SHORE EXCURSIONS

Enjoy meeting the locals and being entertained by whimsical lemurs on this delightful tour to nearby Nosy Komba.

Board your local boat from the ship's gangway and cruise across the east coast of Nosy Be to Nosy Komba, passing the verdant Lokobe evergreen forest along the way. Reaching the fishing village of Ampangoriana, you will tender ashore (please note it is a "wet" landing) and then have a bit of time to mingle with the locals and browse for souvenirs. Approximately 500 yards from the village is the Black Lemur Sanctuary, home to Madagascar's most famous residents, the black lemurs. During your visit, you will have the opportunity to observe these lively creatures as they leap from tree to tree. The black lemurs are the males and the brown lemurs the females. Although these animals live in the wild, they are tame enough to be fed with bananas and their capricious behavior will no doubt be fun to watch.

Leaving the sanctuary, you will walk to a nearby snack bar where you will be treated to a light snack while relaxing in the shade of a Tamarind tree and taking in the wonderful views of the Lokobe Reserve and surrounding islands. During your break, the local Sakalava embroiders will give you a demonstration on tablecloth making and the village children will perform a brief folk show for you. Free time will be provided for you to stroll on the beach, shop for souvenirs or perhaps take a dip in the ocean.

At the conclusion of your visit, you will re-board your boat and cruise back to Nosy Be and your awaiting ship.

Experience the tropical charms of northwestern Nosy Be on this half-day tour of its key destinations.

Begin by boarding a coach in Hell Ville, the colonial capital of Nosy Be. The town's curious name pays homage to the 19th century French admiral Louis de Hell, who also served as governor of nearby Réunion Island. You'll soon see one of Hell Ville's liveliest spots, the market place, where locally grown vegetables, colorful fruits and exotic spices are all on display. Many of the merchants are Sakalava, the island's first inhabitants and most prevalent ethnic group.

From here, it's a drive through the luxuriant countryside, passing Malagasy villages and plantations. During brief stops in the fields, you will likely smell the aromas of the lush crops, which may include coffee, pepper and the coveted ylang-ylang, a tree whose flowers yield fragrant oil that is used in the making of perfumes. Ylang-ylang is so abundant that Nosy Be is often referred to as the Island of Perfumes.

Driving further into the countryside, you will see the unusual, balloon-shaped homes in Dzamandzar, the second largest city in Nosy Be. For a different perspective of the island, you'll stop at Mont Passot, an elevated area known for its stunning views of the Amparihibe crater lakes and the surrounding plantations.

Next, it's on to Madirokely Beach, considered one of the best on the island. If you like, you might take a quick dip in the turquoise waters, and then enjoy a beverage at the hotel.

Finally, you will make your way back to Hell Ville, where you may shop for Malagasy handicrafts, perfumes and embroidered tablecloths before returning to the ship.

Explore the eastern side of the island with a visit to Marodoka and other notable landmarks on this excursion that combines both culture and relaxation.

Your tour begins with a leisurely drive to Marodoka that includes a photo stop along the way. The remains of this Arab-Indian village that originated in the 17th century features huge banyan trees that would seem to stand as a silent memorial to those that once lived here. During its prime, the village was bustling with activity and had a distinctive Arab, Indian and Swahili influence.

Leaving Marodoka, your next stop is at a ylang-ylang distillery where you will have learn how the oil is extracted from the flower and then used in the production of perfumes and lotions. A quick visit to the Zoo is an opportunity to see some resident lemurs, reptiles, chameleons and the orchid garden.

Continuing on, it's a stop at the Sacred Tree, one of the most important Sakalava cultural sites on the island, and from there, you will next make your way to the souvenir market. Here, a wide variety of goods that include intricate woodcarvings, embroideries, raffia baskets, seashells and spices are available for purchase.

As you begin your return to Hell Ville, a brief stop at one of Nosy Be's best beaches will be made. Enjoy a soft drink and folk performance at a beach hotel and perhaps take a stroll along the beach before re-boarding your coach for the final leg of your journey. Afterwards, transfer directly back to the cruise ship pier.

This tour serves to acquaint you with the island's main points of interest in a short amount of time.

Traveling from the pier, you will enjoy a drive around this delightful island which is also referred to as the perfume island due to the wonderful Ylang-Ylang trees that grow here. The oil from the flowers of the Ylang-Ylang tree are extracted and used in the making of perfumes and lotions. During your tour, a stop will be made at a Ylang-Ylang distillery where you can observe this process in action.

As you continue your exploration of the island, you will travel through Hell Ville and also view the island's sugar fields, fruit and spice plantations. You will also stop in Dzamandzar, the second largest town in Nosy Be, famous for its unique balloon shaped houses. Afer having the opportunity to interact with some local villagers, you will next make your way to Andilana Beach, considered the most beautiful beach in Nosy Be. Enjoy a soft drink and folk performance here at the Loulou Belvedere Restaurant. You will also have the opportunity for a refreshing swim in the crystal clear waters.

Finally, you will make your way back to the port, stopping en route for a chance to purchase some local souvenirs.

Walk through a virginal forest in the Lokobe Natural Reserve, where you may see colorful birds and endemic species such as black lemurs, before relaxing on the reserve’s beach.

After disembarking from the ship, you will board a small boat at the pier for a short cruise across the bay to the Lokobe Natural Reserve. Densely forested, the reserve protects most of the island’s endemic vegetation and several species of animals, such as the black lemur.

As you walk through the reserve, you may spot one of these curious-looking creatures, which are primitive relatives to monkeys and apes. The males are completely black, and the females are rust-colored and sport long white tufts of hair on their ears. Because lemurs are social animals, if you see one, chances are you will see a half-dozen nearby.

You may also catch sight Madagascar pygmy kingfishers, Madagascar long-eared owls, snakes, leaf-tailed geckos and boldly colored panther chameleons. If you are fortunate enough to watch the chameleon catch an insect, it will be a spectacular show. The reptile’s tongue (which can be longer than its body) will quickly uncurl, shoot forward and grab the prey with a suction cup on the tip of its club-like tongue. All in as little as .07 seconds.

Following your guided walk through the forest, you will spend an hour or so relaxing at the beach and watching women from the Sakalava ethnic group perform a traditional folk dance. A light snack and beverages will be provided. Afterwards, you will return to the pier by boat.

Discover some of the exotic crops and trees that grow in Nosy Be’s fertile soil by visiting an open-air market, walking through a plantation’s fields, and relaxing under the Sacred Tree.

After departing from the pier, you will begin a leisurely drive across Hell-Ville, a city named for Admiral de Hell, a 19th-century French governor of nearby Reunion Island. Also known as Andoany, Hell-Ville is the capital of Nosy Be and among Madagascar’s more developed areas.

While stopping at one of the city’s open-air markets, you will experience an authentic slice of daily life. Expect the market to be wonderfully bustling and filled with locals shopping for spices, tamarind, mangos and other fresh produce. You may also detect the heady scent of the ylang-ylang tree wafting through the air.

If not, you will definitely pick up the fragrance at a nearby plantation that grows ylang-ylang for perfume, essential oils and as a remedy for hypertension. Coffee and peppers are some of the other crops that flourish here.

Still, the Sacred Tree is Nosy Be’s most iconic vegetation, and you will soon have the opportunity to sit in its shade and hear why the Malagasy people revere this giant ficus tree. Planted more than 200 years, the Sacred Tree covers an area of more than 5,000 square feet. You’re free to wander through the tree’s maze of aerial roots or just sit back and enjoy a folkloric performance by a live band while sipping a complimentary beverage. Afterwards, you will return to the pier, making a short stop to purchase some souvenirs along the way.