About this hotel
General information
Miavana by Time + Tide has the private island of Nosy Ankao to itself — about 10 km², in a small archipelago off Madagascar’s north-east coast. Only 13 villas line its white-sand beaches, each with its own pool and a step down to the sea, and their terraces look across turquoise water to the ochre mountains of the mainland. Interiors use hand-dyed textiles, Malagasy wood and local stone.
The island’s hub is the Piazza, with its dining spaces, wine cellar, bar, boutique and the Cabinet de Curiosities, a small collection of natural and cultural artefacts that includes the egg of the extinct elephant bird. Nearby are an infinity pool above the ocean, an activities centre with a gym, and the helipad. The island sits within a protected marine area of about 15,000 hectares. Stays include all meals, selected premium wines and champagnes, top-shelf spirits and bar drinks, butler service, laundry and most of the island’s activities.
Location
Nosy Ankao lies in the Indian Ocean off Madagascar’s north-east coast, beside the uninhabited island of Nosy Manampaho and a scattering of islets. It is reached only by helicopter, from Antsiranana Airport or Nosy Be Airport; the resort flies guests in its own helicopters, in daylight only, on a route over mountains, baobabs and the coastline.
Spa
There is no spa building: treatments are given in the villa or anywhere on the island a guest chooses. The menu covers massages, body treatments, facials and Ayurvedic therapies, using organic Terres D’Afrique products made with African botanicals alongside preparations from ingredients gathered on the island. Every guest receives a 20-minute welcome treatment. A complimentary group yoga class runs each morning, and private sessions can be held anywhere — in the villa, on the beach, in the forest or on the helipad.
Sports & leisure
The island has its own PADI dive centre, running Open Water, Advanced Open Water, Discover Scuba Diving and Bubblemaker courses, and the reefs are home to sea turtles, manta rays, spinner dolphins, Napoleon wrasse and bumphead parrotfish. Diving around the island, resort diving lessons, snorkelling and boat cruises are included in the stay.
- kiteboarding at private spots for beginners and experienced riders, plus spots reached by helicopter; introductory lessons are included
- fishing: catch-and-release deep-sea fishing, jigging, popping, trolling and fly-fishing on the reef flats, as well as shore fishing and half-day boat trips
- wakeboarding, water-skiing, tubing, surf-ski, kayaks and stand-up paddleboards, including paddles through the mangroves
- boat trips past coves and islets, and a guided cruise through the mangrove channels
- quad biking to the lighthouse and its 360-degree views, bicycles and an electric buggy for every villa
- guided trail walks to see crowned lemurs and the island’s plants and birds, and daily beach walks looking for sea turtle nests
- helicopter excursions over the limestone pinnacles and caves of Ankarana, the red pinnacles of Tsingy Rouge and baobab country, and sundowner flights
- an air-conditioned gym with bay views at the activities centre, oceanfront yoga and meditation, and SUP yoga
- a boutique with beachwear and handmade Malagasy crafts
For children
The Kids Activities programme runs all year and is shaped around each child’s age and interests: treasure hunts, chameleon spotting, guided walks, crafts such as coconut painting, mask making and beading, cooking sessions baking pizza, cookies and cupcakes, and beach volleyball, cricket, football, table tennis and bike rides. Young divers can try PADI Bubblemaker (ages 8–9) and Discover Scuba Diving (from 10), and there is a children’s spa menu and yoga.
Restaurants & bars
The kitchen pairs produce from the island and from across Madagascar — mangrove crab, yellowfin tuna, caviar from the highland waters, Malagasy cacao and local cheeses — with refined technique, and the menus follow the seasons.
- Piazza — restaurant and lounge, with candlelit dinners under the stars and pre-dinner tsaky-tsaky snacks by the bonfire
- Silvio’s — a wood-fired pizza oven kept going from dawn to dusk
- La Cave — a wine cellar of more than 2,000 Old and New World bottles, with paired dinners
- Toulou’s Bar — cocktails made to order, and digestifs on the rooftop under the stars
- by the infinity pool — light meals and snacks through the day
Chefs cook in the villa at any hour, and dinners are set up on the beach, with picnics on the uninhabited island of Nosy Manampaho.
Swimming
Every villa sits right on the white-sand beach with direct access to the sea and has its own plunge pool on the deck. At the Piazza, an infinity pool looks out over the ocean.
Rooms
There are 13 beachfront villas: seven with one bedroom, four with two and two with three, each covering at least 620 m². Every villa has a study with its own bathroom that converts into a children’s bedroom.
Each villa has a private plunge pool and a deck onto the beach, a lounge, indoor and outdoor dining, a kitchenette, a master bedroom with a soaking tub and indoor and outdoor showers, a study with an extra bathroom, air-conditioning in the bedrooms and fans, an entertainment system and satellite internet, plus a butler, bicycles and an electric buggy.
One Bedroom Villa
A beachfront villa with one bedroom, a private pool and a study that can be set up as a children’s room. Sleeps two adults and up to two children under 18.
Two Bedroom Villa
A beachfront villa with two en-suite bedrooms, a private pool and a study. Sleeps four adults and up to two children under 18.
Three Bedroom Villa
The island’s largest villa type, with three en-suite bedrooms, a private pool and a study. Sleeps six adults and up to two children under 18.
Photos are for illustrative purposes only. Actual room layout, furnishings, décor, views and amenities may differ from those shown and may vary between rooms of the same category. Hotel and room descriptions are based on information provided by the property and are believed to be accurate at the time of publication, but are not guaranteed. The hotel may renovate or change its rooms, facilities, restaurants and services at any time without notice. The final details of your stay are confirmed at the time of booking. See our Terms of Use.