Traditional outrigger canoe on a Nosy Be beach

🇲🇬 Madagascar · Nosy Be

Nosy Be: perfume island, beaches and 2026 tips

Volcanic island off northwest Madagascar, Nosy Be packs Andilana beach, ylang-ylang plantations, whale shark snorkeling and trips to Nosy Komba and Nosy Iranja. Here's how to enjoy it over a week.

📍 See 📅 When to go 🗺️ Itinerary

Nosy Be at a glance

Area

320 km², ~37,000 pop.

Airport

NOS (Fascene)

Ideal stay

5 to 7 days

Budget / day

€50-250

Flight Tana

~1h30 (Tsaradia)

Time diff

+2h winter, +1h summer

Current climate

Best season

Photo : iAko Randrianarivelo / Unsplash

In brief

Nosy Be in brief

1

Internal flight from Tana

Tsaradia (Madagascar Airlines subsidiary) and Madagascar Airlines run 1 to 2 daily Tana-Nosy Be flights. ~€250 round trip, 1h30 flight. Direct Air Austral flight from Reunion also available.
2

Beaches on the northwest

Andilana in the northwest, the most iconic beach: white sand, turquoise water. Madirokely, Ambondrona, Ambatoloaka pack the hotels and nightlife.
3

Whale sharks September to December

Peak season to swim with whale sharks offshore. ~€80-120/person for a half-day boat trip with a guide. Humpback whales Jul-Sep moving up the channel.
4

Combine Nosy Be and satellite islands

Nosy Komba (black lemurs), Nosy Iranja (mythical sandbar), Nosy Tanikely (snorkeling) on day boat trips. ~€40-70/person.
5

Malaria: prophylaxis mandatory

Madagascar's west coast is a confirmed malaria zone. Atovaquone/proguanil or doxycycline, travel-clinic prescription 4-6 weeks before departure. Repellent at dusk and night.

Must-see

What to see & do in Nosy Be?

★ #1 📍

Andilana Beach

Nosy Be's iconic beach in the northwest. White sand, turquoise water, palms. Legendary sunset seen from the beach.

⏱ Day 💰 Free Must-see

★ #2 📍

Mont Passot

Island's highest point (329 m), panoramic view over 11 sacred volcanic lakes. Spectacular sunset, drivable road.

⏱ 1-2 h 💰 ~€5 Sunset

★ #3 📍

Lokobe Reserve

Nosy Be's last primary forest, accessible by canoe from Ambatozavavy. Black lemurs, chameleons, boas. 3-4 h guided visit.

⏱ Half-day 💰 €30-50 Nature

★ #4 📍

Nosy Komba

Island of macaco lemurs (black lemurs), Ampangorina village. Dhow trip from Hellville. Often paired with Nosy Tanikely.

⏱ Day 💰 €40-60 Lemurs

★ #5 📍

Nosy Tanikely (marine park)

Protected marine area, snorkeling among Madagascar's best. Turtles, parrotfish, coral. 1909 lighthouse at the top.

⏱ Day 💰 €25/pp Snorkeling

★ #6 📍

Nosy Iranja

Mythical sandbar linking two islets at low tide. Paradise beach, green turtles in season. 1h30 boat trip from Nosy Be.

⏱ Day 💰 €50-80 Postcard

★ #7 📍

Swimming with whale sharks

Sep-Dec season, supervised by licensed operators (Les Baleines Rand'Eau, MadaMegafauna). Strict ethical code, no contact. The greatest marine experience.

⏱ Half-day 💰 €80-120 Sep-Dec only

★ #8 📍

Ylang-ylang distillery

Nosy Be is the perfume island. Traditional distillery visit, plantations blooming November to May, steam distillation process.

⏱ 1-2 h 💰 €5-10 Tradition

★ #9 📍

Hellville (Andoany)

Historic island capital, French colonial heritage, lively market, dhow harbor. Authentic vibe contrasting with the tourist zones.

⏱ Half-day 💰 Free Local life

★ #10 📍

Humpback whale watching

July to September, migration up the Mozambique Channel. Half-day outings with local operators. Blows, breaches, underwater songs.

⏱ Half-day 💰 €60-90 Jul-Sep

Choose your district

Where to stay in Nosy Be?

Madirokely / Ambondrona

Main tourist zone, beach, restos, buzz. Packs most of the mid-range hotels. From €45/night.

★ Lively

Andilana

Chic and quiet, around the most beautiful beach. Resorts and boutique hotels. From €90/night full board.

Chic

Hellville (Andoany)

Urban capital, local vibe, few beaches. For travelers wanting authentic far from tourism. From €25/night.

Authentic

Ambatoloaka

Repurposed fishing village, nightlife (the busiest after Hellville), bars and restos. From €35/night.

Buzz

Getting around

Getting around Nosy Be

🚗

Rental car

Essential to explore the island. Compacts €25-40/day, agencies at the airport and Hellville. French and EU licenses accepted.

