Day 1 – Fly to Antananarivo

Today you will start your adventure, you will fly to Antananarivo, Madagascar’s capital city.

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.

Mid-range

Madagascar • Antananarivo & the Central Highlands

Le Pavillon de l’Emyrne

The Pavillon de l’Emyrne totally reveals the soul of its owner, who put all her feeling and energy to rehabilitate this establishment. Restored old furniture and antiques, selected from the capital of Antananarivo, are combined in an extraordinary and unique atmosphere.

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Dinner

Day 3 –  Night walk in Andasibe

After breakfast you will travel to Andasibe. As the roads wind 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 depending on the road traffic.

In the evening around 6pm you will be guided through the Analamazaotra Park on a Night Walk to spot the nocturnal animals including the ‘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.

Mid-range

Madagascar • Saint Marie & the East

Andasibe Hotel

Relish in the quietness of nature on your private terrace or take time to relax with a massage using essential oils. Andasibe National Park is the main attraction of the area and Andasibe Hotel is located a stone’s throw away from the park’s entrance.

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Dinner

Day 4 –  Day walk in Andasibe

After breakfast you will visit the Andasibe National Park to spot and hear the sounds of the 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

The easiest trekking of Indri Circuit with well paved paths can take from 2-3 hours up to 4 kms. Your national park guide will explain to you the choices to meet your expectations.

Mid-range

Madagascar • Saint Marie & the East

Andasibe Hotel

Relish in the quietness of nature on your private terrace or take time to relax with a massage using essential oils. Andasibe National Park is the main attraction of the area and Andasibe Hotel is located a stone’s throw away from the park’s entrance.

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Dinner

Day 5 –  Pousse-pousse tour in Antsirabe

After early breakfast you will travel to Antsirabe, one of the most beautiful scenic routes in the central highlands. Antsirabe is the third largest city in Madagascar situated in the high altitude (about 1 500 m). The cool temperatures are in the high altitude the reason why the Norwegian Missionaries chose this city in 1872.  Antsirabe is the home of one of the award winning best beers in Madagascar THB (Three Horses Beer). Its name means “where there is salt” honouring the large number of hot springs the town has, a fact that has given the city the nickname of “Malagasy Vichy”. The thermal baths had been long appreciated for their curative effects by the local population when French colonists decided to locate a thermal bath here in the 19th century.

In the afternoon you will take pousse-pousse rickshaw tour of Antsirabe to discover this interesting city mixed with architectural styles of the colonial and evangelical past. In the European district French cottage-style houses are built next to Scandinavian villas with English style gardens. The tree-lined avenues always give some freshness whenever the sun is too bright.

Superior

Madagascar • Antananarivo & the Central Highlands

Couleur Café

Couleur Café is a welcoming hotel where you can experience comfort and Malagasy charm.

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Dinner

Day 6 –  Antsirabe → Ambositra →Ranomafana

Today you will travel to Ambositra to discover a Zafimaniry village (UNESCO – Intangible Cultural Heritage site). It is famous for its wood carvings and they are known as people of the forest. The Zafimaniry community is the sole remaining community with the unique wood crafting culture previously widespread on the island. For generations, Zafimaniry foresters, carpenters and craft workers have developed a body of practical knowledge and skills revolving around wood. This has been passed down from generation to generation. Practically all wooden surfaces – walls, window frames, posts, beams, stools, chests, tools – display elaborate ornamentation. Geometric designs and rosettes show relationships that people have with their environment, ancestors and therefore the world of beyond.

After lunch you will travel to Ranomafana, It is a scenic route with many viewpoints to enjoy the breathtaking views. As you travel through the rural highlands, you will have breathtaking views of everyday activities of locals. Depending on the time of the year, visitors can witness the rice harvest, natural silk weaving and jewel manufacturing. From May to September ovens for clay- brick baking.

In the evening you will have an hour night walk along the park boarder with a guide to spot nocturnal wildlife.

Mid-range

Madagascar • Antananarivo & the Central Highlands

Thermal Hotel

The spacious rooms are decorated in a sylvan atmosphere located near the local spa and national park of Ranomafana.

