Full-Day Private Tour Nosy Be: Waterfall, Market & Lemur Dance

A day that moves from the island's colonial past through its busiest market, then into jungle and water

A full-day private tour of Nosy Be starting in Hell Ville, the island's capital, then moving through its cultural and natural landmarks: the sacred tree, the covered market, the colonial-era village with its Ghost House and first mosque, a traditional lunch at Tsy Manta loky restaurant, and a hidden waterfall in the jungle where you swim and cliff-jump. A live guide in English, Spanish, Italian, French or Portuguese leads the day. Private transport and all refreshments are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Nosy Be's culture and nature

• Visit the sacred tree
• Arrive in Hell Ville and refresh
• Explore the covered city market
• Browse market and surrounding streets
• Visit Ghost house, Indian house, mosque, cemetery
• Experience RAVINALA Women's Association dance
• Drive to hidden sacred waterfall
• Walk through jungle to waterfall
• Swim and jump at waterfall

The experience

The day opens at the sacred tree, then moves into Hell Ville's main square for tea or coffee at the tour office before crossing to the covered city market. The market sprawls across multiple blocks (exotic spices, oils, fresh seafood, weavings, fruits), and you have time to browse, buy souvenirs or wander into the surrounding streets where the market continues toward the old port. This is where the island's trade history lives in everyday commerce.

After the market, the tour visits Ambanoro, the first village founded on Nosy Be before 1800. You'll see the Ghost House, an Indian house, Madagascar's first mosque and the old Indian cemetery: landmarks from when Arab and Indian traders made this a spice and slave-trading port. The RAVINALA Women's Association shares the folklore and cultural heritage of the place, and visitors often join in the Lemur or Crocodile dance with the local women.

Lunch follows at Tsy Manta loky, a traditional Malagasy restaurant in Hell Ville's center, with a choice of dishes. Then comes a half-hour drive inland to the sacred waterfall hidden deep in the jungle. A short ten-minute walk through dense forest leads to the pool. You have roughly an hour and a half to two hours to swim, wade and jump off the cliffs into the cool water: local children who live nearby are friendly guides to the safe jumping spots and help protect the sanctity of the place. Throughout the day, the guide provides snacks (local banana chips), fresh seasonal fruits like mango, jackfruit, litchi and papaya, and cooled soft drinks, water, local beer, Malagasy coconut punch and fruit-flavored rums (alcoholic drinks for ages 18 and up).

What’s included

• Private transportation throughout the day.
• a live guide in English, Spanish, Italian, French or Portuguese.
• tea and coffee at the tour office in Hell Ville.
• lunch at Tsy Manta loky traditional Malagasy restaurant.
• snacks including local banana chips and fresh seasonal fruits.
• cooled soft drinks, water, local beer, Malagasy coconut punch and fruit-flavored rums (alcoholic drinks for ages 18 and up only).

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:30

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Child (1 to 17 years)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 35 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcome

Operated by Fossa Travel

Is this one for you?This is a private tour with a dedicated guide and driver for your group alone, which means the pace and stops adjust to what interests you most, whether that's extra time in the market, longer with the women's association in Ambanoro, or more hours at the waterfall. Choose it if you want a full day of Nosy Be's history, culture and nature without the logistics of arranging transport or finding lunch yourself.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

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

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (1 to 17 years).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is the Hell Ville market actually like when we get there?

Hell Ville's covered city market is a sprawling indoor and outdoor bazaar full of exotic spices, oils, fresh seafood, weavings and tropical fruits. The market continues beyond the covered section into the surrounding streets all the way to the old port, giving you plenty of room to browse, buy souvenirs and wander without feeling rushed.

Can I actually swim and jump at the waterfall, or is it just for looking?

You can swim and jump at the waterfall. After a ten-minute walk through the jungle, you have roughly an hour and a half to two hours in and around the pool. Local children who live nearby show visitors the safe cliff-jumping spots and help ensure the sacred site is respected.

What does the Lemur dance involve, and will I be expected to participate?

The Lemur dance (and Crocodile dance) are traditional African folk dances performed by the RAVINALA Women's Association in Ambanoro. Visitors are invited to join in with the native women, but participation is optional. You can watch or dance as you choose.

What food and drinks are included throughout the day?

The tour includes a full lunch at Tsy Manta loky restaurant with traditional Malagasy dishes, plus snacks like local banana chips and fresh seasonal fruits (mango, jackfruit, litchi, papaya, banana). Cooled soft drinks, water, local beer, Malagasy coconut punch and fruit-flavored rums are provided all day. Alcoholic drinks are for ages 18 and up.