Cornelius Amann
October 06, 2026
5/5
Madagascar's north: Ankarana, Amber Mountain and Nosy Be
10 days from Antananarivo: fly to Diego Suarez for the Emerald Sea and the French Mountain, the rainforest of Montagne d'Ambre, two nights at the Ankarana tsingy and three on Nosy Be.
10 days · Antananarivo to Nosy Be · up to 12 guests
The grey limestone tsingy of Ankarana Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Stooof assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tsingy_Ankarana_Madagascar_16-07-2004.JPG)
The facts
At a glance
- Length
- 10 days, 9 nights
- Start and end
- Antananarivo to Nosy Be
- Group size
- 7 to 12 guests
- Activity level
Moderate
Walking days of 2 to 5 hours on forest trails and rocky limestone paths: the Ankarana circuit is about 4 to 5 hours with steps, sharp rock, a suspension bridge and a cave; Montagne d'Ambre is 3 to 4 hours on wet trails at about 1,000 m. Three boat days with wet landings and optional snorkelling. Every walking day has a shorter option, and no day has more than about 4 hours of driving.
- Meals included
- 9 breakfasts, 8 lunches, 5 dinners
- Room of your own
- + CAD 1,000 (estimated price)
- Season
- April to November
Highlights
Why this trip
- Sunset over the bay of Antsiranana from the French Mountain
- A morning boat to the pale green lagoon of the Emerald Sea, with lunch on the beach
- Crowned lemurs, leaf-tailed geckos and the blue-nosed chameleon in the misty rainforest of Montagne d'Ambre
- The red tsingy at the Tsingy Rouge, then two nights below the grey limestone of Ankarana
- The suspension bridge over the Ankarana tsingy and a cave full of bats
- Black lemurs on Nosy Komba and snorkelling with turtles at Nosy Tanikely
- A pirogue to Lokobe forest and a farewell sunset on Mont Passot
What makes this trip different
Free time is part of the plan
Free time and choices are marked on the days they fall.
Solo without the penalty
A room of your own is + CAD 1,000 (estimated price).
Day by day
Itinerary
Tap any stop on the map to open that dayClick any stop on the map to open that day
Arrive in Antananarivo
Ivato International Airport to your hotel in central Antananarivo
- Dinner
- Stay in Antananarivo
- Drive about 1 h
Fly into Ivato International Airport (TNR), about 15 km north of central Antananarivo, where a driver meets you in the arrivals hall. The drive into town can take up to an hour in traffic, past rice paddies, brick kilns and the red hills the capital is built on.
Evening
This is a night to rest before the flight north; plan to land by about 5 pm to join the briefing, and the latest arrival time is confirmed with your final itinerary. In the early evening your See Sight Tours guide meets the group at the hotel to go through the trip: the flight to Diego Suarez, what to wear in the rainforest and on the tsingy, why we carry ariary in cash, and how the boat days on Nosy Be work. Then we sit down to a welcome dinner of Malagasy dishes such as romazava, a beef and greens broth, and zebu brochettes with rice.
Included
- Pick-up at Ivato International Airport (TNR)
- Welcome briefing with your guide
- Welcome dinner
Free time: Free until the evening briefing
Fly north to Diego Suarez and the French Mountain
Antananarivo to Antsiranana (Diego Suarez) by air, then the French Mountain
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Antsiranana
- Drive about 1 h
Morning
After breakfast we drive back to Ivato for the domestic flight north to Antsiranana, still called Diego Suarez by most people, about two hours in the air over the highlands. The airport sits about 10 km south of town.
Afternoon
We check in, then sit down to lunch in the centre, where the cooking mixes Malagasy, French, Indian and Comorian food. The town was a French naval base, and its wide streets still have colonial buildings, some restored and many crumbling. In the late afternoon, once the heat drops, we drive about 10 km east to the French Mountain, the Montagne des Francais, and walk up a stony path through dry forest to a viewpoint over the bay of Antsiranana, one of the largest natural harbours in the world. The walk is about an hour up with steady climbing; there are baobabs and lizards on the way.
Evening
We stay for sunset over the bay, then drive back for a free evening in town.
