Flights

Domestic flights: Antananarivo - Nosy Be Diego - Antananarivo

Others

Bed and Breakfast the whole trip Halfboard at Sakatia Lodge, Heure Bleue, Relais de l’Ankarana, Nature Lodge and Royal Sakalava Dinner at Allamanda (day 13) Full board Alefa sailing trip with 2 bivouac nights All airport/hotel transfers Domestic flights Except in the capital, transport with driver and fuel included the whole trip Whale shark excursion (with specialised guide and lunch included) Excursion to the Lokobe reserve on Nosy-Be (with local guide and lunch included) Visit of Ankarana and Amber Mountain National parks (including picnic, entrance fee and local guide) Visit of Nosy Hara (with one bivouac night, local guide, entrance fee included) Three bay circuit excursion Tips included Specialised tourleader (from Day 2 to Day 17)

Meals

Breakfast during all the trip Breakfast and dinner at: Sakatia Lodge Heure Bleue Relais de l’Ankarana Nature Lodge Royal Sakalava

Guide

Accommodation

Au Bois Vert Jardin exotique Sakatia Lodge Heure Bleue Relais de l’Ankarana Nature Lodge Royal Sakalava

Transport

Except in the capital, transport with driver and fuel included the whole trip

Not included:

Insurance

Travel insurance

Others

♦ Visa ♦ Drinks ♦ Health insurances ♦ Personal expenses ♦ Intercontinental Flights ♦ All other services unlisted in the inclusive

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Arrival In Antananarivo
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Arrival In Antananarivo

Transfer to the hotel

You will land on your self-booked flight at Ivato airport in Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar. Welcome, or ‘tonga soa’!

In the terminal you will be issued a visa, the costs are around $50 (depending on the currency exchange rates). Your driver will wait for you at the exit near the custom hall to help you in the unlikely event of you needing assistance with formalities. We recommend exchanging money there as well, as it may take longer elsewhere and costs are more expensive. The driver will then take you to the hotel, where you can enjoy the rest of the day and relax after the long flight.

Bois Vert

Bois Vert hotel is located 5 minutes from Ivato airport in a quiet place with greenery, offers 44 comfort rooms. The hotel offers different services including transfer, massage and sports room.

Bois Vert also offers a walk in the park which will guide you to discover a sample of the fauna and flora of Madagascar. You can visit various Malagasy art and handcraft workshops as well as the crocodile farm around the hotel. Model boats, tin soldiers, marquetry workshops and jewelry creation will convince you to explore the Malagasy universe.
Day 2 Antananarivo - Nosy Be - Nosy Sakatia
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Antananarivo - Nosy Be - Nosy Sakatia

Airport transfer

You will be brought to the airport this morning for your inland flight to Nosy Be.

TNR - NOS

You inland flight from Ivato International airport to Fascene airport, lasting around 1 hour.

Nosy Be - Nosy Sakatia

Upon arrival in Nosy Be, you will continue to the intimate islet of Nosy Sakatia, just off the west coast of Nosy Be - this will be around a 20-minute long boat crossing.

Nosy Sakatia

This small island is inside a preserved ecosystem - protected and classified. Nosy Sakatia is small piece of paradise inviting you to discover the winding forest trails, hidden flora and fauna gems, as well as the perfect spots for diving - all completed by a romantic feeling of being on a small piece of land of 13 square kilometres total.

Sakatia Lodge

Sakatia Lodge is located in a truly beautiful and unique location in the north-west of Madagascar on the island of Sakatia. The hotel has 9 comfort bungalows, as well as offers various activities to its customers including diving, snorkeling, visiting the island, fishing, excursions to Nosy Iranja and Nosy Antsoha, Nosy Tanikely.

