From Mombasa to Mahé · Africa & Indian Ocean · 12 nights
The third innovative luxury yacht from Emerald Cruises which launched in April 2026, Emerald Kaia represents an exciting evolution in intimate small-ship cruising.
Following the success of sister ships Emerald Azzurra and
Emerald Sakara, Emerald Cruises unveils a brand-new luxury yacht,
Emerald Kaia. This new yacht features enhanced spaces on board
including an Observation Sun Deck at the bow, and a reimagined Sky
Deck area, perfect for soaking in the views, and operates
itineraries in the Mediterranean and Seychelles.
On Kenya's coast is Mombasa, the city of salt and spice. Lots of history here, not least as this was a strategic trading post for Europeans making for Arabia, India and the Orient, and their counterparts in the other direction. Add to that the influence of the British, the influx of tourists in recent years, and of course the great African tribes, and you have a vibrant and colourful city of contrasts. Mombasa is gateway to some of the extraordinary national parks of East Africa, as well as being an appealing beach destination with some beautiful hotels.
The name Zanzibar evokes images of sultans and spice traders, an island of beautiful white sand beaches and turquoise waters criss-crossed by dhows. It’s also a great place for spotting wildlife, including dolphins, antelope and the rare red colobus monkey.
The island of Kilwa Kisiwani, just off the coast of Tanzania, was once the centre of a great East African empire that stretched from Kenya to Mozambique, and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The fascinating ruins include mosques, palaces and the tombs of the sultans who grew rich off the back of trade in gold, ivory, spices and slaves.
The remote Aldabra Atoll is the world’s second largest coral atoll, situated on the outer fringes of the Seychelles. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to the world’s largest population of giant tortoises, providing a sanctuary for over 100,000 of these remarkable creatures.
Alphonse is one of the Outer Islands of the Seychelles, a white sand paradise where tortoises lumber through coconut groves and the shallows are alive with green turtles, eagle rays, nursing sharks and colourful fish. The island is also home to a single hotel, which employs most of the 100-strong population.
The island of Praslin is home to some of the Seychelles’ top attractions, including the Vallée de Mai, a protected forest where you’ll see the rare coco de mer, a tree that produces the world’s largest seed and palm flower. The grove is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has been compared to the Garden of Eden.
Lovely little La Digue is every inch the desert island idyll, and with less tourist development than Mahé or Praslin to impinge on your Robinson Crusoe fantasies. This is a place where many locals still get around by ox cart, and the beaches are some of the most beautiful in the Seychelles.
Mahé is the largest island in the Seychelles, home to the diminutive capital, Victoria, and 90% of the country’s population. It’s the quintessential tropical paradise, a sun-drenched landscape of granite mountains, lush jungle and heavenly white sand beaches.
