This itinerary concentrates the main sites of The North : the Montagne d’Ambre National Park, the Baobab forests, the Emerald Sea and the 3 bays of Diego Suarez, but also the canyon of the Tsingy rouges, the sapphire villages, the Tsingy de l’Ankarana, the Ambanja cocoa plantations and the lemur island of Nosy Komba. The trip ends with a dolphin- and whale-watching safari to the magnificent island of Nosy Iranja. Between charming hotels and ecolodges, escape in 14 days to a true concentrate of Madagascar…
Day 1
Arrive in the “City of a Thousand”, with its colorful hills and rice paddies. While the upper town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the lower town is particularly lively and cosmopolitan. Transfer to hotel for first night in the capital.
Accommodation : Standard hotel
Meals included :
Day 2
Transfer to the airport for a flight to northern Madagascar. Fly over the island to the bay of Diego Suarez. Arrival in Diego Suarez, greeted by your driver who will take you to your hotel. Check-in at your hotel.
Accommodation : Standard hotel
Meals included : Breakfast – lunch
Day 3
Description 3 bays + Ankorikahely village : 8 a.m.: pick-up to drive along the coastal road, discover the Pain de Sucre, the region’s endemic baobabs and the Massif de la Montagne des Français. Pass through the village of Ankorikahely. Part of one of the two outlying villages of the new Orangia Protected Area (NAP), it lies 12 km from the town of Antsiranana on the Ramena road, at the fork in the road to Sakalava Bay. Each as beautiful as the next, these little-visited bays of white sand border a turquoise sea. In succession, discover the Baie des Sakalava and its fun boarders, the inaccessible but seductive Baie des Pigeons, and the refreshing Baie des Dunes. After a dip in the Indian Ocean, you’ll continue on to Cap Miné, where you’ll find old cannons from colonial times, an old lighthouse and a breathtaking view of the Diégo Suarez channel. You’ll then pass the beach of the former Orangea military camp before arriving in Ramena, a traditional fishing village. Lunch by the beach.
Accommodation : Standard hotel
Meals included : Breakfast – lunch
Day 4
Montagne d’ambre + Lunch at Henriette Pick-up at your hotel at 07:30. This day, we head for Montagne d’Ambre, Madagascar’s first national park, a volcanic and mountainous region located 60 km from Diego Suarez. Rightly considered a “biological treasure”, it is home to a magnificent protected rainforest, preserved from any human impact, where rich and complex nature thrives. Take a stroll along the botanical trail and appreciate the different forms of vegetation (canarium, ficus, orchids…). Meet different species of chameleon, including the world’s smallest, the Brokesia Minima Tuberculata. Then meet the lemurs (crowned, fulvus…). Discover the various waterfalls such as the Cascade d’Antomboka, the Cascade Sacrée and others, as well as beautiful panoramas of the far north of the island. For lunch, stop off at the Relais de la Montagne d’Ambre, where you can sample some of mama Mary’s delicious dishes. Return to your hotel at the end of the day.
Accommodation : Standard hotel
Meals included : Breakfast – lunch
Day 5
Pick-up according to the tide for a 45-minute drive. Along the harbor, you’ll see the Pain de Sucre, baobabs endemic to the region and the Massif de la Montagne des Français. Arriving in Ramena, board a traditional sailing and motor dhow for an hour to the Emerald Sea. Take an hour’s cruise to get there. It’s located just beyond the small pass heading north. Take advantage of the shallow turquoise waters to try your hand at snorkelling. Discover the seabed and fine white sand beaches. Relax and fish on site. Prepare breakfast with the team and enjoy lunch. On the way back, after a stop in a small fishing village, discover the marine Tsingy at the small pass. Return to your hotel in the late afternoon.
