Itinerary
- Day 1
Antananarivo
You'll land at Ivato airport in Antananarivo and get your visa upon arrival. Your driver meets you to handle paperwork and help with currency exchange, then drives you to Bois Vert hotel near the airport. After you settle in, there's an introduction briefing followed by a joint dinner to kick things off.
- Start point
- Antananarivo, Analamanga, Madagascar (Airport - Time depends on your flight , 12:00 - 01:00)
- Meals
- Dinner (Joint dinner at hotel)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Bois vert)
Optional Activities
- Walk in the park to discover Madagascar fauna and flora
- Visit Malagasy art and handcraft workshops
- Visit crocodile farm around the hotel
Landmarks Ivato Airport - Day 2
Antananarivo to Andasibe
The drive from Antananarivo heads east for about 3.5 hours through increasingly rainforest-like landscape toward Andasibe. Once you check into Hotel Eulophiella, you'll walk through Mitsinjo Forest, a private reserve with incredible diversity of amphibians, reptiles, lemurs, and endemic plants. You'll also visit Mitsinjo's amphibian captive breeding centre to see Madagascar's conservation work.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Bungalow (eulophelia)
Included Activities
- Guided walk in Mitsinjo Forest
- Visit to Mitsinjo amphibian captive breeding centre
Landmarks Mitsinjo Forest 
- Day 3
Andasibe
Morning exploration of Andasibe National Park shows 11 lemur species including the Indri, numerous birds, and diverse vegetation. You'll have a picnic lunch in the forest, then cross the road to check out Analamazaotra forest station. Those with energy can do an optional night walk to spot nocturnal residents like mouse lemurs, frogs, chameleons, and leaf-tailed geckos.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Picnic lunch in the forest)
- Accommodation
- Bungalow (eulophelia)
Included Activities
- Morning hike in Andasibe National Park
- Guided walk through Analamazaotra forest station
Optional Activities
- Short night hike to spot nocturnal forest residents
Landmarks Andasibe National Park Analamazaotra Forest Station - Day 4
Andasibe to Antsirabe
After breakfast you'll drive 3.5 hours west back to the capital, then continue south on National Road 7. You'll pass through Ambatolampy, a mountain town known for aluminum pot production, before reaching Antsirabe by evening. Dinner happens in the city and you'll check into Hotel Vatolahy.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Vatolahy)
Optional Activities
- Visit family-owned aluminum cooking pot factory in Ambatolampy
Landmarks Ambatolampy - Day 5
Antsirabe to Ranomafana
Continue south on National Road 7 to Ambositra, famous for Malagasy wood sculptors and marquetry work from the Zafimaniry ethnic group. After lunch in Ambositra, the drive takes about 5.5 hours toward Ranomafana through changing landscapes. You'll pass Ambohimahasoa and may take a short walk in Vohiparara before arriving near the rainforest.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Ny Tanana Hotel)
Optional Activities
- Visit sculptors and craftsmen workshops in Ambositra
- Short walk in Vohiparara forest
Landmarks Ranomafana National Park - Day 6
Ranomafana
You'll hike through Ranomafana National Park on the Varibolomena circuit in Talatakely's secondary forest. The area has bamboo, lemurs including bamboo lemur species and red-fronted lemurs, and diverse birds. After the forest hike, you'll visit the ValBio Research Centre, a conservation facility that's worked with Madagascar National Parks for over 26 years on research and biodiversity monitoring.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Ny Tanana Hotel)
Included Activities
- Guided hike - Varibolomena circuit in Talatakely secondary forest
- Visit to ValBio Research Centre
Landmarks Ranomafana National Park ValBio Research Centre - Day 7
Ranomafana
This is a strenuous full-day hike covering around 15km through Varijatsy primary forest. You'll see characteristic plants, lemurs, and other wildlife in this challenging trek. A picnic lunch happens during the hike, you'll take a swim in a natural pool, and you may spot the beautiful black and white ruffed lemur and endemic bird species.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Ny Tanana Hotel)
Included Activities
- Guided hike - Varijatsy primary forest (approximately 15km)
- Picnic lunch during hike
- Swim in natural pool
Landmarks Ranomafana National Park - Day 8
Ranomafana to Antsirabe region
After early breakfast, drive 1.45 hours to Fianarantsoa, capital of Betsileo and home to 1001 churches. This UNESCO World Heritage town sits on several hills surrounded by vineyards and Madagascar's only tea plantation. Lunch is at the famous Tsara Guesthouse and you'll walk through the old upper town. Then drive about 1 hour to Ambalavao to see handmade Antaimoro paper production before a guided walk in Anja Community Reserve to spot ring-tailed lemurs.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Lodge (Tsarasoa Lodge)
Included Activities
- Guided walk in Anja Community Reserve
Optional Activities
- Visit handmade Antaimoro paper production in Ambalavao
- Lunch at Tsara Guesthouse in Fianarantsoa
- Walk through old upper town of Fianarantsoa
Landmarks Fianarantsoa Anja Park Andringitra National Park - Days 9 - 10
Andringitra
You have two days to explore the Andringitra Mountains in the Tsaranoro Valley. A short climb from your lodge reaches a panoramic viewpoint with great views. Choose between the strenuous Diavolana circuit (full-day, 10 hours) through meadows and granite landscape to 2100m elevation with lemur spotting, or the alternative half-day Asaramanitra circuit. Both feature the sacred 300m waterfalls. On day 10 at lunch, you'll head back for a picnic lunch on the bus while driving south to Ranohira.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Lodge (Isalo rock lodge)
