Rock My Northern Madagascar Adventure

13 Nights from £3,295*

Tour Overview

Join us for an incredible expedition in the north of Madagascar!

Starting in the capital Antananarivo, or ‘Tana’ for short, we’ll fly to Antsiranana (Diego Suarez) where we’ll spend our first few days exploring the Emerald Sea, Sakalava Bay, and Antsiranana city.

We’ll then head to Joffreville and Montagne d’Ambre National Park which has an abundance of wildlife including 8 different types of lemur.

Our next stop is the Ankarana Reserve (which has 11 species of lemur) and the famous Tsingy Rouge where we’ll hike and stay in a beautiful lodge set on a stunning lake.

We’ll visit Madagascar’s most famous cocoa and vanilla plantation on our way to the island of Nosy Komba. From here we’ll explore the Nosy Tanikely Marine National Park.

Our last stop is the beautiful island of Nosy Be where we’ll visit the beautiful Nosy Iranja, swim with whale sharks, and relax!

Jungle Park

Three Bays

Antsiranana

Montagne d’Ambre NP

Ankarana Special Reserve

Tsingy Rouge

Nosy Iranja

Nosy Be

Tour Highlights

Enjoy a delicious welcome dinner in the capital, Antananarivo
Relax in nature at the unique and beautiful Jungle Park
Spend a day relaxing and snorkelling on a visit to the Three Bays and the Emerald Sea
Take an Antsiranana (Diego Suarez) city tour
Enjoy live music in Antsiranana
Look for birds, reptiles and mammals (including lemurs) as we explore Montagne d’Ambre National Park
See the incredible rock formations of the Tsingy Rouge
Look for lemurs at the Ankarana Special Reserve
Visit the Millot Plantation, one of Madagascar’s leading cocoa and vanilla plantations that supports local women
Visit the Nosy Tanikely Nosy Tanikely Marine National Park which is a great place for snorkeling and bird-watching
Enjoy sundowners on the beach in Nosy Komba
Take a tour of Nosy Komba, an island famous for black lemurs
Visit beautiful Nosy Iranja, also known locally as ‘Turtle Island’, as it’s a breeding ground for both hawksbill and green turtles
Go on a whale shark excursion where you may have the opportunity to swim with these beautiful creatures
Learn about the Malagasy way of life and the Fady (beliefs – superstitions) that all Malagasy people live by from our amazing female Malagasy guide

What’s Included

13 nights accommodation
13 breakfasts, 8 lunches & 12 dinners
All activities listed above
Rock My Adventure group leader & local guides
Comprehensive pre-departure information & support
All transportation as per the itinerary & included activities (internal flight paid separately)
Tips for local guides

Tour Dates

16 – 29 October 2023 BOOK NOW

Cost

Total – from £3,295 (approx.)*

Deposit: £500 (non-refundable)
2nd Payment: £2,130 (due 62 days before the departure date)
3rd Payment: €500 (local payment, paid on arrival)
4th Payment: $260 (approx. – internal flight – booked and paid separately)

* Total subject to current USD to GBP exchange rates

Notes

This is a Rock My Adventure ‘Exploratory’ trip
This means that it is a brand new Rock My Adventure trip and/or Helen’s first trip to this particular area, which means we’ll be discovering it together
It may not always be perfect, but it will be an advanture
Saying that, our local guides know the area well, so you will be in good hands
Madagascar is generally a physically demanding place to travel, so please only sign up for this trip if you can handle the odd crazy journey, love adventure, and won’t stress if we have to change things around a little bit 😊
There is one internal flight between Antananarivo and Antsiranana which must be booked separately at a cost of between $160 – $280 – we will give you all the information you need to book this when you book your tour
You can fly out of Nosy Be or take a connecting flight back to Antananarivo (in which case you’ll be taking 2 internal flights)

Itinerary

Day 1: Antananarivo

Arrive in Antananarivo (‘Tana’ for short) and transfer to your accommodation for the night.

Relax and get to know your fellow travellers during a welcome meal! Your Rock My Northern Madagascar Adventure starts here.

* If you have the time and can arrive earlier, we can organise any other activities you wish to do. Additional accommodation and activities charged separately.

Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel (Ensuite)
Activities: None

Day 2: Antsiranana (Jungle Park)

Today we’ll fly to Northern Madagascar and the town of Antsiranana (also called Diego Suarez).

When we arrive, we’ll make the short journey to Jungle Park, a unique eco-lodge where we’ll spend the next couple of nights.

At the lodge, they have a natural swimming pool, waterpark, and spa, plus activities such as birdwatching and mountain biking. You may even spot some lemurs.

