Pearls of the

From 14/02/2021 From Victoria, Mahé Ship: LE BOUGAINVILLE to 23/02/2021 to Nosy Be

Embark with PONANT on a brand-new expedition cruise to the “Vanilla ”, from the to . This 10-day itinerary aboard Le Bougainville will be an opportunity to discover little-known places of breathtaking natural beauty, an original fauna and flora, as well as meet the locals.

Thanks to the on-board presence of a diving instructor, you will be able to enjoy unforgettable dives in an exceptional underwater environment.

From Victoria on the of Mahé, you will first sailPraslin. to Don’t miss the chance to visit the Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve. There you will find sea , gigantic endemic fruits with a very evocative shape, nicknamed the “love nut”. Further on, the small islands of Alphonse and Astove will be an opportunity to snorkel and dive among brightly- Transfer + flight Nosy Be/Mauritius coloured sea life.

You will then reach the Glorioso Islands, part of the Scattered Islands. This beautiful archipelago with very few inhabitants is home exceptional to fauna and flora including, in particular, marine turtles.

Finally, you will reach Madagascar, the island continent, and disembark in Nosy Be, known for its beautiful old-growth forests where rosewood, camphor and ylang-ylang trees thrive.

The encounters with the wildlife described above illustrate possible experiences only and cannot be guaranteed. The information in this document is valid as of 11/08/2020 Pearls of the Indian Ocean YOUR STOPOVERS :

VICTORIA, MAHÉ Embarkation 14/02/2021 from 16h00 to 17h00 Departure 14/02/2021 at 22h00

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 splendidits 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.

PRASLIN ISLAND Arrival 15/02/2021 Departure 15/02/2021

Situated some forty kilometres away from Victoria, Praslin is the second largest island in the Seychelles. Its idyllic beaches where granite rocks nestle in immaculate sand correspond perfectly to how we imagine the Seychelles to be. They invite visitors to dive into the turquoise waters, which are ideal for snorkelling. In the centre of the island, hidden in the heart of a stunning tropical rainforest, lies the Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In this veritable plant sanctuary, several endemic species of palm trees can be observed, as well as the famous sea , which can weigh up to 20 kg and is sometimes calledcoco “ fesse” because its shape calls to mind a pair of buttocks.

SAINT JOSEPH Arrival 16/02/2021 Departure 16/02/2021

In the heart of the Seychelles’ Outer Islands, the coral islands located more than 200 km south of Mahé,Saint- the Joseph Atoll is a magnificent ring of coral islets surrounding a splendid lagoon sparkling in turquoise and emerald green. Since 2014, it has been an integral part of the “D'Arros and St. Joseph Atoll Special Reserve”,national a park and protected marine area that preserve the unique biodiversity of these sites. This veritable nursery forHawksbill sea turtles , juvenile reef fish, including several species ofray and shark (blacktip reef shark, sicklefin lemon shark) attracts big fish that swim up from the drop-off of the Amirantes plateau, located only two kilometres from the atoll. ALPHONSE ISLAND Arrival 17/02/2021 Departure 17/02/2021

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 veritablenatural reserve, home to different species of marine mammals, sea turtles and many birds. Alphonse Island is also renowned for its richunderwater life and coral, among the best preserved in the Indian Ocean. A marvellous spectacle that can be admired with just a mask!

COSMOLEDO ATOLL Arrival 18/02/2021 Departure 18/02/2021

The Atoll owes its nickname, theGalapagos of the Indian Ocean, to the beauty of its underwater world, which attracts the most experienced divers: parrotfish, giant rays and clams inhabit the reefs of its crystal waters. The fascinating marine life comes alive as the multi-coloured fish, making the most of the protection of the extraordinary coral reef, come together to feed in the currents formed by the sweeping movements of the tides. Exploited in the past for coconut and agave, the atoll is now uninhabited, apart from an eco-resort in the heart of thenature reserve, which shelters green turtles and significant colonies of sooty terns and red-footed boobies.

ASSUMPTION ISLAND Arrival 19/02/2021 Departure 19/02/2021

Assumption Island is part of the group (Outer Islands), situated in the south-west of the Seychelles. Discovered in the mid-18th century by the French captain Nicolas Morphey, this bean-shaped island covered indunes and shrubs is relatively flat. A handful of people live there, in a small village in the island’s west. The island’s beaches aremajor a egg-laying and breeding site for sea turtles. The surrounding waters are ideal for scuba diving. This is where Jacques- Yves Cousteau filmed some of the scenes for his famous documentary film “The Silent World”, released in 1956.

ASTOVE ISLAND Arrival 20/02/2021 Departure 20/02/2021

Closer to Madagascar than to Victoria, Astove is the southernmost island in the Seychelles. It is part of the , in the Outer Islands of the Seychelles. Now uninhabited, this coral island covered in coconut trees was once home to the employees that worked on the coconut plantations. Renowned for the richness of its seabeds, is now a top destination for fishing enthusiasts. It also attracts experienced divers, who visit the atoll to explore theAstove “ Wall”, where the sea floor drops to a depth of about 40 metres. The wall coveredis in coral and many fish and green sea turtles can be found there.

GLORIEUSES, SCATTERED ISLANDS Arrival 21/02/2021 Departure 21/02/2021

The Scattered Islands are like minuscule confetti sprinkled around Madagascar 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 KOMBA Arrival 22/02/2021 Departure 22/02/2021

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.

NOSY TANIKELY Arrival 22/02/2021 Departure 22/02/2021

In the heart of the Nosy Be archipelago, discover Nosy Tanikely, nicknamed the “island of little earth.” In addition to a magnificent white sand beach bordering a lagoon of crystal-clear waters, the island, which is uninhabited, has exceptional marine and terrestrial biodiversity. Thanks to this, the area has been classified as a “marine and coastal protected area” since 2010. It is a perfect spot for swimming and snorkelling. Hiking fans won’t be left out either: a stunning walk that climbs to the summit of the island will enable them to discover the old lighthouse built at the beginning of the 20th century and enjoy superb views over the ocean and surrounding islands.

NOSY BE Arrival 23/02/2021 early morning Disembarkation 23/02/2021 at 07h00

Nosy Be (from the Malagasy: Nosy meaning island and Be meaning large), in the Channel, is located near the north-eastern coastlines of Madagascar. A former French protectorate, known under the promising name of “the scented island”, of volcanic origin, it is located on a maritime route with access to and Asia. Cosmopolitan, a boulevard of encounters, its mixed-race and multicultural population still remembers its past as a significanttrading post. Today, its 321 km² enchant lovers of nature and idyllic beaches. Its sumptuous primary forest is home to animals that are endemic to the island as well as surprising flora.