Antananarivo to Antsiranana and Northern Madagascar Discovery
Day-by-day Description
Day 1 - Arrival in Antananarivo
Arrive at Ivato International Airport, where I welcome you and arrange a private transfer to your nearby hotel.
Settle in at Fly Inn Hotel Ivato, a convenient airport hotel with modern, air-conditioned rooms, a restaurant, and bar, perfect for resting after your journey.
Day 2 - Flight to Antsiranana and the Three Bays
After breakfast, transfer back to Ivato for your domestic flight to Antsiranana (Diego Suarez).
On arrival, meet your driver and continue to Sakalava Bay. Drop your luggage at the beachfront Royal Sakalava, then explore the famous Three Bays (Sakalava, Pigeons, and Dunes) for coastal walks, swimming, and photos, with lunch at Ramena Beach. Overnight at Royal Sakalava Lodges.
Return in the evening to Royal Sakalava to relax by the ocean and enjoy dinner at the lodge.
Day 3 - Emerald Sea Excursion and Night in Ramena
Head to the fishing village of Ramena and board a traditional boat to the Emerald Sea, a shallow turquoise lagoon ideal for snorkelling and swimming.
Enjoy a simple seafood lunch on a sandbank in the shade, then cruise back to Ramena and check in at Meva Hotel/Meva Plage right on the beach.
Stroll along the sand at sunset before dinner at the hotel or a nearby seafront restaurant.
Day 4 - Amber Mountain National Park and Night Walk
Drive up to Joffreville and spend the day in Amber Mountain National Park with a local guide, walking forest trails to waterfalls and crater lakes, and searching for diurnal lemurs and colourful chameleons.
In the afternoon, check in at Nature Lodge, a charming ecolodge overlooking the forest and enjoying a cooler mountain climate.
After dark, take a guided night walk along nearby forest tracks to look for nocturnal wildlife such as mouse lemurs, frogs, chameleons, and possibly leaf-tailed geckos.
Day 5 - Red Tsingy and Onward to Ankarana
Leave Nature Lodge and drive south along RN6 toward Ankarana, stopping en route at the Red Tsingy, an eroded sandstone formation with striking red pinnacles.
Spend about 1.5-2 hours walking the viewpoints and learning about these unique formations before continuing to Ankarana.
Arrive at Ankarana Lodge in the afternoon, check in, relax by the pool or stretch your legs on a short walk, then dine at the lodge restaurant.
Day 6 - Ankarana Reserve, Drive to Ankify, and Boat to Nosy Be
Explore Ankarana Reserve in the morning with a local guide, choosing circuits that match your fitness level to take in tsingy limestone pinnacles, suspension bridges, bat caves, and opportunities to see crowned lemurs and other wildlife.
After lunch, drive to Ankify port and board a speedboat for the crossing to Nosy Be, typically 45-60 minutes over the Mozambique Channel.
On arrival, transfer to Izzil Hotel Nosy Be, a comfortable 3-star property near Madirokely Beach, and enjoy sunset and dinner at leisure.
Day 7 - Nosy Iranja Paradise Island
Depart by boat for a full-day excursion to Nosy Iranja, famous for its white-sand islet linked by a sandbar and incredibly clear waters.
Spend the day swimming, snorkelling, walking to the village or viewpoint, and savour a grilled seafood lunch organized by a local partner restaurant.
Return to Nosy Be in the late afternoon for free time and another relaxing night at Izzil Hotel.
Day 8 - Nosy Sakatia and Sea Turtles
Enjoy a full-day trip to Nosy Sakatia, a small, lush island renowned for sea turtles feeding in its seagrass beds.
Alternate between boat-based snorkelling, a gentle walk on the island, and a laid-back lunch in a beach restaurant.
Head back to Nosy Be in the late afternoon, with sunset drinks and dinner at leisure at your hotel or in lively Ambatoloaka.
Day 9 - Beach Time and Flight Back to Antananarivo
Spend a relaxed morning on Nosy Be with time for a last swim, a short spa treatment, or souvenir shopping in town.
In the early afternoon, transfer to Nosy Be's Fascene Airport for your evening flight to Antananarivo.
On arrival, meet your driver and transfer to Escale Hotel (near the airport) for a comfortable final night before your international departure.
Day 10 - Departure from Antananarivo
Depending on your flight time, enjoy a quiet morning or short walk in town.
You will then be transferred back to Ivato International Airport around 2 hours before departure, where the tour ends and I assist you with final formalities as needed.