Welcome to paradise.

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel (Ensuite)
Activities: None

Day 3: Antsiranana (Jungle Park)

Today we’ll make an excursion to the Three Bays and the Emerald Sea.

We’ll drive to Ramena Beach where we will take a sandy track to the Three Bays (Sakalava Bay, Pigeons Bay, and Dunes Bay) which are known for their white sand beaches and crystal clear, turquoise water of the shallow lagoon.

On the way, we’ll visit French Mountain to see the endemic baobab trees and the dry forest. we’ll see Nosy Longo aka ‘the Sugarloaf of Diego Suarez’, and learn about the history of the island.

We’ll go snorkelling, relax on the beach and enjoy lunch prepared by a local chef before we return to our jungle home.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Lodge (Ensuite)
Activities: Three Bays Excursion

Day 4: Antsiranana

After breakfast, we’ll make the short journey back to Antsiranana, Madagascar’s 5th largest town, where we will explore the sights of the city.

This includes learning about the history of the area, a visit to the port and local market where you’ll be able to try some of the delicious try some Malagasy street food.

In the evening we’ll catch some live music and enjoy the city’s nightlife.

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel (Ensuite)
Activities: Antsiranana City Tour

Day 5: Joffreville & Montagne d’Ambre National Park

We’ll have a relaxed morning in Antsiranana before we make our way overland to Joffreville.

In the afternoon, we’ll visit Montagne d’Ambre National Park which is located around 30km south of Antsiranana.

The park was established in 1958 and is known for its unique flora and fauna, waterfalls, and crater lakes. It is one of the most biologically diverse places in all of Madagascar with seventy-five species of birds, fifty-nine species of reptiles and twenty-five species of mammals, including 8 different types of lemurs, the ring-tailed mongoose and the Malagasy civet.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel (Ensuite)
Activities: Montagne d’Ambre National Park

Day 6: Ankarana Special Reserve

From Joffreville we’ll head towards Ankarana Special Reserve.

In the afternoon we’ll visit the famous Tsingy Rouge. A Tsingy, is the name given to Madagascar’s unique razor-like limestone rock formations which are found around the country.

You’ll love our beautiful lodge which has a beautiful pool, open-air massage facilities, overlooks a huge lake, and has the Ankarana massif as a backdrop, which makes sunset extra special (and it’s great for birding).

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Accommodation: Lodge (Ensuite)
Activities: Tsingy Rouge

Day 7: Ankarana Special Reserve

We’ll spend the full day exploring Ankarana Special Reserve.

Ankarana is one of the most accessible Tsingy regions in the country and known for its spectacular hiking routes. Amongst the Tsingy you’ll find numerous gorges and rivers and Ankarana has Africa’s largest interconnected cave network with a total of 120 kms.

A unique feature of the park is the perte des riviers, ‘the river hole’, a huge sinkhole in which 3 rivers merge and continue underground.

11 species of lemur live in the dry forest and amongst the Tsingy, including the crowned lemur, Sanford’s brown lemur and the Ankarana sportive lemur.

In the late afternoon, you will have the option to take a short hike up to Ambatomiloloha’s panoramic viewpoint for sundowners and fabulous views over the camp and lake or take a canoe trip out on the lake.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel (Ensuite)
Activities: Ankarana Special Reserve

Day 8: Ankify

We’ll make our way overland to the beautiful town of Ambanja, and the Millot Plantation (est. 1904), which is famous for cocoa and vanilla production as well as spices and essential oils.

The plantation employs over 800 people, most of whom are women and the plantation also supports the local school.

As we tour the plantation, we’ll learn about their production methods and visit the village within the grounds.

We’ll have lunch at the plantation farmhouse which includes dishes prepared with products grown on the farm.

From there, we’ll continue to the town of Ankify, the jumping-off point for the island of Nosy Be.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel (Ensuite)
Activities: Millot Plantation

Day 9: Nosy Komba & Nosy Tanikely

We’ll head over to the island of Nosy Komba where we’ll drop off our bags before taking an excursion to the island of Nosy Tanikely which includes the Nosy Tanikely Marine National Park which is a great place for snorkeling and bird-watching.

Just a few steps from the beach you’ll find crystal-clear water with lots of marine life including coral, starfish, hawksbill sea turtles, lobsters, and plenty of fish.

There are also lemurs and birds on the island and you may spot some if you’re lucky! If you’re feeling energetic, you can make the 30-minute climb up to the 1908 Lighthouse for panoramic views of the island.

