuve Nature Reserve, where the on the islands. Tides permitting, Reaching the Outer Islands of Depart the U.S. on independent endangered Seychelles paradise- cruise by Zodiac through the the Seychelles, our first stop is flights, transiting through either flycatcher may be observed in narrow channels to drift through the Amirante Islands, named Europe or the Middle East and its native habitat, pass quaint a landscape of fascinating eroded in honor of Portuguese admiral arriving in the Seychelles’ capital balconied houses and shops, limestone formations. The tides Vasco da Gama’s visit in 1501. city of Victoria on the island of a vanilla plantation and a copra have sculpted small islets into Board Zodiacs for Poivre Atoll Mahé on Monday. Gather for a factory en route. Other common fantastical shapes known as to enjoy some beachcombing, welcome reception and dinner sights at the reserve include the champignons, or mushrooms. a nature walk or birding and a this evening. EDEN BLEU HOTEL yellow bittern, Seychelles swiftlet Watch hundreds of lesser and visit to a nearby copra plantation. MAHÉ (10/22: D) and common waxbill. Next, great frigate birds soar overhead. Snorkel or dive over coral gardens head to one of the world’s most Once on land, search for the TUESDAY OCTOBER 23 inhabited by brilliantly hued breathtakingly beautiful beaches, rare Aldabra white-throated rail, VICTORIA / EMBARK tropical fish, as manta rays glide Anse La Source d’Argent, to the only flightless bird found on SILVER DISCOVERER through the waters below and beachcomb, swim or simply any Indian Ocean island, and This morning visit Mahé’s century- black-naped terns soar in the take time to soak in the idyllic observe robber crabs, whose old Seychelles National Botanical skies above. SILVER DISCOVERER surroundings. After lunch visit claws are strong enough to crack Gardens for an introduction to 80 (B,L,D) indigenous plant species, including Praslin and the enchanting Vallée coconuts, scamper across the five palm varieties, the vanilla de Mai National Park, a World FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26 turf. Enjoy an exhilarating drift orchid and the rare jellyfish tree. Heritage site. The high-canopied, AT SEA snorkel during which the incoming An abundance of birds inhabits primeval palm forest is home to Enjoy a relaxing day at sea tide whisks us through the pass the area as well, including the 4,000 coco-de-mer palms, which attending lectures on the natural and into a lagoon populated by Seychelles kestrel, the Seychelles can grow over 100 feet tall and history of these fascinating islands turtles and eagle rays. Visit the bulbul and the rare, endangered live from 800 to 1,000 years. The and enjoying the amenities of our small scientific research station on Seychelles sunbird. Take a short palm bears the world’s largest nut, ship. SILVER DISCOVERER (B,L,D) Picard Island and photograph the catamaran ride to the Ste. Anne weighing from 20 to 40 pounds. mighty tortoises of this magical, Marine National Park where we In this magical valley, we may spot SATURDAY & SUNDAY, isolated island that few travelers have our first opportunity for many of its notable inhabitants OCTOBER 27 & 28 have the privilege to see. SILVER snorkeling. Embark our ship this such as the Seychelles flying fox, ALDABRA ATOLL DISCOVERER (B,L,D—BOTH DAYS) afternoon and set sail. SILVER the Seychelles blue-pigeon and Spend two full days at magnificent DISCOVERER (B,L,D) the rare Seychelles black parrot. Aldabra, a World Heritage site and MONDAY, OCTOBER 29 Choose from a variety of walks a highlight of our adventure. With NOSY HARA, MADAGASCAR WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24 to catch sight of other unique a perimeter of 70 miles, Aldabra Today we arrive at the archipelago LA DIGUE / PRASLIN animals, such as the bronze-and- is one of the largest atolls in the of Nosy Hara, which consists Giant granite boulders and green day gecko, the Seychelles world, comprising four major of 12 limestone islands with MASOALA NATIONAL PARK, MADAGASCAR white-sand beaches, karst rock a haven for spotting a wide variety SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 4 cliffs and pristine coral reefs. Board of wildlife, including black-and- RÉUNION (FRANCE) Zodiacs to explore the fascinating white ruffed and brown mouse Today we visit the lush, volcanic Optional geology of this region and step lemurs, leaf-tailed geckos, island of Réunion, an overseas ashore on secluded beaches for tree frogs and, with luck, the territory of France. Explore St. Pre-trip nature walks. Spend the afternoon world’s smallest vertebrate, the Denis, a small colonial town snorkeling and diving to discover thumbnail-sized dwarf chameleon. whose pervasive French and the amazing diversity of marine Explore the bustling market in Creole ambience is captured Extension life below the waves. SILVER Maroantsetra this afternoon, filled in picturesque town squares. A DISCOVERER (B,L,D) with vanilla pods, cloves and other breathtaking drive into the island’s OCTOBER 13 TO 21 exotic spices, as well as finely dramatic mountains brings us to (9 ADDITIONAL DAYS) KENYA TUESDAY, OCTOBER 30 woven raffia hats and bags. SILVER a volcanic crater with magnificent DIEGO SUAREZ DISCOVERER (B,L,D) views. Enjoy a traditional Creole Enjoy a classic safari experience (ANTISIRANANA) / MOUNT lunch, then continue on to a in the Mara Naboisho Conserv- AMBER NATIONAL PARK FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2 vanilla plantation to discover the ancy, a private reserve with Disembark in Diego Suarez MASOALA NATIONAL history and culture of the precious a high concentration of wildlife (Antisiranana) and board 4x4 PARK vanilla orchid. Birders may spot and low concentration of vehicles for a scenic drive to Spend today at Masoala, the endemic Réunion paradise visitors that is made up of land nearby Mount Amber National the largest national park on flycatcher, Réunion stonechat and contributions from 500 Maasai Park. Search for rare, localized Madagascar, enjoying hikes Réunion harrier. SILVER DISCOVERER landowners.