La Petite Traversee

If you have a picture in mind of what Paradise looks like - erase it! Hotel La Petite Traversee is an exotic beach lodge located in what many guests have described as "the most beautiful place on earth".

Ile aux Nattes (pronounced "eal oh nut") is a very small tropical island off the southern tip of Ile Sainte Marie, which in turn is just off the north-eastern coast of Madagascar. This exotic little Indian Ocean island has everything travel brochures are made of - from the unspoiled white tropical beaches and palm trees to coral reefs with an abundance of tropical marine life.

Hotel La Petite Traversee, which has been completely renovated in 2006, is a small and very neat hotel/lodge located on the northern shore of the island and offers comfortable accommodation in neat Malagasy-style en-suite chalets. You can treat yourself to the wide range of exquisite dishes served in our island-theme restaurant or out on the tidal deck.

Spend your days snorkeling, hiking around the island, fishing, just lazing in the sun with a tropical drink or hop over to St Marie (once known as the "Pirate Island"). For the more adventurous, we also offer scuba-diving or deep-sea fishing safaris.

To learn more about our special packages or to make a booking for your ascension to this earthly paradise, go ahead and contact us right now!

To walk around Ile Aux Nattes will take about 3 hours and although strainious for the unfit, it's not too difficult. During high tide there are some tricky bits to negotiate. If you lucky you can come across some Black and White Ruffed lemurs (Sifaka) or the 2m Orchid Rose with its beautiful deep pink flowers.

To complete your experience of Ile Aux Nattes, walk through the local village (Agnirabe) and then climb the hill to the lighthouse for a fantastic view of the coral reef around the island.

The shallows around Ile Aux Nattes are ideal for snorkeling and the coral reef represents some of the most extensive and well developed reef ecosystems in the Indian Ocean, and offers excellent underwater viewing to the keen snorkeler.

Guests at La Petite Traversee interested in scuba diving can make use of two dive operators to experience some truly wonderful underwater opportunities around St Marie Island and Ile Aux Nattes.

Ile Aux Nattes boasts with one of the 10 best swimming beaches in Africa, crystal clear shallow water, calm tide, soft sand and is only situated about a 100m from La Petite Traversee - absolute paradise.

One of the many ways to explore Ile Aux Nattes is by local lakana (piroque). The trip around the island gives the tourist a very different view and experience of this beautiful island.

You can explore the island by rented motorbike or bicycle which can be arranged for you by La Petite Traversee. Visit the beautiful natural pool in the north.

This island consists of two seperate islands, one just sand and the other completely made up from dead coral pieces. Can be reached from La Petite Traversee by boat in about 40 minutes. Excelent snorkeling.

The pirate cemetery is just before the bay bridge on the way to Ambodifotatra coming south from Ile Aux Nattes. This is quite an impressive site with gravestones dating back a few centuries.

July to 1st week in October, Humpback whales come in their thousands to mate and calf around Ile Aux Nattes and can be often seen from the beach or boat excursions can be arranged at La Petite Traversee for a more close-up look.

For those not too keen on snorkeling, La Petite Traversee have got a 6m glass bottom boat available, leaving at scheduled times to view this magic new world beneath us.

Experience deep sea fishing with a dry launch on a 6m Z-Craft ski boat with two 75hp Mariner engines. All gear and tackle inclusive.La Petite Traversee specializes in catering for fishermen-widows while their husbands enjoy the thrill of fishing untamed waters.

Hang out at the Lucky Dube Cocktail bar, an interesting bar on the beach at La Petite Traversee and be entertained by Putumayo and Island reggae music. Real fun place to be relaxing.

Treat yourself to a day of self-indulgence at Betsie Day Spa nestled in a hidden cove on Ile Aux Nattes where you can experience paradise to its fullest.

A interesting visit to the small endemic park only 5km from La Petite Traversee where you can really fall in love with a lemur or experience the thrill of a giant chameleon catching a meal.