Tour · Group tours · North
A beautiful itinerary through the great sites of northern Madagascar. Travel the bays of Diego Suarez and its baobab forests, explore the extraordinary biodiversity of Anjahakely park and the Tsingy de l'Ankarana, and stay at an exceptional camp set amid singular, authentic surroundings. After these hikes and discoveries, the journey ends at Nosy Komba, an island where the sweetness of life and the generosity of nature combine to create extraordinary experiences.
L: Lunch, B&B: Overnight and breakfast, D: Dinner
Arrival in Nosy Be → Lemurs at Lokobe → Nosy Be → Ambanja → Andrafiamena Andavakoera Park → Anivorano Nord → Diego Suarez → Iharana “Ankarana Massif” → Iharana → Nosy Komba
Depending on flight times, welcome at the airport, then transfer to the hotel. Rest of the day free. Lunch and dinner at your own expense. Overnight and breakfast at Nosy Lodge or similar.
Overnight: Nosy Lodge « Villa Blanche » — Bed & breakfast
30 min transfer by car Departure from the hotel at 8:30 am, transfer to the fishing village of Ambatozavavy in the south of the island. Boarding a traditional dugout canoe to reach Lokobe by paddle, through a mangrove. About 2 hours 30 of walking to explore the park. Picnic lunch prepared by us. Return to the hotel in the afternoon. The Lokobe Reserve, in the southeast of the island, is home to the last protected primary forest on Nosy Be. Its low hills shelter a very wide variety of medicinal plants, several species of palm, timber trees, orchids and centuries-old trees. Much of the flora is endemic to the region. This dense tropical forest is also the happy refuge of various species of diurnal and nocturnal lemurs, reptiles, chameleons, boas, and birds such as the Madagascar kingfisher. Return to the hotel in the late afternoon. Dinner at your own expense. Overnight and breakfast at Nosy Lodge or similar.
Overnight: Nosy Lodge « Villa Blanche » — Bed & breakfast
45 min transfer by boat, 20 km about 30 min by road. In the morning, boat crossing to the port of Ankify to reach Ambanja, an urban district in northern Madagascar, also crossed by the Sambirano River. The area around Ambanja is still full of colonial-style plantations of cocoa, coffee, vanilla, rice, sweet potatoes, tobacco, and cassava for tapioca, as well as ylang-ylang. At midday, lunch included, then a visit to their cocoa plantation set in the heart of a tropical forest in the Sambirano Delta, with a unique and original concept for showcasing Malagasy terroir through an artisanal chocolate workshop. You can take part in workshops on processing cocoa beans and making chocolate. Dinner, overnight and breakfast at Terrakoa Eco-Lodge or similar.
Overnight: Terrakoa Eco-Lodge — Full board
165 km, about 5 hours by road, depending on stops Departure in the morning. We discover spectacular panoramas, authentic encounters, the richness of nature and local cultures during the drive between Ambaja and Anivorano Nord. Each stage of this journey offers unique moments of wonder and exchange, turning your trip into an unforgettable experience, where the beauty of the landscape rivals the warmth of the welcome from local people. Arrival in the mid-afternoon, then check-in at the hotel. Lunch at your own expense. Dinner, overnight and breakfast at Akiba Lodge or similar - Soft All Inclusive (soft drinks included)
Overnight: Akiba Anjahakely — Half board
A day dedicated to exploring Andrafiamena Park. Early in the morning we set off to track lemurs, mainly the black lemur. This circuit lets visitors encounter groups of Propithecus perrieri, Eulemur coronatus, Eulemur sanfordi, Lepilemur septentrionalis, various birds, and different snakes, not forgetting the plant diversity of the Andrafiamena forest. An easy route running along the mountainside. Depending on your preference, this walk can be combined with the natural pools circuit. Lunch at the lodge included. Free afternoon. Possible night visit before dinner. Departs 10 minutes from the hotel, 1-hour visit. Set in the gallery of the Andrafiamena dry forest, a night walk gives visitors the chance to encounter groups of Microcebus tavaratra and other nocturnal species. Dinner, overnight and breakfast at Akiba Lodge or similar – Soft All Inclusive (soft drinks included)
Overnight: Akiba Anjahakely — Full board
115 km, about 2 hours 30 by road, depending on stops Departure after breakfast for the Red Tsingy (only from April to November). After a little under an hour by road, you'll leave the national road for about 45 minutes on dirt tracks, toward the Red Tsingy. We descend toward the Grand Canyon to discover these striking, short-lived formations of clay and limestone. It is the runoff of rainwater and the whims of the wind that have shaped these colorful, otherworldly peaks, unique to Madagascar: the Red Tsingy. About 1 hour 30 of walking, 60 m elevation gain, easy walk, hiking trail Lunch at a local restaurant at your own expense. Dinner, overnight and breakfast at Allamanda Hôtel or similar.