🛵

Scooter

Handy but roads sometimes rough. Rental €15-25/day. Helmet mandatory, careful on the northern tracks.

🛺

Tuk-tuk (taxi-be)

Motorized tricycles for short distances. 5,000-15,000 MGA per ride, systematic bargaining.

⛵

Dhow / inter-island boat

Day trips to Nosy Komba, Nosy Tanikely, Nosy Iranja. ~€40-80 depending on destination. Book through the hotel or known operators.

Climate & crowds

When to visit Nosy Be?

Ideal Fair Avoid

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Dry season

May to Nov · 22-30°C, little rain · Ideal: calm sea, snorkeling, inter-island trips

Humpback whales

Jul to Sep · 20-28°C, dry and cool · Ideal for whale watching

Whale sharks

Sep to Dec · 24-30°C, dry to rainy · Ideal for swimming with whale sharks

Cyclone season

Jan to Mar · 26-32°C, rainy · Avoid: cyclone risk, some hotels close

How much

Nosy Be budget (per day, per person)

Backpacker

€50

per day

🏨 Simple bungalow or guesthouse: €25
🍽️ Gargotes and markets: €12
🛵 Shared scooter: €8
🎫 1 trip/3 days: €5

Recommended

Comfort

€120

per day

🏨 Boutique hotel or beach bungalow: €70
🍽️ Beach restos and seafood: €25
🚗 Rental car
🎫 1 inter-island trip/3 days

Premium

€280

per day

🏨 Andilana resort or Vanila Hotel: €180
🍽️ Hotel & water's-edge dining: €50
🚗 Private driver
🎫 Whale sharks + private diving

Our tested itinerary

Nosy Be in 5 days

Day-by-day program.

Day 1: arrival and beach

Morning Arrive NOS, hotel transfer
Afternoon First swim, Ambondrona beach
Evening Sunset and water's-edge dinner

Day 2: island tour

9am Hellville, market and dhow harbor
11am Ylang-ylang distillery
1pm Lunch near the plantations
3pm Mont Passot, volcanic lakes
6pm Sunset at the summit

Day 3: Nosy Komba & Nosy Tanikely

8am Dhow boarding from the hotel
10am Nosy Komba, village and lemurs
1pm Lobster lunch on the beach
3pm Nosy Tanikely, snorkeling
6pm Back to Nosy Be

Day 4: Lokobe or Andilana

9am Canoe to Lokobe, primary forest
1pm Lunch at Ambatozavavy
3pm Andilana beach, swim
7pm Dinner at Andilana, ocean view

Day 5: Nosy Iranja or whale sharks

8am Boat trip to Nosy Iranja (3 h out)
12pm Sandbar and beach lunch
3pm Green turtles (in season)
6pm Back, final sunset

Detailed itinerary →

Around

Day trips from Nosy Be

📍

Nosy Komba

45 min by dhow · Black lemur island

📍

Nosy Iranja

1h30 by boat · Mythical sandbar between two islets

📍

Ankarana

Flight + 4h drive · Tsingys (limestone formations), caves, lemurs

📍

Antananarivo

1h30 flight · Capital, arrival and exit hub for Madagascar

FAQ

Nosy Be FAQ

How many days do you need for Nosy Be? +

Five days cover beach, Mont Passot, an inter-island trip (Komba + Tanikely) and a bit of leisure. A week allows Nosy Iranja or Lokobe, and full enjoyment of whale sharks if you're there in season.

How do you reach Nosy Be? +

Domestic flight from Antananarivo with Tsaradia or Madagascar Airlines (~€250 round trip, 1h30, 1-2 flights/day). Direct flight from Reunion with Air Austral. Fascene Airport (NOS), 10 km from Hellville. No bridge to the mainland, ferry possible but long (~8 h from Ankify).

When to see whale sharks in Nosy Be? +

September to December season, peak October-November. Half-day trips with licensed operators (Les Baleines Rand'Eau, MadaMegafauna), €80-120 per person. Ethical code: no contact, distance respected, snorkel gear only (no scuba).

Is malaria a risk in Nosy Be? +

Yes, Nosy Be is a confirmed malaria zone. Prophylaxis mandatory (Malarone/Atovaquone-proguanil, or doxycycline) starting 1-2 days before departure and continued 7-28 days after return depending on the drug. Travel-clinic consultation 4-6 weeks before departure. Repellent at dusk and night, impregnated net provided in lodges.

Do you need a visa for Madagascar? +

Yes for French and most EU travelers: e-visa online or visa on arrival at Ivato (Tana) or Fascene (Nosy Be). 2026 rates: ~€30 (15 days), ~€35 (30 days), ~€100-110 (90 days). Card payment at the counter or via the evisamada-mg.com portal. See our [Madagascar visa guide](/en/destinations/madagascar/practical/visa-madagascar/).

Best season for Nosy Be? +

May to November: dry season, calm sea, perfect snorkeling. July-September adds humpback whale watching. September-December, whale sharks. Avoid January-March: cyclone season, heavy rain, some hotels close.