the great north (AT3)
This 12 night luxury tour of the north of Madagascar takes you from Tana and includes Diego Suarez, The Three Bays, Amber Mountain, Red Tsingy, Ankarana National Park & Tsingy and Nosy Be.
Price Per Person Sharing from USD 3260.00 - USD 3456.00
The tour of the north has always been popular as it really is a small cameo of what Madagascar has to offer.
Note this itinerary could also be done if you are flying into/out of Nosy Be rather than Tana.
Includes 2 domestic flights, 9 breakfasts & 9 dinners.
Day One: Arrival in Antananarivo – Historical City Tour
You will be welcomed by our team at the international airport of Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar. You will then be transferred to your hotel in the city centre.
Overnight stay in a boutique hotel downtown: Tamboho Hotel, Palissandre or Maison Gallieni
day two; Antsiranana & the bays
We fly from the capital to Antsiranana, a.k.a Diego Suarez, home of the second largest bay in the world. Without wasting a minute of your time we will make our way to the shore. A relaxing walk will bring you to “The Three Bays” known for their utopic beauty. Each bay has a unique landscape but all have the same turquoise waters. We will get to see guns and fortifications that remain from the former colonial days when the French held the region. We will see the beautiful sunset over the red baobabs on the way to Diego Suarez. After your excursion, you will be transferred to Joffreville, the gateway city to the Amber Mountain.
Overnight stay at Nature Lodge or The Litchi Tree
Day 3: Amber Mountain National Park
Located twenty kilometres from the port, the green Amber Mountain Park (Montagne d’Ambre) is home to lemurs, sacred waterfalls and lush vegetation.
The Montagne d’Ambre National Park is the first national park to be created in Madagascar. We will trek through the national park to see the different species of lemurs, the smallest and rarest chameleon in the world, and both sea and land turtles. Afterwards, you will continue to the Grand Cascade, a beautiful waterfall that pours its essence into a natural swimming pool.
Overnight stay at Nature Lodge or The Litchi Tree
Day 4: Joffreville to Ankarana & Red Tsingy Visit
On our way to Ankarana, we will discover The Red Tsingy in the mountains southeast of Diego. Located right at the feet of tall canyons, within the single sedimentary basin of Madagascar and heterogeneous vegetation, they are made of sandstone, marl and limestone; the fruit of many millennia of slow erosion. We will arrive in Ankarana towards the middle of the afternoon.
Overnight stay in a boutique lodge: Iharana Bush Camp or Ankarana Lodge
Day 5: Tsingy of Ankarana
Ankarana is the second place in Madagascar where you can see the famous Tsingy. Here, we will walk through the forest, home to many endemic species, and appreciate the scenery offered by these impressive limestone formations.
Overnight stay in a boutique lodge: Iharana Bush Camp or Ankarana Lodge
Day 6: Cocoa plantations & crossing to Nosy Be
This trip will take us through a volcanic area and the most fertile region of Madagascar. We will visit one of the most beautiful cocoa plantations in the world, running the same way it was exploited since the beginning of the last century. We will arrive at the port of Ankify where a speed boat is ready to take you to Nosy Be. From the port, you will be transferred to your hotel.
Overnight in a boutique hotel: Ravintsara Wellness, Manga Soa Lodge, Vanilla Hotel or L’Heure Bleue
Day 7 to Day 9: The richness of the archipelago of Nosy Be.
Your options will depend on what you choose to do. See Excursions in Nosy Be. You could visit the wildlife-rich Lokobe National Park, the marine reserve of Nosy Tanikely, take a whale shark and humpback whales tour, go fishing or diving, or just enjoy the beach!
Overnight in a boutique hotel: Ravintsara Wellness, Manga Soa lodge, Vanilla Hotel or L’heure Bleue
Day 10: Beginning of extension or International departure.
You return to Nosy Be’s airport so you can continue your journey to other regions of Madagascar or return home to tell stories of your amazing adventures.
End of Services
Credit to Asisten Travel and Daniel Austin for photographs