15-Day By Barge to the Tsingy of Bemaraha with the South

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

Arrival in Antananarivo

Welcome and transfer to the hotel Antananarivo, the capital, which is the beating heart of Madagascar. Indeed, the "City of Thousands" is at the same time the largest economic, political, historical and cultural pole. Antananarivo is a step not to be missed because it has an undeniable tourist attraction, which is not always discovered at first sight. The palaces, streets, squares and houses of the upper town tell a fascinating story
Welcome on arrival and transfer to the hotel.

Main Destination:

Antananarivo (City)

Accommodation:

Relais Des Plateaux

• Mid-range hotel located near Antananarivo (City)

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Meals & Drinks:

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

Mandrivazo

We have an early start to this long drive stage.
Out of the city, rice fields and different villages define the landscape in the countryside.
We stop at Ambatolampy to discover how to make the local aluminium cooking-pot, which models all the population use at home. We stop at Antsirabe and free lunch at a local restaurant
Then we drive on west, leaving behind the highlands to the mid-west, villages and people become rare.
Arrive at Miandrivazo at the end of the day.

Main Destination:

Miandrivazo (Town)

Accommodation:

Soa Lia Hotel

• Mid-range hotel located in Miandrivazo (Town)

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Meals & Drinks:

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

Anosiampela

After breakfast, transfer to the pier and board a motorized barge. Along the way, you'll spot crocodiles on the islets and banks of the Tsiribihina, one of Madagascar's largest rivers, whose name means “where no one sets foot”. Bordered by cliffs, the river's banks are home to turtles, bats and birds: herons, ibises, egrets, humpback ducks and teal. Picturesque villages follow, including Begidro, where you can visit tobacco concessions or bathe in natural pools at the foot of waterfalls.
Dinner Overnight in tents.

Main Destination:

Anosinampela (Village)

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

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

Tsimafana

You continue your descent, passing by a beautiful waterfall. If you're feeling brave, you can walk down to the natural swimming pool (1h round trip). Return to the boat and continue your descent to the foot of the great cliffs of the Bemaraha Gorge... dinner included.
Overnight in tents.

Main Destination:

Tsimafana

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• The park

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinks not included

Bekopaka

Breakfast on the sandbank.
We continue our descent for a few hours as we meet more and more villages and then we come along side Tsimafana village.
We get our 4WD at the landing stage and drive to Tsimafana village where we take a car ferry to cross the river.
An uncomfortable track leads us to Bemaharaha Tsingy National Park, a hundred kilometres takes half a day drive from Belo/ Tsiribihina. Cross Manambolo River to get at Bekopaka village.
Night at the hotel.

Main Destination:

Bekopaka (Town)

Accommodation:

Le Grand Hotel du Tsingy de Bemaraha

• Mid-range hotel located in Bekopaka (Town)

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Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included)
• Drinks not included

Bekopaka

This is the most extraordinary site.
Tsingy is a real limestone cathedral, a formation with many faults, cracks and eroded blocks to sharp rocks makes it the most spectacular landscape of Madagascar.
This Jurassic massif formation started 200 millions years ago, the time the sea still covering Bemaraha region. Then the coral plate with seashells came up to the air, the wind and the rain have been sculpting on it since 5 million years to spectacular erosion. You can find 6 species of lemurs, reptiles, 53 kinds of birds. You have also the smallest chameleon there (Brookesia Perarmata).

This day is an opportunity to discover the most amazing site with a local guide. Lunch in picnic included.

NB: the level of walk difficulty depends on the participants’ ability and desire. The local guide will advise and recommend you the best choice.

Main Destination:

Bekopaka (Town)

Accommodation:

Le Grand Hotel du Tsingy de Bemaraha

• Mid-range hotel located in Bekopaka (Town)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included)
• Drinks not included

Morondava

We take the same track on the way back to Morondava, go across Manambolo and Tsiribihina Rivers by a car ferry; it might take sometimes a long time…
Free lunch at Belo.
We pass through the famous “Baobabs alley ” just before we get to Morondava town and at the best time, a low sun light setting off, baobab smooth trunk reflects the orange sun ray. You can take wonderful photographs.

