West and East Circuit

Lors de votre arrivée dans l’aéroport international d’Ivato, notre équipe vont vous accueillir et va vous transférer à l’hôtel que nous avons soigneusement réservé pour vous.

Nuit à hôtel

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 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 at the hotel

Departure for Miandrivazo, the starting point for canoe or barge trips down the Tsiribihina River.

On the way, you'll discover the volcanic landscape of Antsirabe with its striking mountain cones. Antsirabe is the breadbasket of the Analamanga Region. You'll enjoy the artistic layout of the rice fields on the hills.

Lunch in Mandoto

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

Overnight at a hotel.

Board 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.

Setting up camp on the white sandbanks.

After breakfast, we'll embark on a short walk to meet the local people who live in 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 vast 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, check-in at the hotel.

Overnight 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 World Heritage Site by UNESCO. 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 at the hotel.

Return to Antsirabe for a 9-hour drive and a 30-minute drive to the village of Manandona.

Check-in at the lodge. Folklore entertainment provided by the villagers in the evening (traditional music and dance).

Departure after breakfast to discover the rural world of the Malagasy Central Highlands.

The walk through the Manandona Valley will allow you to discover typical villages and local crafts. Manandona is a small village located 20 km south of Antsirabe along the RN7. This village boasts an authentic rural lifestyle and has successfully preserved its know-how and traditions.

In the afternoon, we continue to Antananarivo.

Overnight at a hotel.

Departure in the morning towards the east coast to reach Andasibe. We'll take the famous RN2 road, which leads us to the Andasibe Analamazotra National Park. You'll be amazed by the mosaics of the unique vegetation of eastern Madagascar. We'll visit the Butterfly Farm, where we'll admire species of butterflies, chameleons, and crocodiles.

Arrival in Andasibe and check-in at the hotel.

In the afternoon, we'll visit the Vakona Reserve and the magnificent Lemur Island.

Towards the end of the afternoon, we'll embark on a nighttime tour to encounter the famous Mouse Lemur, Madagascar's smallest lemur.

Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, we begin our tour of the park, a veritable treasure trove of nature, home to the Indri-Indri, one of the rarest primate species in the world and found only in Madagascar. The park is truly a nature reserve, home to a variety of unique fauna and flora on the island. Encounters include mammals of all kinds, 117 bird species, and 51 reptile species.

We will also encounter bats roaming the heart of this surprising natural environment. Andasibe Mantadia National Park is home to a large number of orchid species, highly endemic to Madagascar.

The park's landscape offers breathtaking panoramic views, immersing us in a lush natural forest.

If you're looking to meet Madagascar's lemurs, Andasibe National Park is the perfect place to be. Having your photo taken with these iconic species that make the Red Island exceptional will be the most beautiful memories.

Picnic lunch in the park.

Return to the hotel around 3 p.m.

Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, head to Mahambo and have lunch in Tamatave.

In the afternoon, we continue to Mahambo.

Overnight at the hotel.

We'll leave Mahambo for the pier. Boarding for Sainte Marie or Boraha Island with El Condor. The sea crossing will take approximately 2 to 3 hours.

Meeting at the pier

Check-in at a hotel in Sainte Marie

Overnight at a hotel

To give you plenty of time to explore Sainte Marie Island, this itinerary offers three relaxing days by the sea.

During this time, you can take short historical discovery excursions to visit the Pirate Tombs and the island's historical heritage sites, such as the Radama Islet Museum and the Old Fort, located atop Ambodifotatra Hill.

You can also take a short tour of the archipelago of Sainte Marie.

Several activity options are available, such as diving to admire the underwater treasures of Boraha Island and excursions to Ile aux Nattes. You will have the opportunity to attend the Whale Safari or the famous Whale Watching Gala, which takes place mainly during the months of July or October. Fishing enthusiasts can also participate in a fishing trip in Sainte Marie, as the sea around Boraha Island is naturally rich in fish.

Sainte Marie Island is also home to wellness centers offering traditional treatments and massages using essential oils.

Overnight at the hotel

Transfer to Sainte-Marie Airport for Antananarivo.

Pick-up at the airport and transfer to the hotel.

Overnight at the hotel.

For half a day, 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 historical monuments and statues, testifying to its glorious past. We will head to the Blue Hill, home to a Royal Palace that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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