Date
Nov 7, 2025 - Nov 23, 2025
Trip Type
By Sea

Group Size: up to 92 participants across all sponsors
Price: Starting from $12,990 per person double occupancy, $19,490 single occupancy
Co-sponsored with: Dartmouth Alumni Travel, National Trust Tours, Princeton Journeys, Yale Alumni Academy

Activity Level
3

Trip Overview

Located in the heart of the Indian Ocean, the 115 islands that make up the Seychelles are known for crystal-clear waters, endless stretches of powdery white-sand beaches, a diverse and vibrant marine ecosystem, and a range of unique plant and animal species.

Your journey starts with two days in Mahé, the largest island in the Seychelles archipelago and home to 90 per cent of the country’s population. With pristine beaches, lush forests, and dramatic mountains, it is a tropical paradise with a unique Creole culture that blends a wide range of influences.

Next, embark the 59-cabin Island Sky and cruise to the Outer Islands of the Seychelles, the remote Alphonse group, and finally to Aldabra, a vast coral atoll that is home to the world’s largest population of giant tortoises (over 100,000). The experienced Expedition Team of naturalists will lead several guided nature walks, plus there will be many opportunities for snorkeling among colorful reef fish, interesting coral formations, and various marine creatures.

Continue to Madagascar, a thousand-mile island boasting an impressive variety of spectacular landscapes from pristine coral reefs and coastal mangroves to virgin rain forests and native groves of Baobab trees. Geographically isolated for millions of years, nearly all of Madagascar’s intriguing animals and plants are found nowhere else on Earth, including nearly 100 varieties of lemurs. Madagascar’s people are also unique, having descended from Malay-Polynesian mariners, slaves from Africa, as well as traders from Arabia, India, and Portugal.

Schedule by Day

Flights from the U.S. to Mahé, Seychelles

Flights from the U.S. to Mahé, Seychelles

Arrive at Seychelles International Airport (SEZ) any time during the day; group transfers to the hotel provided; gather for a welcome reception and orientation; dinner independently.

Overnight: Savoy Seychelles Resort & Spa

Meals: R

Tour Le Jardin Du Roi Spice Garden with its vibrant tropical flowers, fragrant herbs, exotic spices, and medicinal plants, and learn about how the Seychelles were once at the center of the spice trade in the 18th century; visit the excellent National Museum of History, with informative exhibits on Seychellois Creole culture and heritage; Embarkation & Captain’s Welcome Dinner.

Overnight: Island Sky

Meals: B, L, D

AM On Praslin, explore the ‘Vallee de Mai’, the last remnant of the original high canopied Seychelles palm forest, home to the endemic endangered coco de mer palm tree and rare black parrots PM On Ile Thérèse, a tiny uninhabited island, walk on beautiful white sand beaches and snorkel in the crystal-clear water among the colorful reefs and fish.

Overnight: Island Sky

Meals: B, L, D

AM Cruise to the three islands in the Alphonse group, located directly south of the Amirantes, which are regarded by many to be the most beautiful of the 115 islands in the Seychelles archipelago PM Snorkel among hawksbill and green turtles in the circular lagoon of the main island; enjoy guided island walks.

Overnight: Island Sky

Meals: B, L, D

Full day at sea to enjoy the amenities of the ship and lectures while cruising to Outer Seychelle Islands.

Overnight: Island Sky

Meals: B, L, D

Visit Aldabra, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1982 and the world’s largest coral atoll, home to the world’s largest population of giant tortoises; this vast atoll is comprised of a ring of four reef islands surrounding a massive emerald-water lagoon, with channels linking the lagoon to the ocean; explore the crystal-clear waters of the huge lagoon on zodiacs and snorkel among the robust coral reefs, teeming with marine life.

Overnight: Island Sky

Meals: B, L, D

AM Choose to snorkel or take a nature walk on Assumption Island; look for the Assumption Island day gecko and enjoy identifying the diverse birdlife you’ll see; PM Depart the Seychelles and enjoy an afternoon of cruising to Madagascar with time for lectures.

Overnight: Island Sky

Meals: B, L, D

AM Zodiac ashore to Nosy Hara National Park with options for guided walks: 1) shorter Brookesia Micra Circuit in search of animals such as chameleons or 2) longer Tsingy Mitsiry Circuit to see unique Tsingy formations (sharply eroded limestone spikes); PM free time to enjoy Nosy Hara’s beaches independently.

