Best of Madagascar

Upon your arrival at Ivato International Airport, our team will welcome you and transfer you to the hotel we have carefully booked for you.

Overnight stay at the hotel

Departure by car to Antsirabe, the city of water;

This first day will give you a surprising glimpse of the rice-growing panoramas and the uniqueness of the rocky and mountainous landscapes of the Central Highlands;

You will appreciate the originality of the traditional constructions of the mud-brick houses with thatched or tiled roofs;

Lunch in Antsirabe and check-in at the hotel;

The afternoon is devoted to short visits and a rickshaw ride;

Antsirabe is a city steeped in history. The colonial vestiges of its glorious past, steeped in French colonization. Indeed, you will admire buildings of a very French inspiration, an avenue lined with oak trees, and the rustic and majestic Hôtel des Thermes. At the time, the town was nicknamed "Vichy Gasy" due to its therapeutic thermal springs. A city of art, visitors can visit the craft workshops to see the cutting of precious stones, the shaping of zebu horns into decorative accessories, and the making of miniature shoots.

Overnight stay at the hotel

Departure for Miandrivazo. Along the way, we'll discover the volcanic landscape of Antsirabe with its striking mountain cones and rice terraces. Antsirabe is the breadbasket of the Analamanga region.

Lunch in Mandoto.

Miandrivazo is the departure point for canoes on the Tsiribihina. It's in this village that we stock up on food during the descent down the river.

Overnight stay at a hotel in Miandrivazo.

Boarding a barge in the morning to sail along the Tsiribihina River. This river cruise offers several interesting stops in the wild Menabe region. As nature allows, we may spot the famous Verreaux's Sifaka lemur, chameleons, and kingfishers in the vegetation that stretches along the river.

After crossing breathtaking cliffs, we will enter an idyllic setting featuring a beautiful waterfall and a natural pool that invites us to take a refreshing swim.

Continuing the cruise, we will reach a nearby village to spend the evening.

Set up camp on the white sandbanks.

Overnight stay in a bivouac.

After breakfast, we'll embark on a short walk to meet the local people who inhabit the small villages along the riverbank (the village of Begidro);

This second day of travel down the Tsiribihina River offers us nothing but magical landscapes amidst an incredible natural resource;

This channel-based journey gives us the opportunity to encounter endemic bird species such as herons and wigeons;

Throughout the crossing, we'll discover species of bats clinging to the large cliffs. We'll also cross a tobacco plantation;

We'll spend the night under the stars in a tent on a huge white sandbar.

After spending some time connecting with the local people, we set off again early in the morning to reach Belo-sur-Tsiribihina;

Departure by 4X4 in the afternoon for Bekopaka (+/- 5 hours of dirt road).

Ferry crossing from Manambolo;

Overnight stay at the hotel.

Departure in the morning aboard a 4X4 to reach the spectacular Great Tsingy of Bemaraha, 17 km from Bekopaka. We will have plenty of time to appreciate the surprising beauty of this unparalleled landscape made up of Tsingy peaks;

The Great Tsingy of Bemaraha National Park are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The most sensational part of this hiking trail is essentially crossing the suspension bridge, where it has become customary to take photos as you pass through it;

We will have the opportunity to go caving in the caves that bear witness to the presence of humans in very ancient times (Andamozavaky Circuit for 4 hours of walking);

Return to the hotel at noon for lunch;

In the afternoon, we will visit the Little Tsingy, better known on the "Andadoany Circuit." The hiking trail invites us on a short expedition and will take you to discover the resources and heritage of the Tsingy. Indeed, we will find a breathtaking landscape with an extraordinary relief and deep canyons. This route will lead us on a botanical hike through a dense dry forest;

Return to the hotel in the late afternoon;

Overnight at the hotel

After breakfast, we'll depart for a long, dirt road ride to Morondava;

Cross the Manambolo River by ferry;

Lunch in Belo-sur-Tsiribihina at the Karibo Restaurant;

Early afternoon, we'll board a ferry to cross the famous Tsiribihina River;

Once we land, we'll stop at the mystical Sacred Baobab and the Lovers Baobab, the two famous Baobab trees that meet. A remarkable sight worthy of postcard photos;

We'll depart for Morondava in the evening to admire the spectacular sunset over the Avenue of the Baobabs;

Check-in at the hotel;

Overnight stay at the hotel

Departure after breakfast by 4X4 to the small fishing village south of Morondava;

The town is renowned for its artisanal expertise in building dhows and wooden canoes. This is a privileged opportunity to meet and interact with the local people;

Overnight stay at the hotel.

We'll leave Belo-sur-Mer early in the morning for Manja. The route is quite difficult and strewn with rocks. We'll cross a shrubby savannah dominated by baobab trees of various species.

Picnic on the road.

We'll arrive in Manja around the early afternoon, which is both a stopover town on the route and the cradle of the Sakalava ethnic group.

Overnight stay at the hotel.

