Best of Madagascar Package tour

Below is the basic day to day brief,

The Full downloadable Itinerary is at the bottom of this window.

Please download the dossier should you want more detailed information on the route and tour.

Day 1: Antananarivo
Today is an arrivals day, feel free to explore the capital city if you arrive early. Our welcome meeting will be held at 6pm. After the meeting there is a chance to go visit one of the high-quality restaurants and get acquainted with your fellow travelers.

Meals: None

Day 2: Miandrivazo
This morning our long drive begins as we head west. It’s a 7-hour drive to Miandrivazo, our starting point for our adventure down the Tsiribihina River. We are taken to our hotel and briefed on our two-day cruise. We have a chance to gather some supplies and then get some rest for the following day.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 3: Tsirbihina River Excursion
We wake up and drive 35 km to Masiakampy and the traditional barge, historically used to carry tobacco, that will take us along the Tsiribihina River reaching some of the remotest places. We stop off at rural villages, take walks to hidden waterfalls and watch the wildlife roaming on the banks of the river. We enjoy some lunch as we make our way through flat farming plains and enter the spectacular gorges of the river. We stop later in the afternoon to trek a waterfall and set up camp on a large sandbank.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Included Highlight: Tsiribihina River Trip

Day 4: Tsiribihina River Excursion
Today we glide down the river for the entire day. There are no roads and we are surrounded by nature, as we watch zebu herds crossing the river and a multitude of bird species flying from tree to tree. Every now and then we stop for a village walk and do some lemur spotting before we set up camp at a village along the river shore. We delight in some traditional Malagasy music and dancing around the campfire with the friendly locals.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Included Highlight: Tsiribihina River Trip

Day 5: Bekopaka
This morning we enjoy the Tsiribihina River for the final time and leaving our boat behind. We make a stop at Belo-sur-Tsiribihina, a little village huddled in the marshes and mangroves of the Delta. We visit the market and grab a bite to eat before starting our 2.5-hour drive to Bekopaka. On arrival we check into our hotel and enjoy some leisurely time, taking a swim or merely relaxing.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 6: Bekopaka/The Small Tsingy
We rise and shine bright and early, put on some comfy clothing, pack a few snacks and start our 5-hour trek through the Small Tsingy in Bemeraha National Park. Our journey takes us through a series of mazes of limestone formations that looks like a rocky forest. Grab your camera and enjoy some memories at a couple of lookout points. This afternoon we relax by floating down the Manambolo River on a pirogue (wooden dugout canoe) while surrounded by the towering rock cliffs and stunning scenery. We take a cave stroll, viewing stalactites, stalagmites and the mysterious tombs of the Vazimba, believed to be the earliest inhabitants of this beautiful country.

Meals: Breakfast
Included Highlights: Small Tsingy Walking Circuit; Manombolo River Canoe Ride

Day 7: Bekopaka/The Great Tsingy
This morning we are up early again and take a thrilling trip to the Great Tsingy. The area was very much unexplored until the 1990’s. There are a series of bridges, semi-permanent climbing plugs and other equipment which make this terrain more accessible these days. Walk over a suspended bridge that will take your breath away and we may spot lemurs, a variety of birdlife, some amphibians including the Madagascar iguana and Antsingy leaf chameleon.

Meals: Breakfast
Included Highlight: Big Tsingy Trek

Day 8: Morondava
We embark on a long travelling day, as we cross the Manambolo and Tsiribihina river by ferry to arrive at the easy-going coastal town of Morondava, just in time for a magnificent sunset in the Avenue of the Baobabs. Many of these ancient trees are as old as 800 years and as the pink sky casts it’s light on these iconic trees we are enchanted by their beauty, an unforgettable experience.

Meals: Breakfast
Included Highlight: Sunset at Baobab Alley

Day 9: Antsirabe
This morning we leave for Antsirabe on an 8-hour drive. We are introduced to the city on an informative stroll and then enjoy some leisurely time to do our own thing.

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Day 10: Antananarivo
We have a lovely breakfast and take a soft trek in the surrounding area. We visit the stunning lakes and the emerald-green waters of Tritiva, an extinct crater with flourishing forest around it. We take a hike through the lakes district and enjoy a picnic style lunch as the day progresses. We sample some traditional Malagasy cuisine and reminisce about our amazing adventure.

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Day 11: Antananarivo
Today is a day to enjoy the area in your own leisure. Our group leader and composition of our group will change today as this is a combination tour.

