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The lush green corridor tour
Escape to this green paradise of eastern Madagascar. From the popular park of Andasibe, we will take you to Manambate on a boat journey alongside the Pangalanes Canal, then relax on the beautiful Island Sainte Marie where we will be enjoying the spectacle of whale watching.
Madagascar’s East was once a continuous lush green corridor of moist lowland forests extending along the eastern cliff edge with an altitude of up to 800 metres. Under this immense forested canopy, a countless number of species found an ideal habitat. Unfortunately, the fate of this natural balance reversed completely and these forests are now one of the most threatened habitats in the world. A boat trip on the Pangalanes channel shows the coastal line either side of the channel full of single-crop farming plantations: lychee, sunflower, coffee, cacao and of course vanilla.
Along your journey, you will visit and explore Andasibe Analamazaotra national park and can enjoy a night walk to spot the noctural species.
In July and August humpback whales migrate to Malagasy waters to calve and mate (they don’t feed during that time), so Saint Marie Island is traditionally regarded as one of the more rewarding whale-watching sites.
Our Suggested Day By Day Itinerary
This tour can be fully personalised and upgrades are available.
Madagascar tailor-made holidays will be designed to suit your preferences.
PACKAGE DETAILS
- From £ 4,980 Per Person
Based on 2 people sharing a Twin or Double Room Price Includes:
- Return economy flights from UK London/Manchester/Birmingham. Contact us for flights quotation from different countries.
- Excursions,
- Entry fees,
- Transport: Private A/C Car with Chauffeur Guide
Hotels: Mixture of Simple & Mid-range hotels on Half Board basis
Day 1 – Fly to Antananarivo
Today, you will fly to Antananarivo, the capital city of Madagascar. Let us take you to a lifetime memorable experience.
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Day 2 – Arrival → Antananarivo
‘’Manao ahoana’’ & ‘’Salama’’ Welcome to tropical paradise. You will be welcomed & greeted by your guide or representative on arrival at Antananarivo Ivato International Airport. You will be transferred to your hotel in Antananarivo. The travel time will be approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour depending on the road traffic.
- Board Includes:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
See more about day 2
Day 3 – Antananarivo → Andasibe
After breakfast you will travel to Andasibe. As the roads winds through the hairpin bends and turns you have opportunities to observe the daily activities of remote villages along this road. You will be passing terrace rice fields and bustling road side stalls with all the tropical fruits.
Travel time approximately 3 hours depend on the road traffic.
In the evening around 6pm you will be guided through the Analamazaotra Park on Night Walk to spot the nocturnal animals including ‘Goodman Mouse lemur. Experience the rainforest after dark where nocturnal lemurs, chameleons, geckos, frogs and fireflies come alive. The night walk can take 1½ – 2 hours.
- Board Includes:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
See more about day 3
Day 4 – Andasibe → Manambato
After breakfast you will visit the Andasibe-Mantadia Analamazaotra National Park Special Reserve to spot and hear the sounds of Indri Indri Lemurs. The Indri is the largest living lemurs and known as babakotos in the local Malagasy language, which means ‘man of the forest’ or ‘little father’ and unlike other lemurs, only have a short stumpy tail. Indris produce loud territorial calls that can be heard from over 1km away as you enter the park. Video Clip
You will be trekking through beautiful waterfalls and landscape that will lead you towards a natural swimming pool where a cascade of waterfalls. The bathing is allowed, bring your swimsuits! Along the track, where you can generally hear the screams of the Indri indri and you can also see some orchids. It is an exceptional rainforest ambiance. There many circuits to choose from depend on your fitness level. The easiest trekking with well paved paths can take from 2-3 hours up to 3 kms.
After lunch you will travel to Manambato for a 3 days cruise on the Pangalanes to Tamatave.
