From meeting the locals to hiking down the national park, this Madagascar holiday takes you through the famous Baobabs Alley, Kirindy forest, Tsriibibhina River, Tsingy with all of the glory Madagascar has to offer. Whether you have visited Madagascar before or are doing it for the first time, this one has plenty to offer for everyone.
Short Itinerary
Day 01 : Departure London Heathrow
Day 02 : Arrival Antananarivo
Day 03 : Antananarivo – Antsirabe
Day 04 : Antsirabe – Ranomafana
Day 05 : Raomafana – Fianarantsoa
Day 06 : Fianarantsoa – Ambalavao – Ranohira
Day 07 : Isalo National Park – Tuléar
Day 08 : Tulear – Antananarivo
Day 09 : Antananarivo – Morondava
Day 10 : Morondava – Bekopaka
Day 11 : Visit Tsingy of Bemaraha
Day 12 : Visit Tsingy of Bemaraha
Day 13 : Bekopaka – Belo Sur Tsiribihina – Kirindy
Today you start your journey by boarding your international outbound flight to Antananarivo.
Day 02 : Arrival Antananarivo
Meet your guide at the airport.
We offer you a light welcome snack during the transfer to the hotel.
Have a good rest and see you tomorrow.
Day 03 : Antananarivo – Antsirabe
Breakfast at the hotel.
Meet with a historian guide who will take you in the upper town through many narrow streets and steps. Complicated histories about queens and kings are to be explained around the Queen’s Palace.
Have lunch nearby at your own cost.
Start driving to the south. Out of the city, rice fields and different villages define the landscape in the countryside. Pass through Ambatolampy town and go on to Antsirabe. We take our time for a city tour and go for a “pousse-pousse” (rickshaw) riding for those who want because it is the main transport at Antsirabe town.
Day 04 : Antsirabe – Ranomafana
We keep going on the national number 7 and progress towards the south.
Passing through Ambositra town, we go round the shops and visit Zafimaniry artisans to look for a piece of carved wood or finely done square box marquetry. Walk around town and have lunch in a local restaurant where you can taste local food specialties.
We continue to Ranomafana, at the Betsileo tribe region, we have a winding road; we are at the highest plateau of Madagascar highlands. Arrival at the end of the afternoon.
Day 05 : Raomafana – Fianarantsoa
After a copious breakfast, we head to the Ranomafana forest. This is one of the best sites, which the rainforest of Madagascar can give you.
We walk to visit the National Park with a local guide to look for bamboo lemurs, red-fronted brown lemur, red-bellied brown lemur…live in the forest.
Make sure you bring a raincoat.
Back on road number 7, we join Fianarantsoa town.
Day 06 : Fianarantsoa – Ambalavao – Ranohira
We leave the highlands soon.
We are this morning in Anja, a reserve managed by the villagers of the region.
Here at the foot of the large granite blocks that form the foothills of the Andringitra massif is a small forest where the lemur Maki (Lemur Catta) lives. We go to meet him and continue on foot to the village of Ambalavao.
Our guides tell us the Bara culture and these tombs hidden in the caves.
(5 to 6 hours of walking). Then we drive along with the Andringitra mountain mass where we can see crests towards the south. The landscape changes abruptly.
We pass by Ihosy small town before we get through a dry and arid huge plateau, Ihorombe, and then we reach Ranohira village where the Isalo National Park gate is.
Day 07 : Isalo National Park – Tuléar
Breakfast at the hotel and drive to Isalo foothill. Hike inside the massif with just a small rucksack. This simple walk takes us to an amazing landscape towards the natural swimming pool. Swim and relax at the pool. We organize a picnic lunch at the Tapia forest. It is possible to walk around and explore the summit of the surrounding mountains to enjoy the view.
On the way to Tuléar, we make some stops to see the Mahafaly tribe typical tombs, which are painted and decorated, also amazing carvings are erected on them.
NB: the level of the walk difficulty depends on the participants’ ability and desire. The local guide will advise and recommend you for the best choice.
Day 08 : Tulear – Antananarivo
After breakfast, transfer to the airport.
Flight to Antananarivo
Depending on the flight schedule, we lunch either in Tuléar or in Antananarivo restaurant at your own cost.
If we have enough time, we stop at the crafts market in Antananarivo for shopping.
