10 days from £2,950pp
Remoteness ● ◌ ◌ Comfort ● ● ● Physical challenge ● ◌ ◌
Swim alongside marine giants and support critical research in northern Madagascar
This 10-day journey takes you to the centre of Madagascar's whale shark research on the island of Nosy Be. Here you’ll navigate between isolated islands and secluded golden sandy beaches. You will stay in an exclusive boutique-style hotel accessible only by boat, with coral reefs right at your doorstep.
Operating as a small, low-impact group, you will reconnect with the wild alongside expert marine biologists. This purpose-driven exploration gives you the rare opportunity to swim with the largest fish in the ocean whilst contributing to critical tagging research. Together, we will search for marine mega fauna, including whale sharks, manta rays, dolphins and humpback whales in these uniquely nutrient-rich waters that make northern Madagascar a world-class marine destination.
No experience of snorkelling or free diving is required, although it’s important you are a confident and capable swimmer for this marine-based expedition.
Where marine discovery and island living meet
This is a 10-day journey to the centre of Madagascar’s whale shark research. You’ll have the opportunity to learn from fresh, or develop further, freediving techniques which will allow you to make the most of this marine expedition. You will be with fully qualified and highly experienced guides throughout.
Alongside expert marine biologists, you’ll search for marine mega fauna, including whale sharks, manta rays, dolphins and humpback whales. You’ll have the opportunity to swim with the largest fish in the ocean whilst contributing to critical tagging research.
In between you’ll explore a vast array of corals in these uniquely nutrient-rich waters which has made northern Madagascar one of the most diverse marine areas globally. Stay on beautiful remote islands and rarely visited archipelagos in an exclusive boutique-style hotel accessible only by boat, with golden sands and coral reefs at your doorstep.
No experience of the open ocean or snorkelling/freediving is required, although you should be a confident swimmer. Feeling nervous of the open sea? We can direct you to pre-departure short courses so you’re feeling more confident on arrival.
Itinerary
Explore marine frontiers alongside front-line conservationists
Day 01
Arrivals
You’ll arrive in Nosy Be by air, a vibrant island off the northwest coast of Madagascar, check into your comfortable beach-side hotel and get settled among the hustle and bustle of a busy island. Airport transfers will be provided and you’ll be able to check into your hotel from around 2pm.
In the evening, we’ll gather for a team dinner to meet your fellow explorers and discuss the expedition’s mission and objectives for the next ten days. From this point forward, all logistics are handled by our expert team.
Day 02
Into the ocean
Leaving the busy island of Nosy Be behind, we depart by boat in the morning for a much quieter, secluded island nearby. Here, you'll begin your snorkelling and freedive training with our fully qualified team, learning the essential skills of equipment handling, duck diving, and progressing to freediving on a line. The goal is to build your confidence so you can feel completely immersed in this marine world.
We’ll enjoy lunch on the water before transferring to our island getaway for the next few nights. Your hotel will provide you with all the expected comforts and amenities. You’ll have private bungalows with ensuite bathrooms and be provided with 3-course meals in a fully serviced restaurant. All with the ocean lapping golden sand beaches at our doorstep.
In the afternoon enjoy some downtime to rest, kayak or paddle board through secluded local bays or utilise your new advanced snorkelling skills in the coral reef directly in front of our accommodation.
Days 03-05
The search begins
In the morning we’ll meet a science team specialising in whale shark research at our hotel. We’ll discuss our objectives and get on the water to search for marine megafauna including humpback whales, manta rays, dolphins, and of course whale sharks.
We’ll target ocean areas infrequently visited by other tourist groups with the aim of having intimate and meaningful encounters with these gentle marine giants. When given the opportunity you will be part of the team tagging any newly identified whale sharks, contributing to critical data collection on this declining species.
We’ll return each day to our secluded hotel where we’ll relax with sundowners and the slow pace of remote island life around us.
Day 06
Turtles by traditional pirogue
Today we’ll take a break from the open ocean and you’ll have the opportunity to explore the island on foot with a local guide and search for chameleons, visit resident groups of iconic lemurs, visit the nearby village or simply relax at your hotel.
We’ll also have the opportunity to join local guides on traditional pirogues as we paddle out to snorkel with endangered turtle species in a little known diverse coral reef just offshore our island.
