Fourteen large beachfront villas on a remote private island off the northeast coast of Madagascar, reached only by helicopter, with a private marine programme and a strong conservation and community purpose behind every stay.
Miavana’s remoteness, scale and helicopter-only access set it apart. There are fourteen one-, two- and three-bedroom villas, each with ocean views and direct beach access, on Nosy Ankao, an island of roughly 10 km² that is reached only by helicopter from Diego Suarez or Nosy Be. The resort operates its own helicopters, and the flight takes about half an hour, against up to seven hours by car and boat.
Design draws on Malagasy materials: hand-dyed textiles, local wood and local stone. The central Piazza brings together several restaurants, an infinity pool, a wine cellar and bar, and a boutique. Rates include all meals, selected premium wines and spirits, laundry and shared island activities.
Ideal For
- Families and small groups wanting a large villa, including three-bedroom options
- Adventurous travellers who want diving, kiteboarding, lemur trekking and helicopter excursions as well as beach time
- Couples looking for a remote island with something to discover
- Guests who want a purpose-led stay, with conservation and local employment at its core
Miavana – Raw and Refined, at the Edge of Madagascar
The journey is part of the stay. A helicopter lifts you from the mainland and follows Madagascar’s wild northeast coast over mountains, baobabs and shipwrecks before setting down on Nosy Ankao, the largest of five islands in a remote archipelago. Miavana sits on about ten square kilometres of it, with the space and quiet to match.
Every villa faces the ocean and opens onto the beach, with coral beds to snorkel in front of the door. Days can go many ways: diving reefs few have seen, fishing or kiteboarding, lemur trekking and quad biking on the island, sundowners at a remote spot reached by helicopter, or a long meal on the Piazza.
Miavana shares the island with two local villages, whose people work at the resort or fish, and it runs a private marine programme alongside its conservation and community work.
Accommodation
- Fourteen beachfront villas: one-, two- and three-bedroom
- Every villa has ocean views and direct access to the beach and water
- Interiors use hand-dyed textiles, Malagasy wood and local stone
Facilities
- The Piazza: several restaurants, infinity pool, wine cellar and bar, boutique
- Air-conditioned gym
- A collection of natural-history curiosities, including an extinct elephant bird egg
Activities
- Scuba diving, snorkelling, fishing, kiteboarding, ocean safaris and other water sports
- Lemur trekking, quad biking and helicopter excursions
Setting & Access
- Nosy Ankao, the largest of five islands in a remote archipelago off northeast Madagascar; about 10 km²
- Helicopter only, from Diego Suarez or Nosy Be; about 30 minutes by resort helicopter
- Shared with two local villages
