Itinerary
- Day 1
Antananarivo
After landing at Ivato Airport in Antananarivo, your driver handles the customs formalities and transports you to your hotel for rest following the flight.
Optional Activities
- Currency exchange at airport
- Visa purchase on arrival (35 euros for up to 30 days stay)
- Day 2
Antananarivo - Andasibe
You'll start with a guided city tour of Antananarivo's upper town at 8:00 am, seeing monuments and historical architecture. From there, drive east through forests and villages for roughly 4 hours until you reach Andasibe forest. Later in the evening, join a guided night hike to spot nocturnal lemurs and other forest inhabitants.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- City tour in Antananarivo (approximately 3 hours) - guided walking tour of upper town with local guide
- Night hike in Andasibe forest (approximately 2 hours) - search for nocturnal animals with local guide
Landmarks Ambohimanga - Day 3
Andasibe
Begin your morning at Analamazaotra National Park's rainforest checking out lemurs, birds and chameleons over about 4 hours. After lunch, head to the private Mitsinjo Park reserve where you can see colorful frogs, chameleons and reptiles, with optional tree climbing or canoeing if you're interested.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to Analamazaotra National Park (4 hours) - rainforest exploration with wildlife viewing
- Visit to Mitsinjo Private Park (2 hours) - reserve exploration with animal viewing
Optional Activities
- Tree climbing in Mitsinjo Park
- Canoeing on the Analamazotra River
- Tree planting activity at nursery
Landmarks Analamazaotra National Park Mitsinjo Private Park - Day 4
Maromizaha
Spend the full day in Maromizaha Reserve, also called the 'dragon tree forest'. This dense, moist evergreen forest covers 1,880 hectares on Madagascar's eastern edge. You'll choose between a short walk or a longer trek where you can spot Sifaka and Indri lemurs plus a waterfall near the research center.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to Maromizaha Reserve (full day) - forest exploration with wildlife viewing
Optional Activities
- Long walk option (one full day) - includes Sifaka, Indri Indri viewing and waterfall near research center
Landmarks Maromizaha Reserve - Day 5
Andasibe - Antananarivo
Visit the small local VOIMMA reserve managed by the community over about 2 hours to see indris, sifakas and various reptiles and insects. Then drive back to Antananarivo on the same road and get dropped off at a hotel near the airport.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to VOIMMA reserve (2 hours) - local reserve exploration with wildlife viewing
Landmarks VOIMMA Reserve - Day 6
Antananarivo - Morondava - Kirindy
Take a morning domestic flight from Antananarivo to Morondava, which takes 1 hour 10 minutes. After arrival, drive through the famous Baobab Avenue with its massive lined trees, then continue to Kirindy Forest Reserve (70 km from Morondava). In the evening, go on a 2-hour night walk in Kirindy to spot nocturnal animals.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Excursion to Baobab Avenue - visit to famous natural monument with approximately 40 lined baobab trees
- Night visit to Kirindy forest (approximately 2 hours) - guided night walk with local guide
Landmarks Baobab Avenue Kirindy Forest Reserve - Day 7
Kirindy
Start early at around 6 am for a 4-hour morning hike in Kirindy Forest while animals are most active. You'll walk through this remnant of primary dry forest with its endemic flora and fauna. In the afternoon, visit the Marofandilia forest with its lovely baobab tree where animals are easy to find.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Day hike in Kirindy Forest (approximately 4 hours) - guided forest exploration with wildlife viewing
Optional Activities
- Visit to Marofandilia forest in afternoon - forest exploration with baobab tree viewing
Landmarks Kirindy Forest Marofandilia Forest - Day 8
Kirindy - Bekopaka
Head out on an approximately 8-hour journey west across unpaved roads to reach Bekopaka near UNESCO-listed Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park. Cross two rivers including the Tsiribihina River on a wooden ferry, stopping for lunch at Le Mad Zebu restaurant in Belo sur Tsiribihina. You'll arrive in the late afternoon and check into your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks Tsiribihina River - Day 9
Bekopaka
Visit the Big Tsingy section of Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park, located 2.5 hours drive north of Bekopaka on a gravel road. You'll walk through the famous karst limestone peaks formed over 200 million years ago that make this a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Spot endemic bats, birds and up to 11 lemur species adapted to this harsh environment.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park - Big Tsingy section with guided exploration
Landmarks Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park - Day 10
Bekopaka
After breakfast, head to the Little Tsingys, another section of Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park near Bekopaka village. Choose from various tour options including cave visits, tomb exploration, forest hiking or a boat trip on the Manambolo River in a hollowed-out tree trunk. You'll find 11 prosimian species, 90 bird species and 350 plant species.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to Little Tsingys section of Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park - guided exploration
Optional Activities
- Cave and tomb visits
- Forest hiking
- Manambolo River boat trip in hollowed-out tree trunk
Landmarks Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park - Little Tsingys Manambolo River - Day 11
Bekopaka - Morondava
Drive 8 hours back south along the west coast of Madagascar to Morondava. You'll take the same route you traveled north, heading through rocky landscapes back to your starting point.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 12
Morondava