Sakatia Lodge is committed to sustainable tourism and is part of the island community to make the island a better and more environmentally friendly place and works closely with local villages, supporting and consulting on transportation, responsible disposal of waste and other activities that affect the island. The hotel also collects batteries from the Lodge and from the local community to ensure they are recycled in the appropriate facilities, and participates in the Reef in a Bottle project, which is a way to recycle our wine bottles while providing space to encourage the growth of new hard corals.
Day 3 Nosy Sakatia
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Nosy Sakatia

Exploring the Orchid island

You will have two days to spend walking the magical sandy beaches, discovering the local flora and fauna, as well as participating in active relaxation on and around the so-called Orchid island, Nosy Sakatia.

Your hotel organizes excursions on the island, the neighbouring islands, as well as offers diving and snorkeling experiences for participants of various levels.

Nosy Sakatia

Nosy Sakatia is described as a "pristine and quiet little island" by those who have already had the chance to get to know this destination.

You are free to explore this gem of nature at your own pace - we recommend a balance of some time spent relaxing at the white-sanded beaches and active exploration - you may choose to go on a hike to all corners of the island to roam in fishing villages, or the fields of coffee, vanilla and orchids, which made the island famous.

The team at the Sakatia Lodge - the hotel you will be staying at, has just received the governmental Green Turtle Reserve endorsement, intending to protect the nearby seagrass beds that are important feeding grounds for the sea turtles. Also, the island is home to nesting beaches of sea turtles, where they come on land to lay their eggs. In front of the lodge is a colorful and beautiful house reef for everyone to enjoy all hours of the day. Sakatia Lodge is also the base for one of the region’s best diving centers, so for guests who have scuba experience or want to get some, there are plenty of diving sites to explore the marine biodiversity.
Day 4 Nosy Sakatia
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Nosy Sakatia

Spotting whale sharks

Depending on the weather and condition of the sea, on Day 4, the team of Rand’eau will guide us on a boat trip, to look for whale sharks out in the big blue and join them in the water for a swim. These harmless and beautiful giants come close to the surface to feed on plankton in Nosy Be waters, an area that is recently discovered as an important feeding hotspot for the species. If you get lucky, we may see some dolphins or other marine wildlife during the boat trip.

Spotting the whale sharks in Madagascar’s waters is possible between September and December, however you are most likely to succeed in meeting these giants during October and November.

This early morning, you will be transferred to the starting point.

- 8h45 a.m.: Briefing and departure with the Team of Les Baleines Rand’Eau

-Morning on the sea to look for and snorkeling with whale sharks.

-12:30 p.m.: Lunch on Nosy Sakatia

-2:15 p.m.: Snorkeling with turtles

-2:45 p.m.: After the excursion, you will be dropped off by Rand’eau on the beach of Sakatia Lodge.
Day 5 Nosy Sakatia - Nosy Be
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Nosy Sakatia - Nosy Be

Nosy Sakatia - Nosy Be

You will take the 20-minute boat transfer back to the bigger island of Nosy Be this morning, leave your luggage in the hotel and start today’s exploration.

Lokobe Community Reserve

You will visit the Lokobe Community Reserve - home to Nosy Be’s last remaining lowland rainforest. You will travel by car to the village of Ambatozavavy, where we step into a local dugout canoe in the mangrove area and paddle for one hour to reach the Reserve. Lokobe is home to the black lemur and the locally endemic Hawks’ sportive lemur. Chameleons and boa constrictors are a common sight, and for plant lovers the lush vegetation and palm Dypsis ampasindavae will be a real treat. We will follow a hike trail in this beautiful forest for around 2,5 hours, and enjoy a local traditional lunch together on the beach before paddling back and returning to our hotel to pack for the next adventure.

Heure Bleu Hotel

L’Heure Bleue, the bohemian luxury of Nosy Be

Nestled in a magnificent tropical garden, L’Heure Bleue enjoys a unique location on Nosy Be, the paradise island par excellence:

Only 8 luxury lodges and 10 bungalows “feet in the water”, on the main beach of Nosy Be, and leaning against a hill – with a 180° view on the splendid bay of Madirokely/Ambatoloaka – which preserves both the intimacy and the freshness of its guests.

