15-Day Tired of Staying Home - Discover Madagascar

• You'll be collected from the airport.
• Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.

Arrival in Antananarivo

Welcome to Madagascar! Today you'll arrive at the international airport of Tana. After all formalities and money exchange, you will be welcomed by your English speaking tour guide. You will then be transferred to your hotel, which is located in the city centre.

Main Destination:

Antananarivo (City)

Accommodation:

Hotel La Villette

• Mid-range hotel located in Antananarivo (City)

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Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinks not included

Antananarivo - Akanin'ny Nofy (370km/8hrs)

Today, you will set off for Manambato, towards the east. Especially impressive is the green landscape that extends on today's journey. After your arrival in Manambato, an impressive boat trip on the Pangalanes Canal awaits you. Onboard a motorboat, you'll go to Akanin'ny Nofy, which is translated as "Nest of Dreams". During the trip, you can experience the hospitality of the fishing villages first-hand. Before dinner, a night game drive awaits you, during which you will see the famous nocturnal Aye-aye finger animals. This animal is rarely found in Madagascar anymore, because of its appearance, it is scary and was killed by the locals.

Main Destination:

Palmarium Reserve

Best Time To Go August to January (Less rainfall)

High Season July, August and December (The reserve gets very busy)

Best Weather

Accommodation:

Palmarium Hotel

• Mid-range lodge located inside Palmarium Reserve

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinks not included

Akanin'ny Nofy

In the morning, you'll undertake a one-hour hike in the surrounding rainforest to observe different lemur species, such as the sifakas and indris. The variety of plants here is also worth seeing. Among other things, you will see the carnivorous pitcher plant, which is endemic to Madagascar. In the afternoon, you are invited to visit a Betsimisaraka fishing village called Andranokoditra. Here you will get authentic insights into the life of the locals.

Main Destination:

Palmarium Reserve

Accommodation:

Palmarium Hotel

• Mid-range lodge located inside Palmarium Reserve

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinks not included

Akanin'ny Nofy - Andasibe (228km/5hrs)

Today you'll leave this idyllic world of Akanin'ny Nofy. From your hotel, your boat transfer to Manambato takes place again. Afterwards, you'll continue your journey to Andasibe where the Perinet Reserve is located. Many species of lemurs and makis are found here, both day and night-active. Your arrival will be in the afternoon. The evening can be ended with a night hike along the forest in search of nocturnal animals: frogs, chameleons and other nocturnal animals will accompany you with their nocturnal activities.

Main Destination:

Andasibe-Mantadia National Park

Best Time To Visit August to November (Less rainfall)

High Season July to August and December (The park is busy)

Best Weather April, May, October and November

Wildlife in Andasibe-Mantadia NP

Indri Common

Common
brown lemur Common

Other
chameleons Common

Leaf-tailed geckos Common

Diademed sifaka Occasional

Show more

Red-bellied
lemur Occasional

Grey
bamboo lemur Occasional

Mouse lemurs Occasional

Sportive lemurs Occasional

Parson's
chameleon Occasional

Painted mantella Occasional

Black-and-white
ruffed lemur Rare

Madagascar tree boa Rare

Fossa Very Rare

Accommodation:

Feon'ny Ala Hotel

• Mid-range hotel located just outside Andasibe-Mantadia NP

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Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinks not included

Andasibe - Antsirabe (312km/7hrs)

After a healthy breakfast, you will set out to visit the impressive national park of Analamazaotra and get a feel for this natural environment. Here you will look for the indris, the largest living lemurs. An indri concert is one of the highlights of this trip and this national park is the best place to participate in this magical and unique experience. Apart from the indris, you will admire the biodiversity that the park offers. Endemic plants as well as other animal species like geckos and other lemurs are also worth seeing in the park. After the visit, you will set out for Antsirabe. Passing picturesque villages, you will reach the important town of Antsirabe after a three-hour drive: centre of trade, agriculture and industry. A city tour is highly recommended here. You will get an insight into the gemstones of Madagascar. A workshop of miniatures as well as an art gallery is among other things on the program.