After breakfast, depart for Ifaty, the most popular seaside resort thanks to its large coral reef lagoon, home to unique marine species endemic to the island.

We will cross the Mangoky River by ferry. In this part of the island, you can encounter the most enormous baobab species, measuring 28 meters in circumference.

Arrival in Ifaty and check-in at the hotel.

Overnight stay at the hotel.

You'll enjoy the most beautiful beach on the Ifaty coast during your free day of the trip. You'll have the opportunity to do discovery activities in an outrigger canoe with the famous Vezo fishermen and a whale watching trip. Don't miss out on a tan in the sun. Ifaty offers you its most beautiful turquoise lagoon, perfect for snorkeling.

After spending two relaxing days by the sea, we head back to Ranohira. Along the way, we'll see the Mahafaly tombs, adorned with funerary art and zebu horns. You'll be amazed by the succession of savannahs and grasses, where baobabs and latan trees are found.

Lunch in Ranohira.

Afternoon at leisure.

Towards the end of the afternoon, we'll have an exceptional sunset rendezvous at the Fenêtre d'Isalo, which is the hallmark of the Malagasy Far West. Within the massif, you'll be captivated by the most unusual sculptures of the ruined relief of Isalo.

Overnight stay at the hotel.

The fifteenth day of our trip is dedicated to visiting the immense Isalo National Park;

During your visit to the park, you will discover the nature and dry vegetation of Isalo;

The hikes will be enhanced by the ruined landscape of the massif;

The park contains plant species endemic to the island and lists the medicinal plants most used in traditional care or empirical medicine;

As for wildlife, the park is home to rare bird species, lemurs, and reptiles;

Within the park, discover the Bara and Sakalava tombs on the rocks, splendid statues sculpted by erosion offering an unusual charm to the landscape;

To get back to the source, nature lovers can take a dip in a natural pool;

Visit the Nymphe waterfall, a black and blue pool with crystal-clear water;
Picnic in the Namaza Canyon;

Return to the hotel around 4 p.m.;

Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel

We will then leave Ranohira. We will take the road back to Fianarantsoa, traversed by a timeless landscape, crossed by the Ihorombe Plateau;

Continuing the journey, we will make a stop to discover the Ring-tailed Lemurs in the Anja Community Reserve;

Visit Antemoro papermaking, wild silk weaving, and breeding in Ambalavao;

In the afternoon, we will begin a climb to the old town of Fianarantsoa to better understand its past and history. We will also have the opportunity to visit the studio of the famous photographer Pierrot Men;

Overnight stay at the hotel.

A day trip by FCE train (Fianarantsoa – East Coast) to Manakara;

This journey on the rails immerses you in the daily life of the local population;

This train journey offers breathtaking glimpses of the most beautiful landscapes;

On the program: several stops where we will have the opportunity to see various attractions such as the village, the Sahambavy tea plantation, the Andriamamovoka waterfall, etc.

We also take the opportunity to interact with the villagers who offer local products. In short, a pure folklore journey;

Overnight stay at the hotel.

A canoe trip down the Pangalanes Canal;

This is a day dedicated to a river cruise along the east coast of the Red Island. During the trip, you will encounter canoes supplying the riverside villages. You will also discover the unique aquatic landscape of the canal. You will meet the fishermen;

Visit the essential oil preparation workshops;

Picnic by the Indian Ocean;

Return to Manakara towards the end of the afternoon;

Overnight stay at the hotel.

Departure after breakfast for Ranomafana. Along the way, you'll glimpse valleys adorned with lush forests and a unique landscape.

We'll set off for a short walk through the nearby villages to meet the Tanala ethnic group.

In the afternoon, you can enjoy the natural hot spring pool at the Ranomafana Thermal Spa.

We'll set off for a nighttime visit around sunset. On the program, you'll discover lemurs and other nocturnal species that take refuge in the park.

Overnight stay at the hotel.

Departing from the hotel at 7:30 a.m., we will embark on an excursion punctuated by visits and discoveries within the Ranomafana National Park.

You will have the opportunity to encounter the most iconic lemur species. This 41,601-hectare forest park is known for its therapeutic spa. It has been listed as a World Natural Heritage Site in the Antsinanana region since 2007. Like its peers, it is home to several rare lemur species and plants, threatened with extinction.

After our visit, we will depart for Ambositra.

Along the way, we will glimpse a landscape unique to the region, a testament to the ingenuity of the Betsileo. These are a succession of terraced rice fields that cover the mountains and valleys.
Arrival in Ambositra, the capital of marquetry and wood carving. You will have the opportunity to purchase Zafimaniry art objects as souvenirs in the workshops and specialty shops;

Overnight stay at the hotel.

Return to the capital for lunch in Behenjy at the Coin du Foie Gras restaurant.

In the afternoon, we will embark on a historical and cultural discovery of the capital. We will tour the city center, which includes almost all of the city's historic monuments and statues, testifying to its glorious past.

Transfer to Ivato International Airport, depending on the international flight schedule.

End of the tour