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.

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.
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.
A pristine island, a gorgeous bay, and a lot of coves: welcome to Lokaro. To get there, you take a canoe on Lanirano Lake. From there, you navigate through the creeks, the river's branches, passing through beautiful aquatic vegetation, like arum lilies, traveller's trees, pandanus, etc.
Due to its location on the banks of the Sambirano River and its microclimate, Ambanja is a particularly fertile land.
This little country town of 27,000 inhabitants at the foot of the Ankaratra massif, is one of the coldest in Madagascar. During the southern winter, temperature can get as low as 3°! !
Beraketa is a little bit like the world's end. Located on the National 13 between Betroka and Ambovombe, the city is essentially a waypoint on the track leading to Ihosy or Fort-Dauphin.
Cap Diego is a peninsula located just across the water from the city of Diego-Suarez in northern Madagascar. 
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.
Madagascar's Highlands are in the central part of the island, and should not be missed on your holiday in Madagascar.