There are several islands near the coast of Nosy Be and all of them can be visited as a day tour or even as a shorex activity for cruise ship passengers who are going for Nosy Be and are looking for a tour. These islands include: Nosy Komba, Nosy Iranja, Nosy Tanikely, Nosy Tsarabanjina, Nosy Sakatia, Nosy Fanihy, Nosy Faly, Nosy Vorona and Mitsio Archipelago.
Nosy Komba
One of the most popular destinations for a day trip from Nosy Be is Nosy Komba and with good reason! The name Nosy Komba means Lemur Island and we can indeed find many adorable lemurs on the island, which are considered sacred by the villagers. Nosy Komba is a fantastic place which is perfect for an afternoon of hiking with great scenery, wildlife viewing and beach exploring among the turles. You have a superb view over the island and the ocean. Be sure to take a swim in the crystal blue waters.
Nosy Iranja
It has to be said that Nosy Iranja is our favorite destination because of its unique form and there are very few competitors in the world, so this place is a must visit for everyone traveling to Madagascar! Nosy Iranja is one and half hours away from Nosy Be by boat and is totally worth the travel time. Nosy Iranja consists of two beautiful islands which are connected by a white sand strip nearly two kilometers long. Walking from one side to another is phenomenal and the experience is just out of this world. From higher up on the island you can take the perfect picture of this wonderful natural phenomenon. Make sure you bring your swimming clothes and have lunch at the local restaurant at noon!
Nosy Tanikely
Nosy Tanikely is a protected marine reserve 10 kilometers away from Nosy Be and is mostly combined with Nosy Komba. This gorgeous little pearl has fantastic white sand beaches with beautiful clear blue water with coral reef in which we can see many colorful fish and even turtles. Be sure to bring your snorkeling or scuba diving equipment to check out this beautiful underwater paradise in the warm tropical waters of Nosy Tanikely. Besides the impressive marine life, we can also find lemurs, chameleons and lizards on the island.
Nosy Tsarabanjina and the Mitsio Archipelago
The Mitsio archipelago consists of several small islands with Tsarabanjina being the most beautiful one, the “Four brothers”, Nosy Tolholo and the great Mitsio, the biggest island. There are many beaches here which are perfect for a picnic and a few drinks, while you take advantage of a swim in the sea or just relaxing in the sand, surrounded by lush tropical vegetation.
Nosy Tsarabanjina is one of the many island gems near Nosy Be and its name means the white sand island. It is the most beautiful island of the Mitsio archipelago and consists of pristine white sand beaches and coral reef. We can find lemurs, chameleons, lizards and a wide variety of birds and even fish eagles if you’re lucky. Dolphins are present year round and depending on the season you can also see whales and stingrays. If you come in the right period you can also see baby turtles.
The Great Mitsio is the Mitsio’s archipelago’s main island and is 12 km long and 3 km wide. There are several small fishing villages accompanied by calm beaches with turquoise blue water. On the side of the island you can see basalt columns sticking up: brown rocks dozens of meters high, resulting in a unique sight.
West of Tsarabanjina, we can see a collection of rocks, called the four brothers. These are home to thousands of birds and in the rocks we can find caves which go below the surface.
Nosy Tolholo is located in the middle of Tsarabanjina and the Great Mitsio. It consists of rocks surrounded by white sand and is often visited by scuba divers.
Nosy Sakatia
Nosy Sakatia, also called the orchid island, is one of the closest islands to Nosy Be and is only 10 minutes away by boat. There are a handful of villages on the island, consisting mostly of wooden houses. On the island we can find coffee fields, vanilla and of course an abundance of orchids. At Nosy Sakatia you can swim among sea turtles, an unforgettable experience! The island is perfect to spend an afternoon filled with walking, snorkeling, swimming and lazing on the white-sand beach.
Good to know: it is illegal to bring a dog to the island!
Nosy Fanihy
Nosy Fanihy is a small island, sacred by local people, near Nosy Be’s and is often ignored by most tourists, meaning you have a big chance to have this fantastic white sand beach with blue waters all for yourself. Bring your snorkeling gear and check out the coral reef and its inhabitants. This island is perfect for a romantic getaway with your loved one and have a chef prepare you a traditional barbecue.
Nosy Faly
Nosy Faly, meaning the holy island, is 25 minutes from Nosy Be and 50 minutes from the port of Hell Ville by sea. The island is sacred because it shelters the graves of the local dynasty: the Sakalava Bemazava. Some traditional customs and rites are practiced there. Every year in August there is a large gathering on the occasion of the cleaning of the tombs.
A 10 km track, ideal for walking or cycling but also the motorcycle taxi (very local), crosses the island over its entire length, connecting the small villages located on the ridge from which the paths start leading to the many beaches that line its coast, ideal meeting place with the local population. A disused lighthouse allows you to admire the 360° view with a complete panorama from the coast of the Big Island to Nosy Be and Nosy Komba via the Mitsio archipelago.
Nosy Vorona
Nosy Vorona is an island, available for rent for those who want a true island experience away from everything. There is a private beach with a villa which can host up to 12 people. Let us know if you’re interested in renting your private island near Nosy Be!
So, which island is the best to visit when you’re on holiday in Nosy Be?
This is a tough question of course. For those who only have one day, such as cruise ship tourists there are two obvious choices. Nosy Iranja is a unique island of unrivaled beauty and might be the best choice, but a day tour with Nosy Komba and Nosy Tanikely is equally good and will let you encounter wildlife such as lemurs and turtles and if you’re not traveling to the rest of Madagascar this might be your only chance to see lemurs. If you want to be away from other tourists and have a beach for yourself you might want to consider Nosy Fanihy, Nosy Faly or Nosy Sakatia. But honestly, you can’t really go wrong as all these islands are in the top of the world ranking when it comes to beautiful beaches.
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