Main Destination:

Antsirabe (City)

Accommodation:

Couleur Cafe

• Mid-range hotel located in Antsirabe (City)

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Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinks not included

Antsirabe - Fianarantsoa (245km/6hrs)

From Antsirabe, set course for Fianarantsoa today. Before your departure, an interesting city tour of Antsirabe can be made today. Amongst other things you will visit the following sights: the cathedral of Antsirabe, the stone grinding shop, the avenue of Antsirabe with the main railway station, a small manufactory for making objects from zebu horns and, depending on the time available, the art gallery of "Fulgence". He is a famous artist who mainly concentrates on painting. After this extensive city tour, you will leave Antsirabe. In Ambositra, you will take a short break to stretch your legs. As the city is famous for wood carving, you will visit a small workshop here. Finally, you continue your journey to Fianarantsoa. Fianarantsoa is translated as "where you learn the good things". It belongs to one of the biggest cities of Madagascar and is considered the capital of the Betsileo people. A city tour through the old and upper town is not to be missed in Fianarantsoa.

Main Destination:

Fianarantsoa (City)

Accommodation:

Hotel Zomatel

• Mid-range hotel located in Fianarantsoa (City)

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Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinks not included

Fianarantsoa - Ranohira (279km/6hrs)

You're leaving Fianarantsoa and heading for Ranohira. On the way, you will visit the Anja park, where the Kattas can be found. Kattas belong to the group of lemurs and because of their specific social behaviour, they are probably the most amusing representatives of the Malagasy animal species besides the sifakas. You will continue to Ranohira. On the way to Ihosy, you will experience an impressive change from the terraced highlands to the dry region of the south at the huge granite formation "Gateway of the South". A journey into another world, shaped by herds of cattle and their herdsmen, the land of the Bara, one of the most original ethnic groups of Madagascar. Past the bishop's hat, a holy place of the people living here, you will reach your destination for today, the village of Ranohira in the Isalo Mountains. At the end of the afternoon, you can admire the impressive sunset at the Window of Isalo. The evening atmosphere at the Window of Isalo and its surroundings is unique.

Main Destination:

Isalo National Park

Best Time To Visit May to October (Cooler, sunny days)

High Season July, August and December (The park is busy)

Best Weather June to August

Wildlife in Isalo NP

Ring-tailed
lemur Common

Western
plated lizard Common

Verreaux's sifaka Occasional

Red-fronted
brown lemur Occasional

Oustalet's
chameleon Occasional

Show more

Jewel chameleon Occasional

Stump-tailed
chameleon Occasional

Merrem's
Madagascar swift Occasional

Grey
mouse lemur Rare

Red-tailed
sportive lemur Rare

Painted
burrowing frog Rare

Blue-legged
mantella Rare

Fossa Very Rare

Madagascar
tree boa Very Rare

Accommodation:

Isalo Ranch

• Mid-range lodge located just outside Isalo NP

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinks not included

National Park of Isalo and Bara Village

Ranohira is famous for the Isalo National Park. A day trip through the sandstone formations is worthwhile today. The rugged mountain landscape with bizarre rock formations and caves are especially attractive. Despite the dry climate, streams with crystal clear water run through the deep gorges and provide small green oases. Let yourself be impressed by the spectacular mountain landscape with rocks that shimmer in colour and enjoy this unique landscape that will catch your eye. The gorges and deep canyons carry the water during the dry season and are considered the irrigation of the park. After the impressive hike, a beautifully laid out natural swimming pool awaits you.

Main Destination:

Isalo National Park

Accommodation:

Isalo Ranch

• Mid-range lodge located just outside Isalo NP

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinks not included

Ranohira - Ifaty (230km/6hrs)

The journey continues. You drive to the small fishing village of Ifaty. On the way, you will focus your attention on the art of burial through wall paintings and grave steles of the population of the south, called Antandroys and Mahafalys. It cannot be missed on this route. In the south of Madagascar, the locals work hard during their lifetime in order to be able to afford a large or magnificent grave later on. On the way, you will visit the famous Zombitse National Park. The National Park is home to one of Madagascar's most famous mammals: lemurs. Eight distinct varieties of lemurs take up residence in the heart of the lush vegetation, so unusual in the savannah. The Verreaux's sifaka - whose scientific name is Propithecusverreauxi - is one of the park's star attractions. Road to Ifaty after the visit.