You will recharge your batteries and marvel at the warm waters of the Indian Ocean from our beach. Unless you prefer our two large swimming pools: fresh water (15m) or sea water (20m).
Day 6 Nosy Be
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Nosy Be

Alefa Sailing adventure

After breakfast we will embark on a traditional Sakalava boutre for a sailing trip that will take us southwards along the coast, islets and bays for 3 days, getting to remote places and traditional fishing villages only accessible by sea.

This experience will give us insight into the daily life of remote coastal communities which are close to unreachable by road. We will be sailing, swimming and snorkelling on reefs, enjoying the marine life, passing by many fishing boats along an amazing scenery of long desolate beaches, inlets, azure water, lush vegetation, mangroves, coconut plantations and charming fisher’s villages. Our day stretches from sunrise to sunset and we will enjoy fresh seafood and local fruits along the way, while sleeping in simple tents under the stars. This is the perfect time to go off-grid and spend quality time with your loved ones among idillic nature.

For those who want to, there is the opportunity to go on walks to look for wildlife inland or to climb up the hills to enjoy the spectacular views even more.

On Days 6 & 7 you will camp in simple tents on the way, creating the perfect sailing experience!

Upon your return to Nosy Be on Day 8, you will check into the same accommodation you stayed in before - L’Heure Bleue Hotel.
Day 7 Nosy Be - Ankify - Ankarana
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Nosy Be - Ankify - Ankarana

Nosy Be - Ankify

Following our adventures at sea, we will now be focusing more on the biodiversity inland.

A private motor boat will take you to Ankify in the morning hours, in order to avoid sailing through rough waters when the currents pick up in the afternoon.

Ankify - Ankarana

Upon your arrival, a driver will be waiting to take you on a 3,5 hour drive further north to Ankarana, also known as Tsingy of the North - the world famous incredible karstic rock formations that can only be found in the North and South-West of Madagascar.

You will be brought to your hotel and start the exploration in the afternoon.

Afternoon in Ankarana NP

After lunch, we will go on a short afternoon hike to explore the impressive bat cave, the surrounding dry deciduous forest and the big gulf called ‘lost river‘.

Relais de l’Ankarana

Le Relais de l’Ankarana features 9 en-suite bungalows and a restaurant. The hotel uses solar energy to provide electricity.

Six new bungalows have been distributed on a 5-hectare estate, where they have planted young banana, mango, coconut, lemon, orange, bougainvillea, badamier and flamboyant trees.
Day 8 Ankarana - Joffreville
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Ankarana - Joffreville

Ankarana National Park

We suggest to start by exploring the east side of the Ankarana reserve - this area will offer you the opportunity to observe the ‘Grey Tsingy of Ankarana‘. After a few kilometers, a formidable massif of peaks and sharp-edged rocks doom up, with impenetrable limestone. Because of the difficult accessibility, the canyons are sufficiently isolated to provide a home to many unknown, even to scientists, species waiting to be discovered. We will do a 5-hour hike to get to the most spectacular sites while looking for crowned and sanford’s brown lemurs as well as numerous birds, reptiles and insects along the way. The vegetation that has adapted to survive the dry conditions of the tsingy are a true attraction. Besides the giant baobabs, there is also a wide diversity of weird looking Euphorbia species and the even more peculiar Pachypodium, also called the elephant foot. We will stop for a picnic lunch and in the afternoon continue our journey northwards to the national park Montagne d’Ambre, where we stay in a beautiful lodge.

Ankarana - Red Tsingy

You will be driven by 4x4 car in the northern direction to Joffreville. On the way you have the opportunity to visit the Red Tsingy, worth the effort. Should you wish to make the total walk, it requires 2/2,5 hours.