- Board Includes:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
See more about day 4
Day 5 – Manambato → Ampasindava
Today is the first day of your 3 days cruise on the Pangalanes canal. You will leave Manambato to reach the small village of Ampasindava on board the Reine Tina. Ampasindava is nestled between the Ocean and the Canal. The travel time lasts approximately one hour.
Ampasindava is a small charming town full of legends that our guides will not fail to tell you. Once arrived at Ampasindava, empty your mind, leave everything behind and enjoy the joy and peace that this little village will share with you. You will be stuck in a beautiful scenery of an old train station with the sound of the ocean. Pure hapiness!
If you wish, you can have your swimsuit on and go for an afternoon swimming time.
You will be served your lunch and dinner on board where you will be also offered a comfortable cabin for the 3 following nights.
- Board Includes:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
See more about day 5
Day 6 – Ampasindava → Ankanin’ny nofy
After breakfast aboard the Reine Tina, your next destination is the Ankanin’ny nofy reserve which could be litterally translated as ” The dream nest”. A visit to appreciate a part of the wildlife of the the East. Here, you will spot the famous indri indri indri, macacos lemurs, the lemur dancer Sifaka, the black and white lemurs coexist here: Varecia.
After lunch aboard, you will reach the village of Andranokoditra to visit the Vohibola forest, a must visit lush green forest. We will take you to the other shore with the traditional wooden pistachio canoe.
At Vohibola Reserve you will plant tree and discover the last pieces of littoral forest in Madagascar. Littoral forest are fragile eco system not same as mangroves somehow function in the same way. First you can choose a trail and there three to choose from. In this rewarding hike you will be able to see some rare plants and perhaps even the calumma vohibola, a chameleon discovered in 2009. Vohibola is a NGO (Man and the Environment – MATE).
Once you have finished the walk, you will have an opportunity to plant an indigenous tree in your name.
Dinner will be served on board and this is the second night you spend on board.
- Board Includes:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
See more about day 6
Day 7 – Ankanin’ny Nofy → Ambavarano
After breakfast on board, you will depart to the village of Ambavarano.
You will meet a very welcoming and smiling population, living a very simple way where time seems to have stopped. Pay a visit to the mini workshop of Baby, a lady who passed on her knowledge to the young women of the village to nibble Betsimisaraka baskets also know as “baskets in penja”.
You will take a tour to the village school and the clinic, then you will visit the sacred place where the villagers worship and make offerings. You be told the stories by our knowledgeable guides.
The rest of the day at leisure, swimming optional.
This is your last night on board.
- Board Includes:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
See more about day 7
Day 8 – Ambavarano → Tamatave
Today, you will take your last boat ride along the Canal des Pangalanes till Tamatave. It’s a scenic cruise and you may be able to spot lemurs along the way.
If time permits you can walk around the port city.
Overnight stay at Hotel Calypso.
- Board Includes:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
See more about day 8
Day 9 – Tamatave → Ile Sainte Marie (Nosy Boraha)
After early breakfast at 6am you will travel to Soanierana Ivongo to take El Condor ferry to Sainte Marie Island, travel time 2:30 hours. From July until September it’s possible to see whales around these waters.
Upon arrival you will be transferred to your hotel. Transfer 20 minutes.
- Board Includes:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
See more about day 9
Day 10 – Tuk Tuk Island Tour
Today, you will take tuk tuk tour of the Island.
Ile Ste Marie, or Nosy Boraha, is a narrow granitic island 57 km long 8 km off the east coast of Madagascar. This tropical paradise with endless palm fringed beaches and bays surrounded by coral reefs. The island boasts lush vegetation which many species are endemic to the island. The landscapes are diverse: on the South the small Ile aux Nattes with a magnificent lagoon, on the East the mangroves, on the North the natural swimming pools, the forests on the centre and most of the activity to the West. The island lush vegetation with orchids, clove trees, cinnamon, vanilla, and many others.
This is a full day excursion to discover the most beautiful landscapes of Saint Marie during the day. You’ll across small villages, forest, wild beaches, mangroves, rice fields and so much more. You’ll learn everything about vanilla, cinnamon, clove and orchids and the Malagasy way of life in the island.
