At leisure to relax and enjoy the culture, splendid white beaches and turquoise waters of the tropical Nosy Be archipelago, situated off the northwest coast of Madagascar and offering superb swimming in emerald seas, snorkelling, scuba diving and deep sea fishing.
Nosy Be (meaning 'Big Island') has a volcanic landscape characterised by many hills overlooked by Mount Lokobe and Mount Passot. From one of these high vantage points you can enjoy exceptional views over nearby Radama and Mitsio Islands. Based at a hotel on one of the islands, or on the mainland facing towards Nosy Be, you can relax on a pristine beach and explore this rugged coastline by boat, with its many coves and deserted beaches lined by palm trees.
You can see lemurs in the wild at Lokobe Nature Reserve on Nosy Be island. You can also take optional excursions to smaller islands such as Nosy Tanikely, which offers outstanding snorkelling, and Nosy Iranja with its idyllic beaches.
Madagascar is a significant grower of the fragrant Ylang-ylang tree, whose flower is an important component in many essential oils and perfumes, including famous Chanel No 5. The island produces over 97% of the world’s real vanilla, as well as growing peppercorns, turmeric, cinnamon, cloves and many other spices.