An original circuit in one of the most beautiful regions of Madagascar. After the visit of the city of Diégo-Suarez, leave to discover the pearls of the Malagasy North: a walk through mountains and tsingy, to end in the marine treasures of Nosy Be and its charming small islands. You will appreciate the immersion in the daily life of the people of the North, the Antakarana, via the bicycle ride through Tsingy and villages. In short, a magnificent mix of shared emotions, unusual experiences and beautiful hikes. An unforgettable trip!
Transfer to the airport depending to the flight schedule, then flight to Diégo-Suarez. Get setteled at your hotel. Then, we board for a guided tour of the city to the most famous places of the city until the market. Diego-Suarez has had an eventful history since its discovery by Portuguese navigators, Diego Diaz in 1500 and Herman Suarez six years later. In the 17th century, the French pirate Misson, helped by the Dominican Father Caraccioli, founded a short-lived community called the Republic of Libertalia on French Bay. This small society, open to all men without distinction, was prosperous and thriving. However, one day, while pirates were at sea, native Malagasy destroyed the settlement and massacred its population. This utopian enterprise came to an end in 1730, leaving no trace of its brilliant past existence.
Provide lunch at your expense.
Dinner and overnight at your hotel
Transfer by car (45 mn) to the Sakalava bay, which will be the starting point of our walk. It is an easy coastal hike, in a magnificent landscape of rock and lagoons. You will reach, first, the bay of Pigeons. Then, the walk continues to the Bay of Dunes. Lunch and swimming.
Approximately 3 hours of walking, low altitude, easy walk, coastal path. Necessary equipment: good walking shoes or good sneakers, light clothes, items to protect from the sun, bottle of water
Return to Diégo Suarez in the middle of the afternoon.
Picnic lunch prepared by us.
Overnight at your hotel
About 1h boat trip for the outward journey and 1h for the return, depending on the wind and the weather.
Transfer to the village of Ramena. Take a wooden dhow, typical of that region, to sail over "the Emerald Sea. The Emerald Sea is a huge lagoon with very little depth (about 2m), it is located just after the small pass going up north. The shallow water allows you to dive into a dream natural aquarium where fish of all sizes, shapes and colors seem to have come together. We will dock on the islet of "Nosy-Suarez" to enjoy the beach. Small shelters are built there to protect you from the sun, and let you take a nap. Barbecue Lunch on the beach: yummy fresh fish with coconut rice and salads. In the afternoon, return to the hotel.
Great day of discovery. After a transfer of approximately 2 hours by 4X4, we arrive on the plain of Antanimivelatra, magnificent place shaped by rice fields, plantations and water courses. This real Garden of Eden, with its island of Baobab forest overhanging the plain, offers a surprising natural decor. Walk in the forest and cross the plain by foot. For the more adventurous, it is possible to continue the hike to the wild beach of Ampondrafeta, about 2h30 walk from the baobab forest. Afternoon of relaxation at the seaside then return to Diego. Arrival in Diego Suarez in the early evening
Overnight and breakfast at your hotel
Day devoted to discover the National Park of “la Montagne d'Ambre” which reaches 1,475 m at its peak. Known as the water tower of the northern, rivers and amazing waterfalls take source there, hence, it is recovered of luxuriant vegetation and of a thick green mantle of rainforest. Amber mountain national park has a very high rate of endemism and offers a great biodiversity: a huge tropical forest, endemic fauna with species of birds, lemurs and amphibians), lush vegetation with thousands of species of precious woods, many waterfalls and volcanic lakes.
Overnight at your hotel
After breakfast, you will leave for the Red Tsingy (only from April to November). After an hour drive, you will leave the national road and take a secondary road for about 45mn towards the Red Tsingy. You will go down to the Grand Canyon to discover these impressive ephemeral formations of clays and limestones. The runoff of the rainy waters and the whims of the wind shaped these colorful and phantasmagoric peaks that are unique in Madagascar: the Red Tsingy. Approximately 1h30 walk, 60 m of ascending elevation, easy walk, hiking trail
Necessary equipment: good walking shoes or good sneakers, items to protect from the sun, bottle of water
We take the same track to the national road, then direction Mahamasina. In the afternoon, we go for a first approach of the Tsingy. The Tsingy Rary trail takes us through canyons and viewpoints. With a bit of luck, we could see some crowned lemurs!
Approximately 2 hours of walking, little difference in level, easy walk, hiking trail
After the visit, we continue to Iharana Bush Camp (about 1h of track).
Lunch reserved in a local restaurant.
Dinner and overnight at Iharana Bush Camp
In the morning, you will explore the Ankarana Tsingy through a magnificent "aerial" walk on the Tsingy roof. The panorama is just stunning. On the way, a few belvederes have been set up to allow you to appreciate the best viewpoints. If you are lucky, you will come across some groups of crowned lemurs, an endemic species from northern Madagascar.
