Le Dumont d'Urville

The Bijagos Archipelago and Cape Verde with National Geographic

Launching in 2019, Le Dumont d'Urville features innovative and environmentally-friendly equipment, elegantly designed staterooms, spacious suites with large windows and lounge areas that open onto the outside offering guests a truly unique cruising experience. The ship also includes superb dining including a relax grill restaurant and a fine dining restaurant, spacious sun deck with inviting swimming pool, onboard spa with a great range of relaxing spa treatments and theatre.

Info

Embark

Embark the ship in Praia.

Day 1: Praia

Board Le Dumont d'Urville in Praia. You will have time to explore your cabin and new surroundings. Later you will join fellow guests for the captains first dinner, drinks and evening entertainment.

Day 2: São Nicolau

Arrive at the island of São Nicolau, a dramatic sight with steep, richly forested mountains that reach their peak at Mt Gordo. Near the summit, the island's attractive capital, Ribeira Brava, nestles in a deep green valley. Not far off, you can hike along the mountain paths of Fajã, where you'll see rare and extremely old dragon trees growing naturally on the high plateaux. Coastal landmarks include the Blue Hole, ﾠpeaceful Tarrafal beach and the picturesque fishing village of Preguiça

Day 3: Mindelo

Set on the shores of the Porto Grande bay on the north-west coast of São Vicente, Mindelo is considered to be Cape Verde's cultural capital. Here in singer Cesaria Evora's homeland, you can listen to real morna in the bars of the old town, where you can also sip the local grog, a Cape Verdian sugarcane spirit. A few streets from the elegant floating resort of Pont d'água you'll see the pastel-coloured houses and colonial buildings of the historical district. Other landmarks are the facades of the old Governor's Palace and the busy municipal market.

Day 4: Porto Novo

Today you will visit the coastal town of Porto Novo, located on the south-east coast of Santo Antão Island. Near the jetty, colourfully painted boats lie on the sand and the waterfront boasts beautiful vantage points overlooking the Atlantic and the nearby island of São Vicente. Discover the low-profile, painted buildings that are typical of traditional Cape Verde architecture. And you'll definitely be tempted to sample one of the many desserts made from locally grown fruit, such as a banana tart or pawpaw flan.

Day 5: Fogo

Lying west of Praia, the volcanic island of Fogo is Cape Verde's highest landmark. The foothills of Pico de Fogo are ideal for hiking, with an immense caldera surrounding the active crater. Trails start at the little town of Chã das Caldeiras and you can see recent lava flows and older ones sprouting with new growth. Along the rocky coastline you'll come across picturesque Mosteiros and the historic town of São Filipe, where elegant colonial houses overlook the Atlantic.

Day 6: At Sea

Spend the day at sea as the ship sails towards Maio Island.

Day 7: Maio Island

Today your cruise itinerary takes you truly off the beaten track to the Bissau-Guinean archipelago of Bissagos, some 20 kilometres off the west coast of Africa. The archipelago is famous for its abundant biodiversity. The richness of its marine animal and plant life afforded it the status of Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO. Of the 88 islets and islands in the archipelago, only 23 are inhabited. At Maio, still called Chediã, you can meet the Bissagos people and get to know their ancestral ways and customs. In this region, cut off from the rest of the world and secluded from Western influences, you'll discover how locals really live.

Day 8: Caravela Island

Today you will continue exploring the Bissagos archipelago In the heart of luxuriant nature, you'll enjoy Caravela Island's wild charm and its Bijago inhabitants, fascinating men and women who have adapted to and melted in with their natural environment.

Days 9-10: Carache Island - Caravela, Bijagos

Spend the next two days exploring the islands of Carache and Caravela in the Bissagos archipelago. Declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1996, this string of islets has exceptionally rich land and sea fauna. Carache Island is a lush green island surrounded by turquoise seas. Landscaped by white sandy beaches and black rock, Caravela Island is a magnificent location and inland is heavily forested with mangroves.

Day 11: Laterite Beach, Bijagos

Enjoy this beautiful quiet beach lapped with turquoise waters, golden sand and palm trees.

Day 12: Dakar

Your voyage ends in Dakar where you will disembark the ship.

Disembark

Disembark the ship in Dakar.

Includes

11 Nights' accommodation on board Le Dumont d'Urville
Full Board from dinner on the first day to breakfast on the last day
Flight from Longyearbyen to London plus ship to airport transfer
Mineral water, coffee and wine served with lunch and dinner
Afternoon tea daily
24 hour room service (selected menu)
Evening gatherings and organised entertainment
Porterage from the quayside to the ship and vice versa
English-speaking guest-speaker (when applicable)
Open Bar (pouring wines, house champagne, alcohol except premium brands...list available upon request)
Water sports activities (except scuba diving) using the ship’s equipment, when permitted by local authorities and confirmed by ship Master according to safety and sea conditions onsite
Port Taxes
A cruise in partnership with National Geographic Expeditions offering enrichment with a National Geographic Photographer and an Expert specialised in the destination onboard
Shore visits in Zodiac® inflatables with your naturalist guides.