15-Day Madagascar Tour: Nature & Culture

Antananarivo - Antananarivo - Andananarivo

Day 1: Welcome To Madagascar!

Welcome to Madagascar!

Upon arrival at the airport, you'll be transferred to your hotel where a welcome drink will be waiting for you.

Afterwards, enjoy a sundown cocktail in the high town of Tana with a beautiful veiw of the city. Here you will also receive a short briefing about your tour before we leave you to enjoy your evening meal. 

After dinner, you'll return back to the hotel. 

Antananarivo - Moramanga - Ankanin'ny Nofy

Day 2: The Canal Des Pangalanes

After breakfast, we'll travel the National Road n°2 connecting Antananarivo to Toamasina, the biggest harbor of Madagascar in the East.

Afterwards, enjoy lunch in a restaurant in either Moramanga, Andasibe, or we'll have a picnic.

On the National Road, in the city of Brickaville, we'll change vehicles to join a track in the village of Manambato hidden in forest along the Canal Des Pangalanes. The Canal Des Pangalanes is a series of natural lakes and water bodies extending on 700kms on the middle east side of Madagascar. 

Afterwards, we'll take a cruise (1 hour) to reach Ankanin Ny Nofy, a very remote and quiet village. 

Ankanin'ny Nofy

Day 3: The lush greenery of the Palmarium Reserve

Do you love nature? If you do, then you will definitely love our journey and stay in Ankanin’ny Nofy, which means "Dream Nest".

Afterwards, we'll visit the Palmarium, a private reserve in this natural sight full of endemic varieties of plants, such as: dypsis, orania, lemurophoenix, orchids, and carnivorous plants.

Later, you can enjoy addition activities for an additional cost, such as: taking a motor canoe to visit the typical fishermen village of Andranokoditra. Or, explore or search of very rare species of lemur called Aye Aye.

Ankanin'ny Nofy - Andasibe

Day 4: Nocturnal tour of Andasibe National Park

After breakfast, we'll return back to Andasibe. 

On the way, we could enjoy a picnic on the road or upon arrival in Andasibe. We'll also stop at Maromizaha, a place managed by the association GERP, which works for protection of primates. 

We'll also participate in the reforestation of the site by planting endemic plants.

Before dinner, we will take a nocturnal tour of the park to observe nocturnal lemurs.

Andasibe - Antananarivo

Day 5: The wildlife of Madagascar

Enjoy breakfast, before an early morning visit to Andasibe National Park and its rain forests.

Several nocturnal species live in the park, such as: the tiny microcebus, lemurs, frogs, as well as, the famous Indri - the biggest lemur on Madagascar.

After lunch, we'll visit the Pereyras Reserve, home to many species of chamaeleons and butterflies.

Afterwards, you'll return to Tana.

Antananarivo - Antsirabe

Day 6: Antsirabe by rickshaw

After breakfast, we leave Antanananarivo and travel south to Antsirabe.

On the way, we'll cross the fertile highlands of Merina full of rice fields and red of the brick villages.

Upon arrival, in Antsirabe, we'll have lunch in a local restaurant. Afterwards, you'll explore the city using the most convenient way of transport in this city, the rickshaw.

Antsirabe - Ranomafana

Day 7: Village school visit and rural landscapes

In the morning, we'll leave Antsirabe to reach a typical Malagasy Village in Manandona.

After a one hour trek in the country, we'll stop in a small hamlet called Ambohitrimanjato, where you can visit a school which has 160 pupils from 3-10 years old. 

Afterwards, we'll travel through Ranomafana to Ambositra, a small town that plays a prominent part in Malagasy arts, crafts, and furniture.

Did you know that the town of Ambositra is one of the most creative Malagasy towns in the craft industry? You'll have a chance to take a craft workshop or visit some shops before continuing to Betsileo Country. 

The typical landscapes of this region are full of paddy fields. In certain more hilly parts, you might see rice fields organized into terraces. 

Last, we'll arrive in Ranomafana in the late afternoon, a volcanic region that has quite a few thermal sources.    