In the afternoon, we’ll return to Nosy Komba where we can relax and have sundowners on the beach.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel (Ensuite)
Activities: Nosy Tanikely

Day 10: Nosy Komba

We’ll spend today exploring Nosy Komba.

During our excursion, we’ll take an island tour and visit a traditional fisherman’s village, visit artists, woodcarvers, weavers, and a local market.

Nosy Komba is also famous for its black lemurs that are very used to humans and there is a lemur sanctuary that you can visit (optional).

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel (Ensuite)
Activities: Nosy Komba Tour

Day 11: Nosy Be & Nosy Iranja

We’ll leave Nosy Komba and take a morning boat transfer to the island of Nosy Be.

After dropping off our bags at the hotel, we’ll head over to Nosy Iranja, also known locally as ‘Turtle Island’.

Nosy Iranja encompasses two main islands that are connected by a fine white sandbank (the picture-perfect image of Madagascar,) which is visible at low tide and covered at high tide.

The island is a breeding ground for both hawksbill and green turtles. On the larger island, you’ll find a lighthouse designed by Gustav Eiffel who designed the Eiffel Tower.

We’ll have a buffet lunch under the shade of a coconut tree, visit the village of Iranja Be, see the ‘sugar loaf’ rocks, and pass by the small island of Nosy Antsoa on the way.

We’ll then head back to Nosy Be to enjoy the evening at our fabulous hotel and those who want to can sample the local nightlife.

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel (Ensuite)
Activities: Nosy Iranja

Day 12: Nosy Be & Whale Shark Excursion

Today we’ll head out on an excursion looking for the magnificent whale sharks that migrate to the warm waters of Nosy Be between September and December.

Whale sharks are the biggest fish in the world, and despite being sharks, they are completely harmless to humans, only eating plankton, small fish, and shrimps.

Swimming with them is an unforgettable experience and we may even see some turtles or humpback or Omura’s whales too.

The late afternoon and evening is free to relax at the hotel or enjoy the town.

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel (Ensuite)
Activities: Whale Shark Excursion

Day 13: Nosy Be

Today is a completely free day to explore Nosy Be or take part in one of the activities on offer.

This includes exploring the nearby town or the island, cycling, hiking, horse riding, scuba diving, or visiting the Lokobe Strict reserve, the last primary forest of Nosy Be.

Lokobe is a protected area which known for black lemurs and the beautiful Nosy Be panther chameleon.

In the evening, we’ll enjoy a group dinner at one of the best restaurants in town.

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel (Ensuite)
Activities: None

Day 14: Departure Day

Today is always a sad day as we say goodbye to our new friends, but the memories and shared experiences of Madagascar will last a lifetime!

*You can fly out directly from Nosy Be or take a flight back to Tana. If you fly back to Tana, you can either fly home in the evening, or we can arrange an extra hotel room for you that evening.

*You could also fly to the beautiful island of Nosy Boraha (Île Sainte-Marie) to spend a few days (that’s what I will be doing).

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: None
Activities: None

Please bear in mind that the itinerary is subject to minor changes, ‘This is Africa’! But whatever happens, we’ll ensure you have an amazing trip!!

Have a question? Feel free contact us here or take a look at our FAQ’s page.

Testimonials

“I knew it would be good but it exceeded my expectations.“

“This was my second Rock My Adventure tour. It was the trip of a lifetime with a great mix of culture and nature. I knew it would be good but it exceeded my expectations. The safaris were amazing, we saw so much. We saw so many animals up close, just like watching a wildlife programme in real life. I loved travelling in a group. It’s like travelling with friends. I am always apprehensive about meeting new people but everyone has a common interest and it’s not long before you’re enjoying sharing the holiday experience with them. The tour has a very personal touch and Helen really cares about everyone having their best experience. For me Helen’s knowledge, connections, care, attention and commitment to ensure everyone has a great time is exceptional.“

SUE | UK

“Every day after was as impressive as the last.”

“The Rock My Madagascar Adventure was incredible. We saw and experienced so much in such a short space of time. I especially loved Isalo National Park and Ranomafana. Hearing the indris calling in Andasibe was magical too. The trip to Tsingy was a real adventure. The roads are something else, but it was amazing. It was even fun when our car got stuck in a river. Helen was a great group leader, with endless energy and Stella was a wonderful and informative local guide – I feel like we learned a lot about the culture of Madagascar and the all-important ‘Fady’. It was great to travel with a group of like-minded people. Madagascar can be a rough place to travel, but we did it as a team and had SO MUCH FUN. I want to do it all again.”