Main Destination:

Morondava (Town)

Accommodation:

Le Vezo Beach Hotel

• Mid-range hotel located in Morondava (Town)

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Meals & Drinks:

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

Antsirabe

Long drive
Early in the morning, drive to Antsirabe through the same National Road. On the way, you'll see an area with lots of bushes, and as soon as there are streams, there will be trees. From Miandivazo, you follow a winding road along mostly bare hills to the Antsirabe plateau.
Arrival in Antsirabe at the end of the day.

Main Destination:

Antsirabe (City)

Accommodation:

Hôtel Menabe'L

• Mid-range hotel located in Antsirabe (City)

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Meals & Drinks:

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

Fianarantsoa

After breakfast, city tours of Antsirabe then we will head to the Betsileos country, stop in Ambositra. The cultural discovery is the trademark of this small animated city full of surprises. Stalls of carved wooden objects and marquetry are lined up in the streets : statuettes, assegais, jewelry boxes, paintings, furniture... The main authors of these works are the Zafimaniry, and a visit of their workshops is necessary. On the way, you can admire the beauty of the wooden sculptures on top of the tombs. Continuation towards Fianarantsoa. Night at the hotel.

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

Ranohira

After breakfast, drive to the south. On the way, visit the village reserve Anja, where you will get up close and personal with lemurs. Anja is home to the northernmost population of the most famous lemur: the catta lemur.
After the visit, the road opens on the great space of the south with the crossing of the plateau of Ihorombe, vast steppe frequented by herds of which extends until the foothills of the massif of Isalo.

Main Destination:

Ranohira (Town)

Accommodation:

Le Jardin du Roy

• Mid-range hotel located just outside Isalo NP

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Meals & Drinks:

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

Ranohira

Breakfast at the hotel.

The Isalo National Park is located in the Ihorombe region, about 700 km from Antananarivo. It adjoins the township of Ranohira which serves as its entry point and extends over an area of about 80,000 hectares. The visitors are enchanted by its natural pools, its majestic canyons and its caves formed in the rocks which date from the Jurassic period. All arrangements are made to allow everyone to fully enjoy their stay in the park. Numerous hotels, apartments, villas and bungalows are at their disposal to spend a pleasant moment in the wilderness.

REM : 3 to 4 hours of walk according to your physical condition.

Main Destination:

Ranohira (Town)

Accommodation:

Le Jardin du Roy

• Mid-range hotel located just outside Isalo NP

Meals & Drinks:

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

Ifaty

Early departure from Ranohira to reach Tulear. The vegetation of the South gradually takes its place in the landscape: baobabs, aloes, euphorbiaceae... along the road, you will be able to observe the impressive herds of zebus as well as the tombs of the Mahafaly ethnic groups. The mushroom villages of the sapphire seekers are born in desert expanses. Arrival in Tulear, in the heart of a landscape of rocky massifs with spectacular shapes, small tour of the city. Stop at Reniala reserve, then continuation till Ifaty.

Main Destination:

Ifaty (Town & Beach)

Accommodation:

Vovo Telo Lodge

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

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Meals & Drinks:

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

Ifaty

Free day.
Several activities are possible from your hotel, snorkalling, whale watching (on july till september), sailing pirogue trip in the lagoon. If you're into birds, you'll find endemics like the long-tailed Ground Roller and Subdesert Mesite.
The sea and the beach call for relaxation and idleness.

Main Destination:

Ifaty (Town & Beach)

Accommodation:

Vovo Telo Lodge

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

Meals & Drinks:

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

Antananarivo

Breakfast at the hotel
Relaxing morning at the beach. According schedule transfer to the airport by the staff of the hotel, then take connexion to Antananarivo.
Arrival in the city your guide will pick you up and assist you, Transfer till the hotel.

Main Destination:

Antananarivo (City)

Accommodation:

Relais Des Plateaux

• Mid-range hotel located near Antananarivo (City)

Meals & Drinks:

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

Departure

Transfer and assistance to the airport your international flights.

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.