Just Back: Madagascar

It’s no surprise that honeymoons are monumental celebrations ... and working in the industry, the location of mine was a big topic of conversation. Everyone wanted to know where we'd choose—the pressure was on! Kelsey, my wife, and I decided on the private island of Miavana, a sanctuary off the coast of Madagascar. 

There's nothing like arriving in paradise via heli from the mainland. When Time + Tide designed this exclusive property, no detail was spared. Our luxury villa did not disappoint, from the patio overlooking our infinity pool and ocean to sunken tubs and open-air showers lit by moonlight. We lounged in our daybed sipping freshly squeezed passion fruit juice while the meditative waves lapped in the background. 
 
With direct access from the beach, we snorkeled among reefs teeming with colorful fish. I was pumped to scuba in never explored dive spots, secluded coves, and tunnels to canyons with visibility more than 30 feet deep. Above the waves, we went wakeboarding, waterskiing, and fishing for blue marlin, grouper, and tuna.  
 
Our honeymoon was full of surprises … one being my newest obsession—kitesurfing. I found the ultimate adrenaline rush by ripping across the water, even managing to get some air!
 
Kelsey and I took private boat rides that ended in beach picnics, long walks on beaches with sculpture-like driftwood, and excursions to spot lemurs and iguanas. We were surprised at how quickly we were able to completely disconnect.
 
The acclaimed chef tailored every meal to our specific taste infusing his imagination and local ingredients. We tried traditional Malagasy cuisine, Rock Lobster (even in our omelets!), and when craving a familiar dish from home, brick oven Neapolitan pizza.

For those of you looking for a truly off-the-beaten-path destination, this epic property and locale proved to be the perfect place for us to celebrate our honeymoon—turned babymoon (the best surprise of all!).