Accommodation : Standard hotel
Meals included : Breakfast – lunch
Day 6
A day of discovery awaits you, heading towards the village of sahafary, where a surprising site awaits you: “les Tsingy rouges”, a spectacle resulting from the whims of wind and rain. An erosion that has been sculpted over time into ephemeral, phantasmagorical red fairy chimneys. They can form in a relatively short geological time. This is a place of breathtaking beauty, unique to Madagascar. A must-see. After lunch, head for the village of Anivorano to immerse yourself in history and discover the famous sacred crocodiles of Lake Antanavo. The scenery features lush green vegetation, rice paddies, banana trees and rivers: the walk to the lake is particularly gentle and beautiful. In the late afternoon, return to your hotel.
Accommodation : Standard hotel
Meals included : Breakfast – lunch
Day 7
The Tsingy of Ankarana are home to a wide variety of flowers and vegetation. You can descend into a cave filled with stalactites, stalagmites and bats! Take the suspension bridge and discover the endemic Euphorbia Ankaranensis.
Accommodation : Standard hotel
Meals included : Breakfast – lunch
Day 8
After breakfast at the hotel, we’re off to Ambanja. We stop off at the Millot plantation, where you’ll discover the secrets behind the preparation of the finest cocoa, and see the birth and transformation of the most beautiful perfume essences (ylang ylang, vetiver, patchouli, palmarosa). Crossing by boat to Nosy Be. In the afternoon, visit the small villages around the hotel.
Accommodation : Standard hotel
Meals included : Breakfast
Day 9
Set course for Sakatia, the authentic orchid island. Nosy Sakatia is the most authentic island of Nosy Be (protected and classified by the Ministry of Environment). Accompanied by a local guide, you’ll set off to discover the island during a 1 to 2-hour stroll: old flamboyant trees, coffee trees, pepper trees, vanilla trees, the traveler’s tree, pineapple trees, cashew trees, mango trees, jackfruit trees, guava trees, eucalyptus trees, raffia, orchids, medicinal plants, etc.). At the end of the day, you’ll be taken to relax on one of the island’s private beaches.
a true corner of paradise and tranquility. Possibility of snorkelling. Return to your hotel at the end of the day or in the afternoon, depending on the tide.
Accommodation: Standard hotel / residence of your choice
Meals included: Breakfast – lunch – dinner
Day 10
Discover the town of Nosy Be by tuc-tuc: visit the market, historic monuments, the dhow port, and a short stopover in the shade of a sumptuous banyan tree, the sacred tree of Nosy Be. Then drive south through the coffee and ylang-ylang blossoms. Lunch is served in one of the island’s best-known restaurants. In the afternoon, swim and learn about braiding and masonjoany on Andilana beach, reputed to be one of Nosy Be’s most beautiful beaches. End the day with a cocktail on Mont Passot, the island’s highest point, from where you can admire a magnificent 360° sunset.
Accommodation : Standard hotel
Meals included : Breakfast – lunch
Day 11
Visit Madagascar’s pristine coastline and its miles of unspoilt beaches. Nosy Iranja is made up of two islands linked by a 2 km sandbank. It is located 1h30 by speedboat from Nosy Be, an island paradise with postcard-perfect white sand, a small traditional village and lush natural surroundings. Whales can be seen here from July to September. Take advantage of this day for snorkelling. Lunch in the shade of the coconut palms. Return to the hotel mid-afternoon.
Accommodation : Standard hotel
Meals included : Breakfast – lunch
Day 12
It’s up to you to choose your program for these two days: horseback riding on the beach, golfing in the heart of the island, scuba diving or cycling along the wild beaches. Nosy Be offers a wide range of activities. Give free rein to your imagination and set off on an adventure that will bring your stay to an end.
Accommodation : Standard hotel
Meals included : Breakfast
Day 13
As your stay draws to a close, your driver is waiting to take you through the Ylang-Ylang plantations. The best memories of the Nosy Be archipelago are etched in your mind. See you soon!
Meals included: Breakfast
Lot IVF 63 - Behoririka Ambatomitsangana
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