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Dinner

Day 7 –  Day walk Ranomafana

After breakfast you will explore this wonderful rainforest. Ranomafana is a conservation success story in terms of many ways. Today Ranomafana plays crucial role in education and scientific research with help of Centre Valbio Research Centre.  Ranomafana National Park success is because of one woman’s vision and dedication to preserve the nature and wildlife. Dr. Patricia Wright is considered to be one of the world’s foremost experts on lemurs, Wright is best known for her 26-year study of social and family interactions of wild lemurs in Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar.

Ranomafana is a rainforest and spreads over 41,601 hectares in the high altitudes. There are many different forest types, from lowland rainforest to cloud forest and high plateau forest. It was classified World Natural Heritage site of the Atsinanana in 2007. It shelters a big wealth in endemic biodiversity with challenges. You can see the rare species and seriously threatened lemurs. The park is also the genetic reservoir of some rare and endemic plant species. There are many rivers and streams passes through the forest. There are several animal species have been recorded, 12 species of lemurs, including golden bamboo lemur, greater bamboo lemur, Milne-Edward’s shifaka, red bellied lemur etc, 115 species of birds. About thirty among them exist exclusively in the primary forest of the park.  As well 90 species of butterflies, 98 species of amphibian and 62 species of reptiles; chameleons, lizards and fish.

Your specialist park guide will explain to you the circuits available to you before based on your fitness, expectation and the circuits. The shortest trekking Circuit Varibolomena takes about (2-3 hrs). This soft circuit is about 3 kilometres. But there are medium to hard circuits to choose from.

In some of the evening there will be lectures about conservation in the Valbio Centre. Also you can visit the centre during the opening hours.

For today, you will be offered a picnic lunch so that you can enjoy a full day of discovery.

Mid-range

Madagascar • Antananarivo & the Central Highlands

Thermal Hotel

The spacious rooms are decorated in a sylvan atmosphere located near the local spa and national park of Ranomafana.

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

Day 8 –  Fianarantsoa tour + Ambalavao silk & paper making factory visit

After early breakfast you will travel to Fianarantsoa to explore the city. Fianarantsoa once used to be the administrative capital during colonial times. The name Fianarantsoa means “the place where one can learn something good” and was given by Queen Ranavalona 1st honouring the many academic institutions and reputed schools that are based here and which justify its reputation as the academic, intellectual and religious capital of the country it has the largest number of churches per square metre of the country.

Fianarantsoa is the wine capital of Madagascar. It produces some excellent red and white wines in the terraced vineyards surrounding the town. The most famous is the one produced by a large association of vine-farmers called Lazan’i Betsileo. Maromby (four km on the North) is a small, peaceful village in the vicinity of vineyards, where wine can be bought at the monastery.

Here you will have an opportunity to enjoy the tastes of Madagascar wines. You can also buy some to take home as souvenirs.

You will continue your journey with a short stop in Ambalavao. Ambalavao is a fascinating little town in the central highlands south of Fianarantsoa. The town is known for its paper-making, silk making and wines. The striking feature of this town is the architecture.  The old town houses with wooden balconies. From the centre of the market you can get a good view of the town houses and the church.

Afterwards you will continue take the road towards Isalo National park en-route visiting Anja Reserve to see the Ring Tail lemurs.

Mid-range

Madagascar • Saint Marie & the East

Sahatandra River Hotel

The tranquil and majestic setting has friendly staff and it is well-suited for a high-end family holiday. Sahatandra River Hotel features stunning river views and is a pearl of the East coast.

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Dinner

Day 9 –  Isalo Hike

Today you will explore Isalo National Park with your park guide. It is the Grand Canyon of Madagascar. Kingdom of Queen of the Isalo, cradle of a particular wild nature and an exceptional landscape, the lovers of the big escapes will be seduced by this park. It appeal is the remarkable landscape of the Jurassic Era eroded ruiniform sandstone, canyons and rare plants as well as the wildlife.

Trekking Circuit of the natural swimming pool or Canyons (3 kms) 3-4 hours trekking of Isalo, there are several circuits and you can talk to the guide for the best option that suits your expectation & fitness. Most hiking circuits include the natural swimming pool. It’s really worth a dip in the natural swimming pool, its oasis.

