Nosy Be is Madagascar's foremost tropical beach destination! Nosy Be means "big island" in the Malagasy language and is the go-to beach destination lying just off the north-western shore of Madagascar.
Nosy Be is home to about 60,000 people as the main island and is located just eight kilometres (almost five miles) off Madagascar's northwest coast. The Fascene Airport is close to the main town of Hellville, which, contrary to its name, is quite a pleasant place. The island spans 300 km² (186 m²) with 11 volcanic crater lakes and some beautiful beaches and luxury resorts along its coastline.
If you're looking for the ultimate deserted island experience, we recommend heading further afield. There are several smaller and more secluded islands in the similar vicinity, such as Nosy Komba, Nosy Mitsio, Nosy Sakatia, and Nosy Tanikely. These offer unrivalled snorkelling, and scuba diving and the Lemur sanctuary on Nosy Komba is well worth visiting. Some travellers opt for a dhow safari, hopping between the different islands on a traditional sailing boat.