- Board Includes:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
See more about day 10
Day 11 – Whale watching
Today, you will take a boat trip to watch the Humpback Whales. Madagascar is one of the best places to see Humpback whales. During July & August scientist, photographers and whale lovers gather in Sainte Marie Island to study about this remarkable whale species. Every year St Marie celebrates whale festival with variety of events.
More than 7,000 humpback whales migrate to Madagascar waters from Antarctic every year from June till November. Sainte Marie is an ideal place from which to watch the stunning mating rituals and calving of the whales. They come to these warm waters to mate, breed and calve. Our specialist guide will explain to you about humpback whales and with the on-board hydrophone you will be able to listen to whale songs one of the most amazing experiences listening to the male’s unique song, one of the most complex vocal displays in the animal kingdom. Also you might be lucky to witness one the dramatic displays of physical dominance and acrobatic stunts of the males to draw the attention of the females making for a truly awe-inspiring experience for spectators.
- Board Includes:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
See more about day 11
Day 12 – Enjoy yourself at the golden beach of Sainte Marie
Full day at leisure.
- Board Includes:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
See more about day 12
Day 13 – Sainte Marie → Antananarivo
After lunch, at 3:05pm you take flight to Antananarivo. Flight time lasts approximately 1:05 hours. Arrival in Tana at 4:00pm. You will be transferred to your hotel, depending on the traffic, it may take 45min to one hour.
In the evening witness the best sun set with a Sundowner Dinner at Lakonga. It is the best place to say cheers to great trip around Madagascar with glass of champagne with a beautiful view of Antananarivo. And look back at the great times you had.
- Board Includes:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
See more about day 13
Day 14 – Fly back home
Today you will say bye to Madagascar and will fly back home.
- Board Includes:
- Breakfast
See more about day 14
Tailor Your Tour - Potential Highlights
- See the Ring-Tailed Lemurs at Anja Reserve
- Spot ground-rollers and Golden Bamboo lemurs in Ranomafana National Park
- Discover the canyons of Isalo National Park home to 80 species of birds including the rare Benson’s rock-thrush and ring-tailed lemurs
- Watch endemic birds, geckos & lemurs at Zombitse National Park
- Visit the birder’s paradise of Reniala Reserve, home to 65 bird species
- Relax on the sandy beaches of Anakao
- Tour the small island of Nosy Ve and spot the endemic red tail phaeton
- Enjoy birdwatching in one of Madagascar’s finest birdwatching venues, Ankarafantsika National Park which is home to 129 species and 75 are endemic
- Taste the exotic cuisine of Madagascar
- Witness the stunning pink and dwarf flamingos at Tsinamapetsotsoa National Park
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Contact UsTailor Your Tour - Potential Highlights
- See the Ring-Tailed Lemurs at Anja Reserve
- Spot ground-rollers and Golden Bamboo lemurs in Ranomafana National Park
- Discover the canyons of Isalo National Park home to 80 species of birds including the rare Benson’s rock-thrush and ring-tailed lemurs
- Watch endemic birds, geckos & lemurs at Zombitse National Park
- Visit the birder’s paradise of Reniala Reserve, home to 65 bird species
- Relax on the sandy beaches of Anakao
- Tour the small island of Nosy Ve and spot the endemic red tail phaeton
- Enjoy birdwatching in one of Madagascar’s finest birdwatching venues, Ankarafantsika National Park which is home to 129 species and 75 are endemic
- Taste the exotic cuisine of Madagascar
- Witness the stunning pink and dwarf flamingos at Tsinamapetsotsoa National Park
Speak To A Travel Specialist
Aleem Raheem
Our specialists have unrivalled experience in our countries, allowing them to craft you a truly memorable bespoke holiday.
020 8935 5685
Madagascar Backwaters of Pangalanes Holiday 2024/2025 © 2024 The Earth Trip