23 March - 07 April 2004
An expedition aboard the Windjammer Khersones with Deep Ocean Expeditions

Our destination is Aldabra, a remote island in the Outer Seychelles Group, a World Heritage Site and the world's largest coral atoll. Not an easy place to reach even for the most dedicated of travellers. There's no landing strip, harbour, or hotel, no roads and only a seasonal human population which rarely exceeds 10 souls. Only a few hundred travellers a year are able to visit this 'Galapagos of the Indian Ocean'. Here is the last breeding ground of the giant tortoise and we shall see some of the large population together with some of the rarest birds. In the warm seas of the Indian Ocean we will explore some of the most beautiful tropical islands on earth.

Swim and snorkel over coral reefs and enjoy our days at sea, birdwatching, relaxing, reading and listening to the guest naturalists who will add much to our understanding of this extraordinary area and it's delicate ecosystems. The scattered islands of the Indian Ocean were created millions of years ago when Africa and India divided into separate continents. These isolated specks on a map have been protected from man and beast due to their very isolation and today many of the islands contain the last habitats of many of the world's unusual and rare species.

The voyage will be a rich feast of birdlife, unusual flora, extraordinarily beautiful islands and atolls, and brilliant coral reefs teaming with fish of every hue imaginable. An opportunity to witness some of the world's most unusual species and focus on the major conservation works being carried out on many of the islands.

Under Sail in the Indian Ocean (PDF)