Nosy Be is an archipelago in the north-western part of Madagascar, consisting of a big island and a dozens of small islands. If you have never been to Madagascar before, this is a good place to start, because it is easily accessible and it has a good tourism structure in place. Nosy Be has Ylang Ylang plantations with a divine smell. This flower is used for essential oils and perfumes, among which Chanel 5.
How to get to Nosy Be
Take a direct international flight from Addis Ababa with Ethiopian Airlines or a 1h30 flight from the capital Antananarivo. Going by car from Antananarivo is not recommended – the road is horrible.
Things to do in Nosy Be
There’s a lot to see and do on Nosy Be:
- Dive with whalesharks: They are completely harmless, unlike their shark friends, and they eat plankton. In Nosy Be there are mainly 30 years old juveniles measuring 4-5 m. The biggest one ever spotted in Madagascar was 9 m. It is believed that they can be of 15 – 20 m long and can get up to 130 years old. September to October is the best time to spot them.
- In Nosy Be you can also see humpback whales, dolphins, manta rays, giant sea turtles. You just have to come at the right time of the year. More details here.
- Visit the enormous sacred banyan tree: it has a surface of 5000 square meters and is still growing! When a branch touches the ground a new branch starts to grow. The tree is 200 years old and it was brought by Indian traders to the Queen of Nosy Be. The tree is sacred and many people come here to pray.
- Swim under the sacred waterfall in the natural pool
- Watch the sunset from Mount Passot with a 360 degrees view
- Explore Lokobe National Park, a preserved primitive forest
- See lemurs on Lemuria land, a zoo and a botanical garden
- Enjoy nightlife in Ambatoloaka
The main island, Nosy Be, doesn’t have paradise beaches and clear turquoise water. Only in the north, near the resort of Andilana, you can find a nice one. It is the nearby islands that have the nicest beaches and boat trips can be arranged there with ease. Each one of the islands is like a paradise. You can visit:
- Nosy Iranja
- Nosy Komba
- Nosy Sakatia
- Nosy Tanikely
- Nosy Tsarabanjina
- Nosy Mitsio
- Nosy Fanihy
- Nosy Faly
Where to Stay
There are many boutique hotels in Nosy Be for all preferences and choices. Choose from a range of selected boutique hotels here.
Nosy Iranja, the Turtle Island
Nosy Iranja is a must see when you come to Nosy Be. The phenomenal 2 km long white beach appears only when the tide of the sea is low, for about 3 hours, and around 1 pm, at high tide it is covered by water. The sand bank connects the two islets at the end of the sand stretch. The bigger island Nosy Iranja Be has a village and is accessible for public, but the smaller island Nosy Iranja Kely is private.
Left and right of the sandbank there are a million of shades of turquoise blue water surrounding the lagoon. This place is absolutely spectacular, surreal and literally breathtaking.
How to get to Nosy Iranja
It takes up to 2 hours from Nosy Be by boat from the beach Madirokely-Ambatoloaka in Nosy Be.
Things to do in Nosy Iranja
- Nosy Iranja is a breeding place for turtles where they lay the eggs at night. You can swim with sea turtles here, but there can be annoying jelly fish.
- When the tide is rising and the long sandbank disappears, you have to stay on the island and can’t cross over anymore. Is it a good time to have an authentic fresh seafood lunch there.
- There is a mangrove forest to explore as well.
- Walk up a small hill to the lighthouse for a nice view of the sandbar.
- Note: The conditions are a bit extreme for kids as the tide changes quickly, it’s too hot and the return 4km walk along the sandbank can be challenging.
Where to Stay in Nosy Iranja
There is a lodge to stay overnight, called Zahir Lodge Iranja.
Nosy Komba, the Lemurs Island
Nosy Komba is a lush volcanic island is surrounded by rocks. It is also called Nosy Ambariovato. It is a very exotic beautiful island with picturesque villages. Nosy Komba is not just a lemur island, it has an abundant wildlife and nature. You can see lots of animals in their natural habitat, like the neon green day gecko, giant turtles, small turtles, chameleons and others. You will see exotic trees like jackfruit, vanilla, mango, pineapple and so many other unique trees and plants.
How to get to Nosy Komba
It takes 15 min by boat to get here from Nosy Be.
Things to do in Nosy Komba
- There are some beautiful beaches with emerald like water on the island. This is a great destination for snorkelling and diving.
- Black lemurs, namely the Macaco lemurs or black lemurs, live only in the north-west of Madagascar. On the island of Nosy Komba they are considered sacred and are protected. It is prohibited to hunt, kill or disturb the lemurs in any way! They live in groups of 20 and the female are dominant. Nosy Komba shelters around 5000 lemurs in a dense tropical forest.