Transfer to the hotel.
Dinner at the restaurant.
NB: The program of this day might change depending on the flight schedule.
Day 09 : Antananarivo – Morondava
Have breakfast at the hotel and transfer to the airport.
We stop at the crafts market for buying souvenirs if time is good.
Fly to Morondava (1h)
Depending on flight schedule you lunch in Antananarivo or Morondava.
Meet your guide at the airport.
Afternoon free at leisure at the wonderful seaside.
NB : The program on this day might change depending on the flight schedule.
Meals: lunch not included / dinner included
Day 10 : Morondava – Bekopaka
Have breakfast at the hotel.
We drive out of Morondava towards the famous “Allée des Baobabs” on the way to Kirindy. We spend our time there and get some nice shots of the splendid scenery.
Then we are heading north and drive on an uncomfortable but the only land track to the Park classified as a World Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. We go across Tsiribihina and Manambolo rivers by a small car ferry before we arrive at Bekopaka village.
Day 11 : Visit Tsingy of Bemaraha
This is one of the most extraordinary sites.
Tsingy is a real limestone cathedral, a formation with many faults, cracks and eroded blocks to sharp rocks makes it the most spectacular landscape of Madagascar. This Jurassic massif formation started 200 million years ago, the time the sea still covering the Bemaraha region. Then the coral plate with seashells came up to the air, the wind and the rain have been sculpting on it since 5 million years to spectacular erosion. You can find 6 species of lemurs, reptiles, 53 kinds of birds. You have also the smallest chameleon there (Brookesia Perarmata). These 2 days are an opportunity to discover the most amazing site with a local guide. Lunch in a picnic.
NB: the level of walk difficulty depends on the participants’ ability and desire. The local guide will advise and recommend the best choice.
Day 12 : Visit Tsingy of Bemaraha
This is one of the most extraordinary sites.
Tsingy is a real limestone cathedral, a formation with many faults, cracks and eroded blocks to sharp rocks makes it the most spectacular landscape of Madagascar. This Jurassic massif formation started 200 million years ago, the time the sea still covering the Bemaraha region. Then the coral plate with seashells came up to the air, the wind and the rain have been sculpting on it since 5 million years to spectacular erosion. You can find 6 species of lemurs, reptiles, 53 kinds of birds. You have also the smallest chameleon there (Brookesia Perarmata). These 2 days are an opportunity to discover the most amazing site with a local guide. Lunch in a picnic.
NB: the level of walk difficulty depends on the participants’ ability and desire. The local guide will advise and recommend the best choice.
Day 13 : Bekopaka – Belo Sur Tsiribihina – Kirindy
This day is an opportunity to discover the most amazing site with a local guide. Drive to Belo Sur Tsiribihina. We take the ferry for the short crossing.
Half-day you will be required by the 4*4 road track to join Belo. Arrive at the end of the afternoon in Kirindy. We take time to walk at night.
Day 14 : Visit of Kirindy Reserve – Morondava
Kirindy is a private reserve with one of the most endangered ecosystems. The reserve is known by giant jumping rats, the “Fosa” (Hypogeomys antimena), also several lemurs species, and numerous reptiles endemic species are found there. An unusual flora with many unique species is also found in Kirindy.
We take time to walk at night.
Day 15 : Final Departure
Breakfast at the hotel and then transfer to the airport to fly to Antananarivo.
Flight from Morondava to the capital.
What's included
Return economy flights from London Heathrow
All arrival, departure and overland transfers as per the itinerary
English speaking local guide for the sightseeing as per the itinerary
Entrance fees for the monuments as per the itinerary
Accommodation in 3 star category or similar hotels with breakfast on twin sharing basis
What's not included
Visa fees
Travel insurance
Meals not mentioned in the itinerary
Anything not mentioned in What's included section
Your Hotels or similar
Antananarivo : PALISSANDRE HOTEL Antsirabe : PLUMERIA HOTEL Ranomafana : SETAM LODGE Fianarantsoa : HOTEL TSARAGUEST HOUSE Ranohira : SATRANA LODGE Tulear : Le Bakuba Hôtel Morondava : PALISSANDRECÔTE OUEST Bekopaka : SOLEIL DES TSINGY Kirindy : LE RELAIS DU KIRINDY
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