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ANM destination photo
TNR destination photo

ANMTNR

Which side of the plane to sit from Antsirabato Airport (Antalaha) to Ivato Airport (Antananarivo)?

Our Recommendation
8.2

Left Side of the Plane

The left side offers the most diverse landscape, showcasing the transition from the lush, emerald rainforests of the northeast to the rugged, red-earthed central highlands and iconic terraced rice paddies.

Left Side Highlights
8.2
🍦

Vanilla Coast Estates

Lush plantations around Antalaha, known as the global capital of vanilla, visible immediately after takeoff.

🌳

Masoala Rainforest Edge

Dense primary rainforest canopy of the northeast, one of the most biodiverse regions on Earth.

⛰️

Northern Highlands

The rugged transition as the aircraft climbs over the mountains separating the coast from the interior plateau.

🌾

Highland Rice Terraces

The intricate, bright green terraced rice fields that define the Merina cultural landscape as you approach Antananarivo.

🧱

Red Clay Architecture

Traditional multi-story highland houses built from the island's famous laterite red soil.

Sit on the left for afternoon flights to have the sun behind you, illuminating the vibrant green rice paddies and red earth. Keep your camera ready during the final 15 minutes of the flight for the best views of the capital's unique urban layout atop rolling hills.

Right Side Highlights
7.5
🌊

Indian Ocean Horizon

Expansive views of the deep blue Indian Ocean as the plane climbs out of Antsirabato Airport.

🏖️

Sava Coastline

A stunning stretch of white sand beaches and turquoise lagoons fringing the northeastern coast.

📉

Eastern Escarpment

The dramatic geographic 'cliff' where the central plateau drops off toward the sea, visible in the distance.

💧

Inland Waterways

Glittering rivers and small lakes that dot the landscape between the coast and the capital.

The right side is ideal for morning flights to see the sunrise over the ocean. It provides a sense of the island's isolation and the vastness of the Indian Ocean. Note that cloud cover is more common on this side due to moisture coming off the sea hitting the mountains.

Top Activities in Antananarivo
Route Information

Distance: 519 km (322 miles)

Approximate Flight Time: 52 min

Departure: ANM (-14.99940013885498, 50.3202018737793)

Arrival: TNR (-18.7969, 47.478802)

Route Type: Domestic

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