Passage to India - A Voyage from the Seychelles to India's Malabar Coast

Fly by scheduled indirect flight.

Arrive this afternoon and transfer to the MS Island Sky for embarkation. Enjoy welcome drinks and dinner as we sail the short distance to our overnight anchorage.

Spend two days exploring the islands of the Inner Seychelles. We hope to include time on Aride which is one of the finest and most important seabird islands in the Indian Ocean. Over one million seabirds breed on the island including tropical shearwater, lesser noddy, frigatebirds and roseate tern in addition to five species unique to the Seychelles such as the Seychelles warbler and Seychelles magpie robin. The island is largely covered in native woodland, including the endemic Wright’s gardenia, a shrub with beautifully scented flowers found nowhere else in the world. See Curieuse, a rugged island which was once home to a leper colony and now houses an eco-museum and visitor centre. The island is an important nesting site for hawksbill turtles and boasts endemic vines and mangroves which we explore on an island walk. Our last call in the Seychelles will be at Praslin where we explore the ‘Vallee de Mai’, the last remnant of the original high canopied Seychelles palm forest and home to the coco de mer. We will walk its paths looking out for the rare black parrot and enjoying the natural beauty. This evening we will clear customs formalities as we start our journey to the Maldives.

Relax and enjoy our days at sea. Watch out for bird and marine life and listen to the informative talks by our expedition team. We are assured of warm weather so make the most of the fresh air, get lost in a novel from your deck chair and enjoy all the comforts of the MS Island Sky.

We spend four days exploring the whole archipelago. This vast area of ocean is scattered with staggeringly beautiful dots of land surrounded by a cerulean sea. It offers some of the finest lagoons, beaches and coral reefs in the world. Our day to day schedule will be left in the capable hands of the Captain and Expedition Leader and we hope to include visits to a number of atolls as we sail from the southern islands to the north. Our expedition team will be on hand to lead guided walks exploring the birds and wildlife on land, whilst our Snorkel Master will take us to stunning reefs to view the wonderful coral and marine life. We also hope to visit one of the islands’ villages and take the opportunity to mingle with the local population and learn a little about life in the Maldives.

Our lecture programme continues as we make our way across the Laccadive Sea to India.

Our first call in India is at Cochin, an extraordinary city with strong influences of Portuguese, Chinese, Arab, Dutch and British cultures still much in evidence today. From our berth you can choose to visit the serene Kerala backwaters at Alleppey where we will board a local boat for a cruise past colonial warehouses and coconut thatched houses. For centuries, these canals provided a safe and efficient means of transportation for goods and people moving between the heartland of Kerala and the port towns along the coast. Even today, traditional barges, or kettuvallams, haul coconut, pepper, rice and other goods along the waterways. Alternatively stay in Cochin to explore the diverse mix of cultures and religions that, together with its strong trading past in spices and silks, make for a fascinating city. Discover Mattancherry Palace with its ornately decorated rooms including some marvellous ancient murals. We see the oldest European church in India, St Francis, which was the original burial site of Vasco da Gama, and the oldest active synagogue in India built in 1568. Return to the ship via the atmospheric streets known for local handicrafts.

Situated about 200 miles off the coast of Kerala, Lakshadweep is comprised of 36 idyllic islands, 10 of which are inhabited and the archipelago is the smallest Union Territory of India, totalling just 11 square miles of land. Stunning lagoons, colourful birds, marine flora and fauna, swaying palms, and pristine beaches make these an island paradise. During our two days here we will stroll along lovely, unspoiled beaches and explore the underwater realm. Weather and tide conditions determine our course but we hope to land for walks amongst the palm trees, visit a village to learn about the local industries and culture as well as exploring the clear waters that surround these pristine islands which are perfect for swimming, and seeing the colourful hard and soft corals which teem with many marine species.

Relax on board as we make our way to our final destination of Mumbai.

Over lunch we sail into Mumbai, a cluster of seven islands which were first home to the ‘Koli’ fishermen, who still occupy parts of the city shoreline today. Mumbai was derived from ‘Mumba’ the name of the Hindu goddess ‘Mumbadevi’ and ‘Aai’ – mother in the local Marathi language. First ceded to the Portuguese, the British Government took possession of the islands in 1665 before leasing them to the East India Company who founded the port and saw the city grow in size and importance. This afternoon we explore the city and see the prominent landmarks visiting the Gateway of India, the Victoria Terminus, Mani Bhavan, the former residence of Mahatma Gandhi when he stayed in Mumbai from 1917 to 1934 and Dhobi Ghat where we can observe the vast open air Indian laundry. Alternatively, those interested in the spice trade may prefer to visit Crawford Market, one of Mumbai’s oldest markets, where the lively atmosphere provides a wonderful opportunity to observe everyday city life. Continue to Lalbaug’s famous Mirchi Galli, Mumbai’s traditional spice district. Walk through narrow lanes stacked high with colourful chillies, aromatic spices, and dry fruits, gaining insight into the age-old spice trade that has shaped Indian cuisine for centuries.

Disembark this morning and transfer to the airport for our scheduled flight to London or Manchester. Arrive this afternoon.

Itineraries are subject to change.