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.

The region of Sahamabajy, a small town nestled at the edge of a lake with the same name, is the sole tea producing area of Madagascar.
Antsoa is a virgin island paradise nestled in the waters between Nosy Be and Nosy Iranja and is dominated by a sugar loaf mountain which arises from the sea.
Who hasn't dreamed of finding themselves alone on a heavenly desert island, just for a short enchanted time? Nosy Vorona, which is also called "the island of birds" can help you to live the dream... 
About a hundred kilometres from the city of Toamasina (Tamatave), Mahambo is an unspoilt fishing village preserved from mass tourism.  
Ambohimanga means “blue hill” , alongside of which you can add the title of royal. The site is listed as a World Heritage Site . It is evidence of three centuries of a mighty royal power, between the 16th and 19th centuries and affords a lovely cultural adventure when you visit Antananarivo .
It is sometimes said that the Anjajavy peninsula is a miniature of Madagascar as it brings together in one place some of the emblems of the island, such as the famous Tsingys.
Toamasina or Tamatave is the second biggest city of the island after the capital. It stretches out between a huge beach bordering the Indian Ocean and Ivondro bay. Toamasina is cosmopolitan: the majority ethnic group, the Betsinisaraka, cohabit with a large Chinese community, some Indo-Pakistani and a handful of Europeans.
If you want to observe the daily life of the inhabitants of the Highlands and immerse yourself in the ambiance of a Malagasy village, Iarintsena is the place for you.
Ambalandingana is a village of the region of Ambositra, perched on a mountain at 1600 metres of altitude. Literally meaning "stopover village", Ambalandingana bears its name well and effectively serves as a place to spend the night during a visit to Zafimaniry country. 
In the north-east of Madagascar, Masoala peninsula harbours primary forests with enormous wealth in terms of biodiversity.  
The Makay Massif is an incredible natural sanctuary made up of several canyons formed by erosion, where there are islands of greenery that are home to mostly unrecognised species. 
The green side of the long Sambirano Valley contrasts with the dry landscape of savannah and red soil on the western coast of the island. 
Ambilobe is the starting point when heading to the magnificent Tsingys,a must on a trip to Madagascar.
The emerald sea is found at the entrance to Diégo-Suarez bay, the second biggest bay in the world after Rio de Janeiro. Tiny desert islands are scattered over this startling coloured water.
Not only does this northern Madagascan island provide a habitat for some magnificent and wonderful plants and animals, it has beautiful beaches to offer too. Nosy Mangabe truly is a little piece of heaven on earth!
Welcome to the vanilla capital. Antalaha,which was still a village in the 19th century, is now a prosperous town, thanks to the introduction of vanilla at the start of the 20th century. 
The Andasibe-Mantadia National Park stretches over more than 61 square miles, and 80% of it is covered with wet primary forest. A refuge where lush nature flourishes.
In Malagasy, Tsaravahiny translates as "where strangers are welcome". This centre was established by the ABM organisation to develop rural tourism with the inhabitants of the Menabe country.
Antsokay Arboretum is located around one and a quarter miles north of the Tropic of Capricorn and was founded in 1980 by Hermann Petignat, a Swiss botanist. The organisation that manages the arboretum is working to protect the endemic flora of southern Madagascar. 
The Baie de Baly National Park is where marine and terrestrial ecosystems come together. Spread over 220 square miles, this reserve is home to many plant and animal species.