Snorkeling Tanikely Marine Reserve: Coral reef & scuba option

Coral reef, jungle trek, lighthouse view, and a sea turtle encounter

A full-day private snorkeling tour to Tanikely Marine Reserve in Madagascar includes transport, a guide, snorkeling or optional 10–15-minute scuba with mini tanks, a one-hour island walk past the 1805 lighthouse, and a Malagasy lunch on the beach. The reef ranks among the world's ten best snorkeling sites, and you'll meet giant turtles, stingrays, giant clams and tropical fish without needing a diving license.

Step-by-step itinerary

Full day tour at Nosy Tanikely

• Snorkel at coral reef
• Try 10-15 minute scuba dive
• Walk jungle path to lighthouse
• Admire archipelago and Madagascar views
• One-hour trek around island
• Observe wildlife: chameleons, lemurs, megabats
• Enjoy Malagasy lunch by the coast

What’s included

• Private transportation from your location.
• snorkeling equipment.
• optional 10–15-minute scuba diving with a 1-liter mini tank (additional cost).
• a live guide in English, Spanish, Italian, French or another language.
• traditional Malagasy lunch with grilled seafood, zebu stew or chicken served on the beach.
• snacks throughout the day including banana chips and seasonal tropical fruits.
• cold drinks, water, local beer and Malagasy rum.
• a local phone card and working internet for the whole trip.

Times

• Every day 08:30

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Before you book

Group Private

Live guide English, Spanish, French, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickup Hotel pickup included. You can choose from 34 pickup points.

Book up to 1d before

Ages Adult (18 and older) · Child (1 to 17 years)

Cancellation and refunds Free 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.

Good to know

Low physical effort Pets welcome

Operated by Fossa Travel

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

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Traveler reviews

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The experience

The day starts with private pickup and a boat ride to Tanikely, a small island ringed by coral reef. Once there, you enter the water with snorkeling gear and float directly above the reef: giant turtles, stingrays, giant clams, and a moving wall of tropical fish pass beneath you. If you want to go deeper without a diving license, the guide offers a real 10–15-minute scuba experience using a 1-liter mini tank (an additional cost at checkout). Either way, the reef itself is the draw, and it has been ranked among the ten most beautiful snorkeling sites on Earth.

Between water sessions, you walk the island for an hour on an easy path. The trail crosses jungle thick enough to hold chameleons, lemurs, megabats and lizards, then opens onto the black sand and rocky coast on the far side. A stop at the lighthouse, built in 1805, sits high enough to frame the whole archipelago and the mainland beyond. The shade and the views make it a natural rest point before heading back to the beach.

Lunch arrives mid-afternoon: grilled seafood and zebu stew, or chicken, served in the shade of coconut palms by local cooks. The guide brings snacks throughout the day (banana chips, seasonal fruit like mango and papaya), cold drinks, water, local beer, and Malagasy rum if you want it. A local phone card and working internet stay with you the whole trip, so you can send photos home without hunting for a signal.

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's the coral reef at Tanikely actually like when you get in the water?

The reef at Tanikely holds giant turtles, stingrays, giant clams, and dense schools of tropical fish moving through beautifully shaped corals. It ranks among the ten best snorkeling sites in the world, and you float directly above it rather than viewing from a boat.

Can I try scuba diving if I don't have a license?

Yes. The guide offers a 10–15-minute real scuba experience using a 1-liter mini tank, which requires no diving license and costs an additional 25€ at checkout.

How long is the jungle walk, and what will I see?

The island trek lasts about an hour and follows an easy path through jungle where you'll encounter chameleons, lemurs, megabats and lizards, then opens onto the black sand and rocky coast on the far side of the island.

What does lunch include?

Lunch is a traditional Malagasy meal served on the beach in the shade of coconut palms: grilled seafood and zebu stew, or chicken dishes, prepared by local cooks.

How long is the full day, and what time does it start?

The tour runs 7 to 8 hours total. Private pickup is included, so the start time is arranged with your guide based on where you're staying.

What happens if I don't want to snorkel or dive?

You can sunbathe on the white sand beach, walk the island, visit the lighthouse, and enjoy the lunch and views: snorkeling and scuba are the main activities, but the island itself and the day's rhythm work for anyone who wants to be there.