CLASSIC
Highlights of Madagascar
14 days/13 nights
A classic tour in Madagascar typically combines the island’s unique wildlife, stunning landscapes, and rich culture.
Itinerary :
D 1 : Antananarivo
Arrival Day and Welcome Meeting
D 2: Antananarivo-Andasibe (4.00 hour(s), 135km)
Depart the capital and continue east, with stops along the scenic rainforest route of world-renowned Andasibe-Perinet National Park. Continue on to the national park. With free time over the next two days, opt to visit other small private or community reserves around Andasibe, and go on guided night walks inside those reserves or along the main road. Walk to the little town of Andasibe or simply enjoy the relaxing tranquility of the surrounding forest. Dinner and night at the hotel.
D 3: Andasibe (Andasibe-Perinet National Park )
Explore the Indri Special Reserve and national park located 1.5km (0.93 mi) from the town of Andasibe. One of the park’s primary purposes is to protect the natural habitat of the indri, a large black and white diurnal species that feeds on leaves and fruit. In addition to the indri, the park has 10 other diurnal and nocturnal lemur species, large chameleons, and the rarely seen blue boa. Dinner and night at the hotel.
D 4 Andasibe-Antsirabe
Travel to the ancient colonial town of Antsirabe. Along this stretch of road you will see Merina tombs and the labour-intensive cultivation of rice paddies. Antsirabe is known as a thermal city because of its volcanic lakes. It’s also famous for its precious and semi-precious stones and handicrafts. Opt to explore this quaint little city upon arrival. Dinner and night at the hotel.
Day 5 Antsirabe-Ranomafana
Continue to Ranomafana, a little village named after the hot springs in the valley. The nearby national park is one of the most important mammal sites in Madagascar. Dinner and night at the hotel.
Day 6 Ranomafana-Ambalavao
In the morning go for a forest walk, a swim in a hot spring, visit the local town and market, or get a massage. Enjoy the wonderful changes of landscape along the way to the pleasant rural town of Ambalavao. Visit a little paper factory where the locals will share their traditional methods of producing this unique, hand-made paper. If time allows, opt to visit a silk factory in town and learn about the local way of making fabric or clothing from silk, and the process of dyeing it with natural dyes. Dinner and night at the hotel.
D 7: Ambalavao-Ranohira
Journey from Ambalavao to the Anja Community Reserve and on through diverse scenery. Travel through the savannah before the massif of Isalo becomes clearly visible. Dinner and night at the hotel.
D8 :Ranohira
Visit the park and a picnic break later in the day – After a short trek within a small canyon, take a break from the sun and stop at fresh natural swimming pool. Continue on to the « cascades », considered to be amongst the best waterfalls in Madagascar and has a large natural swimming pool. With a little luck, you may see sifaka, brown lemurs, or ring-tailed lemurs. Dinner and night at the hotel.
D 9: Ranohira-Ifaty
En route to Toliara, drive through the magnificent wide-open and vast desert landscape. Pass through several unique frontier-style sapphire mining towns, and babobab trees en route. This drive will also pass by the tombs of the Mahafaly; a local tribe in Madagascar known predominantly for their large tombs. They were built for chiefs and kings and are covered in stones, sculptures, and horns. The more important the deceased, the more horns and statues the tomb is adorned with. One of the largest tombs has over 700 zebu horns! As this is a sacred site we will just be passing by, and photography is not permitted. Continue on to Ifaty to relax and enjoy the breathtaking beaches of the Mozambican Channel. While in Ifaty, opt to ride in a dugout canoe, visit the spiny forest reserve, go snorkelling or diving on the reef, or simply relax on the beach. Make stops along the way to spot baobab trees and visit the Mahafaly tombs. Dinner and night at the hotel.
D 10-11 Ifaty
Spend two full days enjoying this gorgeous area. Opt to do some hiking or hit the beach.
Dinner and night at the hotel.
Day 12 Ifaty- Tulear-Antananarivo
Transfer to Tulear airport and flight to Antananarivo. Day use and turn back to France.