The Red Tsingy are peak-shaped formations offering a magnificent view. In the course of the years wind and rain have shaped the Tsingy and they are unique in Madagascar. Unlike the ordinary Tsingy (with pointed rocks) the Red Tsingy has round rock points. Various kinds of rocks produce various color schemes, resulting in a true spectacle. A difficult passable path for a 4x4 in the middle of this savannah-like area with wild palm trees leads to the special Red Tsingy, yet definitely worth the trouble.

Indeed, this place is of stunning beauty, and we undoubtedly have to make a detour to visit this area. However, the miracle of nature may disappear quickly if not respected - which is why we encourage responsible tourism and support preservation initiatives.

Red Tsingy - Joffreville

After this visit, you will head for Joffreville (Ambohitra) - a town known for the Amber Mountain National Park, a drive of around 1,5 hours. Here you will check in to your accommodation and have the evening to settle in.

Nature Lodge

The nature lodge is located in Northern Madagascar, 30 km from Diego Suarez and 7 km from Amber Mountain National Park. The hotel has 12 bungalows and offers a catering service. Nature Lodge is a luxury hotel committed to an environmentally responsible approach by promoting the local economy, and the hotel is also equipped with solar energy: 30 solar panels, 24 professional batteries and 5 water heaters. All lighting and electrical appliances in the kitchen and restaurant, including fridges and freezers, are solar powered. 100% of the lamps have been replaced by LEDs and they do their best not to use the backup generator. The team is entirely Malagasy with the majority coming from the village of Joffreville.
Day 9 Joffreville
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Joffreville

Drive to the park

Another day and another visit to a National park! Your will be picked up by your driver from the accommodation and brought to the entrance.

Amber Mountain National Park

Today we go into the Amber Mountain National Park, a splendid example of a montane rainforest - massive, with its own microclimate, cooler and more humid than the surrounding areas. The national reserve covers a Vulcanic area of 300.000 hectares with varying heights from 800 to 1475 meters.

The local conditions have enabled lusciouis forests with amazing waterfalls and lakes to develop. You can choose between a half-day easy hike and a full day hike in the forest. The park is exciting for both flora and fauna: large tree ferns, epiphytic bird nest ferns, pandanus and endemic cycad palms are a rare find even for an amateur plant lover. As always, you can continue to look for local wildlife as well, particularly the avifauna, which will fascinate even non-bird lovers, there are some lemur species as well, and the smallest chameleons of Madagascar – the ‘Brookesia minima‘.
Day 10 Joffreville - Diego
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Joffreville - Diego

Joffreville - Diego Suarez

After breakfast we travel to the port city Diego Suarez - Madagascar’s northernmost large city, rich in history and culture. We will stop at the main viewpoints of the second largest bay in the world, a natural shelter for generations of pirates and slave traders and then check into our hotel.

Diego Suarez (Antsiranana)

Diego Suarez, also known as Antsiranana, is Madagascar’s northernmost large port city, rich in history and tradition. It sits on Antsiranana Bay - a vast natural harbor made up of several smaller bays.

Offshore, you can see the recognisable conical Nosy Lonja (or Sugar Loaf Island), which is considered sacred by locals. Long, sandy Ramena Beach lies along the northeastern coast - considered to be one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, with miles of turquoise water and white sand bordering it. The region also has many small fishing villages and offers the Amber and Ankarana Mountains as background.

You are free for lunch and the afternoon to go explore this colonial city, its cultural past, to visit the local markets or to shop for some souvenirs. You will still feel a strong Arab influence today with the mosques and locals chewing khat. In the evening we have a joint dinner at the seaside restaurant Melville from Allamanda Hotel, while packing for our 1,5-day trip to Nosy Hara.