These are 77 species of birds live in Isalo among which the Benson rock-thrush Pseudocossyphus bensoni, an endemic species of Madagascar that is well protected. You can also find 14 species of nocturnal lemurs, as well as ring-tailed, Verreaux’s Shifakas and red-fronted brown lemurs.

In the late afternoon, you will be awarded one of the most spectacular sunset view in the world, you will visit the Window of Isalo!

For today, you will be offered a picnic lunch so that you can enjoy a full day of discovery.

Superior

Madagascar • Tulear & the South

Satrana Lodge

Why not enjoy the stars while having a drink at your terrace? The night sky is great here if you like the stars and night sky.

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

Day 10 –  Arboretum & Tulear market

After breakfast you will travel to Tulear, en-route you will visit the Antsokay Arboretum. It is a must visit Botanical garden and it is entirely devoted to conservation of the plants from the south-western part of Madagascar.

It is working in close collaboration with many institutions aiming in environment preservation, such as the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, WWF, CEPF…Presently, after more than 25 years of passion, protection and care, the Arboretum offers to the visitors a real condensed vegetation, presenting a typical spiny thicket at a sub-arid stage. Opened to the public, 4 hectares of the Arboretum have been arranged to a real botanical garden comprising a collection of plants from southwest of Madagascar. More than 900 species are being preserved there, of which 90% are endemic to the region and 80% have medicinal virtues. Among them, many succulent species are being recognized to be threatened.

Once in Tulear, you will have time to explore the local market which is considered as one of the main attractions of the city. You will experience a very typical southern Malagasy market where you can spot and buy the lambas (pareos).

Superior

Madagascar • Tulear & the South

Le Paradisier

Facing the breathtaking lagoon of Ifaty, Le Paradisier is situated in the deep south of Madagascar. The infinity pool is the perfect place to relax with a cocktail whilst taking in the sunset.

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Dinner

Day 11 & 12 – Ifaty

Full day at leisure.

Enjoy 2 days of full relaxation and beautiful beaches.

Many activities can be arranged with the hotel.

According to your interest, you can choose adventourous activities such as: canoe ride, diving, horse riding.
Big game fishing aboard a very well equipped boat, efficient equipment with a very professional crew, a generous ocean, full of fishes of all sizes.

For nature lovers, the hotel organizes botanical trails. Trecking to the nearby forests of baobab trees and mangroves, a paradise for ornithologists.
During the mating season (around mid-June to September), you will be offered a “whale watching tour”, an unforgettable spectacle, with full consideration of the environment.

Superior

Madagascar • Tulear & the South

Le Paradisier

Facing the breathtaking lagoon of Ifaty, Le Paradisier is situated in the deep south of Madagascar. The infinity pool is the perfect place to relax with a cocktail whilst taking in the sunset.

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Dinner

Day 13 – Fly to Antananarivo

Today from Tulear you will take a flight to capital Tana at 10:40pm and arrival at 11:40 in Tana. Flight time approximately an hour to Tana.

Antananarivo ‘City of Thousand Warriors ‘is the capital situated above 1500 metres above sea level with pleasant cool climate. It is known as Tana by locals with rich cultural and historical sites of Merina people. Once thriving Imerina Kingdom ruled Madgascar until the French Colonisation. After lunch you will explore the city in upper town (“La Haute ville”), where Palaces (Queen’s palace, ancient Prime Minister Rainilaiarivony palace, ancient Justice Palace), cathedrals and the residential area of (mostly) ancient noblemen families are located. From here, visitors enjoy a nice perspective of the city below far away from the hassle of downtown.  You can also buy souvenirs here.

In the evening witness the best sun set with a Sundowner Dinner at Lakonga, It’s 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.

Mid-range

Madagascar • Antananarivo & the Central Highlands

Maison Gallieni

This small boutique hotel is within the same building as the Consulate of Monaco. Therefore you will have a rare opportunity to stay at the Ambassador’s house.

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Dinner

Day 14 – Fly back home

In the morning if you like you can do shopping to buy souvenirs or explore the city

Depending on your flight time you will travel to Airport to fly back home.