Overnight: Allamanda Hôtel ★★★ — Bed & breakfast
In the morning, we set off for a day of adventure by 4x4, continuing on foot through wild country, toward the majestic Ivovona baobab forest and the vast Antanimivelatra plain. We stop at a superb viewpoint to admire an extraordinary baobab forest, its imposing silhouette outlined against the horizon. We'll have the chance to get closer to these iconic trees during an exploration on foot, letting yourself be wrapped in their mystery and grandeur. Picnic lunch prepared by us. End this memorable day with a swim in Ampondrafeta Bay, with its crystal-clear waters and golden sand — a breathtakingly beautiful bay. Return to Diego in the late afternoon. Dinner at your own expense. Overnight and breakfast at Allamanda Hôtel or similar.
Overnight: Allamanda Hôtel ★★★ — Half board
148 km, about 4 hours by road, depending on stops After breakfast, we head toward Tsingy de l'Ankarana National Park. This first discovery takes us to the eastern side of the park, and the hike is impressive. We pass through a magnificent gallery forest full of lemurs before emerging onto a huge Tsingy plateau, which we explore along developed paths. About 4 hours of walking, medium difficulty. Lunch at the park exit at your own expense, then we continue toward Iharana Bush Camp in the afternoon. Dinner, overnight and breakfast at Iharana Bush Camp or similar.
Overnight: Iharana Bush Camp — Half board
An authentic stay at Iharana Bush Camp to explore the Tsingy de l'Ankarana. Iharana Bush Camp welcomes you on the shore of a lake, facing a Tsingy massif. The natural site is exceptionally rich and uniquely beautiful. Here, you are in the heart of nature: no TV, no air conditioning, no phone. We favor charm and authenticity with minimal impact on nature. Iharana is the most unusual bush camp in Madagascar. Synthetic tents are replaced by magnificent natural cob structures. The organic architecture draws on traditional Malagasy dwellings. The walls do not fully enclose the interior. The upper part of the wall is left open for natural ventilation. Several walks are organized from the camp to discover the finest sides of the Tsingy, taking in panoramas, gallery forests and caves. More active pursuits are also possible: large and small zip-lines, climbing (introductory routes), mountain biking. To be arranged on site. Lunch at your own expense. Dinner, overnight and breakfast at Iharana Bush Camp or similar.
Overnight: Iharana Bush Camp — Half board
153 km, dirt track + paved road, about 4 hours with stops, including 1 hour on dirt track – 40 min transfer by speedboat Breakfast at the camp. Then a 4x4 transfer to the Sambirano Valley, through cocoa and aromatic plant plantations. Boarding a speedboat at Ankify and crossing to Nosy Be. 40 min crossing, fast flat-bottomed hull, 75 hp, 8 people per boat. Lunch at your own expense. Dinner, overnight and breakfast at Komba On the Rocks or similar.
Overnight: Komba On the Rock — Half board
Free time to enjoy the hotel as you wish. Many excursions can also easily be arranged from the hotel, such as visits to nearby islands, diving, hikes from north to south across Nosy Komba island, fishing, etc. The not-to-be-missed outings are: turtle safari at Nosy Tanikely and Nosy Sakatia, and a whale or whale shark safari depending on the season. Lunch at your own expense. Dinner, overnight and breakfast at Komba On the Rocks or similar.
Overnight: Komba On the Rock — Half board
Depending on flight times, boat transfer from Nosy Komba to Hell-Ville, then assistance to Nosy Be airport for the return flight.