Overnight: Island Sky

Meals: B, L, D

AM Snorkel at Nosy Tanikely marine reserve; PM Cruising with time for lecture.

Overnight: Island Sky

Meals: B, L, D

AM Visit “Lac Sacre”, or Sacred Lake, and learn about the significance of clear waters and special trees planted on the
lakeshore; walk through nearby mango trees to observe the sifaka lemurs, iguanas, lizards, and colorful birds that reside there; chance to swim at a beachside resort before returning to the ship PM Visit Durrell Breeding Program established to protect the endangered ploughshare tortoise through community engagement.

Overnight: Island Sky

Meals: B, L, D

Full day at sea; Lecture series continues

Overnight: Island Sky

Meals: B, L, D

Zodiac to shore with choice of excursions: 1) Avenue of Baobabs walkabout with free time in Morandava market or 2) Kirindy Private Reserve to look for primates & and the shy Fossa (related to the mongoose), the top predator of Madagascar.

Overnight: Island Sky

Meals: B, L, D

Exploration of Tahiry Honko, a community-based mangrove reserve, including meeting with local conservationists; walk in Reniala Reserve, run by a local NGO, to protect the oldest Baobab trees in Madagascar and the only known natural habitat for radiated tortoises; Captain’s Farewell.

Overnight: Island Sky

Meals: B, L, R, D

Disembark; guided visit to Antsokay Arboretum, protecting 900 species of endemic species; after an early lunch transfer to the airport for charter flight to Johannesburg, South Africa for onward flights back to the U.S.

Meals: B, L

Arrive back in the U.S.

Pricing

Category Double Occupancy (Per Person) Single Occupancy
Category A, Standard Suite $12,990 $19,490
Category B, Superior Suite $13,990 $20,990
Category C, Premium Suite $15,990 $23,990
Category D, Corner Suite $17,490 N/A
Category E, Deluxe Balcony Suite $18,990 N/A
Category F, Owner's Balcony Suite $20,990 N/A
Category G, Explorer's Balcony Suite $21,490 N/A
Category H, Island Suite $22,490 N/A

Accommodations

  • one night at the Savoy Seychelles Resort & Spa
  • Twelve nights aboard the Island Sky

Extensions

Optional pre-tour extension: Seychelles 2-nights

details coming soon

What to Expect

Activity Level 3

This is a moderately strenuous program that is at times physically demanding and busy and requires participants to be fit and in active good health. To make the most of what each locale has to offer, shore excursions from the Island Sky will be active, ranging from a half-day to all day, and can involve up to two miles of walking, including a few relatively strenuous nature walks, often on sandy, uneven or muddy terrain, with possible extreme heat and humidity, the direct sun, or rain showers. These busy times will be offset by leisure time on board cruising to the next destination, with the opportunity to enjoy the ship’s amenities and the full lecture program.


Some travel in Madagascar will be by 4x4 jeeps, with some longer, bumpy, slow drives on dirt roads (up to two hours each way). Madagascar offers a remote and mountainous landscape with minimal infrastructure; this means there is the possibility of delays in transit—or itinerary changes—due to poor road conditions. During the cruise there will be excursions by Zodiacs, which require the ability to step from the ship to the Zodiac and back again in open water (the ship’s crew will be there to assist you). Please note that some locations involve wet landings. All participants who plan to swim or snorkel must be comfortable swimming unassisted in open water, although no prior snorkeling experience is necessary. The ship does not have SCUBA capabilities but there will be an optional SCUBA opportunity one day in the Seychelles.


This promises to be a memorable journey, but as with all travel, a flexible attitude, a spirit of adventure, and a willingness to explore new areas will enhance your enjoyment of this program. You do not have to participate in all the scheduled activities, except when traveling to the next destination. We are sure you will be pleased with the exciting educational program provided, but we want you to be aware of the pace and activity level.

Study Leader(s)

Professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology

Mode of Travel

The Island Sky is a 59-cabin luxury expedition ship. She provides an abundance of public space and state-of-the-art amenities for relaxation, scenic viewing, and taking in lectures.

For More Information

Please email haatravels@harvard.edu or call our office at 800-422-1636 or 617-496-0806.