Included
- Domestic flight from Antananarivo to Antsiranana (Diego Suarez)
- Sit-down lunch in Antsiranana
- Sunset walk on the French Mountain (Montagne des Francais) with your guide
Easier option: Walk the first, gentler part of the path to a lower viewpoint over the bay and wait for the group there.
More active option: Continue with the guide to the higher ridge above the main viewpoint, time and light allowing.
Free time: Evening free in Antsiranana; dinner on your own
Activity: About 1 hour uphill on a rocky path in the late afternoon; take water and closed shoes.
A boat to the Emerald Sea
Antsiranana to Ramena, by boat to the Emerald Sea, then back to Antsiranana
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Antsiranana
- Drive about 1 h
A day on the water. We drive about 20 km to Ramena, a fishing village on a sandy point at the mouth of the bay, and board a boat to the Emerald Sea, the Mer d'Emeraude, a wide, shallow lagoon outside the bay where the water over the white sand is a pale green.
Morning
The crossing takes about an hour and can be choppy where the bay meets the open sea, which is why we go in the morning, before the trade wind picks up in the dry season.
Afternoon
On the far side we land on a beach of one of the small islands, swim and snorkel in the lagoon, and sit down to a lunch of grilled fish, rice and fruit prepared on the beach. In the early afternoon the boat brings us back to Ramena for a swim or a coffee by the sea, and we are in Antsiranana by mid afternoon. The rest of the day is yours: a walk through the old colonial streets, or a rest.
Included
- Boat from Ramena to the Emerald Sea (Mer d'Emeraude)
- Swimming and snorkelling in the lagoon, snorkel gear included
- Beach lunch on the Emerald Sea
Easier option: Stay on the beach and in the shallows rather than snorkelling; the boat waits for everyone.
More active option: Snorkel the edge of the lagoon with the boat crew.
Free time: Late afternoon and evening free in Antsiranana; dinner on your own
Activity: The boat crossing is about 1 hour each way and can be rough; if the wind is too strong we swap this day with the French Mountain and the town.
Montagne d'Ambre rainforest
Antsiranana to Joffreville and Montagne d'Ambre National Park
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Stay in Joffreville
- Drive about 1 h
Morning
We leave Antsiranana after an early breakfast and drive about 35 km south and uphill, roughly an hour, to Joffreville, an old French hill station at the edge of Montagne d'Ambre National Park. The mountain is an old volcano covered in montane rainforest, and at about 1,000 m it is cooler and often misty, a sharp change from the dry coast. With a national park guide we walk the main trails from about 8:30 am, when the forest is most active: to the Grande Cascade, a waterfall dropping into a fern-lined pool, to the Sacred Waterfall, and to a crater lake viewpoint. We look for crowned lemurs and Sanford's brown lemurs, the blue-nosed chameleon, leaf-tailed geckos pressed flat against the bark, and the tiny Brookesia leaf chameleons in the leaf litter.
Afternoon
Lunch is a sit-down meal in Joffreville.
Evening
The afternoon is free at the lodge, and after dinner a local guide leads a short night walk on the forest edge for chameleons, frogs and mouse lemurs.
Included
- Montagne d'Ambre National Park walk with a national park guide, park entry included
- Sit-down lunch in Joffreville
- Night walk on the forest edge with a local guide
- Dinner at the lodge
Easier option: Walk only the short, flat trail to the Sacred Waterfall and back, about 1 hour, then rest at the lodge.
More active option: Add the longer trail towards the crater lake of the Petit Lac with the park guide, where it is open.
Free time: Afternoon free at the lodge
Activity: About 3 to 4 hours of walking on forest trails that can be wet and slippery; some steps. A light rain jacket and a warm layer help.
The red tsingy and south to Ankarana
Joffreville to the Tsingy Rouge, then Ankarana
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Stay in Ankarana
- Drive about 4 h
A last early walk in the forest near the lodge for anyone who wants it, then we drive back down to the RN6 and head south. About 45 km south of Diego we turn off onto a dirt track of about 17 to 20 km to the Tsingy Rouge, the red tsingy, where rain has cut the soft rust-coloured and cream earth of a valley into pinnacles and fins. A short, easy path of about an hour leads along the rim and down among them.
