Nosy Be Island full-day tour: Lemurs, waterfall, lunch

Market, lemurs, and a waterfall swim in one morning

A full-day private tour of Nosy Be Island that starts in Hell Ville's main market, moves through Lemuria Land to encounter more than 10 lemur species and 200-year-old giant tortoises, includes a swim in a jungle waterfall lake, and finishes with a choice of the Sacred Tree or Andilana beach. Lunch at a traditional Malagasy restaurant, bottled water, fresh tropical fruits, and soft drinks are included. A live guide speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French or Portuguese.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Nosy Be Island highlights

• Visit Hell Ville main square and market
• See lemurs, tortoises, crocodiles, and birds
• Tour Ylang-ylang distillery
• Visit Sacred Tree and meet lemur family
• Lunch at local fish smoker restaurant
• Walk to jungle waterfall and swim
• Relax at Andilana beach or Mont Passot lookout

The experience

You start in Hell Ville's market on the main square, where the tour office sits and the day's energy is already thick. The guide walks you through the stalls and the colour (this is where locals shop, not a tourist version of one), then heads into Lemuria Land, a jungle park where you move through the trees on foot to find lemurs at close range. More than 10 species live here, along with giant tortoises that have been alive for over 200 years, the island's largest chameleons, crocodiles, and tropical birds. You can touch them. The animals are used to visitors. The ylang-ylang distillery sits inside the park, and you walk through it to see how the fragrance is made, the air thick with the scent.

After Lemuria Land, the route splits. You can visit the Sacred Tree (a massive, ancient fig where a Sakalava king is buried), or skip it and head straight to lunch. Either way, you eat at a traditional Malagasy restaurant, either in Hell Ville or by the waterfall, depending on the day's pace. Then comes the waterfall itself: a short jungle walk of 5 to 10 minutes brings you to it, and you swim in the cool water of the lake at its base. If time remains, the tour adds either Andilana beach for swimming and snorkelling, or Mont Passot, a lookout with views across the island. Throughout the day, the guide provides bottled water, fresh tropical fruits (mango, jackfruit, litchi, banana, papaya), local snacks, soft drinks, and beer or Malagasy rum for adults.

What’s included

• Pickup from your Nosy Be accommodation.
• a live guide in English, Spanish, Italian, French or Portuguese.
• entry to Lemuria Land and the ylang-ylang distillery.
• a real Malagasy lunch at a traditional restaurant.
• bottled water, soft drinks, local beer, Malagasy rum (for adults 18+), fresh tropical fruits and local snacks throughout the day.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (14 and older) · Child (under 14)

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 13 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Fossa Travel

Is this one for you?Book this private tour if you want to set your own pace across four distinct stops (market, lemur park, distillery, and your choice of lunch venue or Sacred Tree) rather than follow a fixed group itinerary.

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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 (under 14).

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 lemurs will I actually see at Lemuria Land?

Lemuria Land is home to more than 10 lemur species, and the guide takes you through the jungle park to find them at close range. The animals are accustomed to visitors, so you can get near enough to watch and even touch them. Giant tortoises over 200 years old, large chameleons, crocodiles, and tropical birds also live in the park.

Is the waterfall swim included, or is it an extra cost?

The waterfall swim is included in the tour. After a 5- to 10-minute walk through the jungle, you reach the waterfall's lake and can swim in the cool water. Lunch happens either before or after, depending on the day's schedule.

What kind of lunch does the tour include?

Lunch is a real Malagasy meal served at one of Hell Ville's best traditional restaurants, or at a restaurant by the waterfall or on Andilana beach, depending on the route that day. The guide chooses based on the group's pace and preferences.

How long is this tour, and does it include travel time?

The tour runs 8 to 10 hours total, and that duration includes all travel time between stops. The exact length depends on which optional sites you visit (the Sacred Tree, Andilana beach, or Mont Passot), and how long you spend at each one.

Do I need to arrange my own transport to Hell Ville to start?

Pickup is included in the tour, so the guide meets you at your hotel or accommodation on Nosy Be and brings you to Hell Ville's main square to begin.