Itinerary
- Day 1
Germany to Antananarivo
Your Madagascar adventure kicks off with a flight from Germany to Antananarivo. You'll have time to settle in and rest during the journey to the island's capital.
Landmarks/POIs Antananarivo - Day 2
Antananarivo
After landing and transferring from the airport, you'll head out for a late afternoon tour of Antananarivo. The drive takes you down Avenue de l'Independence, then up to the former royal palace Rova Manjakamiadana where you can see across the entire capital. You'll check into your hotel by evening.
Included Activities
- Visit Avenue de l'Independence in city center
- View Rova Manjakamiadana (former royal palace) with city views
Landmarks/POIs Rova Manjakamiadana Avenue de l'Independence - Day 3
Antananarivo to Andasibe
Heading east, you travel into the tropical mountain rainforests toward Andasibe-Mantadia National Park. Along the way you stop at Marozevo to watch colorful butterflies and chameleons in their habitat. Then you visit Vakona, a private lemur island where you can see diademed sifakas and gray bamboo lemurs before reaching your lodge.
Included Activities
- Observe butterflies and chameleons at Marozevo
- Visit Vakona lemur island to observe diademed sifakas and gray bamboo lemurs
Landmarks/POIs Andasibe-Mantadia National Park Marozevo Vakona - Day 4
Andasibe
Today you hike through Analamazaotra Nature Reserve, Madagascar's oldest protected area, searching for brown lemurs, red-bellied lemurs, and the Indri-Indri, the largest lemur species. After that, you visit the VOIMMA reserve for endemic species, then join an evening game drive to spot nocturnal mouse lemurs.
Included Activities
- Hike in Analamazaotra Nature Reserve (Perinet Reserve) to observe brown and red-bellied lemurs and Indri-Indri
- Visit VOIMMA reserve protecting endemic fauna and flora
- Evening game drive near reserve to observe nocturnal mouse lemurs
Landmarks/POIs Analamazaotra Nature Reserve (Perinet Reserve) VOIMMA Reserve - Day 5
Andasibe to Antsirabe
You start very early heading to Antsirabe. First stop is Manjakandriana village to visit Akany Tantely, a traditional family bee business where you'll tour the honey production and try local food with honey sauce. From there, you drive through the highlands past rice terraces and red clay houses, reaching Antsirabe by evening, known as the semi-precious stone capital.
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Akany Tantely traditional bee business with honey production insights
- Sample local delicacies with honey sauce at adjoining restaurant
Landmarks/POIs Manjakandriana Akany Tantely Antsirabe - Day 6
Antsirabe to Ranomafana
Traveling south on winding roads, you pass tea plantations, forests, and manjok fields. In the Ambositra area you explore a UNESCO workshop of the Zafimaniry people doing traditional wood carving in rosewood and ebony. Next, you tour Ankazomivady forest reserve with its primary highland forest, then continue on to Ranomafana.
Included Activities
- Visit UNESCO World Heritage Site wood carving workshop with Zafimaniry people in Ambositra area
- Tour Ankazomivady forest reserve protecting primary forest in highlands
Landmarks/POIs Ambositra Zafimaniry Wood Carving Workshop Ankazomivady Forest Reserve - Day 7
Ranomafana
You spend the day exploring Ranomafana National Park, a UNESCO site and one of Madagascar's most beautiful reserves. The hike takes you through dense bamboo jungle and humid rainforest where you observe unique wildlife and plants. You'll have free time later to relax at warm thermal springs or try optional activities like the chameleon farm or visits to a traditional Tanala village.
Included Activities
- Hike through Ranomafana National Park bamboo jungle observing fauna and flora
Optional Activities
- Visit warm thermal springs
- Trip to chameleon farm in Ifanadiana
- Excursion to typical Tanala village with village walk and school visit outside holidays
Landmarks/POIs Ranomafana National Park Ifanadiana - Day 8
Ranomafana to Ranohira
Traveling via Fianarantsoa, you reach Ambalavao known for handmade Antaimoro paper. You tour the traditional paper manufacturing process, then visit Anja lemur park to see ring-tailed lemurs in the rocky granite landscape. After that, you cross the Horombe Plateau and arrive at your hotel in Ranohira by evening.
Included Activities
- Tour traditional Antaimoro paper manufactory in Ambalavao
- Visit Anja lemur park to observe ring-tailed lemurs
Landmarks/POIs Fianarantsoa Ambalavao Anja Lemur Park Horombe Plateau - Day 9
Ranohira
A circular hike through the Isalo Mountains takes you through rugged sandstone with deep gorges and unusual rock formations. You spot rare succulents and lemurs while learning about Bara rock tombs, then swim at Piscine Naturelle, a natural oasis with fan palms. The day finishes with a visit to a Bara village to understand their culture and traditions.
Included Activities
- Circular hike through Isalo Mountains observing rare succulents, lemurs, and Bara rock tombs
- Visit Piscine Naturelle oasis for swimming
- Visit Bara village to learn about their traditions
Landmarks/POIs Isalo Mountains Piscine Naturelle - Day 10
Ranohira to Ifaty
You travel west through savannah landscapes and dry thorn forests toward the coast. Along the roadside you see colorfully decorated Mahafaly burial sites. Stopping at Zombitse-Vohibasia National Park's dry forest, you spot larval sifakas, weasel lemurs, succulents, and nearly half of Madagascar's endemic bird species before arriving in Ifaty.
Included Activities
- Stop at Zombitse-Vohibasia National Park to observe endemic bird species, larval sifakas, weasel lemurs and succulents
Landmarks/POIs Zombitse-Vohibasia National Park - Days 11 - 12
Ifaty
Your final days are spent relaxing on beaches along the Mozambique Channel. An excursion to Fonyala Reserve takes you through dry forest where Madagascar's famous endemic baobab trees grow, plus rare bird species. You also visit a fishing village of the Vezo people, then have free time to rest or try optional activities like pirogue rides or snorkeling at offshore reefs.
Included Activities
- Excursion to Fonyala Reserve with endemic baobab trees and bird species
- Visit fishing village of Vezo people
Optional Activities
- Pirogue ride
- Snorkeling trip to offshore reef
Landmarks/POIs Fonyala Reserve Mozambique Channel - Day 13
Ifaty to Antananarivo
You transfer to Tulear airport for your domestic flight back to the capital. Depending on your arrival time, there's an option to visit Ambohimanga, the former residence of the Merina monarchy, where the Rova palace offers panoramic views of the city. You'll then check into your hotel.
Optional Activities
- Visit Ambohimanga former Merina monarchy residence and Rova queen's palace with city panoramic views
Landmarks/POIs Ambohimanga Rova (Merina Queen's Palace) - Day 14
Antananarivo
Your day is open to explore Antananarivo at your own pace. You can visit the art gallery of Malagasy painter Zach Edith or wander through colorful local markets with all kinds of products. Depending on your flight time, you'll head to the airport for your return flight to Europe.
Optional Activities
- Visit art gallery of Malagasy painter Zach Edith
- Explore colorful local markets
- Day 15
Arrival
You arrive home after your Madagascar adventure.