Days 07-08
Exploring an isolated archipelago
Today we’ll move from our island to a much smaller and far more isolated series of islands towards the north of Nosy Be. On our journey we’ll explore rarely covered sections of the ocean in our mission to identify new-to-science whale shark individuals.
On arrival we’ll check into simple, but comfortable accommodation. All the basic amenities will be provided including delicious regional meals. Surrounded by crystal clear water, we’ll have the opportunity to snorkel at rarely visited sites, explore the island’s unique bird life through local treks, and enjoy the tranquility of this island paradise.
Day 09
Beach sundowners
We’ll spend much of the day today travelling back towards the hustle and bustle of Nosy Be. On the way we’ll explore more rarely explored ocean in our mission to identify new individuals, as well as encounters with other megafauna like humpback whales, manta rays and dolphins, with the goal of swimming with some of these giants of the ocean.
If time permits we’ll visit an area populated with green turtles, another gentle giant, and observe as they calmly graze on unique marine grass ecosystems along the shores of one of the many islands in northern Madagascar. In the late afternoon we’ll arrive at our hotel in Nosy Be and enjoy sundowners on the beach to celebrate an unforgettable experience.
Day 10
Farewells
After an adventure to remember, we’ll all depart for onward travel.
Transfers to the airport will be provided for you.
Dates & Pricing
Enjoy a small group experience of no more than 8 guests
£2,950 per person
01 - 10 December 2026
Payment in other currencies available at checkout. All payments are non-refundable. See our T&Cs for more info.
Our payment platform charges a service fee of 1.5% for paying by card. To avoid this charge select payment by ‘Bank Account’. The payment plan is not a credit agreement. If you would like to adjust the instalments, be in touch.
The price excludes international flights, travel insurance, personal expenses, tips for staff and any costs outside the expedition dates.
Minimum number of guests: 4, max 8. Min age 18, 16 with a responsible adult.
FAQS
If you have any further questions, please contact us
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Your chances of seeing a whale shark are high, and your chances of swimming alongside one are good.
Whale shark populations are declining globally with the northern coastline of Madagascar one of the few remaining global spots where whale sharks frequently visit, but an encounter is not guaranteed.
We are committed to safe and ethical swims with all the species we may encounter. This may mean our science team choose not to swim with a whale shark if there are many tourist boats at the same location. We will travel to areas infrequently visited by other operators to avoid this, but this cannot always be guaranteed.
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We can expect to see megafauna species such as humpback whales, dolphins and possibly manta rays. You are likely to swim with a number of turtle species including green and hawksbill turtles, as well as a plethora of other fish species. One recent expedition also had the opportunity to swim alongside reef shark species.
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You can take a look at the full expedition kit list here.
We’re always happy to provide further advice and recommendations.
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You don't need to be super fit to join this expedition. You do not even need to freedive if you prefer to simply snorkel.
However, you will need the mobility and strength to climb in and out of the back of a boat without the aid of a ladder. You will also need to be a confident swimmer, ideally with some experience in the ocean.
Because this expedition is remote and in a country with poor healthcare infrastructure, we are unable to accommodate individuals with existing conditions that require regular medical attention.
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You do not need to be able to freedive or have any prior experience of this to enjoy our expedition. You must be a strong swimmer, and ideally have experience of swimming out of your depth in the ocean. It is not essential to have snorkelled before and our Expedition Leader will help you fit your own equipment at the start of the expedition if needed.
Freediving techniques will be taught by a highly experienced team, providing you with a grounded knowledge in breathe holding techniques, meaning you’ll feel more confident when swimming with larger species in the water, and able to immerse yourself into their world more effectively.
There is no scuba diving on this expedition and it is therefore not a pre-requisite to joining us.
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We have included some guidance on what photography equipment you might want to bring on our kit list. You can find that here.
You're free to bring a drone on our expedition, however we tend not to allow individuals to fly directly from our boat as landings are very challenging and can be dangerous. You are free to fly drones from land however.
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Very comfortable. Your hotels on both Nosy Be and our first island stop are equipped with all the amenities you would expect at a quality hotel. You will have a private bungalow with an ensuite and be provided with daily delicious meals with fish often caught by locals that same day. During our archipelago stay, the accommodation will be basic, but comfortable. You will still have the privacy of a room, although some may need to share bathroom facilities.
In November, Nosy Be is a warm, tropical environment with daytime temperatures reaching up to around 30°C, with nighttime hovering around 22°C. The water temperature is warm and pleasant: around 28°C.
