08 days and 07 nights with departure and return to Nosy Be

Itinerary

DAY 1: Nosy Be / Ankify - Visit to the Millot / Ambanja plantations

Departure from the hotel at 7:00 a.m. for a transfer to Hellville Port.
From there, take a sea crossing to Ankify Port.
On site, our team will pick you up for the Ankify-Ambanja trip by 4x4, passing by the Millot plantation. Take a fascinating tour of the Millot plantations located in northwest Madagascar. Created by Lucien Millot at the beginning of the 20th century, you will follow the Sambirano River, whose excesses and overflows enrich the land, allowing not only this exceptional cocoa to flourish, but also the essences of the flowers that make up your perfumes. Discover how Madagascar's Ylang-ylang (Cananga odorata!) made the fortune of the perfumers of Grasse, and how the greatest perfumers came to seek the magical essences of Vetiver, Patchouli, and Rosa palma.
Lunch on site.
After a digestive break, visit the town of Ambanja, surrounded by coffee and cocoa plantations dating back to the colonial era.
Discover its famous Sambirano River, its lush vegetation (banana trees, traveler's trees, etc.), some colonial buildings (church, courthouse, etc.), its two picturesque markets, and numerous shops run by Indian and Chinese immigrants.
Overnight stay with half-board at Vel Lodge Hotel.

DAY 2: Ambanja / Ambilobe – visit to the town of Ambilobe / Iharana – Visit to the Mandresy cave – Ambatomiloloha sunset aperitif

Departure from the hotel after breakfast. Dive into the royal past by visiting the house of King Antakarana (Ambilobe). Discover the lifestyle of the local population. Visit the market and its handicrafts. Taste the famous dried banana (local product). Our guide will also share his knowledge with you during this wonderful experience.
At the end of the visit, transfer to Iharana Bush Camp, one of the most beautiful eco-lodges in northern Madagascar.
Lunch awaits you there, followed by a visit to Mandresy Cave, also known as the Ficus Cave, where you will have the chance to discover bats, beautiful concretions, the seasonal underground river, and traces left by ancestors during tribal wars, such as a clay pot. Once you arrive, the guide will provide you with a headlamp, an essential item for exploring this enormous cave filled with stalagmites and stalactites.
The tour lasts 2 hours, so wear sturdy walking shoes.
After Mandresy Cave, you'll visit Ambatomiloloa, a lookout point offering a beautiful view of the Sirama Plain and Tsarabanjina, accompanied by a sunset and an aperitif surrounded by the Tsingy of Ankarana.
At the end of the tour, return to Iharana Bush Camp.
Overnight stay with half-board at Iharana Bush Camp.

DAY 3: Iharana

Day of your choice: free, relaxing to enjoy the hotel pool or taking advantage of several activities offered by the hotel, including a bike ride or a walk to discover the surrounding villages and witness the local life, or a visit to the Tsingy Gris, these famous sharp and pointed limestone rocks formed by erosion at the whims of wind and rain.
Overnight stay with full board at Iharana Bush Camp.

DAY 4: Iharana / Red Tsingy / Diego Suarez

Departure from the hotel at 8:00 a.m. to head to the Red Tsingy.
Not far from the Analamera Reserve, the Red Tsingy are a fairy chimney-like erosion. These ephemeral and phantasmagorical red formations are the result of the whims of wind and rain. The Red Tsingy can form in a relatively short geological time. The place is breathtakingly beautiful! Unique in Madagascar.
Lunch at Chez Violette.
After a digestive break, depart for Diego Suarez.
City tour to discover the beauty of the city of Diego Suarez. It is the largest city in northern Madagascar and the third largest port on the island. Capital of the Diana region, its inhabitants are called the Antsiranese. It is sheltered by Diego Suarez Bay, one of the most beautiful bays in the world after Rio Janeiro. This city with its glorious past invites you to discover its original architecture and recalls the passage of the English and French through the region.
A visit to the soldiers' tomb is included.
You will visit the local market with its fresh and natural products.
Visit the bay to see Cap Diego, the ancient city of Diego.
Overnight stay with half-board at the Hotel La Terrasse du Voyageur.

DAY 5: Diego Suarez / Visit of the Three Bays / Visit of the French Mountain / Diego Suarez

Departure from your hotel at 8:00 a.m. for a full-day tour of the Three Bays and the French Mountains. Each one as beautiful as the next and very little frequented, these white sand bays border a turquoise sea with an extraordinary underwater richness.
In succession, discover Sakalava Bay and its fun boarders, the inaccessible but attractive Pigeon Bay, and the refreshing Dunes Bay.
After the bays, you will continue your journey to Cap Miné, where you will find old cannons inherited from the colonial era, an old lighthouse, and a breathtaking view of the Diego-Suarez pass.
Then, you will pass by the beach of the former military camp in Orangea before arriving in Ramena, the charming traditional fishing village.
Lunch at a local restaurant in Ramena.
In the afternoon, departure by car to the entrance to the Montagne des French.
Continue your discovery of Malagasy flora and fauna through a trail accessible to everyone. Let our guides lead you, showing you the baobabs, two of which are endemic to the region, the thorny trees, and the aloes. At this unique pilgrimage site, follow the Stations of the Cross, which will lead you to the panoramic terrace from where you will see one of the most beautiful bays in the world.
Extend your tour and enter the Ambohitr'Antsingy protected area.
Along your way, discover the remains of the colonial era with the mines of the French Legion fort and its tunnels, caves, the optical telegraph building, and finish with the 656 steps that will give you access to the 360° view. A superb panoramic view at sunset.
Dinner at La Kaza restaurant.
Overnight B&B at La Terrasse du Voyageur hotel.

DAY 6: Diego Suarez / Visit to Amber Mountain / Joffre city

Pickup at 7:30 a.m. from your hotel for a visit to Madagascar's first national park. Created in 1958, Amber Mountain National Park is located in the heart of a volcanic region. The altitude ranges from 850 to 1,475 meters at the peak of Amber Mountain. Rightly considered a "biological treasure," it is home to a magnificent protected tropical forest, preserved from any human impact, where a rich and complex nature thrives. A veritable water tower for the region, you will explore various waterfalls such as the Antomboka Waterfall, the Sacred Waterfall, the Antakarana Waterfall, and Lake Mahasarika.
Also discover beautiful panoramas of the far north of the island.
Lunch at the Relais de la Montagne d’Ambre.
Historic tour of the village of Joffre Ville with its colonial architecture in the afternoon.
Overnight stay with half-board at the Monastery of the Benedictine Sisters.

DAY 7: Joffre city / Ankify