Nosy Be: things to do, when to go and how to get there
Lokobe, Nosy Komba, Tanikely and Iranja, when the rains and the whales come, flights and the Ankify boat, and how many nights to give Nosy Be.
Northern Madagascar: Beaches, Tsingy and Wildlife
Eleven private days from Diego Suarez to Nosy Be: two days at the Three Bays, Amber Mountain, Ankarana and island day trips. Ten hotel nights are listed; access and departure flights are extra. Compare the arrival calendar and boat days before requesting your quote.
Highlights of the tour
What you'll see
- Relaxing coastal days at the Three Bays and on Nosy Iranja
- Montagne d'Ambre National Park, with crowned and Sanford's brown lemurs
- The dramatic red sandstone formations of Tsingy Rouge
- A full-day hike in Tsingy d'Ankarana, with caves, pinnacles and dry-forest wildlife
- Lokobe National Park by canoe, to see black lemurs and tropical flora
- Nosy Be for beaches, swimming and snorkelling
- Scenic drives through dry forests, coastal plains and small villages
- Boat transfers and coastal landscapes from Ankify to Nosy Be
Day by day
Day 1
Antananarivo to Diego Suarez
The programme begins with a morning flight from Antananarivo to Diego Suarez, then lunch in town and a relaxed afternoon. The land price starts in Diego; this flight is extra. Check actual flight times and whether your international arrival requires an additional night in Antananarivo before day 1. Depending on the hotel location, enjoy the beach or rest after the flight.
Overnight: Diego Suarez
Days 2 and 3
The Three Bays
Two days at the famous Three Bays with quiet beaches, turquoise water and steady winds. Optional activities include kitesurfing, windsurfing, snorkelling, light walks, or simply relaxing by the sea.
Overnight: Diego Suarez
Day 4
Montagne d'Ambre National Park
Drive to Montagne d'Ambre National Park for a full-day exploration. See crowned lemurs, Sanford's brown lemurs, chameleons, geckos, frogs and birds. Walk to waterfalls and crater lakes in the cooler forest climate. Picnic lunch inside the park, then return to Diego Suarez in the afternoon.
Overnight: Diego Suarez
Day 5
Diego Suarez to Ankarana, via the Tsingy Rouge
Morning drive to the Tsingy Rouge to explore dramatic red sandstone formations. Easy walking trails with photo opportunities. Continue to Ankarana, arriving in time for lunch. Afternoon free to relax or take a short walk nearby.
Overnight: Ankarana
Day 6
Tsingy d'Ankarana
Full day exploring Tsingy d'Ankarana's limestone pinnacles, caves, natural bridges and dry forest. Look for crowned lemurs, birds and unusual plant species. Trails include narrow passages, small suspension bridges and viewpoints.
Overnight: Ankarana
Day 7
Ankarana to Nosy Be
Morning drive from Ankarana to Ankify through scenic dry forests, villages and coastal plains. Short boat crossing to Nosy Be, arriving at the hotel. Afternoon free for swimming, the beach, or relaxation.
Overnight: Nosy Be
Day 8
Lokobe National Park
Visit Lokobe National Park with a canoe ride along calm waterways, followed by a guided walk to see black lemurs, chameleons and tropical flora. Lunch served inside or near the park. Afternoon free to enjoy the hotel or the beach.
Overnight: Nosy Be
Days 9 and 10
Nosy Iranja
Days 9 and 10 are planned as two Nosy Iranja day trips for the beach, swimming and snorkelling, returning to your Nosy Be hotel each evening. That means four boat crossings in two days. Confirm tide timing, boat arrangements and meals in the written programme, and check sea conditions before departure. If you would prefer fewer crossings or a night on the island, request a revised itinerary and price rather than assuming an overnight is included.
Overnight: Nosy Be
Day 11
Departure
Transfer to the airport for the return flight, either departing from Nosy Be or returning to Antananarivo depending on the schedule. End of the northern Madagascar adventure.
