6-day Northern Madagascar tour from Ankify to Diego Suarez

Hike limestone canyons and swim in turquoise bays across Madagascar's north

A 6-day guided tour from Ankify to Diego Suarez through Madagascar's northern landscapes, with accommodation and transport included. Days move between the sharp red formations of Tsingy, the waterfalls and lemurs of Amber Mountain, boat trips to the Emerald Sea and Nosy Hara archipelago, and the three bays around Ramena. A live guide leads the hikes and swims. The itinerary adapts to your pace.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Reserve visit of Ankara

• Hike Tsingy of Ankara
• Explore caves and canyons
• Observe endemic flora and fauna
• Cross suspension bridges
• Visit underground rivers

Day 2: Visit of the Red Tsingy

• Walk among red limestone formations
• Enjoy panoramic views
• Take photos of desert landscape

Day 3: Discovery of The Amber Mountain

• Explore lush tropical forest
• Visit Sacred and Antomboka Waterfalls
• Spot unique wildlife and flora

Day 4: Emerald Sea and three bays

• Depart to Ramena village
• Take sailing boat to Emerald Sea pool
• Swim and relax at Emerald Sea
• Enjoy seafood meal
• Visit Ramena village
• Explore Bay of Dunes, Pigeon Bays, Bay of Sakalavas

Day 5: Getaway to Nosy Hara

• Depart hotel to Ampasindava
• Boat trip to Nosy Hara archipelago
• Snorkel at Nosy Hara
• Hike viewpoint on Nosy Anjavavy
• Lunch on site
• Snorkel on Nosy Anjavavy
• Return to Ampasindava and Diego Suarez

Day 6: Transfer to Ankify

• Depart hotel at 5am
• Transfer to port of Ankify (6 hours)

The experience

You start in Ankify and spend the first night in Mahamasina, where the day centers on the Tsingy of Ankara: a lunar landscape of sharp limestone formations that rise from the ground like a forest of stone. The hikes here pass through caves with stalactites and bats, suspension bridges that let you cross the formations above, and the dry-climate plants and crowned lemurs that live nowhere else. It is a day built for movement and geology.

Day two takes you to the Red Tsingy, where erosion has carved an almost unreal landscape: red sand, green vegetation and blue sky all at once. The walk is easy and the panoramas are built for photographs. You sleep in Joffre ville. On day three you enter Amber Mountain National Park near Diego Suarez: a sharp shift to lush tropical forest, waterfalls (the Sacred Waterfall and Antomboka among them), and wildlife that includes the world's smallest chameleon, crowned and fulvu lemurs in the canopy, and several species of harmless snakes. The forest here is the opposite of the dry north you just left.

Days four and five are water-based. You sail from Ramena village to the Emerald Sea pool for swimming and a seafood meal, then visit the Bay of Dunes, Pigeon Bay and the Bay of Sakalavas in the afternoon. The next day departs at 7am for Nosy Hara, where you snorkel around the islets, hike to a viewpoint on Nosy Anjavavy and snorkel again before returning to Diego by mid-afternoon. On day six you transfer back to Ankify at 5am: a six-hour drive that closes the loop.

What’s included

• All accommodation for six nights.
• transport between sites and to and from Ankify.
• park entry fees and taxes.
• a live guide throughout the tour.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:30

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 3 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by North Gascar Tours

Is this one for you?This is a shared tour with a live guide leading all hikes, boat trips and visits, so the pace and stops are set by the group rather than by you alone. It suits travelers who want the route planned and the logistics handled (accommodation, transport, park access), and who prefer the rhythm and local knowledge a guide brings over the flexibility of moving at your own speed.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German and Italian.

What is the Tsingy of Ankara and why is it worth a full day of hiking?

The Tsingy of Ankara is a landscape of sharp limestone formations carved by erosion into a maze of stone, with caves, stalactites, bats and suspension bridges that let you cross above the formations. It is a geological and adventure day built for nature lovers and anyone drawn to unusual landscapes.

Can I swim and snorkel on this tour, or is it mostly hiking?

Swimming and snorkeling are built into the itinerary. Days four and five center on water: you swim in the Emerald Sea pool, visit three bays by boat from Ramena, and snorkel around the Nosy Hara archipelago on day five. The hikes and forest walks balance the water days.

What wildlife will I actually see in Amber Mountain?

Amber Mountain is home to crowned and fulvu lemurs (often visible in the canopy), the world's smallest chameleon (Brookesia micra), several species of harmless snakes including the green liana snake, and endemic palms, wild orchids and century-old trees throughout the lush forest.

How much of each day is spent hiking versus traveling between sites?

Day one is a full hiking day in the Tsingy. Day two is an easy walk through the Red Tsingy with time for photographs. Day three includes waterfall walks in Amber Mountain. Days four and five are boat-based with village visits and swimming. Day six is a six-hour transfer back to Ankify. The pace adapts to the group.