15 days in Seychelles, Mauritius & Zanzibar Island Itinerary

Luxury to please visitors with deep pockets and scenery to astound the eye and warm the soul--that's Seychelles in a nutshell. The coastal areas boast a number of upscale beach resorts, with the fine sands and bright blue sea drawing visitors from distant corners of the world. The matriarchal culture that predominates in most households around the archipelago represents a fascinating cultural quirk to learn about during holidays in Seychelles, while the tropical rhythms of the local Creole folk music set the pace of everyday life.

A small but surprisingly multicultural island in the Indian Ocean, Mauritius sits just east of Madagascar and offers a white-sand coastline lapped by sapphire waters. The contrasts of colors, tastes, and cultures here makes a vacation in Mauritius richly rewarding, with plenty to do along the coast and deeper inland. A tour of Mauritius usually includes long stops at the island's beaches, which serve as launching points for deep-sea fishing trips, dolphin-watching excursions, and scuba diving adventures. Farther away from the water, you can discover a paradise for hikers and nature lovers. Mauritius is made for explorations on foot, with several volcanic summits and a large national park sheltering abundant species of indigenous plants and birds.

Experience the bustling Zanzibar Island, the financial and economical metropolis of the Zanzibar Archipelago. Most tours of Zanzibar Island start in Zanzibar Town, where centuries of history are on display in Persian bathhouses, street coffee vendors, and the world's last open slave market in Stone Town, the historical center. Beyond that, attractions on Zanzibar Island include numerous archaeological sites dotted across the area.