Islands & Beaches Holidays

Just a short journey from Madagascar’s captivating inland wilderness is a collection of stunning beaches and paradise islands just waiting to be explored. Visitors don’t need to leave the mainland to enjoy a beach shack bite in Anakao, tranquil walks on the Salary sand, or shoreline snorkelling at Anjajavy. Ifaty, in the southwest, is perfect for basking on the beach or swimming in the lagoon, while Baobab Beach, in the northwest, offers an otherworldly combination of ancient woodland and white sand bay.

Whale watching is easy from Madagascar’s islands while the northern archipelagos offer the chance to see whale sharks in the later months of each year. Sail to Nosy Mangabe to find a tropical wildlife sanctuary or discover the pirate past of Nosy Boraha in the east. Whether you’re looking for a hidden escape or a luxury resort holiday, you’ll find it on or beside the coast of Madagascar.

A two-hour flight from Antananarivo or 45 minutes by speedboat from Ankify harbour, Nosy Be is Madagascar’s “big island”. Step ashore to an Indian Ocean retreat where the scents of ylang-ylang and vanilla drift across a coast of pale sand beaches. Take a catamaran cruise or hop aboard a sailing yacht to explore the turquoise waters. Snorkel or scuba over coral reefs among tropical fish, sea turtles, and - if you’re lucky - dolphins.

Manta rays, sea turtles, and whales can all be spotted from the island and those visiting in October or November may even get to see the world’s biggest fish, the whale shark. Luxury resort hotels and Sunday beach parties at Madirokely make Nosy Be the perfect escape after an active Madagascan adventure.

Just off the south coast of Nosy Be is its smaller cousin, Nosy Komba or “the island surrounded by rocks”. A paradise for people and lemurs alike, Madagascar’s most famous animal residents are treated as sacred by the island’s human population. Hike to the peak of Antaninaomby for panoramic views of Nosy Be and the mainland coast.

Find secluded coves to stretch out on the sand or walk through the hills to spot chameleons and birds. Pick up souvenirs from the stalls of Ampangorinana, where carvings, textiles, and baskets are sold by local craftspeople. Visit plantations of vanilla, cocoa, and coffee. Watersports, diving, and snorkelling in the blue ocean are also popular from the beaches of Nosy Komba with dolphins and whales often sighted, particularly between July and September.

Nosy Be and Nosy Komba are the first ports of call for any island escape off Madagascar’s northwest coast but, for a real castaway experience, you need to go a little further. 40 miles north of Nosy Be is the Nosy Mitsio Archipelago. Surrounded by an ocean filled with dolphins and turtles, these islands and islets are as unspoiled as any location in Madagascar with sundrenched days and clear nights, perfect for a romantic getaway.

Relax among the farming villages and soft sand beaches of the Great Mitsio. Sail around the seabird shelter of the Four Brothers, or dive into the rocky underwater caves beneath. Snorkel over the coral reefs of Tsarabanjina, swim with the curious fish of Nosy Tolholo, or step onto the white sand which covers the islands themselves. Further north, tiny uninhabited islands wait to be discovered.

Off the east coast of Madagascar, separated from the mainland by the Baie de Tintingue, Nosy Boraha is a former pirate haven which has become a travellers' paradise. Also known as Ile Sainte-Marie, this sanctuary sheltered Indian Ocean buccaneers in the 17th and 18th centuries before becoming a French territory and exile colony in the 1800s.

Today it is rightfully restored to Malagasy rule but still bears many remnants of its turbulent past. Visit crumbling fortifications and pirate cemeteries before calling into local villages for delicious seafood dinners in traditional Malagasy restaurants. Stroll along golden beaches lined with coconut palms. Swim or sail out to snorkel and dive over coral reefs or, if you’re visiting between July and September, take a cruise to spot humpback whales as they migrate by. Resorts line the mangrove coastline creating private retreats from which to explore.

The best time to visit the Islands & Beaches of Madagascar can depend on which location you choose. Temperatures between 20°C and 30°C are common throughout the year but wet summer seasons often feel humid while the dry winters are more comfortable.

May to September is ideal for Nosy Be, Nosy Komba, and the Nosy Mitsio Archipelago but those hoping to spot whale sharks will need to arrive a little later. On the east coast, Nosy Mangabe and Nosy Boraha experience their best conditions from September to November while more southerly beaches such as those around Toliara are better visited a few months earlier. Speak with our travel experts to plan which beach or island will match best with your travel dates and the rest of your Madagascar itinerary.