Island Bliss in the Indian Ocean - Cruise from Malaysia to Seychelles

Langkawi, the main island in an archipelago of around 100 limestone islands, is an inviting place to explore dream beaches and spectacular nature. Rainforests, plantations, rice fields and romantic waterfalls will ensure you soon forget your everyday worries. For a special kind of adventure, take a ride on the SkyCab cable car, which swings over the thick jungle and impressive rock formations, offering breathtaking views over the turquoise sea and surrounding islands. Langkawi offers the ideal combination of relaxation and nature.

The south coast of Sri Lanka is your gateway to the island’s wild side: Hambantota, the centre of the district of the same name, is the perfect base for exploring the impressive wilderness and natural beauties of Sri Lanka. Nearby is Yala National Park, famous for having the highest concentration of leopards in the world and for its fascinating animal kingdom. You can follow in their tracks on a photo safari. Udawalawe National Park around the shores of Udawalawe Reservoir has a large elephant population – in the adjacent elephant orphanage visitors can learn interesting facts about these gentle giants. Bundala National Park offers plenty of variety: around 200 species of bird spend the winter here.

Water sports enthusiasts will find a special Garden of Eden on Lohifushi in the North Male Atoll. While sun worshippers spend the daydreaming on the fine sand and snorkellers observe the underwater world up close in the shallow water, kitesurfers wait for the perfect wave off the coast. With its snow-white sandy beach and crystal-clear water, the island promises a fantastic day of swimming and a spectacular play of colours.

Uninhabited Kuda Finolhu is located in the South Male Atoll of the Maldives and is a paradise come true with unspoilt nature and a peaceful atmosphere. The white sandy beach invites visitors to stroll, relax and enjoy unlimited swimming. Here, the sun reflects in the warm water and the prettiest shades of blue and turquoise, while an exceptional diversity of species reside underwater – from manta rays to colourful coral reefs.

White sandy beaches lined with palm forests, including Anse Georgette and Anse Lazio, are the idyllic picture-perfect spots on Praslin, the second-largest island in the Inner Seychelles. Anse Lazio in particular, surrounded by impressive granite cliffs, is one of the most beautiful beaches in the region. The island’s interior is home to Praslin’s national park, the UNESCO World Heritage Site Vallee de Mai. This is where the ancient Seychelles coco de mer palm trees, some of which are over 1,000 years old, grow. Together with around 43 other species of plant and rare animals like the black parrot, they form a unique natural paradise.

Curieuse, the fifth-largest island in the Inner Seychelles, is located very close to its sister island Praslin and is a true natural paradise. The island, which is only about 3 km² (1.1 mi.²) in size, delights visitors with a diverse mangrove landscape where eight different species grow. Curieuse has been a protected nature reserve and part of the Curieuse Marine National Park for decades. A research station and a rescue and breeding station are dedicated to the conservation of Aldabra giant tortoises: visitors have the rare opportunity to get up close to these impressive animals in the wild. In the south-west of the island, the historic Doctor’s House – once a leper colony, now a museum – tells the eventful history of the island. Look forward to an exclusive destination whose backdrop promises a variety of experiences until late in the evening.

La Digue, the fourth-largest island in the Seychelles, is legendary for its relaxed atmosphere and imposing granite cliffs: the colossal rounded rocks are particularly impressive at the idyllic Anse Source d’Argent, which is perfect for bathing thanks to its shallow turquoise waters. There are hardly any cars on La Digue and most people use bicycles to get around. It’s a great way to explore the island and its hidden wild beaches in the north. In the south of the island is the L’Union Estate, a former plantation estate, which provides insights into the traditional trades of the island and is home to two extremely rare species of terrapin.