Jardin Exotique

Jardin Exotique Hotel is located in the city center of Diego Suarez, a few steps away from the Colbert street, in a quiet and flowery place, and has 10 rooms with all comforts as different and charming as each other with sea view, terrace and private garden. The hotel’s restaurant "Le Balafomanga" is located 30m from the property. The hotel organizes excursions for the guests with a choice of 4 wheel drive car, bicycle or motocross. Excursions on quad bikes are also possible.
Day 11 Diego - Nosy Hara - Diego
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Diego - Nosy Hara - Diego

After four days of dry feet, it is time to go back out at sea for an overnight camping trip to the magnificent Nosy Hara archipelago.

Nosy Hara

This marine national park consists of one larger island and several small islets - made of tsingy, the same spiky limestone as in Ankarana, but this time surrounded by the sea. Nosy Hara is the only location where world’s tiniest chameleon, Brookesia micra, lives. During our short stay here, we will hike up the hills to an amazing viewpoint, look out for wildlife in the dry deciduous forest and enjoy a beautiful underwater landscape of corals vibrant of marine life, while camping on a local beach in very basic, submerged in nature, conditions.

On day 15, after more exploration and an early lunch we return by boat before the winds and the currents pick up, back to the village Ampasindava. Afterwards, we drive eastwards and have a few short stops at the salt fields, viewpoint of the Sugar Loaf island and some magnificent baobabs before arriving in the Sakalava Bay, our final destination.

Le Royal Sakalava

Hotel Royal Sakalava offers 14 double bungalows and 3 family bungalows which can accommodate up to 4 people. All the bungalows face the sea and offer the delicious sensation of feeling the water with your feet. The Royal Sakalava is, along with the Sakalava Lodge, one of the few establishments with such a good location. Entirely self-sufficient, the Royal Sakalava produces its own electricity. The water is drawn from different and heated by solar panels. A restaurant is available to guests with varied cuisines and can accommodate up to 200 people. The hotel offers various activities, including kitesurfing and windsurfing, of course, but also exploring the Diego Suarez region by 4x4, quad or mini buggy. Royal Sakalava Hotel also puts at your disposal a Kitesurfing camp with an instructor qualified by the IKO and the most recent equipment for hire.
Day 12 Diego
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Diego

Days in Sakalava Bay

All good things come to an end - and so does this adventure, with our final two days spent in the Sakalava Bay - a beautiful long white sandy beach and heaven for water sports. During our stay here, you have plenty of time to take a break and relax, go for a swim, read a book, take a snooze, enhance your photography skills - the possibilities are endless! Another interesting option would be to try out kite- or wind-surfing - the hotel has its own Kitesurfing school with certified professionals, ready to help you with the first steps or simply give some tips for the best experience.

Three Bays Circuit & Ramena

On Day 17, we will follow the Three Bays Circuit - a half-day walk along 3 gorgeous sandy bays (Sakalava, Pigeons and Dune Bays), leading all the way to the fishermen village Ramena, where we will have lunch.

This circuit is set in a wild, harsh, windy but starkly beautiful environment with white beaches and azure blue waters - just like it came off a postcard.
Day 13 Diego - Antananarivo
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Diego - Antananarivo

Airport transfer

Today, you will be brought to the airport for your inland flight to the capital, from where your intercontinental flight will depart.

DIE - TNR

Your inland flight from Arrachart Airport (Diego Suarez) to Ivato International Airport (Antananarivo), lasting around 1 hour.

Departure from Antananarivo

Depending on the time of your intercontinental flight back home, you will be brought to the airport.

We hope you enjoyed your trip and will bring a piece of Madagascar back home in your heart!

+10

18 days tour

Marine Adventure In Madagascar ( Group Trip )- Where The Fo

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Marine Adventure In Madagascar ( Group Trip )- Where The Fo

Arrival In Antananarivo

Antananarivo - Nosy Be - Nosy Sakatia

Nosy Sakatia

Nosy Sakatia

Nosy Sakatia - Nosy Be

Nosy Be

Nosy Be - Ankify - Ankarana

Ankarana - Joffreville

Joffreville

Joffreville - Diego

Diego - Nosy Hara - Diego

Diego

Diego - Antananarivo

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