Meals: Breakfast
Optional Activities: Ambohimanga Rova Tour; Lemur's Park

Day 12: Andasibe National Park
Today we leave Antananarivo after breakfast and make our way to Andasibe National Park which will take around 4 hours. We stop at Pereyras Nature Farm on the way, home to chameleons, frogs, snakes and more wildlife. Tonight, we have a chance to take a night walk through the forest of Mitsinjo – a privately owned reserve, where we will come across nocturnal species including endemic butterflies and lemurs.

Meals: Breakfast
Included Highlights: Mitsinjo Night Walk, Pereyras Private Reserve

Day 13: Andasibe National Park
Andasibe, with it’s 11 species of lemur are one of Madagascar’s most visited parks. There is an abundance of wildlife and we go to discover them as we explore the park. We also have a chance to visit Lemur Island. Lemur island is located within a rain forest and the park assists the preservation and conservation of lemurs.

Meals: None
Included Highlight: Andasibe National Park Guided Walk
Optional Activity: Lemur Island

Day 14: Antsirabe
Our drive to Antsirabe takes us around 6-7 hours today. Based in the highlands, it’s a popular spa town with hot springs and thermal baths. With its Colonial-style charm, busy street markets and colourful rickshaws, we check into our hotel and take some time to have dinner and relax.

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Day 15: Ambositra
We take a short trip to Ambositra this morning, home to the Betsileo people. We visit the Sandrandahy villages and learn more about the process of silk production which is very much part of the Malagasy culture. Silk was historically only reserved for royalty but these days it is more widely used, especially for the dead. When a Malagasy is buried, the body is wrapped in a silk sheet named a ‘lambamena’ and after a few years, the family would return to replace the silk sheet with a new one within the tomb. The custom is called famadihana and every village specializes in one step of the production. We delight in a local lunch and enjoy an evening of leisure in Ambositra.

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Included Highlights: Village Visit; Manandriana Village Lunch

Day 16: Ranomafana
Today we make our way to Ranomafana National Park, taking us about 5 hours. The park is home to some rare species and is based in the southeastern part of Madagascar. Take some time to do your own thing when we reach the park and there is also a chance to do a night walk. We can also go visit the thermal springs for a swim if we wish.

Meals: Breakfast
Optional Activities: Station Thermale; Night Walk

Day 17: Ranomafana
We explore the park today on a guided walk. Look out for lemurs, striped civets, mongooses, goshawks, geckos, frogs and butterflies.

Meals: None
Included Highlight: Rainforest Walk

Day 18: Fianarantsoa
Our journey takes us to Fianarantsoa, a vibrant, colourful town renowned for its markets and crafts. Take a day trip to a classic Malagasy village to learn more about the culture and traditions of the local people. We then take a walk within the countryside past rice paddies and vineyards. Sample some local food and explore the historic old city by foot.

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Included Highlight: Village Visit and Walk

Day 19 – 20: Isalo National Park
We drive for around 8 hours to Isalo National Park. We make a stop at the Anja Community Reserve where we can see lemurs and learn more about the local culture. The local villagers take us on a guided excursion. Isalo is renowned for its diversity in landscapes, from luscious rainforests and rolling plains to unusual rock formations and breathtaking canyons. We spend two days exploring the park.

Meals: Breakfast on both days
Included Highlights: Anja Community reserve; Antemoro Paper factory visit; Isalo National Park guided walk

Day 21: Anakao
This morning we rise early and head for Toliara Harbour, where we hop on a boat to Anakao. Anakao with its beautiful white sandy beaches and turquoise waters is an easy-going town with fishing being the center of its existence. Take the day to relax on the beach and swim in the crystal-clear water of the Mozambique Channel. Our accommodation is bungalow style and eco-friendly.

Meals: Breakfast
Optional Activities: Nosy Ve Excursion Canoe

Day 22: Anakao
Enjoy another day at your leisure in paradise. If you like bird watching, take a full day tour to Tsimanampetsotse National Park, named after its magnificent lake. There is also a chance to take a canoe, visit the town or hang out on the beach.

Meals: Breakfast
Optional Activities: Tsimanampetsotsa National Park

Day 23: Antananrivo
This morning we are transferred to Toliara by boat to catch a flight back to Antananrivo. Once we reach our destination, we have fun toasting Madagascar with a beer or two.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 24: Antananarivo – Departure Day
Our amazing adventure ends today after breakfast. We exchange addresses and part ways.

Meals: Breakfast