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Explore the Northern Islands of Madagascar
Your Northern Madagascar Discovery & Island Hopping Tour offers the delights of the North. You will be discovering the rainforests that are abundant with wildlife and searching for the smallest chameleon in Amber Mountain. You will be hiking the geological marvel of Ankarana Reserve to spot lemurs, birds and reptiles through the eroded limestone karsts. You will be snorkelling and relaxing in the beautiful palm-fringed beaches of the North. You will have your own personal English-speaking chauffeur guide with 4×4 during the tour, so you can experience Madagascar at your own pace.
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 £3,790 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 Mid-Range & Superior hotels on Half Board & Breakfast Only Basis
Day 1 – Fly to Antananarivo
Today you will start your adventure, you will fly to Antananarivo, Madagascar’s capital city.
See more about day 1
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 – 1 hour depending on the traffic.
- Board Includes:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
See more about day 2
Day 3 – Antananarivo → 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.
- Board Includes:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
See more about day 3
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 lemur 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.
- Board Includes:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
See more about day 4
Day 5 – Andasibe → Antananarivo
After breakfast you will travel to the capital of Antananarivo. 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.
- Board Includes:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
See more about day 5
Day 6 – Fly to Diego
After breakfast you will travel to northern city of Diego Suarez. (Flight time 1:20-1:45 hrs.) Upon arrival in Diego you will be transferred to your hotel in Amber Mountain National Park in Joffreville. Travel time will be approximately an hour.
Rest of the day at leisure.
- Board Includes:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
See more about day 6
Day 7 – Amber Mountain National Park
Today you will explore the Amber Mountain National Park with a specialist park guide. Amber Mountain is also known as Montagne d’Ambre and it is massif montane rainforest that rises from the surrounding dry region forming an isolated stretch of forest covering an area of 18, 200 hectares and lying at altitudes between 800 and 1.470 meters. The Amber Mountain National Park is home to 25 species of mammals, among them 6 carnivores such as the ring-tailed mongoose and the fossa, and 8 lemurs: Sanford’s brown lemur, crowned lemur, lesser bamboo lemur and are five species of nocturnal lemurs. Besides these forests are the home of 75 different bird species (35 of which are endemic and even locally endemic, like the Amber Mountainrock-thrush ), 60 reptiles, such as tiny stump-tailed chameleons, Brookesia the smallest chameleon in the world, leaf-tailed geckos and snakes, 35 frogs and more than 40 butterflies. The rich luxurious flora and fauna created unique three ecosystems (montane rainforest, mid-altitude rainforest and dry deciduous forests) give shelter to more than one thousand different plants.
You will have a guided walk with a local park guide to explore this great biodiversity sanctuary abundant of endemic fauna and flora, luxuriant vegetation, many waterfalls and volcanic lakes which honeycomb the area. The climate is perfect with cool air refreshes after the heat of the lowlands. The dominant ethnic groups are the Sakavala and the Antankarana. (Picnic lunch included)
- Board Includes:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
See more about day 7
Day 8 – Red Tsingy
Today after breakfast you will travel to Ankarana National Park en-route visiting the Red Tsingy.
Red Tsingy is a miracle of nature in many ways to understand geology and erosion. The Red Tsingy is made of red laterite similar to clay and not of limestone rock like the Tsingy at Ankarana or Bemaraha. They are caused by heavy rain which is regular in these parts of Madagascar as well as the wind. As a result of erosion caused by the rain, wind and soft soil these imaginary and ravine of sharp, ancient rock formations unique to Madagascar. These turned out to be sand formations overlaid by red clay long ago. Erosion has worn the clay away, exposing the tall white (with tinges of red) columns of sand formations underneath. For those who’ve been to Bryce Canyon National Park, it’s some ways similar as both of them formed by erosion. This fragile nature’s gift can disappear quickly. Please do not touch them.
Afterwards continue your journey to Ankarana National Park. Travel time 3-4 hours.
- Board Includes:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
See more about day 8
Day 9 – Ankarana National Park
Today you will discover the Ankarana National Park for a half day or full day hike depending on your fitness level. Ankarana National Park is an eroded limestone massif fortress with sharp ridges known as Tsingy. The forest is covered with patches of tropical jungle taking you through deep caves, deciduous forests and canyons. These canyons and caves are the biggest underground network of Africa and rushing with rivers.
The Ankarana Reserve covers an area of 182,5 km² with spectacular views of karst topography.
The reserve contains one of the highest densities of primates of any forest in the world. Its dense forests support one of the largest and least disturbed populations of crowned lemurs. Sanford’s brown lemur, perrier’s black lemur, northern sportive lemur and dwarf lemurs, ring-tailed mongoose, fossa, tenrecs and Madagascar striped civet are also a common sight. Almost 100 bird species, 50 reptiles (including some endemic and threatened snakes and geckos) and 10 frogs cohabit in the Park. Inside the spectacular and huge labyrinth of caves 14 bat species, local endemic blind shrimps and the world’s only known cave-living crocodiles live.
- Board Includes:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
See more about day 9
Day 10 – Ankarana → Nosy Komba
You will travel to Ankify near Nosy Komba Island. Travel time approximately 4-5 hours. En-route you will visit a spice plantation to discover the spices including Madagascar Vanilla. Vanilla plant is an orchid and has been successfully cultivated in Madagascar for almost one century. Although the plant originally comes from Central America, Madagascar is the biggest exporter of Vanilla worldwide today. You may wish to buy some to take home.
From Ankify you will be transferred to Nosy Komba by boat.
- Board Includes:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
See more about day 10
Day 11 – Nosy Komba
Full days at leisure or explore nearby islands. Diving or snorkelling can be arranged with the hotel to explore the unique biodiversity of the island.
- Board Includes:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
See more about day 11
Day 12 – Nosy Sakatia
Discover the unspoiled Island of Nosy Sakatia surrounded by blue azure water and sandy golden beaches.
Full days at leisure or explore nearby islands. Diving or snorkelling can be arranged with the hotel to explore the unique biodiversity of the Island.
- Board Includes:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
See more about day 12
Day 13 – Nosy Iranja
Full day at leisure or explore the pristine beaches of the remote island of Nosy Iranja.
- Board Includes:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
See more about day 13
Day 14 &15 – Nosy Be
Relax on Nosy Be where your hotel is surrounded by an extraordinary garden on the beautiful beach of Ambatoloaka and its lagoon.
- Board Includes:
- Breakfast
See more about days 14 & 15
Day 16 – Fly to Antananarivo
Today you will take a flight to Antananarivo. Flight time is approximately 01:30 hours. Upon arrival in Antananarivo you will travel to the centre of the city, travel time is approximately an hour depending on the traffic.
In the evening, witness the best sunset with Sundowner drinks and dinner at Lokanga. It is the best place to say “cheers” to a great trip around Madagascar with a glass of wine, a beautiful view of Antananarivo and to look back at the great memories you have made.
- Board Includes:
- Breakfast
See more about day 16
Day 17 – End of the Tour
Depending on your flight time you will be transferred to the airport to take your flight back home.
See more about day 17
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Aleem Raheem
Our specialists have unrivalled experience in our countries, allowing them to craft you a truly memorable bespoke holiday.
020 8935 5685
Northern Madagascar Tour & Island Hopping 2024/2025