Afternoon
We continue south on the RN6 through dry country of zebu, cashew trees and small towns, with a sit-down lunch on the way, and reach the east side of Ankarana National Park in the mid afternoon. The whole day is about four hours of driving, and that includes the bumpy track in and out of the red tsingy; if you would rather skip it, wait with a coffee at the turnoff village or ride on with the driver to the lodge. We settle into the lodge near the park gate and watch the late light on the grey limestone wall of the Ankarana massif.
Evening
Dinner is at the lodge.
Included
- Tsingy Rouge (red tsingy) walk with a local guide, entry included
- Sit-down lunch on the way
- Dinner at the lodge
Optional experiences
- Early walk on the forest edge near the lodge at Joffreville before we leave
Easier option: See the red tsingy from the rim viewpoint without walking down among the pinnacles, or skip the dirt track to the Tsingy Rouge and wait at the turnoff.
Free time: Late afternoon free at the lodge
Activity: Easy 1 hour walk at the red tsingy on a dirt path.
The tsingy and caves of Ankarana
Ankarana National Park: the tsingy, the suspension bridge and the caves
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Stay in Ankarana
- Drive about 1 h
The day the north is known for. We set out from the lodge at about 8 am with a national park guide, before the heat builds on the limestone. Ankarana is a plateau of limestone cut into tsingy, the grey, razor-edged pinnacles also found at Bemaraha in the west, with dry forest growing in the canyons between them and rivers running underground. We walk through the forest to the tsingy viewpoints and cross the suspension bridge strung over a chasm between the blades, then go underground into a cave, which one depending on the park's rules that day, with stalactites and colonies of bats; which caves are open depends on the season and the park's rules. On the way we look for crowned lemurs, Sanford's brown lemurs, the Ankarana sportive lemur dozing in tree holes, and lizards and birds in the canopy.
Afternoon
We are back at the lodge for a sit-down lunch, and the rest of the afternoon is free to rest, swim where the lodge has a pool, or sit on the terrace.
Included
- Ankarana National Park circuit with a national park guide, park entry included
- The tsingy viewpoints and the suspension bridge
- A cave visit with stalactites and bats
- Sit-down lunch at the lodge
- Dinner at the lodge
Easier option: Walk the shorter forest loop to a tsingy viewpoint near the gate, about 2 hours, and skip the bridge and the cave.
More active option: Ask the park guide for the longer circuit to the Grand Tsingy section where it is open, about 6 hours with a packed lunch.
Free time: Afternoon free at the lodge
Activity: About 4 to 5 hours on foot on rocky paths, sharp limestone and steps, with a suspension bridge over a drop. Closed shoes with grip and a head torch for the cave.
Cocoa country and the boat to Nosy Be
Ankarana to Ambanja and Ankify, then by boat to Nosy Be
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Nosy Be
- Drive about 4 h
Morning
We leave after breakfast and drive south on the RN6, about 170 km and close to four hours, through Ambilobe and the Sambirano valley, where the dry north turns green with cocoa, coffee, vanilla and ylang-ylang plantations under tall shade trees. The day is broken in the middle at Ambanja, where we visit a cocoa plantation to see how the beans are grown, fermented and dried; Sambirano cocoa is used by fine chocolate makers.
Afternoon
Lunch is a sit-down meal in Ambanja. It is a short drive on to the small port of Ankify, where we say goodbye to our driver and board a boat for the crossing to Nosy Be, about 45 minutes across a calm channel with the island's green hills ahead. A driver meets us at the landing and takes us to the hotel by the beach, where we stay for three nights.
Evening
The evening is free: a walk on the sand at sunset and dinner on your own.
Included
- Cocoa plantation visit in the Sambirano valley near Ambanja
- Sit-down lunch in Ambanja
- Boat from Ankify to Nosy Be
Free time: Evening free on Nosy Be; dinner on your own
Activity: About 4 hours on the road, broken by the plantation visit and lunch, then a 45 minute boat crossing.
