Northwest Beaches and Reserves

Arrival in Tananarive. Walk on the pavés of the high city from Independence Square to the Queen's Palace to embrace the surrounding sacred hills, Fort Voyron, the Zoologique zoological and botanical park, Mahamasina stadium or the Anosy and Mandroseza lakes. Night in Tananarive.

Flight for Diego-Suarez at the northern tip of the Great Island. The visit of this historic port, nestled in the second largest bay in the world after Rio de Janeiro, is necessary. From the old colonial mansions of the city centre to boats stranded in the harbour, there are plenty of curiosities, while enjoying the sea breeze. Night in Diego-Suarez.

Transfer by road to the village of Ambohitra, approximately kilometres from Diego-Suarez. This is where the guided walks for the Parc de la montagne d'Amber, a tropical tropical forest perched on a volcanic massif at more than 1 000 m altitude. The flora is lush and incredible of lemurs, birds, butterflies or amphibians.

A mer d'Émeraudeone-hour boat ride from Ramena Beach in Diego Suarez Bay. A "sea in the sea" that extends into a large lagoon protected from the Indian Ocean by corals. Transparent water, bright atmosphere, it is a tropical snorkeling paradise as well as a good spot for swimming

Another great classic in Diego-Suarez is the "three bays" walk along the waterfront road. On foot or by car, from the fishing village of Ramena to the bay of Sakalava via the lighthouse of Cape Miné, the harbour offers a magnificent landscape with sugar loaf, mangroves, baobabs and... ancient fortifications.

It's time to leave Diego-Suarez and head south. After about fifty kilometres, we come across an exceptional geological formation composed of several hundred multicoloured arrows: the red Tsingy. An even more striking spectacle in the afternoon light. We then take the road again to arrive before nightfall at the gates of the Ankarana reserve.

After a night at the entrance of the park, discover the Ankarana massif and the ten caves open to the public, including those known as the "Bats" and the "Chameleon". There are many others, but they are sacred. A playful route through the limestone needles of the Tsingy. In the late afternoon, a canoe trip on Lac Vert and a new night on site

On the way to the Ankify pier by taking the RN6 southbound for 2 hours. It is from there that we cast off to Nosy Be Island for one to two hours of crossing, depending on the type of boat. Once you arrive on the mainland in Hell-Ville, you go directly to Ambatokala or Andilana to settle down and enjoy the island's most beautiful beaches

Nosy Be has beaches, of course, but it is also possible to have a good time by visiting a ylang-ylang distillery (a tree of the Annonaceae family, whose distilled flower is used in perfumery) or by strolling in the Lokobe nature reserve, in the southeast of the island, to meet lemurs, chameleons and large reptiles.

Day trip to Nosy Komba Island, the closest neighbour of Nosy Be. No roads or cars here, but a thick forest and a village of fishermen and embroidery sellers. There is also a magnificent observation area for makis, a black lemur whose ringed tail is as big as its head. Possibility to sleep on site.

One hour by boat from Nosy Komba and Nosy Be is the island of Nosy Tanikely, a kind of giant aquarium for snorkeling or diving. The coral reef is populated by turtles, clownfish, groupers, barracudas and other morays frolicking in bright water. The beaches are an invitation to swim. No accommodation on site

Transfer to Nosy Be airport and direct flight to Tananarive (1h30). Once back in the Malagasy capital, visit the Andravoahangy market, northeast of the city centre, and the Analakely covered market in the lower town to fill up with souvenirs before returning. Last night in Tananarive

Return flight, possibly taking advantage of the artisanal market of La Digue on the way to the airport.