Nosy Be, the island of perfumes, sits off the north-west coast of Madagascar and is the country's best-known tropical base. Ylang-ylang plantations, a warm sea year-round and a string of islands within boat reach make it an easy place to spend a week.
Getting your bearings
Hell-Ville (Andoany) is the main town: a small waterfront with a colourful market where fruit, fish and spices are sold every morning. The rest of the island is a patchwork of plantations, vanilla and ylang-ylang fields, and quiet coastal roads.
The essentials of the island
Mont Passot gives the classic panorama over the island and its small crater lakes — best in the late afternoon. Lokobe Reserve, just outside Hell-Ville, protects primary forest where black lemurs and chameleons live. Lemuria Land and the market give a cultural half-day between nature trips.
Islands within reach
Nosy Komba (the lemur island) and Nosy Tanikely (the underwater gem, a protected marine area) are the two most popular day trips, with Nosy Iranja — two islands joined by a white sandbar — for a full day. All are reached by speedboat from the mainland beaches.
How to move around
Taxis-be (shared minibuses) connect the main villages cheaply, but a private car with a driver gives you the freedom to link beach, market and viewpoint in one day. Roads outside Hell-Ville are unpaved in places, so allow more time than the map suggests.
How many days
Three days covers Hell-Ville, Mont Passot and one island. A week lets you add Lokobe, Nosy Komba, Nosy Tanikely and Nosy Iranja at a relaxed pace — and to combine with Diego-Suarez and the northern mainland.
Tell us your dates and we will tell you honestly which excursions fit your stay.
Planning your own trip?
Tell us your dates and what you want to see — we will come back with a personal outline built by the local team.
