Miavana

Located on Nosy Ankao island, guests are greeted with a bird's eye view of Miavana as they arrive by helicopter. The hotel sports all the usual suspects of private island living; swaying palm trees, wild beaches, world-class diving and hidden lagoons.

There are only 14 one, two and three bedroom villas dotted around the island, built in fairy tale-style fortresses, featuring floor to ceiling windows to take in panoramic sea views. All villas also feature a private pool.

Spend your days diving world-renowned reefs, swimming with colourful reef fish, turtles and manta rays. You can also try your hand at fly and boat fishing, kayaking and dolphin, whale and manta ray watching. On land, discover the island's extraordinary biodiversity with forest walks, lemur trekking and tern watching - or above land, the adventurous can try helicopter flips. The more R&R inclined can experience 'In Villa' pampering treatments using natural products.

The impressive main village comprises high stone walls surrounding an infinity pool, an open-air pavilion and moat. Head to the rooftop bar for sundowners over sublime horizon views, then dine in the beach pizzeria or Italian indoor grotto and cellar. Be sure to visit the lodge's "chamber of curiosities", housing some weird and spectacular artefacts salvaged from around the island (from 17th century canons to astonishing butterfly collections).