Cruises in dhows and canoes

Embarking on a journey aboard a dhow or a canoe is first and foremost stepping onto a boat straight out of One Thousand and One Nights and sailing to discover the northwest coast of Madagascar.

It’s navigating through a divine sea to explore a magnificent land. Dozens of possible stops, deserted beaches, invisible villages, sandbanks, islands, mangroves, and always only a few hours on the sea for many hours on land.

It’s camping every day at a new site and setting off on a true adventure, while cultivating a lifestyle that engages all our senses; it’s, in a way, adding the word “epicurean” to the word “adventure” …

Unconventional journeys discovering an unknown culture and grandiose landscapes that are inaccessible by road.

Diving every day for the pleasure of the eyes and enjoying some tapas for an aperitif, buying fish from the fishermen, venturing into the heart of the mangroves, watching children play, soaking in smiles, simply strolling through the vast wilderness of these mysterious landscapes that disappear into the distance toward the East.

It is also about fostering a true understanding of the daily life of the Sakalava bush and all its twists and turns so that each day is truly different and unpredictable. It’s rejecting the idea of a rigid itinerary to better experience a true story in a real journey. It’s embarking together with a completely Malagasy crew and fostering with good cheer the possibility of discovering, appreciating, and respecting one another well beyond our differences.

It’s always sticking closely, even adhering, to the Malagasy terrain in general, and the Sakalava region in particular, and doing everything to ensure that travelers feel its every contour.

Finally, it’s bringing to life our childhood or adolescent dreams, those of a delightful and comfortable tropical freedom from another era, on the borders of the unreal… for a few days…

The dhows

Dhows are boats of Arab origin. Their extraordinary history dates back more than a thousand years, and the kingdom of these boats, which emerged from the depths of time, stretches from southern India to the northwest of Madagascar, passing through Yemen, Djibouti, Kenya, Tanzania, and finally, the Comoros.

The canoes

The Sakalava canoe is the most commonly used vessel along our coasts. In this region of steep, forested bush, it is the most suitable means of transport for medium loads. It comes in versions ranging from a "motorbike" use to a "van" use, depending on the needs.