East of Tana lies Madagascar’s most accessible and most popular National Park—Andasibe-Mantadia. Hike the montane forests with a naturalist and get up close and personal with lemurs, endemic birds and reptiles.

Drop into Nosy Ankao Island where you’ll get properly acquainted with the term ‘barefoot-paradise.’ Explore its biodiversity, snorkel coral reefs, scuba dive the azure seas and soak up the sublime views.

Fly southeast to Mandrare River Camp to explore the remnants of spiny and deciduous gallery forests, home to Verreaux’s sifakas and myriad lemurs. Meet the Atandroy, the ‘people of the thorns’, canoe the mangroves and comb the remote beaches.

Sitting on one of the finest islands in the Nosy Be archipelago, the lodge is tucked between the golden sandy beach and the leafy privacy of the hillside, redolent of citronella. With just eight thatched bungalows, the setting is decidedly intimate. As the island’s top employer, the lodge is thoroughly imbued with community and an active mission to promote ecological sustainability. View hotel website »

Set on the private island of Nosy Ankao, Miavana is dreamily chic: From any one of the 14 exclusive villas—as well as the main lodge—you can drink in panoramic views of the expansive Indian Ocean while enjoying every modern comfort. Interiors are informed by a neutral colour palette with a few bright hues to compete with the vivid natural scenery. View hotel website »

At the romantic intersection of lush jungle and cove, Manafiafy Lodge is well-positioned to provide serenity, as well as activity. Unpack in one of six modern-rustic bungalows staked near the water with decks practically hovering above the sea. At night the open-faced restaurant is delightfully cozy with a large fireplace and numerous lanterns adorning the deck. View hotel website »

Buttressed by natural, untouched wilderness, Anjajavy le Lodge is a true piece of paradise. Here, rare and endemic species are counted as its residents. Villas are designed to pay tribute to local village life while observing contemporary flourishes. All villas are strewn throughout the sprawling garden landscape. View hotel website »