Main Destination:

Ifaty (Town & Beach)

Accommodation:

Bamboo Club

• Mid-range hotel located in Ifaty (Town & Beach)

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Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinks not included

Visit of the Fonyala Reserve

After breakfast, you will take a walk in the baobab forest called Fonyala. Various species of fauna and flora find refuge in the forest. This reserve owes its name to a famous endemic Baobab of Madagascar: Andansonia rubrostipa (Fony) which thrones on the site. After the visit, the rest of the day will be at your disposal. During the morning you can plan a snorkeling excursion with your hotel. And enjoy the sun and the beautiful weather in your hotel in the afternoon.

Main Destination:

Ifaty (Town & Beach)

Accommodation:

Bamboo Club

• Mid-range hotel located in Ifaty (Town & Beach)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinks not included

Ifaty - Ambalavao (639km/10hrs)

After an extensive breakfast, you'll return to Ambalavao today. After your arrival, you can participate in a cultural and interesting city tour. You will visit a paper factory that produces paper from the Havoha tree. This kind of production is originally from Arab businessmen. Finally, you will be taken to your hotel. The rest of the day is at your free disposal.

Main Destination:

Ambalavao (City)

Accommodation:

Tsienimparihy Lodge

• Budget hotel located in Ambalavao (City)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinks not included

Ambalavao - Ranomafana (125km/2hrs)

Today, the road leads us to Ranomafana, where the famous national park is located. Ranomafana is one of the last mountain forests in the world. It offers all nature lovers many spectacular views, which will certainly be unforgettable. Ranomafana National Park is home to many animal and plant species, many of which are now threatened with extinction. In the evening, a night hike along the forest is on the program.

Main Destination:

Ranomafana National Park

Best Time To Visit August to November (Less rainfall)

High Season July, August and December (The park is busy)

Best Weather April, May, September and November

Wildlife in Ranomafana NP

Golden
bamboo lemur Common

Red-fronted
brown lemur Common

Red-bellied
lemur Common

Greater
bamboo lemur Common

Grey
bamboo lemur Common

Show more

Giraffe-necked
weevil Common

Parson's
chameleon Common

Milne-Edward's
sifaka

Occasional

Rufous
mouse lemur Occasional

Satanic
leaf-tailed gecko Occasional

Painted
mantella Occasional

Spotted
fanaloka Rare

Ring-tailed
mongoose Rare

Fossa Very Rare

Accommodation:

Le Grenat Hotel

• Budget hotel located just outside Ranomafana NP

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinks not included

National Park of Ranomafana and Tanàla Village

During a long circular hike, you will discover the secrets of the park. Numerous endemic animals can be observed up close: birds, chameleons, butterflies, frogs and 12 species of lemurs. The German primatologist Bernhard Meier contributed significantly to the development of nature tourism in Ranomafana National Park in 1986, with the discovery of a new species of bamboo lemur, the "golden bamboo lemur" Hapalemurreus. After visiting the park, you will drive to explore a private chameleon farm in Ifanadiana. Then you will visit the village of Tanala. In this non-authentic village, you will come into contact with the local population and especially, the king. You can buy wicker here to support the village.

Main Destination:

Ranomafana National Park

Accommodation:

Le Grenat Hotel

• Budget hotel located just outside Ranomafana NP

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinks not included

Ranomafana - Antsirabe (270km/7hrs)

Today is dedicated to the return journey to Antsirabe. At several points, you will make photo stops and have the opportunity to stretch your legs. The city is rich in history and past remains. You can also feel the strong colonial influence through the architecture of the buildings of the city. Visit the volcanic lake in Antsirabe, Madagascar as well as the diving board Lake Antsirabe Madagascar. You will also have the opportunity to visit the various craft workshops where many objects are made from zebu horns and woven from natural fibre. You will reach the colonial city in the afternoon.

Main Destination:

Antsirabe (City)

Accommodation:

Couleur Cafe

• Mid-range hotel located in Antsirabe (City)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinks not included

Flight Home

Your trip ends today. After a few kilometres and if your schedule permits, you are invited to an informative visit to the Museum of Photography of Andohalo. There you will discover the history of the high plateaus in the royal era. After the visit, you will go to the colourful local markets where you will be able to buy some souvenirs. Finally, you will be driven to the airport.

Main Destination:

Antananarivo (City)

Accommodation:

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinks not included

• Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost.
• You'll be dropped off at the airport.