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All water used for cooking will be boiled before use, with drinking water often provided as bottled water. Tap water is not considered safe to consume and it’s advised this is avoided throughout the trip.
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Food will be provided by local chefs for the duration of the expedition. They will cook a mixture of delicious Madagascan, East African, and Western dishes. Veggies and vegans catered for, however, fish is an essential part of Madagascan cuisine. If you are a flexible veggie or vegan, we recommend you take this approach to make the most of the food on offer. Vegans in particular can expect a lack of variety throughout.
Nonetheless, whatever your preferences, you’ll be well fed!
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Many of our guests travel with us solo and often find they meet wonderful like-minded people on our expeditions. Individual bookers will have their own room in Nosy Be and at our first island location. During our stay at the archipelago you may need to share space with a fellow traveller. This will depend on the makeup of the group, although this is only likely if we have 8 individual travellers and no couples, which is rare.
If we have 8 individual travellers, we may need to accommodate you in separate hotels to ensure everyone has their own room, but again this is unlikely and you will be informed before the expedition begins.
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You will have access to wifi for most of the expedition, although it will likely be slow. This will be available to you in communal spaces at your hotel in Nosy Be, as well as our first island location.
You may choose to purchase a SIM in-country, although the process is convoluted and we may not have time at the start of the expedition. E-SIMs can also be purchased in advance of travel and will provide some signal for most of the expedition.
We will hold an emergency communication device for the duration of the expedition. This is strictly for emergency use only.
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Your health and safety are our top priorities and we have rigorous, regularly reviewed protocols in place:
Expert Leadership: You will be guided by a highly trained Expedition Leader who is responsible for your safety and well-being.
Medical Equipment & Comms: We carry a comprehensive medical kit and an emergency satellite communication device at all times.
Remote Medical Support: We have dedicated remote access to a British medical doctor throughout the entire expedition.
Evacuation Plans: For extreme emergencies, we have pre-specified evacuation procedures to get you to appropriate care.
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We advise all our guests to contact your local GP or travel health centre as vaccine requirements and malarial risk can vary over time. On average about 50% of our guests choose to take antimalarials for the duration of the trip. As we are not healthcare professionals, we cannot give detailed advice.
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You are required to have travel insurance covering you for the duration of the expedition and for all the activities you will be undertaking. This includes trekking/hiking at sea level, snorkelling and freediving. It is advisable to have helicopter medical evacuation as medical facilities on Nosy Be are poorly stocked.
Freediving is a specialist insurance and you may find it cheaper and easier to source this separately from your main travel insurance.
You will be asked to provide your insurance information closer to departure.
We strongly recommend that you take out cancellation and curtailment insurance as part of your cover as soon as you have booked one of our expeditions to protect against cancellations.
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You should arrive in Nosy Be (airport code: NOS) on Day 01. You are free to arrive anytime and an airport transfer will be arranged for you. You will be able to check into your hotel by around 2pm. Early check-ins and additional nights will be at the expense of the guest and arranged directly with the hotel.
You can book flights departing Nosy Be on Day 10 of the expedition at anytime. Airport transfers will be provided for you.
Travelling from Europe, there are generally two route options:
1- Ethiopian via Ethiopia
2- BA to South Africa followed by AirLink directly to Nosy Be
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Most passports require a visa before entering Madagascar. These are easy to obtain on the official visa site here.
It is advisable to print all related documents as this can speed up the otherwise chaotic process on arrival.
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While same-sex sexual activity is legal in Madagascar, the country remains highly socially conservative, and LGBTQ+ individuals can face social stigma. Public displays of affection are generally frowned upon for all couples, so we strongly advise LGBTQ+ travellers to exercise discretion regarding their sexual orientation and gender identity while in the country.
Because our expeditions take you into isolated regions to live and work alongside local communities and guides, the cultural environment you will experience is more traditional. Wild Expeditions is a welcoming, fully inclusive company, and our Expedition Leaders will always prioritise your safety, comfort, and well-being above all else.
We are always happy to have a confidential chat if you'd like to discuss this further before booking.
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Tips for local staff are completely at your discretion. All our staff are paid fairly for their work. Tips are welcomed in either Malagasy Ariary or Euros, with a preference for Ariary.
Giving tips at the end of your trip is a wonderful way of showing your gratitude for their hard work. If you plan to give tips, we can provide guidance on this, just get in touch.