Nosy Komba and Nosy Tanikely by boat
Nosy Be by boat to Nosy Komba and the Nosy Tanikely marine reserve
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Nosy Be
- By boat
A full day on the water. We leave the beach by boat at about 8:30 am for Nosy Komba, a steep, forested island between Nosy Be and the mainland. In the village of Ampangorinana, where people live from fishing, embroidery and wood carving, we walk up to a patch of forest where black lemurs come down to the trees around visitors; the males are black and the females russet brown, and in this village they have been protected by local custom for generations. We then cross to Nosy Tanikely, a small island in a protected marine area, to snorkel over coral in clear water with reef fish and, often, sea turtles, and walk up to the old lighthouse.
Afternoon
Lunch is grilled fish or seafood on the beach. We are back on Nosy Be by mid afternoon with the rest of the day free; in October and November the boat crew will tell you how the whale shark season is going.
Included
- Boat day to Nosy Komba and Nosy Tanikely
- Ampangorinana village and the black lemurs, Nosy Komba
- Snorkelling in the Nosy Tanikely marine reserve, snorkel gear and marine park fee included
- Beach lunch
Easier option: Stay on the beach at Nosy Tanikely and swim in the shallows instead of snorkelling.
More active option: Snorkel a second time on the far side of Nosy Tanikely while the group has lunch.
Free time: Late afternoon and evening free; dinner on your own
Activity: Two boat legs of about 30 to 45 minutes each; wet landings on the beaches.
Lokobe forest and sunset on Mont Passot
Nosy Be: by pirogue to Lokobe, then Mont Passot at sunset
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Stay in Nosy Be
- Drive about 2 h
We start at about 8 am, while the forest is still cool, and drive to the east coast of Nosy Be, where we board pirogues, wooden outrigger canoes, for the paddle along the shore to the village of Ampasipohy at the edge of Lokobe National Park. Lokobe protects the last large block of the lowland rainforest that once covered the island. With a local guide we walk the forest trails for about two hours looking for black lemurs, the Nosy Be sportive lemur in its day roost, boas, and panther chameleons in their vivid Nosy Be colours, and the minute Brookesia leaf chameleons on the forest floor.
Afternoon
Lunch is in the village. We are back at the hotel by early afternoon for free time on the beach.
Evening
In the late afternoon we drive up Mont Passot, the island's highest point, for sunset over the crater lakes and the small islands, and finish with a farewell dinner together.
Included
- Pirogue to Ampasipohy and a guided walk in Lokobe National Park, entry included
- Lunch in Ampasipohy village
- Sunset on Mont Passot
- Farewell dinner
Optional experiences
- Whale shark boat trip, October and November departures only, price shown at booking
Easier option: Stay in the pirogue for the coastal paddle and wait in the village rather than walking the forest trail.
Free time: Early afternoon free on the beach
Activity: About 2 hours on forest trails, warm and humid. Insect repellent and a hat.
Fly out from Nosy Be
Nosy Be to Fascene Airport (NOS)
- Breakfast
- Drive about 30 min
Morning
A free morning on Nosy Be: a last swim, a walk on the beach, or a visit to the market in Hell-Ville, the island's main town, with your guide if you would like company. Depending on your flight, a driver takes you to Fascene Airport (NOS), about 20 km from the beaches on the west coast and about 30 minutes by road. From Nosy Be there are international flights to a small number of hubs on some days of the week, and domestic flights to Antananarivo for onward long-haul connections; the domestic flight back to Antananarivo is in the price for every guest (if you fly home directly from Nosy Be, we take the unused fare off your price), and we help you plan the connection when you book.
Evening
Because domestic timetables in Madagascar change, book an onward international flight from Antananarivo for the following day, or a flight from Nosy Be itself leaving after about midday; for anyone connecting through the capital, we can add a night in Antananarivo at cost.
Included
- Transfer to Fascene Airport (NOS)
- Domestic flight from Nosy Be to Antananarivo, in the price for every guest
Free time: Morning free on Nosy Be
Activity: Book a flight from Nosy Be leaving after about midday, or an onward flight from Antananarivo the next day.
