The Northern Beauty and Nosy Be, the Island of Perfume
Highlights: Amber Mountain National Park, the three bays, the Red Tsingy, Ankarana National Park and beautiful beaches. The north concentrates Madagascar's contrasts in a short distance — rainforest, desert, limestone and lagoon.
What you'll experience
- Amber Mountain National Park: waterfalls and crowned lemurs
- The Emerald Sea and the three bays of Diego-Suarez
- Red Tsingy: eroded laterite pinnacles
- Ankarana National Park: grey tsingy, caves, suspension bridge
- Four nights on Nosy Be, the island of perfume
- Snorkelling at Nosy Tanikely and lemurs on Nosy Komba
Diego-Suarez and the three bays
The bay of Diego-Suarez is one of the largest natural harbours in the world. West of the city, the Sakalava, Pigeons and Dunes bays follow one another along a windy coast that has become a kitesurfing destination, with turquoise water and almost no one on the sand.
Nosy Be, the island of perfume
Nosy Be owes its name to the ylang-ylang plantations that supply the perfume industry. Beyond the beaches, the island is the base for outings to Nosy Tanikely marine reserve, the black lemurs of Nosy Komba and the sandbank of Nosy Iranja — and, from September to November, for swimming alongside whale sharks.
Photos from this tour
Your detailed programme
- 1
Arrival Antananarivo
Welcome at Ivato airport and overnight in the capital.
- 2
Antananarivo – Diego-Suarez
Flight north to Diego-Suarez (Antsiranana). Afternoon city tour: colonial architecture, market and the bay.
- 3
Red Tsingy & Amber Mountain National Park
Morning at the Red Tsingy, then the rainforest of Amber Mountain: Sacred Waterfall, crowned lemurs, dwarf chameleons.
- 4
Emerald Sea & the three bays
Boat outing to the Emerald Sea for snorkelling and a grilled-fish lunch, then the three bays by 4x4.
- 5
Diego-Suarez – Ankarana
Drive south to the Ankarana massif. Afternoon walk to the grey tsingy and the suspension bridge.
- 6
Ankarana – Ankify – Nosy Be
Andrafiabe caves in the morning, then transfer to Ankify and motorboat crossing to Nosy Be.
- 7
Nosy Be
Day trip to Nosy Tanikely marine reserve and Nosy Komba, the island of black lemurs.
- 8
Nosy Be
Free day: Nosy Iranja, whale sharks in season, ylang-ylang plantations or Mont Passot sunset.
- 9
Nosy Be – Antananarivo
Flight back to the capital, last shopping and farewell dinner.
- 10
Departure
Transfer to Ivato airport for your international flight.
- All airport / hotel / airport transfers as per the detailed programme
- Accommodation on a half-board basis throughout the tour
- All visits and entrance fees to national parks and reserves listed in the programme
- One bottle of water per person per day
- An English or French speaking driver-guide
- Tourist taxes
- A four-wheel drive from Diego to Ankify, petrol included
- All transfers by car and motorboat as per the detailed programme
- — Lunches
- — Drinks
- — Any visit not mentioned in the programme, or taken as an option
- — Domestic flights
- — Comprehensive travel insurance
Check availability for this tour
A local English-speaking advisor replies within 24 hours. 100% customizable: dates, accommodations, beach extensions.