3-hour to 3-and-a-half-hour walk depending on the number/duration of stops, 150m of ascending elevation, average difficulty, hiking trail, arranged and secured trails. Renovated and secured routes. People suffering from dizziness should not do this.
Necessary equipment : good walking shoes or good sneakers, items to protect from the sun, insect repellent, headlamps and water bottle
Lunch at the Bush Camp.
In the afternoon, we will leave for the Mandresy cave: We will reach the entrance of the Mandresy cave after a short stroll through some typical Sakalava houses (15 to 20 min walk from the Bush Camp). With our headlamps, we will walk slowly in the galleries of the Tsingy. The Mandresy cave has magnificent cavities with large rooms and impressive concretions. It is also home to abundant and very special fauna: bat species and some reptiles (harmless). Underground rivers hide crayfish and some endemic freshwater fish in the area. Containing places of worship and burials, the caves have a sacred character for the Antankarana. By the middle of the 17th century, they served as a refuge for the local population during the invasion wars. Many of them lost their lives.
Dinner and overnight at Iharana Bush Camp
From Iharana, go for a guided tour to see a variety of Malagasy scenes of everyday life. A bicycle ride is the best way to meet the villagers and see their daily routine; in other words, you can observe the everyday life of the surrounding villages. What a real adventure! You can ride between sugar cane plantations, corn plantations or cassava plantations or along the rice fields.
3-hour to 3-and-a-half-hour ride, little ascending elevation, easy ride, hiking trail.
Necessary equipment : good walking shoes or good sneakers, items to protect from the sun, insect repellent, headlamps and water bottle
Free afternoon to enjoy the beauty of the natural site and the bush camp. Some optional activities will still be proposed to you, such as a dugout canoe trip to discover the water birds of the region or a traditional massage.
Dinner and overnight at Iharana Bush Camp
We are leaving Iharana to go to Ankify. We will cross large cocoa, pepper, Ylang-Ylang and vanilla plantations until Ankify. With a specialist, discover the plantations as well as the treatments and conditionning of cocoa beans.
Regarding the Millot plantation :
With their world-wide reputation, the Millot plantation supplies the greatest chocolatiers. It has existed for more than a century. A century of tradition and dedication to quality and excellence. You will discover how to grow a rare variety of cocoa or how - over the course of cultivation, harvesting and preparation - these cocoa pods have become one of the best cocoas on the planet. The greatest starred chefs have come to the Millot plantation to discover the secrets of this rare quality cocoa. You will also see how, with patience, the women sort the pink berries with a brush, grain by grain. The secret of the four spices and that of the black, white and green peppers will be revealed to you. You will live a hundred-year-old tradition and you will stop to see the primary school and the village of the employees of the plantation. You will finally discover the true meaning of fair trade.
After the visit, a few minutes connection to the port of Ankify. Then, boat transfer to join Nosy Be. 45 minutes of speedboat transfer. Transfer to your hotel on arrival.
Lunch reserved at the Plantation.
Overnight and breakfast at your hotel
A primary tropical forest in the middle of the ocean. Walks in the park will allow you to discover one of the facets of Nosy Be, that of the luxuriance. Departure by car from your hotel to Ambatozavavy. Short navigation by pirogue to Ampasipohy (25 min). Visit of the park.
2-and-a-half-hour to 3-hour walk, little ascending elevation, easy walk, hiking trail.
Necessary equipment : good walking shoes or good sneakers, items to protect from the sun, insect repellent, headlamps and water bottle
Back to Ampasipohy and visit of the village by pirogue to Ambatozavavy and transfer by car to your hotel.
Overnight and breakfast at your hotel
Transfer to port, then departure to Nosy Tanikely Marine Reserve. This natural aquarium is the best spot for colorful encounters. With fins, mask and snorkel, follow the guide and discover Nosy Tanikely’s beautiful coral reefs. Enjoy two water rides in the wonderful world of leopard sharks, groupers, stingrays, barracudas, tropical fish, corals, lobsters … Rest on the beach of Nosy Tanikely, then stroll to the lighthouse offering a breathtaking view of the bay. See the lemurs before leaving for Nosy Sakatia island. Tasty lunch on the beach of this authentic island. In the afternoon, meet the greens and their marine world.
Overnight and breakfast at your hotel
Nosy Komba, this volcanic island located in the South East of Nosy Be, is the ideal place to live the mora mora, the Malagasy expression for taking your time. Take advantage of the beaches and the virgin creeks for sweet baths...
Several activities can be organized from the hotel:
Overnight and breakfast at your hotel
Depending on flight schedules, transfer to the airport of Nosy Be and flight to Antananarivo. Dinner and Day Use in a hotel near the airport. Back to the airport in the evening and check-in for your return flight.
TRAVEL AGENCY – DMC – CAR RENTAL
AGENCE DE VOYAGES – TOUR OPERATEUR – LOCATION DE VOITURES
