Nosy Be, off the north-west coast of Madagascar, is the country's best-known island: calm turquoise water, small islands to explore by boat, and lemurs in the Lokobe forest. Getting there is easier than many travellers think. There are three ways.
Option 1: Fly Directly from Abroad
Nosy Be's Fascène airport (NOS) has some international flights, so you may not need to go through Antananarivo at all. Routes and seasons change, so always check before booking, but recent connections have included:
- Addis Ababa with Ethiopian Airlines — a common connection from Europe, the Americas and Asia.
- Saint-Denis (Réunion) with Air Austral.
- Johannesburg with Airlink (seasonal).
- Seasonal charter flights from Italy and Poland in the high season.
Option 2: Domestic Flight from Antananarivo
If you start your trip in Antananarivo or on the mainland, the domestic flight to Nosy Be takes about 1 hour 40 minutes. It is the most practical option if you are combining Nosy Be with Andasibe, the baobabs or the RN7. Flights are operated by Madagascar's national airline, and schedules can change at short notice.
Option 3: Overland to Ankify, Then by Boat
It is also possible to travel by road from Antananarivo to Ankify, the small port on the mainland opposite Nosy Be. The distance is close to 900 km, so plan two long days with a night on the way. From Ankify, public boats cross to Hell-Ville, Nosy Be's main town, several times a day in daylight. The crossing takes about 45 minutes to an hour.
- Boats leave when full, so you usually don't need to book.
- Private boats can be arranged for a faster or more comfortable crossing.
- Travel by day only: the boats don't cross after dark.
Arriving on Nosy Be
Fascène airport is on the island, a short drive from Hell-Ville and the beach areas such as Ambatoloaka. Taxis wait at the airport; agree on the price before you leave. From Nosy Be, day trips by boat go to Nosy Komba, Nosy Tanikely, Nosy Iranja and the Lokobe forest.
Tour by KiriTour
Nosy Be Island Escape — 3 Days
Lokobe, Nosy Komba and Nosy Tanikely
Tour by KiriTour
Nosy Be Island Discovery — 5 Days
More islands, including Nosy Iranja
Combining Nosy Be with the baobabs or Andasibe? Tell us your dates and we'll plan the flights and the whole trip for you.
Frequently asked questions
About 1 hour 40 minutes. Schedules change, so check the current days and times before planning the rest of your trip.
Written by the KiriTour team
We're a local tour team based in Morondava. We guide travellers through the baobabs, Tsingy, Kirindy and the Tsiribihina every week, and organise trips across Madagascar.
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