12-Day Classic Madagascar Tour

• You'll be collected from the airport.
• Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.

Arrival in Antananarivo

Upon arrival at Ivato International Airport, you will be met by your private English-speaking guide for a transfer to your hotel in Antananarivo’s historic Upper Town. Affectionately known as "Tana," the capital is a captivating blend of tradition and history, characterized by its unique architecture and a cultural heritage that reflects a deeper Indonesian influence than the coastal regions of Madagascar.

Main Destination:

Antananarivo (City)

Accommodation:

Maison Gallieni

• Luxury guest house located in Antananarivo (City)

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Meals & Drinks:

• Lunch & dinner (Breakfast not included)
• Drinks not included

Transfer to Andasibe-Mantadia National Park

After breakfast, journey east to Andasibe, a scenic four-hour drive through rural landscapes of rice fields and redbrick houses. This rainforest region includes the Perinet Special Reserve, world-renowned for its Indri lemurs. In the afternoon, visit Lemur Island at Vakona Lodge to encounter habituated species, including bamboo, brown, and black-and-white ruffed lemurs, alongside the diademed sifaka, offering an intimate introduction to Madagascar’s iconic wildlife.

Main Destination:

Andasibe-Mantadia National Park

Best Time To Visit April, May, October and November (Best weather, less rain)

High Season July, August and December holidays (The park is busy)

Best Weather April, May, October and November

Wildlife in Andasibe-Mantadia NP

Indri Common

Common
Brown Lemur Common

Other
Chameleons Common

Leaf-tailed
Geckos Common

Diademed Sifaka Occasional

Show more

Red-bellied
Lemur Occasional

Grey
Bamboo Lemur Occasional

Mouse Lemurs Occasional

Sportive Lemurs Occasional

Parson's
Chameleon Occasional

Painted Mantella Occasional

Black-and-white
Ruffed Lemur Rare

Madagascar
Tree Boa Rare

Fossa Very Rare

Accommodation:

Mantadia Lodge

• Mid-range lodge located outside Andasibe-Mantadia NP

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Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinks not included

Andasibe-Mantadia National Park

Following breakfast, embark on a full-day expedition to Mantadia National Park, a pristine "naturalist’s goldmine" located 1.5 hours from your lodge. While the trails are more rugged than those in Perinet, the rewards are immense, featuring taller, wilder forest and rare sightings of lemurs like the indri and diademed sifaka, as well as exotic birds like the pitta-like ground roller. Enjoy a scenic picnic lunch by the Rianasoa Waterfall before returning to the lodge, where you may opt for a guided evening walk to discover the region's diverse nocturnal residents.

Main Destination:

Andasibe-Mantadia National Park

Accommodation:

Mantadia Lodge

• Mid-range lodge located outside Andasibe-Mantadia NP

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinks not included

Andasibe (Perinet Reserve) to Antananarivo

After an early breakfast, explore the 810-hectare Perinet Reserve, a vital sanctuary for the iconic Indri - a unique lemur known for its distinctive markings and inability to survive in captivity. Guided by a local expert, you’ll traverse rainforests rich in orchids and endemic birdlife, searching for eleven other lemur species including the diademed sifaka and black-and-white ruffed lemur. After a morning immersed in this biodiversity hotspot, enjoy lunch before driving back to Antananarivo to settle into your hotel for the evening.

Main Destination:

Antananarivo (City)

Accommodation:

Novotel Convention & Spa Antananarivo

• Luxury hotel located in Antananarivo (City)

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Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast & dinner (Lunch not included)
• Drinks not included

Air Transfer to Fort Dauphin

Today, you’ll fly from Ivato to Fort Dauphin, where you’ll enjoy lunch at one of the town’s premier restaurants before a scenic four-hour drive to the stunning Mandrare River Camp. After settling into your luxury tented suite with sweeping river views, you'll embark on a late-afternoon walk into the prehistoric Spiny Forest of Zenavo. This immersive excursion offers a front-row seat to the forest’s transition as diurnal sifakas settle for the night and nocturnal inhabitants - including mouse lemurs, sportive lemurs, and chameleons - begin to awaken, providing a captivating introduction to this unique ecosystem.

