Aqua Expeditions is about to transform how discerning passengers experience the Indian Ocean’s most pristine waters. Come February 2026, the luxury expedition specialist will launch Aqua Lares, a 77.4m / 254ft. mega-yacht that promises to redefine small-ship cruising in East Africa’s biodiversity hotspots.
The sweet spot of luxury expedition cruising
With just 30 guests aboard, Aqua Lares achieves that elusive balance between intimate exploration and sumptuous comfort. The vessel’s 15 suites – ranging from 140 to 710 square feet – include three generous Owner’s Suites that serve as floating sanctuaries after days spent discovering remote atolls and coral gardens.
What sets this yacht apart is its remarkable gross tonnage-to-guest ratio, the highest in Aqua’s fleet. Translation? More space per person than you’ll find on any comparable expedition vessel, creating an almost private yacht atmosphere despite the shared experience.
Where giants roam and coral gardens flourish
The real magic happens at the destinations themselves. Aldabra Atoll, a UNESCO World Heritage site, hosts over 150,000 giant tortoises – the world’s largest population of these ancient creatures roaming freely across pristine coral islands. Here, guests can kayak through turquoise lagoons where manta rays glide beneath their paddles and reef sharks patrol coral walls that plunge into the deep blue.
The Seychelles’ Outer Islands offer something increasingly rare in our connected world: genuine remoteness. These secluded atolls, accessible only by sea, remain untouched by mass tourism. On La Digue, forest paths wind past the legendary Coco de Mer palms, their enormous seeds a testament to millions of years of isolated evolution.
Adventures tailored to the curious
Five private tenders – including nimble Zodiacs and larger Rafnar boats – ensure groups remain small during excursions. The yacht carries everything needed for proper exploration: diving gear for coral wall adventures, mountain bikes for island trails, and paddle boards for silent wildlife encounters in shallow lagoons.
Three naturalist guides lead expeditions designed around each day’s discoveries. At Astove Atoll, the underwater “Grand Canyon” reveals four miles of coral wall teeming with marine life. In the Seychelles’ inner islands, hiking trails lead to encounters with the critically endangered Seychelles paradise flycatcher.
The art of expedition dining
Aqua Expeditions has earned its reputation partly through exceptional cuisine, and Aqua Lares continues this tradition with world-renowned chefs creating menus that reflect both international sophistication and local flavors. With a 1:1 crew-to-guest ratio, service remains intimate and bespoke – a rarity in expedition cruising.
Voyages for every explorer
The yacht offers four distinct itinerary lengths, each crafted for different appetites for adventure. Five-night journeys focus on the Seychelles’ inner islands, perfect for first-time visitors seeking highlights like Praslin’s unique ecology and La Digue’s bicycle-friendly charm.
Nine-night expeditions venture into the remote Outer Islands, where Aldabra’s giant tortoises and pristine marine environments offer the kind of wildlife encounters that define transformative travel. Extended 10- and 11-night voyages connect the Seychelles with Zanzibar and Tanzania, tracing ancient trade routes through waters where blue whales occasionally surface alongside the yacht.
A new chapter in African exploration
For Aqua Expeditions founder Francesco Galli Zugaro, this expansion represents both personal passion and professional evolution. His childhood safari experiences in East Africa planted seeds that have now grown into the company’s first venture beyond its established territories in the Galápagos, Vietnam, and Indonesia.
The yacht will operate seasonally from November to April, when the Indian Ocean’s weather patterns create ideal conditions for exploration. Inaugural voyages begin February 8, 2026, with rates starting at USD9,000 per person for five nights.
In an era when true wilderness feels increasingly elusive, Aqua Lares offers something precious: access to places where nature still writes the rules, where giant tortoises lumber across coral islands as they have for millennia, and where the only schedule that matters is the rhythm of tides and wildlife.
Visit the Aqua Expeditions website for more information.
About the Author: Jason Kerr