Included
- Private comfortable vehicle
- Accommodation as mentioned (bed & breakfast)
- English-speaking driver/guide
- Local guides and park entrance fees
- Food and excursions in Nosy Be (3 days)
Not included
- Flights to Diego Suarez and from Nosy Be, including any return via Antananarivo
- Other meals outside Nosy Be
- Tips and gratuities
- Personal expenses
- Drinks
Questions
Questions about the 11-day north trip
When is the best time to visit northern Madagascar?
The published route window is April to December, but that is not a guarantee for every boat day. Wind, rain and sea conditions affect the Three Bays and island excursions; December is already wet on Nosy Be. Send exact dates and tell us whether boat trips or kitesurfing matter most. Our Nosy Be guide compares the island seasons, and the month-by-month guide covers the wider trip.
Where does the 11-day northern trip start and end?
It starts in Diego Suarez and ends on Nosy Be. You fly from Antananarivo to Diego Suarez on the morning of day 1, and on day 11 we take you to the airport for your flight from Nosy Be, or back via Antananarivo, depending on your schedule. The price starts from Diego Suarez, so neither flight is included, but we can book the domestic flights for you.
What are the Tsingy Rouge and Ankarana like?
They are two very different Tsingy. The Tsingy Rouge are red formations carved by erosion, seen on easy trails with plenty of photo stops. Ankarana is limestone: on day 6 of the 11-day northern trip you spend a full day among its pinnacles, caves and natural bridges, on trails with narrow passages, small suspension bridges and viewpoints, and you look for crowned lemurs in the dry forest.
How much beach time is there on the 11-day northern trip?
Two days at the Three Bays, a free afternoon on Nosy Be after the Ankify crossing, and two Nosy Iranja day visits. The ten nights are four in Diego Suarez, two at Ankarana and four on Nosy Be; the Iranja visits return to Nosy Be rather than including island overnights. Food and excursions are listed for three Nosy Be days: have the quote identify each boat day and included meal. Sea conditions can require changes.
What does the 11-day northern trip include?
The 11-day Northern Madagascar trip is priced from €1,790 per adult, and the price per person depends on group size. It includes your private vehicle and English-speaking driver-guide, bed and breakfast accommodation, park entrance fees and local guides, and food and excursions on Nosy Be for three days. Flights, including the one to Diego Suarez, other meals, drinks, tips and personal expenses are not included.
How is the 11-day trip different from the 12-day Northern Madagascar Adventure?
Both visit the Three Bays, Amber Mountain, Tsingy Rouge, Ankarana, Lokobe and Nosy Iranja. This eleven-day route is priced from Diego Suarez and ends at Nosy Be: four nights in Diego, two at Ankarana and four on Nosy Be. It gives two days at the Three Bays and two Iranja day trips. The twelve-day route includes arrival and departure days in Antananarivo, with two capital nights, three in Diego, two at Ankarana and four on Nosy Be. It has one Three Bays day, Sakatia snorkelling and Mont Passot, then one Iranja day. Flights are extra for both. Compare your full calendar and written quote; a whale excursion needs separate confirmation.
Before you go
Guides for this trip
The best places to visit in Madagascar
Andasibe, the Tsingy, Isalo, Nosy Be and the rest, region by region: what each place is like and how long it needs.
The best time to visit Madagascar, month by month
Month by month and region by region: dry roads, cyclones, the Tsingy's short season, whales, lemur babies, birds and chameleons.
Diego Suarez: the Three Bays, Amber Mountain and Ankarana
Diego Suarez and the far north: the Three Bays, the Emerald Sea, Montagne d'Ambre, the Tsingy Rouge and Ankarana, the dry windy months, and how many nights to give it.
Nosy Iranja: the sandbar island and how to visit
Two islets joined by a sandbar at low tide: the boat from Nosy Be, timing the tide, turtles, the lighthouse walk, and whether to stay the night.
The best beaches in Madagascar, and when to go
The beaches worth building a trip around, from the Nosy Iranja sandbar to Anakao, with the dry months for each coast, honest notes on swimming, and the trips that finish on the sand.
