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Madagascar Family Tour
Discover the Tropical East of Madagascar – Holiday idea
Escape to this green paradise of eastern Madagascar. This Madagascar Family Tour will take you from the popular park of Andasibe, journey to Ampitabe Lake for a boat ride along the Pangalanes Canal, then relax on the beautiful island of Sainte Marie where you will enjoy 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 cruise on the Pangalanes canal shows the coastal line either side of the channel full of single-crop farming plantations: lychee, sunflower, coffee, cocoa 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 so Saint Marie Island is traditionally regarded as one of the most 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 £3,200 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.
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 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 road winds through the hairpin bends and turns you will have the opportunity 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 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 – Andasibe
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. Bathing is allowed so bring your swimsuits! Along the track, where you can generally hear the screams of the Indri indri you can also see some orchids. It is an exceptional rainforest ambiance. There many circuits to choose from depending on your fitness level. The easiest trekking with well paved paths can take from 2-3 hours and is up to 3 kms.
- Board Includes:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
See more about day 4
Day 5 – Andasibe → Pangalanes Canal
Today you will travel to the Pangalanes Canal.
Your ecolodge is located on Ampitabe Lake which is the 3rd largest lake of the Pangalanes Channel.
- Board Includes:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
See more about day 5
Day 6 – Relax
Day at leisure.
Your ecodloge proposes a unique blend of nature offering marine worlds within walking distance. Inland, there is a beautiful lake with a sandy beach; while only five kilometres away a narrow stretch of land separates the lake from the wild Indian Ocean.
- Board Includes:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
See more about day 6
Day 7 – Pangalanes Canal Cruise
After breakfast you will take a boat tour of the Pangalanes Canal for 2 hours. You will discover Mahanoro which means “happy-making”. This word perfectly describes the daily life of the inhabitants of the East Coast. You will see the fisherman retuning after their catch in the sea, after you will continue your journey through the canal to see a herbal medical plantation. You will finish with a fresh BBQ seafood lunch on the sandy beach with entertainment from local musicians.
- Board Includes:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
See more about day 7
Day 8 – Tamatave → Saint Marie Island (Nosy Boraha)
After an early breakfast at 6am you will travel to Mahambo to take the ferry to Saint Marie Island, travel time 2:30 hours. From July until September it is possible to see whales around these waters.
Upon arrival you will be transferred to your hotel. Transfer time will be approximately 20 minutes.
- Board Includes:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
See more about day 8
Day 9 – Tuk Tuk Island Tour
Today, you will take a tuk tuk tour of the island.
Saint Marie Island, or Nosy Boraha, is a narrow granitic island 57 kilometres long off the east coast of Madagascar. This tropical paradise with endless palm fringed beaches and bays is surrounded by coral reefs. The island boasts lush vegetation with many species endemic to the island. The landscapes are diverse: on the South the small Ile aux Nattes has a magnificent lagoon, on the East there are mangroves, on the North there are natural swimming pools, the forests are in the centre and most of the activities are to the West. The island offers 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 will come across small villages, forest, wild beaches, mangroves, rice fields and so much more. You will learn everything about vanilla, cinnamon, clove and orchids and the Malagasy way of life on the island.
- Board Includes:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
See more about day 9
Day 10 – 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 and August scientists, photographers and whale lovers gather on Saint Marie Island to study about this remarkable whale species. Every year Saint Marie celebrates with a whale festival proposing a variety of events.
More than 7,000 humpback whales migrate to Madagascar waters from the Antarctic every year from June until November. Saint 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 is 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 10
Day 11 – Relax on Saint Marie
Full day at leisure.
- Board Includes:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
See more about day 11
Day 12 – Sainte Marie → Antananarivo
After lunch you will take your flight to Antananarivo. The flight time lasts approximately 1:05 hours. You will be transferred to your hotel, depending on the traffic, it may take 45 minutes to one hour.
In the evening witness the best sunset with sundowner drinks at Lakonga. It is the best place to say cheers to a great trip around Madagascar with a glass of champagne, a beautiful view of Antananarivo and to look back at the great times you had.
- Board Includes:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
See more about day 12
Day 13 – Ambohimanga
After breakfast you will visit Ambohimanga. Located some 21 kilometres northeast of the capital, the World Heritage spot of Ambohimanga consists of a royal city, a burial site and an ensemble of sacred places. The city remained forbidden to foreigners up until 1895, a date which corresponds to the beginning of the French Governorship over Madagascar. To enter the village, you have to come through a very ancient gate, which, once upon a time, used to be blocked by a gigantic round stone. This stone rolled in a furrow dug in the ground until the entrance was totally blocked. This gate is called Ambavahaditsiomby which in Malagasy translates to “where even a zebu can’t come through”.
You will have a Malagasy lunch with a Malagasy historian to learn about the history of Madagascar. As you have lunch you will look at the beautiful blue hills that united modern-day Madagascar.
- Board Includes:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
See more about day 13
Day 14 – End of Tour
Today you will be transferred to the airport for your flight home.
- Board Includes:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
See more about day 14
Tailor Your Tour - Potential Highlights
- Explore the flora and fauna of Lake Ampitabe
- Discover the Pangalanes Canal
- Taste the exotic cuisine of Madagascar
- Witness Whales from Saint Marie Island
- Hear the singing Indri Indri at Andasibe
We can make this itinerary fully personalised and tailor every detail of it to match your interests and preferences.
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Contact UsTailor Your Tour - Potential Highlights
- Explore the flora and fauna of Lake Ampitabe
- Discover the Pangalanes Canal
- Taste the exotic cuisine of Madagascar
- Witness Whales from Saint Marie Island
- Hear the singing Indri Indri at Andasibe
We can make this itinerary fully personalised and tailor every detail of it to match your interests and preferences.
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 Family Tour – Lemurs, Whales & Beach 2024/2025 © 2024 The Earth Trip