Antananarivo, Andasibe & beach holiday on Nosy Be

Today you will depart from your selected airport, with connecting flight(s) along the way. Your journey will take you to Madagascar, the great red island in the Indian Ocean.

Welcome to Madagascar, the world’s fourth largest island!

At the airport, you’ll be greeted by our local partner, who will assist you with currency exchange. In most places in Madagascar, cash payments are required (except at hotels), so we always recommend exchanging some money to have cash on hand. It’s also possible to purchase a local SIM card at the airport, should you need one.

You’ll then be driven to your hotel, where you’ll be staying for the next two nights. 

While most people probably associate Madagascar with lemurs, the country also boasts a fascinating history, which you’ll have the chance to explore today.

You may already know that Madagascar was once a French colony. But did you also know that, although the country is now a republic, it actually boasts a rich history of monarchs—particularly queens?

The most famous of all was Queen Ranavalona I, who ruled from 1828 to 1861. She became known as the Mad Queen, and today you’ll have the chance to discover more about her during your visit to the Queen’s Palace. You’ll also encounter the country’s last queen, Queen Ranavalona III, who was exiled when the French invaded and colonised Madagascar at the end of the 19th century.

Despite being called the Queen’s Palace, it also honours Madagascar’s first king, King Andrianjaka, who founded Antananarivo in the early 17th century. He belonged to the Merina people—an ethnic group native to this central highland region where the capital is located. King Andrianjaka expelled a rival ethnic group and gradually began to establish his kingdom. By the late 1600s, the city had been renamed Antananarivo.

In 1787, through clever alliances and astute political manoeuvring, the Merina king Andrianampoinimerina succeeded in uniting the country under his rule, becoming the first monarch of all Madagascar.

The palace was destroyed by fire a few years ago, but it has now been rebuilt. The guided tour is thoroughly engaging and offers a fascinating insight into the history of Madagascar.

The view from the palace, perched on the highest hill in the city, is absolutely spectacular and gives you a fantastic overview of Tana. You'll enjoy lunch at a local spot in town, and this afternoon, you will have the option to do a bit of shopping or simply unwind after your journey.

After breakfast, you will leave the hotel, and before long, you'll be out of the city.

Even before you pass beyond the city limits, you'll spot the first rice fields. They are cultivated almost everywhere there’s a spare patch of land. It’s often said that the Malagasy people are among the greatest rice eaters in the world.

The practice of rice cultivation is a legacy from the Merina people. Their ancestors originally came from Southeast Asia, and when they arrived on the island more than a thousand years ago—most likely paddling in carved canoes—they brought rice with them. They settled in the central highlands and created rice fields, which still dominate the landscape today. All across the hillsides and mountains, intricate rice terraces have been carved, and it almost feels as if you could be in Bali.

As you travel further east towards today's final destination, you’ll notice the landscape changing: the hills become steeper, the forests denser, and there are more hairpin bends along the road.

You’ll have a packed lunch with you to enjoy somewhere along the journey.

You’ll arrive at Andasibe-Mantadia National Park during the afternoon and check into your hotel for the next two nights.

The foundations for the national park were established by the French in 1970, when they created the Analamazoatra Special Reserve to protect the forest and its unique biodiversity. In 1989, Mantadia National Park was established next to the reserve. Today, the two areas are known collectively as Andasibe-Mantadia National Park.

The rest of the day is yours to relax and take in the beautiful natural surroundings of the lodge.

Andasibe-Mantadia is one of the best places in Madagascar to spot lemurs. In particular, this is one of the top spots to see the largest of them all—the indri-indri (or simply indri)—and your chances of seeing them here are especially good.

An early start is needed today, so you’ll be heading out at sunrise towards the National Park. Here, accompanied by a guide and a spotter, you’ll set off in search of lemurs.

You’ll most likely hear the indris before you spot them. Their call, somewhere between a scream and a song, can carry as far as 5 km. The sound is piercing and truly magical—it's hard not to get goosebumps when they begin to sing. Just after sunrise, their haunting, melodic voices seem to echo through the forest as if they're checking in on each other after the night has passed.

With luck, the spotter’s keen eyes will soon catch sight of an indri family amongst the trees. Then, it’s a matter of weaving your way through the forest to get the best possible view. Sometimes they perch high up in the treetops, but you might be lucky enough to see some young, playful lemurs leaping from branch to branch a little lower down—as with all wildlife, sightings can never be guaranteed.

The National Park is also home to plenty of other fascinating species. You may spot bamboo lemurs, sifaka lemurs, brown lemurs, chameleons, and an abundance of birdlife.

At lunchtime, you’ll head back to the hotel where a delicious lunch awaits. Afterwards, you will have time to unwind, take a dip in the pool, or perhaps head out on foot to explore the area and take in the stunning natural surroundings.

Later in the day, it’s time for another walk through the national park—once again with your local guide, who will help you spot frogs, stick insects, birds, or anything else you might come across. The park is home to spectacular biodiversity, offering something fascinating to see at every turn.

After enjoying a lovely dinner at the hotel, it’s time for a good night’s rest.

This morning, there’s no rush—take your time over breakfast. Late in the morning, you’ll set off back to Antananarivo. Lunch will be ready for you at the hotel upon arrival, where you’ll spend the night. The afternoon is yours to relax at your leisure and prepare for the start of your beach holiday tomorrow.

Well ahead of your departure to Nosy Be, you will be transferred to the airport. Upon arrival in Nosy Be, a warm welcome awaits you before being driven to your hotel.

This isn’t a polished holiday paradise. Here, you won’t find sprawling hotel chains or outlet shopping centres. Instead, the 320 km² island oozes local character: dotted with small villages, fishing boats pulled up on the sand, and a cheerful jumble of tuk-tuks, cars, bicycles, and donkey carts. Nearly all hotels are found along the island’s west coast, home to the finest beaches. The next few days are yours to unwind – or to seek out more adventures, if you fancy. And remember, it’s possible to extend your stay on Nosy Be if you wish. Just have a chat with your travel consultant.

Your days on Nosy Be are entirely your own. You might prefer to simply relax by the pool or on the beach, but if you’re in the mood for more adventures, there’s plenty to discover!

Watching the sun set from Mont Passot, the island’s highest point, is a must – the views are simply breathtaking.

If you haven’t had your fill of lemurs yet, you can join a day trip to Lokobe Reserve, located at the south-eastern tip of the island. Travel there in a local pirogue for an outing that’s guaranteed to delight.

Nosy Be is especially renowned for its production of ylang-ylang, a key ingredient in many perfumes, and you’ll have the opportunity to visit one of the distilleries.

No tour here would be complete without a visit to the main town, Hell-Ville. Despite its striking name, the town is actually named after a French governor, Anne Chrétien Louis de Hell – who, confusingly, was not a woman. If you’ve been to Zanzibar before, you might spot shades of Stone Town in Hell-Ville. Traditional markets mix with contemporary souvenir shops, and beautifully restored houses stand alongside colonial architecture with a worn but charming patina. The town is lively and captivating, even if at first glance it might appear a little rough around the edges.

It’s time to bid farewell to your holiday paradise and head back to Antananarivo – unless, of course, you’ve chosen to extend your stay on Nosy Be.

You’ll be transferred to the airport, where you’ll catch your return flight to the capital. On arrival, you’ll be met and taken to your hotel for an overnight stay in Tana prior to your journey home.

Your Madagascan adventure is coming to an end. In good time before your flight, you’ll be picked up and transferred to the airport.

You will arrive at your selected airport after your adventure-filled tour.