LAURA | UK

“Definitely the best holiday I have ever been on.”

“Without a doubt the best tour I’ve ever been on. I loved every, single, bloody minute of this trip. From the minute it started in Nairobi I KNEW I was on the right tour. On meeting Helen and that instant connection of a kindred spirit. I even loved how we turned a long day of travel into a raving karaoke bus and had the best bloody day ever…just by having fun. I loved all the included activities and the optional ones too. I felt the itinerary we had was a good mix of everything, ensuring to see the best of the locations. Met my expectations, smashed passed them and blew right into the stratosphere. I wanted a slightly elevated tour, but without missing that connection to the people and the places, and this tour gave me all of that and more. YOU ROCKED MY ADVENTURE!!!”

MICHELLE | AUSTRALIA

Essential Info

Duration: 13 Nights

Dates:

16 – 29 October 2023 BOOK NOW

Start: Antananarivo

Finish: Nosy Be

Maximum Group Size: 10 people

Minimum Age: 18

Total Cost: from £3,295*

Dates:

Deposit: £500 (non-refundable)
2nd Payment: £2,130 (due 62 days before the departure date)
3rd Payment: €500 (local payment, paid on arrival)
4th Payment: $260 (approx. – internal flight – booked and paid separately)

* Subject to current USD/Euro to GBP exchange rates

Support

Rock My Adventure group leader
Local tour guides
Comprehensive pre-departure information & planning advice
Tips for local guides

Meals

13 breakfasts, 8 lunches & 12 dinners

Accommodation

13 nights of accommodation in good quality/unique safari camps, hostels, hotels, & guesthouses

Transport

All transport within Madagascar to and from included excursions and between the main destinations on the tour (includes – taxi, safari vehicle, ferry, tuk tuk, boat, bus & minibus)

Activities

Three Bays Excursion
Antsiranana City Tour
Montagne d’Ambre National Park
Tsingy Rouge
Ankarana Special Reserve
Millot Plantation
Nosy Tanikely
Nosy Komba Tour
Nosy Iranja
Whale Shark Excursion

International flights
Internal flight(s)
Airport transfers (however we can arrange these for you)
Visas (if needed)
Medications, antimalarials or vaccinations
Travel/health insurance (required)
Drinks & meals not mentioned
Optional activities
Transport for optional activities

You will make 3 payments for this tour:

Deposit: Paid in GBP upon booking
Balance: The remainder of the GBP balance (minus the deposit) paid 62 days before your arrival
Local Payment: Paid on arrival to your tour leader in Africa

The local payment is part of the overall cost of the trip. You pay the local payment to your tour leader in Euros (unless specified otherwise) upon arrival in Africa.

This includes the on-tour expenses that we cannot pay prior to arrival, such as national park entry fees, meals, local transport, and some activities.

The local payment is NOT your spending money.

Travel insurance is essential for ALL Rock My Adventure trips.

Your health and safety when travelling is of the utmost importance, so it is vital that you have travel insurance policy that covers you for your trip to Africa. Adequate travel insurance is a condition of your contract with us and you will not be able to join a trip without it.

You must be satisfied that your insurance fully covers all your personal requirements including cancellation charges, theft, medical expenses and repatriation in the event of accident or illness.

Your insurance should also cover you for any adventurous activities that you wish to do – this includes the ‘included’ activities on the tour and any ‘optional’ activities.

Please be aware that some hazardous activities such as (but not limited to) white water rafting on grade 5 rapids, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, safari walks, bungee jumping and sky diving may not be covered by all policies, so you may have to take out a higher level of cover.

Medical care is not free in Africa and even the cost of getting to hospital can be super expensive, so you need to be covered in case of a medical emergency, including air ambulance evacuation and repatriation in the event of accident or illness.

For example, if your appendix bursts whilst on tour, you would need to be evacuated by helicopter/plane to a major city like Nairobi or Johannesburg.

Without insurance, you would need to pay for that out of your own pocket and this could equate to thousands of dollars.

If you are bringing along any electrical equipment such as cameras and laptops, you should also ensure your insurance covers those items too. Some policies only have this as an add-on.

If you are travelling to an area that is subject to foreign office warnings, this may void your travel insurance, so you may need to take out an additional policy for the days you are in the danger zones.

Please always read the small print.

Come to Africa! What are you waiting for?

BOOK NOW

Have a question before you book? Then contact us using the form below!

If you’d like to talk to us in person, just let us know and we can set up a Zoom call!

And don’t forget to add [email protected] to your email safe list and check your junk, just in case our reply ends up in there!