Discover the east and south of Madagascar on this 15-day adventure. Explore rainforests, beaches, national parks, and cultural sites with an expert guide.
You will start your journey in Antananarivo, the capital city, and then head to Andasibe National Park, where you can see the largest lemur, the indri. You will also visit the Vakona reserve and the Peyrieras reptile farm. Next, you will drive to Antsirabe, a charming town known for its rickshaws and thermal springs. You will then continue to Ranomafana National Park, another lemur hotspot with natural hot pools. From there, you will travel to Ambalavao, where you can visit a paper factory and a zebu market. You will also explore the Anja reserve, home to ring-tailed lemurs and tombs of the Betsileo tribe.
Your next destination is Isalo National Park, a stunning landscape of sandstone formations, canyons, and oases. You will hike through the park and enjoy a picnic lunch at a natural pool. You will also visit the sapphire mining town of Ilakaka and the Zombitse forest. After that, you will head to Ifaty, a seaside resort with white sandy beaches and coral reefs. You will have two days to relax or enjoy optional activities such as snorkeling, diving, fishing, or whale watching. You will also visit the Reniala reserve, a spiny forest with baobab trees and endemic birds.
On your last day, you will fly back to Antananarivo and have some free time to shop at the craft market or visit the royal palace. You will then transfer to the airport for your departure flight.
Included
- Accommodations as mentioned in the itinerary
- All transport and transfers
English-speaking guide from day 1-15 - Activities and excursions as mentioned
- Park entrance fees + Local Guides in the National Parks
- Domestic flight from Tuléar to Tana
Excluded
- All international flight Visas
- Meals and drinks not mentioned in the itinerary
- Any activities not mentioned in the itinerary
- Telephone bills, laundry etc.
DAY 1 – Arrival Antananarivo
After arriving at the airport, you will be taken to a very comfortable hotel close to the airport. It is your driver himself who will come to pick you up.
Hotel : Au Bois Vert
https://auboisvert.com/
DAY 2 – To Andasibe National Park
After breakfast you will leave for a four to five hours drive to Andasibe in the east of the country. The Andasibe – Mantadia park located there is the habitat of the largest of the lemurs : the Indri Indri.
You can take an evening walk here (optional) where you have a chance to spot the night active animals like mouse lemur, chameleon, gecko and tree frog.
Hotel : Mantadia Lodge
https://mantadialodge.com/
DAY 3 : Andasibe National Park
Throughout the morning you will hike through the park with a guide. The Indri Indri are bound to be seen, but you also have a chance to see bamboo lemurs, brown lemurs and the largest of the chameleons : the Parsons chameleon. After lunch, you may want to visit the Vakona domain.
An island located there houses a sanctuary for lemurs. Here you can photograph the previously spotted animals very well. You can see the brown and the black and white ruffed lemur as well as the dancing sifaka. On the other side of the property is a former crocodile farm. The lake still holds dozens of these prehistoric monsters.
Hotel : Mantadia Lodge
https://mantadialodge.com/
DAY 4 – To Antsirabe
A drive of about seven hours brings you to Antsirabe. This lovely town is the main town of the pousse pousse, a brightly colored rickshaw pulled by human power. Some historic colonial buildings make this town a pleasant place to stop on your way south. You spend the night in a beautiful hotel located a stone’s throw from the center.
Hotel : Couleur Café
https://www.couleurcafe-antsirabe.com/
DAY 5 – To Ranomafana National Park
This morning you will drive about five hours to Ranomafana National Park. Once there, you will meet your naturalist guide. You can go on an (optional) evening walk with him to spot the night active animals such as mouse lemurs, chameleons and tree frogs.
Hotel : Centrest
(No Website/But you can check the reputation on Tripadvisor or Booking.com)
DAY 6 – Ranomafana National Park
Ranomafana park gained worldwide fame in the 1980s when a new species of lemur was discovered : the golden bamboo lemur. Throughout the morning you will trek out to spot these and other lemurs in the park. In the afternoon you can explore the cozy village or take a splash in the hot tub of the nearby spa.
