Five Senses Lodge

Five Senses Lodge sits on a white sand beach in Tsiandamba, a fishing village on the southwest coast of Madagascar, well away from established tourist circuits. The lodge is not easily stumbled upon — that distance from other destinations is the point.

Accommodation runs across four villa types: standard, family, executive, and deluxe. Each is set along the beach with a terrace oriented toward the ocean. Main bedrooms have double beds; family rooms have twin beds. Bathrooms are en suite with showers and private toilets. Executive villas add an outdoor bathtub with sea views. Every villa includes an iPod docking station and a personal safe.

The kitchen works with fresh produce and serves what the chef prepares, alongside wines and cocktails. Meals are taken at the lodge — there is nowhere nearby to go.

Out on the lagoon, you can sail, paddleboard, ride a Hobie Cat, take a fun tube, or kite surf. Spa treatments are available at the lodge. The water is the primary activity here, and the lagoon provides most of it.

Tsiandamba is in Toliara Province. Access to a lodge this far along the southwest coast requires planning — confirm transfer logistics directly with the property before travel.