Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Antananarivo
You'll arrive at Ivato International Airport where your guide meets you with a welcome greeting. They help with customs, currency exchange, and setting up a local SIM card if needed. After that, it's a transfer to your hotel in the city to settle in for the night.
- Start point
- Antananarivo, Analamanga, Madagascar (Airport/Accommodation.)
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Currency exchange assistance
- SIM card setup
- Day 2
Reniala Reserve - Isalo National Park
After breakfast, head to Toliara Airport for a private bus transfer. Check out Reniala Reserve to walk through the dry forest and see diverse baobab trees, then experience a village immersion. Following lunch, continue north towards Ranohira with a stop at Antsokay Arboretum to see endangered plants. You'll arrive at Isalo National Park in the afternoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Reniala Reserve exploration with baobab forest visit
- Village immersion experience
- Antsokay Arboretum visit
Landmarks Reniala Reserve Antsokay Arboretum Isalo National Park - Day 3
Isalo National Park
Spend the full day exploring Isalo National Park on foot. Hike to a natural pool and wander through the canyon with its eroded geological formations. The park has historical significance as a former burial ground of the Bara tribes, and you might spot lemurs. Have a picnic lunch in the park, then visit the Window of Isalo viewpoint for sunset before heading back to the hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Picnic lunch in the park), Dinner
Included Activities
- Hike to natural pool in Isalo National Park
- Canyon exploration
- Picnic lunch in the park
- Window of Isalo sunset viewpoint visit
Landmarks Isalo National Park Window of Isalo - Day 4
Ambalavao - Betsileo Highlands
Travel across a plateau to Anja, a community-managed park where park revenue supports the local school. Take a few-hour forest walk where you'll likely see large groups of ring-tailed lemurs up close. From there, continue to Ambalavao to visit the intriguing Anteimoro paper factory and Silk factory. You'll spend the night in the heart of the Betsileo highlands.
Included Activities
- Anja Community Park forest walk with ring-tailed lemur viewing
- Anteimoro paper factory visit
- Silk factory visit
Landmarks Anja Community Park Ambalavao - Day 5
Fianarantsoa - Ranomafana
Start by observing a market day before heading to Fianarantsoa for a city tour. Journey to Ranomafana, a town in the tropical rainforest on Madagascar's eastern coast. You'll pass through small villages and see local life with bananas and charcoal sellers rather than rice paddies. Have some free time to explore the village streets near the park entrance, and enjoy a brief night stroll hoping to spot chameleons, tree frogs, and mouse lemurs.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Fianarantsoa city tour
- Evening village exploration and night stroll at Ranomafana
Optional Activities
- Market day observation at Betsileo market
Landmarks Fianarantsoa Ranomafana - Day 6
Ambositra - Antsirabe
In the morning, explore some of the finest trails in Ranomafana National Park with your expert guide, venturing into the rainforest hoping to spot the golden bamboo lemur and other wildlife including lemurs, birds, reptiles, butterflies, and orchids. Trails can be steep and slippery but distances are manageable. Travel north to Ambositra for a city tour discovering traditional Malagasy crafts like marquetry, weaving, and wood carving. Continue to Antsirabe, arriving late in the afternoon.
Included Activities
- Ranomafana National Park rainforest hiking
- Ambositra city tour with traditional craft discovery
Landmarks Ranomafana National Park Ambositra - Day 7
Miandrivazo
Start with a city tour of Antsirabe, known as Madagascar's most sophisticated city and famous for having the largest number of local rickshaws. Travel by rickshaw through Independence Avenue and Hotel des Termes. Explore the area's artisanal crafts in the morning, specifically visiting the Horn Factory for which this moderate climate city is known. In the afternoon, head west to Miandrivazo in the lowland savannah region, approximately 4 to 5 hours away.