Hotel : Centrest
(No Website/But you can check the reputation on Tripadvisor or Booking.com)
DAY 7 – To Ambalavao
After breakfast you will drive about 4 hours to just before Ambalavao. This town has a high Hans-and-Grietje content and is a joy to stroll through. You can take a look behind the scenes at a local project where decorative paper is traditionally made. You sleep in a beautifully located hotel with great views just south of town.
Hotel : Betsileo Country Lodge
https://betsileocountrylodge.com/
DAY 8 – Visit Parc Anja + to Tsaranoro Valley
Not far from the hotel is the highly successful eco-tourism project of Parc Anja. Hidden between a cluster of granite boulders is an oasis that houses several colonies of ring-tailed lemurs. You will spend the entire morning visiting this phenomenon with an able guide. After the visit you will head towards the Tsaranoro Valley for a three-hour drive.
Madagascar is divided in two by a high mountain ridge. The center of this is the Andringitra Mountains with the adjacent Tsaranoro Valley. The east side of the mountain range is very green and wet under the influence of the Indian Ocean, the west side dry and warm due to winds coming from Africa. You will spend two nights in an unimaginably beautiful camp. Mountain tours and other hikes can be taken from here.
Hotel : Tsarasoa Lodge
https://www.tsarasoa.com/
DAY 9 – Explore Tsaranoro Valley
Accompanied by a local guide, you will set out to explore this mountain range. Two separate guides are provided. So each one makes his personal choice. Easy, medium and strenuous hikes can be undertaken. Especially the beautiful views will stay with you for a long time.
Hotel : Tsarasoa Lodge
https://www.tsarasoa.com/
DAY 10 – To Isalo National Park
After breakfast, you will drive about 4 hours to Isalo National Park. As the savannah-like plain turns into a landscape full of bizarre rock formations and clusters of palm trees, you approach Isalo National Park. Located just after the town of Ranohira, the hotel is surrounded by the jagged rocks so characteristic of this area.
Hotel: Isalo Ranch
https://www.isalo-ranch.com/
DAY 11 – Isalo NP
Today, accompanied by a guide, explore this park with its waterfalls, natural pools and adventurous gorges. In the middle of the wilderness you will be served a delicious lunch while ring-tailed lemurs and red-headed lemurs play in the bush around you.
Hotel : Isalo Ranch
https://www.isalo-ranch.com/
DAY 12 – Ankasy via Tulear
Today you drive in about five hours to Tulear and then another 2 hours north between dunes and villages to paradisiacal Ankasy with its vast beaches vast beaches. You will stay two nights in this beautiful hotel on the beach. Upon arrival you will say goodbye to our driver who will drive back to the capital. Please confirm with him the transfer the day after tomorrow to the airport of Tulear (which will be conducted by driver Anthony). Your driver will link you each other. Also confirm the transfer from the airport in the capital to hotel Sakamanga with your driver before he leaves. It is himself, or a colleague of his, who will perform this one.
Hotel : Ankasy Lodge
https://ankasy.com/
DAY 13 – Ankasy
Blissful doing nothing, snorkeling, a visit to the spiny forest, perhaps diving? Anything goes and nothing has to here in this little paradise. Do not forget to take a look at the Vezo fishing community whose men return from the sea during the morning. Women and children await them, to watch the catch.
Hotel: Ankasy Lodge
https://ankasy.com/
DAY 14 – Domestic flight to Antananarivo Flight
A transfer will take you to the airport in time for a flight of just under two hours back to the capital. Once there, a transfer will take you to a beautiful boutique hotel in the city center. Discuss with your driver the transfer for tomorrow evening.
Hotel: Sakamanga
https://sakamanga.com/
DAY 15 – Antananarivo
You’ll spend another full day in Antananarivo, where you’ll have plenty of time to explore downtown. Lots of bustling activity down by the Avenue de l’Indépendance and the markets around it. You can also climb the city’s highest hill to visit the Palace of the Queen.
Hotel: Sakamanga
https://sakamanga.com/
DAY 16 – Return flight