Where to stay in Nosy Komba
There are villages and boutique hotels on the island, but there is no electricity, roads and cars. Check hotels option here.
Nosy Sakatia, the Orchids Island
Nosy Sakatia is relatively untouched by tourism and a secluded piece of paradise with many tropical plants like orchids, coffee, vanilla, medicinal plants and lots of animals.
How to get to Nosy Sakatia
It is reachable by a 10 min boat ride from Nosy Be.
Things to do on Nosy Sakatia
- Beach, snorkeling with giant sea turtles
- White sand, turquoise water, palm trees next to pine trees on the beach. There is the beach to swim with the giant sea turtles with brown sand, black volcanic rocks.
Where to stay in Nosy Sakatia
There are no roads, cars or bicycles on the island, just 2 hotels, one of them is Sakatia Lodge.
Nosy Tanikely
Nosy Tanikely is a small, uninhabited island and marine sanctuary located southwest of Nosy Be. Welcome to a majestic natural aquarium. It is a protected marine natural park. It’s known for its exceptional biodiversity and scientific studies show that this is one of Madagascar’s most important sites with an extraordinary marine wealth.
How to get to Nosy Tanikely
The boat trip between Nosy Be and Tanikely takes about 30 minutes. There is an entrance fee to the National Park.
Things to do in Nosy Tanikely
This is one of the best places in Madagascar for scuba diving or snorkelling. You can see spectacular corals, colorful fish, sea turtles, rays, dolphins and small harmless sharks. The turquoise blue lagoon is mesmerizing and the water is so transparent that you will clearly see the marine fauna and flora without the need of a diving mask.
Nosy Mitsio Archipelago
A quiet and peaceful archipelago, a real haven of peace and beauty, with uninhabited virgin Islands where dream beaches and turquoise blue sea offer a grandiose show. The main island is 12 km long and 3 km widen 206 m high and it isn’t far from the coasts. You will find there many fishing villages but also many peaceful paradise beaches. You will be delighted by the peaceful atmosphere, its warm white sand and the transparent water.
How to get to Nosy Mitsio Archipelago
The Mitsio archipelago is located 45 miles northwest of Nosy Be. One can get here by boat (3 hours).
Things to do in Nosy Mitsio Archipelago
- The magnificient bay hosts many islets which form this amazing archipelago with beautiful beaches and landscapes. The frame tropical vegetation with orchids and baobabs is truly spectacular.
- witness a peculiar geological phenomenon of basalt columns that emerge from the earth’s and the sea’s bowels and take the shape of long stalks of brown rocks dozens of meters high.
- A great place to dive and snorkel
Nosy Trasabanjina, The White Sand Island
Nosy Tsarabanjina is a little piece of paradise in the middle of the ocean. It is considered as the Mitsio’s most beautiful island.
How to get to Nosy Trasabanjina
Boat departures take place from Manga Soa Lodge in Nosy Be before 16:00 (latest landing in Nosy Be is 14:00 for international flights and 14:30 for domestic flights).
Things to do in Nosy Trasabanjina
- The island shelters a highly-diversified fauna: lemurs, chameleons or giant bats. You will also see whales, dolphins, marine turtles and stingrays. Dive into the amazing nature the island offers.
- This sacred land for Sakalava is a dream island and displays couple hectares of luxuriant vegetation and pristine beaches.
- Sports
- Relaxation
- Tasting fresh seafood
Where to Stay in Nosy Trasabanjina
Pamper yourself with a luxurious holiday at Constance Trasabanjina
Nosy Fanihy, the Bats Island
Nosy Fanihy is a small uninhabited island of Nosy Be’s archipelago which offers an exceptionnal playground for lovers of peace and large spaces. You will enjoy the picture post card landscape that only few people come to. The island is considered sacred by the local people. It shelters a magnificent white sand beach where corals and colored shells ground on the shore. You will feel like Robinson Crusoe, who is the island’s first explorer.
How to get to Nosy Fanihy
Embark on board of a traditional sailing dugout and navigate to Nosy Fanihy.
Things to do on Nosy Fanihy
- diving and snorkeling into translucent water
- beach barbecue
Nosy Faly, the Holy Island
The island is considered sacred because the Sakalava’s ancestors are buried there. Local people will lead you to discover the island’s beauty, as well as their habits and customs. A great respect is shown to the island’s ecosystem. The island is preserved by the local people, and there are mainly ecolodges.
Things to do on Nosy Faly
- After a quick walk, climb on top of the island’s abandoned lighthouse to enjoy an amazing 360° view over the island and its surrounding islands. To get the best out of this experience, favour sunrises and sunsets.
- discover the island on a bike
- go fishing alongside local people
- go whale watching from August to October
- have the chance to swim alongside dolphins
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