Madagascar and Seychelles: Natural Treasures of the Indian Ocean – With Smithsonian Journeys on the Le Bougainville

From Nosy Be in northern Madagascar, spend your first day exploring two islands: Nosy Tanikely, a tiny islet with a magnificent white sand beach on an unbelievably blue lagoon with an exceptional diversity of marine and terrestrial life; and the "lemur island" of Nosy Komba, covered in dense tropical rainforest that is the ideal habitat for the small mammals that are emblematic of Madagascar. Le Bougainville arrives next at Nosy Hara, a marine protected area and national park remarkably rich in wildlife: 279 species of coral fish, 108 species of corals, 5 species of sea turtles, whales, dolphins, 31 species of birds, and 18 species of reptiles including the smallest chameleon in the world. Rounding the northern tip of Madagascar, your experience continues with a full day in Diego Suarez, the second-largest bay in the world, after Rio de Janeiro. Comprising several smaller bays, including the famous Emerald Sea Lagoon and Andovazaha Bay, home to emblematic Sugarloaf Island, Diego Suarez offers splendid beaches, panoramic views, and an inviting, laid-back approach to life. Your ship sails next towards Seychelles and two pristine atolls in the heart of the Outer Islands of the Seychelles. From the beaches of Assumption Island, watch for sea turtles which use its pristine beaches to breed and lay eggs. Saint-François, covered in coconut trees, provides ideal habitat for myriad birds and is a splendid location for both hiking and snorkelling. You head next to Remire Island, prized for its extraordinary biodiversity, especially its rich marine life. Le Bougainville continues north to a group of small granite islands, where you spend a day immersed in the essence of a tropical paradise—turquoise waters inviting you to swim, vegetation sheltering native fauna, and beaches of fine sand fringed with coconut trees. Explore the bird sanctuary of Aride Island, where more than 1.25 million seabirds breed, and La Digue, home to the iconic picture-postcard beach at Anse Source d'Argent. Your cruise ends the following day in Victoria, the capital of Seychelles on the island of Mahé. The encounters with the wildlife described above illustrate possible experiences only and cannot be guaranteed.