Group trip Madagascar with Mario Passoni

Where?

The trip will take place in the beautiful archipelago of Nosy Be, Madagascar.

When?

From the 25th of September to the 4th of October, 2023

Who can participate?

This trip is ideal for everyone, the important thing is to know how to swim, have a spirit of adventure and love nature. For children, we recommend ages 10 and up. The excursions that we will carry out are simple and within everyone's reach and you don't need to be trained.

Why choose this trip?

The main difference with other similar trips is that part of your fee will go as a donation to support a conservation project in Madagascar. In this way, in addition to having a wonderful holiday, you will do something concrete to protect what you love.

You will also have the opportunity to participate in a citizen science project, helping us to collect valuable data for scientific research on sea turtles.

In addition, a naturalist will accompany you throughout the journey and, thanks to insights and excursions, will make you appreciate the wonders of the place even more.

Price:
1.590 Euro per person
(excl. flight)
The services included in the price can be found below.

Day 1: let's go!

Meeting of the participants approximately 3 hours before flight departure at the airport, boarding, and take-off operations with destination Nosy Be.

Day 2: Welcome to Nosy Be!

Arrival at Nosy Be. Customs formalities and reception by our representatives at the airport and transfer to the hotel, the La Plage Hotel.

Arrival at the hotel, room assignment, free lunch, some rest, and briefing. The time of the briefing will be decided once on site, according to the time of arrival in Nosy Be.

Day 3: discovering Nosy Tanikely and Nosy Komba

After an excellent breakfast at the hotel, departure at a time to be agreed on-site.

Arrival at the Marine Park of Nosy Tanikely is characterized by a picturesque lighthouse (reachable in a few minutes by walking) which dominates the landscape.

Landing on the island and introductory briefing on the protected marine area.

You will be able to enjoy the coral reef by snorkeling with our naturalist and/or alternatively Tanikely Island offers a suggestive walk up to the sighting point of flying foxes (large bats).

Departure from Nosy Tanikely at approximately 13:00/13:30, with destination Nosy Komba which will be reached after about 20' of navigation. Lunch (included) in a characteristic Gargotte based on typical Malagasy dishes. 

After lunch, visit the small village of the island dedicated to handicrafts and the small park built by the Capuchin friars where it will be possible to meet macaque lemurs, tortoises, chameleons, boa constrictors, etc. 

It will then be possible to devote oneself to the purchase of some local handicraft souvenirs with local currency (the tablecloths embroidered by the women of the village are beautiful).

Then we will navigate to return to the La Plage Hotel. After dinner first biology night show on marine biodiversity.

Day 4: finding whale sharks and humpback whales

After breakfast, departure in search of whale sharks and humpback whales! 
 

If whale sharks are spotted, it will be possible to snorkel with them. 

Possible dolphin sighting. 
 

In case whale sharks are not seen, we will go snorkeling in a beautiful place. 

Afternoon dedicated to relaxation. 

Aperitif dedicated to the second biology shows on terrestrial biodiversity to also talk about the next day's excursion and the Lemur conservation project. 

 Day 5: Lokobe nature reserve 

After breakfast, depart by minibus directly from the hotel for a day in direct contact with the nature of Nosy Be immersed in the primary forest of the Lokobe Nature Reserve. 

Reaching the fishing village of Ambatusavavi a short walk through a mangrove forest will bring us to the beach. Here we will board the traditional wooden outrigger pirogues made from trunks by skilled local craftsmen. 

Paddling through the mangroves we will reach the shores of the village of Ampassipoi, the gateway to the Lokobe Nature Reserve. For those who want it, a change of clothes, some fruit, and a sip of water before continuing our journey on foot to enter the tropical forest of almost 800 hectares, the only original primary forest on the island of Nosy Be.

A beautiful light-trek to observe and photograph a unique flora and fauna in Nosy Be: dwarf chameleon, leaf gecko, boa constrictor, diurnal and nocturnal lemurs, and over 40 species of birds such as the paradise flycatcher and the pygmy kingfisher in their natural habitat. 

We will also discover the plants with their medicinal properties which will be indicated and explained by the Malagasy guide (authorized by the reserve) who has known them since birth, they will take you to a reality very far from our habits. 

After this adventure, we will refresh ourselves with a typical Malagasy lunch (included) based on rice and seafood. 

After a little relaxation on the beach and a refreshing dip, if the tide permits, we will go back up in the pirogue for the return. 

 

Dinner and overnight at the hotel. 

Day 6: the turtles of Nosy Sakatia 

Departure from the hotel after breakfast with time to be agreed upon. Our naturalist will accompany you to discover pristine beaches, coves, and sea turtles. 

Lunch (included) will be in a typical local Gargotte which we will consume on a characteristic table on the beach in the shade of palm trees and banana trees. 

After lunch, the day is not over! 

In the afternoon, the Chelonia mydas (green turtles) await you to take a very interesting snorkel with them. 

Return to the hotel and dinner.

Day 7: lakes and Mont Passot

Morning of relaxation and bathing activities. Possibility of an optional excursion to the city of HELL VILLE (not included).
 

In the afternoon departure from the hotel passing through villages, and landscapes with Teak trees and Cassava plantations, to go and visit the 3 main volcanic lakes of Nosy Be, populated by crocodiles considered sacred by the animist religion because they are the reincarnation of the ancestors, sometimes visible, on the shores of one of the lakes. 

Before sunset time, we will reach the highest peak of the island (about 330 meters) with a 360° view of the whole archipelago. 
 

We will admire a sunset of incomparable beauty down to the last ray which will reflect on 7 of the 11 volcanic lakes on the island. 

Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 8: Relax in Nosy Iranja 

After breakfast departure at 8:00 from the hotel. A day dedicated to a memorable excursion to Nosy Iranja: two magical islands connected, at low tide, by an enchanting strip of sand. 
 

Once on the island, we will disembark to enjoy the well-deserved relaxation after a week full of strong emotions. 

Here there will be a chance to visit the fishing village, lighthouse, and other viewpoints. 

Then we can't help but walk on the sandy isthmus that unites the two islands and which the tide discovers and hides.

Lunch (included) on the wonderful beach based on Malagasy delicacies, swim and return to the hotel at approximately 17:00.

Aperitif dedicated to giving names to the identified turtles and final thanks. 

Dinner and overnight at the hotel. 

Day 9: back home 

Breakfast and transfer to the airport for the flight home.