Included Activities
- Antsirabe city rickshaw tour
- Horn Factory visit
Landmarks Antsirabe - Day 8
Morondava - Kirindy Forest Reserve
Start your journey towards Morondava and stop for lunch. Visit the Avenue of the Baobabs to catch one of Madagascar's iconic sunsets before driving to Kirindy Forest Reserve. After checking in, take a nighttime nature walk with hopes of spotting a fossa and the giant jumping rat.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Avenue of the Baobabs sunset visit
- Kirindy Forest Reserve night walk
Landmarks Avenue of the Baobabs Kirindy Forest Reserve - Day 9
Morondava - Antananarivo
Begin with a brief hike through Kirindy Forest Reserve at 7:30 AM after breakfast. Explore the forest home to seven lemur species including common brown lemurs and Verreaux's sifakas, plus around 40 bird species, 50 reptile species, and 15 amphibian species. Return to Morondava to catch your flight back to Tana.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Kirindy Forest Reserve guided hike
Landmarks Kirindy Forest Reserve - Day 10
Mandraka - Andasibe
Travel to Andasibe via National Road N2, approximately 5 to 6 hours depending on traffic in Tana. Pass through lush landscapes of Madagascar's humid eastern region with primary forests and lakes. Stop at Mandraka to check out Peyrieras private reserve to see chameleons, snakes, lemurs, and butterflies. Continue to Andasibe National Park, arriving late afternoon. Check in and enjoy a 1.5-hour guided night visit around 6:30 PM before returning to the hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Peyrieras private reserve exploration
- Andasibe National Park guided night visit
Landmarks Peyrieras Andasibe National Park - Day 11
Andasibe Village - Manambato
After breakfast, venture into Andasibe National Park for approximately 3 to 4 hours of hiking through vast tropical rainforest. See nine lemur species including the Indri Indri, the largest lemurs in Madagascar, plus orchids, chameleons, tenrecs, and numerous birds. Stroll through Andasibe village, a typical Betsimisaraka village representing Madagascar's second-largest ethnic group, experiencing their lifestyle and culture. Travel to Manambato and take a boat to reach your lodge.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Andasibe National Park hiking
- Andasibe village stroll and cultural experience
Landmarks Andasibe National Park Andasibe Village - Day 12
Panagalanes
Focus on Panagalanes with a boat ride to fully appreciate the abundant plant life, visit nearby villages, and gain insight into local lifestyle. Later, enjoy a scheduled guided night walk to observe the aye-aye, the most well-known nocturnal lemur in Madagascar.
Included Activities
- Panagalanes boat ride with village visits
- Guided night walk to spot aye-aye
Landmarks Panagalanes - Day 13
Tamatave - Mahambo
Transport to Tamatave via the Pangalane Channel and then to Mahambo by car. After breakfast, board a motorboat for the journey. During the trip, encounter various local vessels like barges, fluvial bush-taxis, and canoes. Meet friendly sailors and hear joyful cheers from children along the riverbanks. Witness unique and memorable moments of daily life.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Pangalane Channel motorboat journey
Landmarks Tamatave Pangalane Channel - Day 14
Sainte Marie Island
Following an early breakfast at 6am, journey to Mahambo and board the El Condor ferry for a 2.5-hour trip to Sainte Marie Island. While traveling, there's a chance to spot whales in the surrounding waters. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel and have time to unwind and relax.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Whale spotting during ferry journey
Landmarks Sainte Marie Island - Day 15
Nosy Boraha)
Spend the full day exploring Sainte Marie Island, a 57-kilometer-long granitic island 8 kilometers off Madagascar's eastern coast. Discover tropical palm-fringed beaches, coral-ringed bays, and varied landscapes including Ile aux Nattes to the south with its splendid lagoon, mangroves in the east, natural swimming pools in the north, and forests in the center. Learn about vanilla, cinnamon, clove, and orchids as you pass through small villages, wild beaches, mangroves, rice fields, and experience the Malagasy way of life on the island.
Included Activities
- Full-day Sainte Marie Island exploration
- Village visits and cultural experiences
- Vanilla, cinnamon, clove, and orchid education
Landmarks Sainte Marie Island (Nosy Boraha) Ile aux Nattes - Day 16
Departure
Leisure time on Sainte Marie Island before transportation to the airport for your onward journey.
Optional Activities
- Additional exploration of Sainte Marie Island
- Day 17
Capital City Tour
After breakfast, explore Madagascar's capital city (Tana). Visit Royal Hill of Ambohimanga, a UNESCO World Heritage Site comprising a royal city and sacred locations including the Queen's Palace, an emblem of the Merina Kingdom. Situated on the highest hill in Antananarivo, enjoy incredible panoramic views. Explore Independence Avenue and Anosy Lake where diverse groups from across the island gather. Visit the Digue artisanal market for souvenirs, then transfer to the airport for your outbound flight.
- End point
- Antananarivo, Analamanga, Madagascar (Airport.)
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Royal Hill of Ambohimanga visit
- Independence Avenue and Anosy Lake exploration
- Digue artisanal market visit
Landmarks Royal Hill of Ambohimanga Queen's Palace Anosy Lake Digue Artisanal Market
