Places to discover

Best places to visit in Madagascar

Going to Madagascar is an experience in itself. The "great island" is a vast territory and to choose an itinerary is sometimes very difficult. Where to go? Which stopover places to choose?

Don't worry, we're here to help. An entire team of travellers, passionate about Madagascar and members of the Evaneos Travel community, have come together to share their advice and reviews with you on the places to visit during your trip to Madagascar. In short, you'll have all the information you need to organise the perfect trip.

Antananarivo, the capital and its twelve hills, boasts multiple attractions. Spend a few days there and discover its surroundings and the numerous trekking possibilities, on foot or by bike. Île Sainte Marie is a favourite spot: coconut trees, white sand, and the pleasures of nautical delights, not to mention whales when it's the right season. Diego Suarez, on the northern tip, and all its surroundings are beautiful. The "Tsingy Rouge" (red stone formations), Amber Mountain and the natural parks are must-sees. The villages of fishermen, Ramena and its vast beaches will enchant you. Nosy Be shouldn't be overlooked either, with its richly diverse and colourful sea-beds.

Towards the south, an unmissable route is to follow the RN7 highway to Tuléar. At Fianarantsoa, take the train to Manakara. An unforgettable and colourful journey awaits you, during which you'll cross incredibly stunning landscapes, so keep your cameras ready. In the extreme south-east, Fort Dauphin will give you the feeling that you're on another planet. Madagascar is a land of contrasts, between the red of its earth and the green of its crops and forests. There's a neverending list of activities on offer, from water sports to hikes in numerous natural parks like Isalo, or Ranomafana... Above all, don't hesitate to invest in a local guide, who'll share his knowledge of the area with you.

Morombe is located on the edge of one of the largest lagoons in the world. The part that connects Manombo to Morombe, which is the sole communication route in the region, stretches over more than 60 miles and has a wild and magnificent coral reef.
Andavadoaka refers to the “pierced rock” , visible in the distance. Here, after an immense coral reef that is practically unbroken for 155 miles, the landscape gives way to islets. This place of transition makes the marine biodiversity here richer than in other reefs.
Peaceful nature encouraging serenity… welcome to Belo sur Mer peninsula where the sun shines 350 days a year . Its sublime bay alternates between fine sand and rocks, an ideal place for unforgettable sunsets. A huge mangrove swamp surrounds the area.
Anja Community Reserve is a small protected zone covering an area of about 74 acres and is managed by a village association south of Ambalavao. 
In the heart of Menabe region, the name Belo-sur-Tsiribihina can be transmated as "lots of rottenness". It's the vestiges of a great battle between the Merina and Sakalava people. The roads of the village were littered with bodies, hence the name.
Lavanono is a small village in the far southwest of Madagascar.
Berenty is a village in the south of Madagascar which has been home to a private reserve since 1936.
Foulpointe, or Mahavelona as it is known to the locals, is a seaside town on the east coast of Madagascar.
Ambatozavary is a small village surrounded by mangrove forests on the east shore of Nosy Be, the island paradise of the north of Madagascar.
Lokobe Reserve is located on the south-east part of Nosy Be Island and contains the last remaining vestiges of a primordial forest that has now disappeared from the rest of the area it once covered. 
Baramahamay bay is located on the southern tip of Nosy Iranja island , in the warm waters of northern Madagascar.
Nosy Sakatia is a haven of peace that is just a 10-minute canoe ride from the island of Nosy Be. Located to the west of Nosy Be, the orchid island is much less crowded than its neighbours Nosy Tanikely and Nosy Komba but is just as surprising.
The Red Tsingys of Irodo are located two hours by road from the city of Diego-Suarez. Different from their limestone counterparts of Bemaraha and Ankarana National Parks, these Tsingys are formed of red sandstone and laterite. 
Cap Diego is a peninsula located just across the water from the city of Diego-Suarez in northern Madagascar. 
You can explore the Ile de la Petite Terre if you are planning a tour around the north of Madagascar. Nosy Tanikely is a marine reservee surrounded by a coral reef, which is opposite Nosy Be, and so a beautiful spot to go diving.
Nosy Mamoko is one of the islands in the Ambariotelo archipelago, north of Madagascar.
Nosy Kisimany is a small island with one tiny fishing village, located in the vicinity of Nosy Be.
Tsimanampetsotsa National Park is one of the first ten parks to have been created in the country in 1927. The reserve, which is accessible from the village of Efoetsy, spreads over 43,000 hectares. It consists of a coastal forest and a dense, dry forest.
Manja is a small, quiet village in the west of Madagascar. Located on the road between Belo-sur-Mer and Morombe, it is possible to stop there for the night when travelling between these two cities.
It is said that the bay of Salary boasts the most beautiful wild beaches of the country. The Ambatomilo lagoon, surrounded by one hundred kilometres of coral reef, is the refuge of extraordinary underwater flora and fauna.