- Antananarivo1 night
- Antsiranana2 nights
- Joffreville1 night
- Ankarana2 nights
- Nosy Be3 nights
- Overnight stop
- Day trip
- By boat or train
Wildlife and weather: The north is dry and warm from April to November, with a strong trade wind on the coast from about June to August that can make the Emerald Sea crossing rough. Montagne d'Ambre is cooler and often damp all year. Whale sharks visit Nosy Be from about October to December.
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Before you book
Right for you?
Good for you if you want
- Travellers who want lemurs, tsingy and a beach finish in one trip without long road days
- Walkers happy with 3 to 5 hours on uneven trails and a suspension bridge
- Snorkellers and swimmers who want three days on the water
- People who have done Andasibe or the baobabs and want the north
Not for you if you want
- Anyone who wants the indri or the Avenue of the Baobabs: they are on our other two Madagascar trips
- Travellers with serious vertigo who want the Ankarana suspension bridge
- Anyone who wants a 3-star hotel every night; Joffreville and Ankarana have lodges
- Travellers who need a fixed international flight from Nosy Be on the last day without a buffer
Book flights after we confirm your seat.
9 nights
Where you'll stay
Your hotels are named in your trip confirmation.
- Antananarivo1 night
- Antsiranana2 nights
- Joffreville1 night
- Ankarana2 nights
- Nosy Be3 nights
One price
What's in the price
Included
Accommodation
- 9 nights: 1 in Antananarivo, 2 in Antsiranana (Diego Suarez), 1 at Joffreville by Montagne d'Ambre, 2 at Ankarana, 3 on Nosy Be
- Central hotels of a 3-star-plus standard in Antananarivo and Antsiranana within an easy walk of the town centre, and a beach hotel on Nosy Be within walking distance of restaurants (we give each walk time when we confirm the hotel); at Joffreville and Ankarana, where no hotel of that standard exists, the best available lodge with private bathrooms; we name each hotel and lodge when we confirm your dates
- Rooms shared, or your own for a supplement
Transport
- Pick-up at Ivato International Airport (TNR) and drop-off at Fascene Airport (NOS)
- Domestic flight from Antananarivo to Antsiranana
- Domestic flight from Nosy Be to Antananarivo, in the price for every guest; if you fly home directly from Nosy Be, we take the unused fare off your price
- Our own van with a driver from Antsiranana to Ankify
- Boat from Ramena to the Emerald Sea
- Boat from Ankify to Nosy Be
- Boat day to Nosy Komba and Nosy Tanikely
- Pirogue to Lokobe
- Local vehicles and drivers on Nosy Be
Your guide
- A See Sight Tours guide with the group for the whole trip, with the national park guides required at Montagne d'Ambre and Ankarana and local guides at the Tsingy Rouge, on Nosy Komba and at Lokobe
Activities
- French Mountain (Montagne des Francais) sunset walk, Antsiranana
- Emerald Sea boat, swim and snorkel, Antsiranana
- Montagne d'Ambre National Park walk, park entry included, and a night walk, Joffreville
- Tsingy Rouge walk, entry included
- Ankarana National Park circuit with the suspension bridge and a cave, park entry included
- Cocoa plantation visit, Ambanja
- Nosy Komba black lemurs and Nosy Tanikely snorkelling, marine park fee included, Nosy Be
- Lokobe National Park walk by pirogue, entry included, Nosy Be
- Sunset on Mont Passot, Nosy Be
- Snorkel gear on the boat days
Meals
- 9 breakfasts, 8 lunches and 5 dinners
- Welcome dinner in Antananarivo and farewell dinner on Nosy Be
- A sit-down or beach lunch every day from day 2 to day 9
- All dinners at the lodges at Joffreville and Ankarana
Not included
- International flights to Antananarivo and from Nosy Be or Antananarivo
- Visa or entry permit fees
- Travel insurance
- Dinners in Antsiranana and on Nosy Be on days 2, 3, 7 and 8
- Drinks
- Tips for guides, drivers and boat crews
- The whale shark boat trip (optional, October and November)
- A night in Antananarivo after the trip
- Personal expenses
- Excess baggage on the domestic flights
Extras
- Room of your own
- CAD 1,000 (estimated price)
When you can go
Dates and prices
Pick your start date when you request to book. We check that date and confirm it in your quote.
