By air
Fascene Airport (NOS), ~12 km to Hell-Ville
Indian Ocean Islands · Madagascar
Nosy Be, Madagascar
A scented island of beaches and lemurs
Getting there
Best time to visit
April to November — dry and sunny
Don't miss
Mont Passot
Lokobe National Park
Nosy Tanikely
Nosy Komba
Things to do
Snorkelling
Island-hopping by boat
Whale shark trips in season
Visiting ylang-ylang plantations
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0
What to pack
Swimwear, reef-safe sunscreen, insect repellent
A quieter corner
Night walks in Lokobe to spot chameleons
Questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Nosy Be?
April to November — dry and sunny. What to pack: Swimwear, reef-safe sunscreen, insect repellent.
How do I get to Nosy Be?
Fly into Fascene Airport (NOS), ~12 km to Hell-Ville.
What is there to do in Nosy Be?
Snorkelling, island-hopping by boat, whale shark trips in season, visiting ylang-ylang plantations. A quieter find: Night walks in Lokobe to spot chameleons.
What should I eat in Nosy Be?
Grilled seafood, zebu brochettes and coconut fish curries.
About Nosy Be
- Island
- Coastal
Where it is
Nosy Be is an island off the north-west coast of Madagascar, in the Mozambique Channel, with smaller islets scattered around it.
History
The island was home to Sakalava communities before it passed to France in 1841. Its main town was named Hell-Ville after a French admiral, and plantations of sugar cane and ylang-ylang grew up across the island in the colonial period.
People
Most islanders are Sakalava and speak Malagasy, with French widely used, and life mixes fishing, farming and tourism.
Known for
- Ylang-ylang plantations
- Black lemurs in Lokobe
- Sunsets from Mont Passot
- Whale sharks in season
Did you know?
Nosy Be means big island in Malagasy, and it is often called the perfume island for its ylang-ylang, used in fine fragrances.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.