Before planning your itinerary, think about your Madagascar visa: it is mandatory for all foreign travellers and is easily obtained online before departure.
In this article, discover which places to visit and explore in Madagascar, a unique island with preserved flora and fauna. For most travellers wishing to visit and discover the island of Madagascar, the journey often begins in the capital, Antananarivo, and its airport. This city was long regarded as the pearl of the Indian Ocean; the magnificent buildings erected at the end of the last century have suffered the ravages of time through a lack of resources and of political will. Even so, Antananarivo has undeniable charm and is well worth a visit — in particular Analakely, home to the city's largest market, where the aromas of thousands of spices mingle. To explore the old districts of Faravohitra or Andohalo, head for the heights of the city.
For lovers of authentic discovery, you'll need to leave the capital Antananarivo and venture into the Malagasy backcountry. While it's true that to visit and discover Madagascar and enjoy its stunning landscapes you'll need to be patient — the secondary and even main roads are barely passable — it is well worth the effort, especially if you decide to take National Road 7 heading south. Why not stop at Isalo National Park, where you can watch lemurs in a Western-film setting of Far-West scenery, so much so that the Isalo massif is also called the "Malagasy Colorado". The similarities don't end there: desert landscapes alternate with green canyons and natural pools. To enjoy all the beauty of the natural park, it's best to arrange a driver with a 4x4.
Good to know: your e-visa Madagascar lets you travel freely throughout the country, including national parks such as Isalo.
If you're a fan of seaside resorts, we suggest taking the western road towards Majunga, also known as the city of flowers. Its climate is a little more bearable — hot and dry with relatively low humidity — and therefore easier for Western tourists. Like every 20th-century seaside resort, Majunga aligned itself with the mass-tourism model, so it must be said that the town has a somewhat impersonal identity. It remains a place worth visiting nonetheless. For lovers of wild nature, head east on National Road 2 towards Tamatave, the leading port of the Republic of Madagascar. The landscapes are simply breathtaking.
It's impossible to visit and discover Madagascar without mentioning the Nosy Be archipelago, the island also nicknamed the red island and considered a true paradise on Earth. To reach this idyllic island, head for the port of Ankify, which offers a fast 30-minute crossing. Even though the island — a victim of its own success — has its own international airport with regular flights from France, a connection is also provided between Nosy Be and Antananarivo. Ambatoloaka is the island's seaside town and, logically, the most frequented by tourists. One of the island's attractions is the climb up Mont Passot, the highest point, topped with a lighthouse, offering a 360° view over a magical setting.
Nosy Be international airport is an official point of entry: your Madagascar visa is valid there just as it is in Antananarivo.
Among the emblems of the island of Madagascar are, of course, the lemur, the baobab and also the tsingy. The tsingy are vast expanses of limestone rock formed by the fossilisation of shells and coral reefs, because millions of years ago Madagascar lay under water. These great expanses offer an incredible landscape and are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Three regions of Madagascar concentrate most of the tsingy: the Melaky, Diana and Diego Suarez regions. The Diego Suarez tsingy are unusual in being red, sculpted by erosion over millions of years. You can explore this surreal landscape by trek or mountain-bike hike, in a group or solo; we recommend arranging a guide to make the most of the history of this iconic region of Madagascar.
Whatever your destination on the island, the Madagascar visa online application takes just a few minutes from home. Remember to apply at least 7 days before departure. Apply for my Madagascar visa