Prefer to travel without a group or guide? Ask us about arranging hotels, transport and city tours for you to travel independently.
Before you book
Booking terms
Nothing is charged now. Full terms and the cancellation schedule come with your quote, before you accept.
Business addresses
See Sight Tours Trips (USA): 3172 N Rainbow Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89108, United StatesSee Sight Tours Trips (Canada): 5305 50 Avenue, #1091, Red Deer, AB T4N 4B6, Canada+1-888-961-6584Guest reviews
What guests say
Reviews from guests on our day tours.
Jane
October 06, 2026
5/5
Susan
October 06, 2026
5/5
Tom L
October 05, 2026
5/5
MandL83
October 05, 2026
5/5
Darren O
October 05, 2026
5/5
Good to know
Questions
What does the price include?
Nine nights in hotels and lodges, 9 breakfasts, 8 lunches and 5 dinners, the flight from Antananarivo to Antsiranana, the flight back from Nosy Be to Antananarivo (refunded if you fly home directly from Nosy Be), airport transfers, our van and driver, three boat days and the Lokobe pirogue, your See Sight Tours guide throughout, and every park entry with its local guide.
How big is the group?
The small-group trip runs with 7 to 12 guests, which fits one van, one boat and the narrow paths through the Ankarana tsingy.
Who leads the trip?
A See Sight Tours guide travels with the group from arrival in Antananarivo to the last morning on Nosy Be. Madagascar National Parks requires its own guides at Montagne d'Ambre and Ankarana, and local guides lead at Lokobe and on Nosy Komba; our guide stays with the group throughout.
How fit do I need to be?
Moderately fit and steady on uneven ground. The longest walk is about 4 to 5 hours at Ankarana on sharp limestone with steps and a suspension bridge. Montagne d'Ambre is 3 to 4 hours on wet trails. Every walking day has a shorter option, and you can stay on the beach on the boat days.
Can I see whale sharks on this trip?
Only on October and November departures, when whale sharks are usually around Nosy Be. We offer a whale shark boat trip as an option, with the price shown at booking, because it runs only in season and sightings are never certain. From April to September the boat days focus on snorkelling and lemurs.
When is the best time to go?
April to November, the dry season in the north. May to October is the most reliable for the parks; June to August brings a strong coastal wind that can make the Emerald Sea crossing rough; October and November add the whale shark season. We run no departures in the cyclone and rain months.
I am travelling solo. What does a room of my own cost?
A room of your own is from CAD 1,000 more, about 17 percent of the trip price, shown before you book. Solo travellers join every activity on the same terms as everyone else; if you would rather share, ask and we will tell you whether another solo guest on your departure wants to share.
How does booking work?
Choose a departure and request to book. We check availability and provide the final quote, itinerary and booking terms before you accept. No payment is taken when you send the request. The small group starts from CAD 5,760 per person sharing, with taxes included.
Can we travel privately or on our own dates?
Yes. The private style is your party only, with your own guide, vehicle and boats, on a date you choose between April and November. If you would rather travel independently on your own dates, ask from the dates section and we will quote the same route with drivers and local guides.
Do I need a visa for Madagascar?
Most visitors need a visa or entry permit, issued online before you fly or on arrival at the airport. Rules and fees change, so we send the current requirements for your passport when you book. Your passport needs at least six months' validity and blank pages.
How do I get home from Nosy Be?
The trip ends at Fascene Airport on Nosy Be. Some international flights leave from there on certain days; otherwise the domestic flight to Antananarivo, which is in the price, connects you; if you fly home directly from Nosy Be, we take the unused fare off your price. Because domestic timetables change, book your long-haul flight from Antananarivo for the next day, and we can add a night there at cost.
Can I combine this with another Madagascar trip?
Yes. All three of our Madagascar trips start in Antananarivo, so this one pairs with the Andasibe to Ifaty trip in the east and south or with the baobabs and Tsingy de Bemaraha trip in the west. Ask when you book and we will arrange the nights in between.
See Sight Tours has been providing travel services across North America since 2006. Operating in 20 cities across Canada and the USA, the company specializes in small group tours that offer personalized, high-quality experiences for travelers.
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