You have a free day in Morondava to rest and recover from the long drive. Relax at your hotel or on the beach, or pick from optional excursions like a boat trip through the mangrove forest and a visit to the fishing village of Betania.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Boat trip in mangrove forest
- Visit to fishing village of Betania
- Day 13
Morondava - Miandrivazo - Antsirabe
After a hearty breakfast, drive through villages and past baobab trees for approximately 3 to 4 hours to reach Miandrivazo where you'll stop for lunch. Continue on a winding road through increasingly bare hills toward the high plateau, getting to Antsirabe by late afternoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 14
Antsirabe - Ambositra - Ranomafana
Drive approximately 2 hours to Ambositra, a town known for Malagasy handicrafts where you can watch sculptors at work. Then visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site village of Zafimaniry to see handmade wooden sculptures and inlay work. After that, travel 150 km southeast on winding mountain roads to reach Ranomafana rainforest for your overnight stay.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Watch sculptors at work in Ambositra
- Visit village of Zafimaniry UNESCO World Heritage Site - see handmade wooden sculptures and inlay work
Landmarks Zafimaniry Ranomafana National Park - Day 15
Ranomafana
Join an experienced local guide on a hike through 40,000-hectare Ranomafana National Park, a primary forest where you'll discover 12 lemur species, endemic birds and approximately 70 reptile and 90 butterfly species. In the afternoon, walk through the forest to a typical Tanala village where you'll learn about local customs and traditions.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Discovery tour through Ranomafana National Park with experienced local guide
- Visit to Tanala village (approximately 2 hours) - cultural immersion in traditional village
Landmarks Ranomafana National Park - Day 16
Ranomafana - Fianarantsoa - Ambalavao
Drive 65 km to Fianarantsoa, a remarkable old town on the World Heritage List surrounded by vineyards and Madagascar's only tea plantation. Built on hills like the capital, the town is known for the Karenjy company and its social enterprises. Continue to Ambalavao, known for its weekly cattle market on Wednesdays and traditional Antaimoro paper production.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Excursions in Fianarantsoa - local guide available through driver/hotel
Landmarks Fianarantsoa Ambalavao - Day 17
Ambalavao - Anja Park - Ranohira
Leave Ambalavao early to visit Anja Park, a small private reserve managed by the local community. You'll see a large colony of maki lemurs (approximately 300 individuals), birds and chameleons, plus royal carp in water and nice views from rocky promontories. Then drive to Ranohira near Isalo National Park as the landscape becomes progressively drier.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to Anja Park (4 hours) - private reserve exploration with wildlife and cultural viewing
Landmarks Anja Park Isalo National Park - Day 18
Ranohira
Dedicate this day to exploring 80,000-hectare Isalo National Park with its distinctive sandstone cliffs cut by deep canyons. Spot calico, Verreaux's, sifaka and brown lemurs in the gallery forests that line small streams, plus birds and chameleons. Take the short Namaza trail to a natural swimming pool where you can relax and swim.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to Isalo National Park - guided exploration of sandstone cliffs and canyons
Optional Activities
- Namaza trail hike - short scenic route to natural swimming pool
Landmarks Isalo National Park - Day 19
Ranohira - Tulear - Ifaty
Travel through landscapes of plateaus and wide savannas with imposing mountain ranges at the borders. Cross the center of a sapphire mining region, one of the world's richest gemstone areas. Continue toward Tulear, the capital of its province and southwest Madagascar's most important port. Stop at Zombitse-Vohibasia National Park for a 2-hour easy hike, then drive 30 km north to the seaside resort of Ifaty.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to Zombitse-Vohibasia National Park (2 hours) - easy guided hike through transitional forest
Landmarks Zombitse-Vohibasia National Park Tulear - Day 20
Ifaty
Visit the Reniala Reserve, a private 45-hectare nature reserve 800 meters from the sea with baobabs and Didiereaceae forest. See approximately 1,000 xerophilous plant species and around 60 endemic bird species. Spend as much time as you like in Ifaty enjoying pristine white sandy beaches, exploring the coral reef for diving or snorkeling, visiting the turtle village, or learning about the traditional Vezo community.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to Reniala thorn forest reserve (2-3 hours) - nature reserve exploration with flora and fauna viewing
Optional Activities
- Beach relaxation at Ifaty beach and lagoon
- Diving or snorkeling at coral reef
- Deep-sea fishing
- Sailing and boat trips
- Turtle village visit
- Cultural immersion with Vezo community
Landmarks Reniala Reserve - Day 21
Ifaty - Tulear - Antananarivo
Return to Tulear (1 hour) and visit the Antsokay Arboretum botanical garden over approximately 2 hours, a 40-hectare reserve preserving endangered plant species. Then fly back to Antananarivo on a domestic flight departing 16:40, arriving 18:25. Check into a hotel near the airport.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to Arboretum d'Antsokay botanical garden (approximately 2 hours) - botanical reserve exploration
Landmarks Arboretum d'Antsokay - Day 22
Antananarivo - Departure
Join an excursion to Talata Volonondry starting at 7:00 am for at least 2 hours of rural walking. You'll discover typical villages, their history, famous koba cakes, sarety cart production and Malagasy silk manufacturing. Then transfer to the airport depending on your intercontinental flight departure time.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Excursion to Talata Volonondry (at least 2 hours) - guided rural walk with village exploration and picnic lunch
Landmarks Talata Volonondry