Ranomafana - Fianarantsoa

Day 8: Visit Ranomafana National Park & Fianarantsoa

Enjoy breakfast before exploring the park of Ranomafana with a local guide.

This green and luxuriant forest shelters a dozen species of lemurs, hundreds of endemic bird species, and reptiles. There are also numerous varieties of unique plants in the park. 

Afterwards, we'll also visit the city of Fianarantsoa, which has two parts: uptown (or the old city) where traditional architectures have been preserved and the new town (the commercial district). We'll explore the city by foot, which some people compare to its twin sister, Antananarivo.

We can also visit the Pierrot Men Photography Studio - Pierrot Men is one of the most famous photographers in Madagascar and is famous for his black and white portraits.  

Fianarantsoa - Ambalavao - Ranohira

Day 9: Journey to Ranohira

After breakfast, we'll drive to Ambalavao which lies south of Fianarantsoa. 

Upon arrival, we'll visit a local manufacturer of the Antemoro-Paper, where you'll learn about this specific paper manufacturing. 

Afterwards, we'll stop to visit the rustic park of Anjà in Ambalavao, a park managed by villagers and home to several colonies of catta lemurs and numerous species of chameleons and snakes. 

Afterwards, we'll pass through Ranohira on the way to Betsileo Country. Witness the landscape changes - full of big meadows strewn with Satrana palm trees. You might also see some of the Bareas people, an ethnic group of nomadic shepherds who roam the land.

Last, we'll arrive at Ranohira in the late afternoon.    

Ranohira

Day 10: The canyons of Isalo National Park

Today, we'll explore the National Park of Isalo, which offers numerous opportunties to hikes through magnificent and grand landscapes.

Spend the afternoon strolling through canyons and crests of the park, bathing in natural swimming pools, or having a delicious picnic lunch in the park.

Choose to continue the visit in the park, or return to the hotel.

Ranohira - Toliara

Day 11: Visit The Beautiful City Of Toliara

Enjoy breakfast, before we travel to the southern region to Toliara.

Before reaching the city, you might notice the baobabs. The territory consists of the ethnic groups Antandroy and Mahafaly, two of the most important ethnic groups of the South of Madagascar.

On the road, you'll cross the city of Ilakaka and the villages of precious stone hunters.

Upon arrival in Toliara, visit the Arboretum, which has numerous endemic healing plants of Madagascar.

You'll also have time to visit the famous shellfish market.

Toliara - Anakao

Day 12: Visit fishing villages & the blue lagoon of Anakao

Early in the morning, we'll leave Toliara to Anakao, located in a desert region where water is very rare.

We'll depart from the port of Toliara and navigate towards the south in the middle of the dugouts of the fishermen Vézo.

Afterwards, we'll cross the tropic of Capricorn at the level of the pass of Sarodrano, the mouth of the river Onilahy, Saint Augustin Bay, and arrive approximately one-hour later in the turquoise blue lagoon of Anakao, protected from the sea by a double coral reef.

Anakao

Day 13: Relax at Anakao Beach

Did you know Anakao means "your child" in Malagasy?

Malagasy is the dialect of the southwest and has the biggest village of nomadic fishermen called "Vezo". 

In the morning have a delicious breakfast and then head off to discover the small coral island of Nosy Ve. 

Afterwards, you'll have the afternoon free in Anakao with numerous marine activities available to you, such as: snorkeling, windsurfing, canoeing, kayaking, scuba diving, and fishing.

Anakao - Antananarivo

Day 14: Return to Antananarivo

Early in the morning, we'll return to Antananarivo by boat.

The rest of the day will depend on the flight schedule.

If your flight is in the morning, you can transfer to the local airport for your flight to the capital. In the afternoon, you can visit the craft market of Antananarivo, before the transfer to your place of accommodation.

If you have a afternoon flight, we'll organize a visit around Toliara, including the handcraft market before your departure for Antananarivo. 

In the evening, enjoy a farewell diner at the hotel.

Antananarivo

Day 15: Farewell to Madagascar

In the morning, have breakfast at your hotel.

Later, you'll be transferred to the Ivato Airport catch your flight home or to continue your travels.