Included Activities
- Diavolana circuit hike (full-day, approximately 10 hours) OR Asaramanitra circuit (half-day)
- Picnic lunch during exploration
Optional Activities
- Climbing
- Trekking
- Paragliding
- Shorter exploratory walk to discover floral diversity
- Swimming in natural pools
- Photography in granite-topped savannah
Landmarks Andringitra National Park Tsaranoro Valley - Day 11
Isalo National Park
You'll drive to Ranohira and spend the day exploring Isalo National Park, an 80,000-hectare park of sandstone rocks carved by deep canyons. Hiking through canyon gallery forests, you'll spot ring-tailed lemurs, Verreaux and Sifaka lemurs, brown lemurs, birds, and chameleons. Take the scenic Namaza trail to a natural swimming pool. At sunset, visit the Soa Zara tree-planting project working to restore the forest.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Lodge (Isalo rock lodge)
Included Activities
- Guided hikes in Isalo National Park - Canyon des Makis or Canyon des Rats
- Namaza trail to natural swimming pool
- Visit to Soa Zara tree-planting project
Landmarks Isalo National Park La Fenêtre - Day 12
Isalo to Tulear
Start early to explore Zombitse-Vohibasia National Park, a birder's paradise with 90 recorded bird species and 38 endemic ones. After a 2-hour easy hike through transitional forest and a picnic lunch, drive about 2.5 to 3 hours to the coastal town of Tulear. You'll see baobab trees along the road as you enter the drier region. Late afternoon arrival in Tulear leaves the rest of the day free.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (hyppocampo)
Included Activities
- Guided hike in Zombitse-Vohibasia National Park (2 hours)
- Picnic lunch at the park
Optional Activities
- Visit botanical gardens outside Tulear
- Explore the city of Tulear
- Dinner in Tulear
Landmarks Zombitse-Vohibasia National Park - Day 13
Tulear to Anakao
Leave Tulear by speedboat heading south to Lalandaka Ecolodge, a quiet spot near the fishing village of Vezo d'Anakao. The speedboat journey takes about 1 hour. Upon arrival, you'll have the rest of the day to enjoy white sandy beaches, turquoise waters, watch colorful Vezo canoes, appreciate the sunset, swim, or walk through the fisherman's village.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Lodge (Lalandaka ecolodge)
Included Activities
- Speedboat transfer from Tulear to Anakao
Optional Activities
- Swimming
- Diving
- Visit fisherman's village
- Stroll along the beach
- Day 14
Anakao to Tsimanampetsotsa National Park
Start very early to avoid the heat and travel south to Tsimanampetsotsa National Park in the spiny desert of southern Madagascar. This unique ecosystem has the highest level of endemic plant species worldwide, endemic plant families like Didiereaceae, endemic radiated tortoises, and Grandidier's mongoose. The park's lake is a RAMSAR wetland with important breeding areas for flamingos. After a picnic lunch, you'll return to the lodge.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Lodge (Lalandaka ecolodge)
Included Activities
- Guided exploration of Tsimanampetsotsa National Park
- Picnic lunch at the park
Landmarks Tsimanampetsotsa National Park - Day 15
Nosy Ve
If weather permits, take a half-day excursion to the small island of Nosy Ve. The boat crossing takes between 30 to 45 minutes depending on wind. The island is home to Madagascar's only breeding colony of red-tailed tropic birds, striking white seabirds that are highly photogenic. The island sits surrounded by beautiful coral reefs perfect for snorkeling. You'll have a picnic on the beach before returning to the ecolodge.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Lodge (Lalandaka ecolodge)
Included Activities
- Guided excursion to Nosy Ve island
- Snorkeling around coral reefs
- Picnic on the beach
Landmarks Nosy Ve - Days 16 - 17
Anakao to Ifaty
Take an early morning boat back to Tulear, then drive north about 30 minutes to the coastal village of Ifaty, also known as Mangily. Halfway there, stop to visit the Honko Community-Based Mangrove Reserve for a 2-hour guided tour observing endemic species and spotting over 70 wetland bird species. Upon arrival in Ifaty, check into Solidaire Mangily hotel. You'll then have time to explore the area including the nearby Spiny forest with magnificent baobab trees, the turtle village, snorkeling, diving, or hotel agricultural school projects.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Solidaire Mangily)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Honko Community-Based Mangrove Reserve (2 hours)
- Free 2-hour visit to Solidaire Mangily's agricultural, preservation and educational projects
Optional Activities
- Visit Spiny forest and Baobab trees
- Visit turtle village
- Snorkeling excursion
- Diving
- Participate in agricultural school projects with Malagasy NGO Bel Avenir
Landmarks Honko Community-Based Mangrove Reserve Reniala Reserve - Day 18
Ifaty to Antananarivo
Depending on your inland flight schedule, you'll be transferred from Ifaty back to Tulear airport. You'll take a flight from Toliara Airport to Ivato International Airport, a 1-hour flight departing at 14:35 and arriving at 16:25. Upon arrival in Antananarivo, you'll be transferred to Bois Vert hotel for day use and a goodbye dinner to share experiences and conclude your journey. Then you'll be transferred to the airport for your international flight.
- End point
- Antananarivo, Analamanga, Madagascar (Airport - Time depends on your flight , 12:00 - 01:00)
- Meals
- Dinner (Farewell dinner at Bois Vert Hotel)
Included Activities
- Farewell dinner at Bois Vert Hotel
Landmarks Toliara Airport Ivato Airport
