Snorkeling in Nosy Komba and Nosy Tanikely: Guided island tour

Two islands, two ecosystems: lemurs in the forest, fish in the reef

A guided snorkeling tour from Nosy Be to Nosy Komba and Nosy Tanikely islands, with boat transport and lunch. Visit Nosy Komba's tropical forest to spot lemurs, reptiles and a fishing village. Then snorkel Nosy Tanikely's coral reef teeming with fish before eating lunch on the beach.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Nosy Komba and Nosy Tanikely Islands

• Explore Nosy Komba island and village
• Enjoy viewpoints and wildlife spotting
• Travel to Nosy Tanikely island
• Swim and snorkel in marine park
• Have lunch on the beach

The experience

Nosy Komba means "island surrounded by rocks," and the name fits: the boat approaches a steep, forested shore where lemurs live under local protection. The fady (taboo) that shields them has kept the island's fauna intact: lemurs, chameleons, geckos and turtles all move through the tropical canopy. You walk through the forest to viewpoints that open onto the ocean, then visit the fishing village where locals still work the water as they have for generations. The whole stop gives you both the wildlife and the people who share the island.

Nosy Tanikely is a different world: a coral reef so clear and alive that locals call it a living aquarium. The water holds schools of colorful fish, and snorkeling here puts you inside that abundance. You swim and float above the reef, watching the fish move through their own space. After the snorkeling, lunch waits on the beach: prepared by locals, eaten where the sand meets the water. The boat picks you up in the late afternoon for the return to Nosy Be.

A guide leads the whole day in English, Italian or French, and the boat handles all transport between the islands. The tour runs 6 to 7 hours from start to finish. Tickets to both islands, the boat ride and lunch are included. Snorkel gear can be rented on site if you don't bring your own. The minimum age is 12, and the itinerary suits all fitness levels.

What’s included

• Tickets to access both islands.
• boat transport between Nosy Be, Nosy Komba and Nosy Tanikely.
• lunch on Tanikely Island prepared by locals.
• a guide in English, Italian or French for the full day.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (12 to 90 years) · Under 12: can't be booked

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish, French and Italian

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

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 yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomeInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Julien gasy guy

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want both forest wildlife and reef snorkeling in one day: the two islands give you lemurs and tropical canopy in the morning, then fish and coral in the afternoon. The guide leads you through both ecosystems and handles the boat logistics, so you move between them without arranging transport yourself.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, French and Italian.

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 animals will I see on Nosy Komba?

Nosy Komba is home to lemurs protected by local taboo, along with reptiles, turtles, chameleons and geckos. The tropical forest canopy shelters them, and you'll spot them while walking to the viewpoints that overlook the ocean.

Is snorkeling the main activity, or do I spend time on land too?

Both. You spend the morning on Nosy Komba walking through the forest and visiting the fishing village, then move to Nosy Tanikely in the afternoon for snorkeling and lunch on the beach. The day splits between the two islands and their different landscapes.

What is Nosy Tanikely's reef like when you snorkel there?

Nosy Tanikely's reef is a living aquarium: the water is crystalline and filled with colorful fish. You snorkel directly above the coral, watching the fish move through their habitat. The reef's marine biodiversity is what makes the island known across the region.

Does the tour include lunch, and where do you eat?

Yes, lunch is included and prepared by locals on Tanikely Island. You eat on the beach after snorkeling, with the ocean at your feet.

Do I need to bring snorkel gear, or can I rent it?

Snorkel gear is not included, but you can rent it on site at Nosy Tanikely if you don't have your own. Bring your own if you prefer your own fit and comfort.