Main Destination:

Fort Dauphin (Town)

Accommodation:

Mandrare River Camp

• Luxury tented camp located just outside Ifotaka Forest

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Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinks not included

Mandrare River Camp

After breakfast, cross the Mandrare River to explore the sacred gallery forest, home to inquisitive ring-tailed lemurs and entertaining Verreaux sifaka. Following lunch and a relaxed afternoon by the pool, venture into the sacred spiny forest, where unique flora surrounds the ancestral tombs of the Antandroy people. Guided by a private expert and a local tracker, you’ll gain an intimate introduction to Antandroy culture and traditions before concluding the day with sundowners on the tranquil banks of the Mandrare River.

Main Destination:

Fort Dauphin (Town)

Accommodation:

Mandrare River Camp

• Luxury tented camp located just outside Ifotaka Forest

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinks not included

Transfer to Fort Dauhphin and fly to Tana

Following breakfast, you will take a four-hour drive back to Fort Dauphin in time for your flight to Antananarivo. Upon landing at Ivato International Airport, you will be met by an English-speaking representative and transferred to your hotel conveniently located near the airport. Settle into your Superior Room and enjoy the hotel's excellent facilities, including its highly-regarded restaurant, providing a comfortable and seamless transition before the next leg of your journey.

Main Destination:

Antananarivo (City)

Accommodation:

Novotel Convention & Spa Antananarivo

• Luxury hotel located in Antananarivo (City)

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinks not included

Charter to Masoala Forest Lodge

Following an early breakfast, fly to Maroantsetra to reach the Masoala Peninsula, home to Madagascar's largest protected rainforest and the endemic red-ruffed lemur. Your adventure continues with a scenic two-hour boat crossing of Antongil Bay - where dolphins and whales are frequently spotted - to Masoala Forest Lodge. After settling into your elevated tree-house, spend the afternoon exploring the coastal forest and pristine beaches, perhaps spotting white-fronted brown lemurs on a guided walk to Tampolo Point. Conclude your day with sundowners on the sand and dinner in the beach house, fully immersed in this remote tropical paradise.

Main Destination:

Masoala National Park

Best Time To Visit August to November (Less rain)

High Season July, August and December holidays (Though the park doesn’t get busy)

Best Weather August to November

Wildlife in Masoala NP

Red Ruffed Lemur Common

Humpback
Whale Common

White-fronted
Brown Lemur Common

Masoala Sportive
Lemur

Common

Leaf-tailed
Geckos Common

Show more

Masoala
Woolly Lemur Occasional

Masoala
Fork-marked Lemur

Occasional

Mouse Lemurs Occasional

Tomato Frog Occasional

Panther
Chameleon Occasional

Lowland
Streaked Tenrec Rare

Greater
Hedgehog Tenrec Rare

Aye-aye Very Rare

Fossa Very Rare

Accommodation:

Masoala Forest Lodge

• Mid-range lodge located inside Masoala NP

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Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinks not included

Explore Masoala

Spend two days exploring the lush primary rainforest and vibrant coastline of Masoala. Trek through the canopy in search of endemic red-ruffed lemurs and dwarf chameleons, or enjoy a refreshing swim in the crystal-clear pools of the Tampolo River. Your coastal adventures include snorkeling diverse coral reefs and kayaking to the "Secret Cove" for sunset, with chances to spot bottlenose dolphins and green turtles. This biodiversity hotspot is also a haven for birdwatchers seeking ground-rollers and vangas, while guided nocturnal walks offer the rare possibility of encountering secretive species like the leaf-tailed gecko, mouse lemurs, and the elusive aye-aye.

Main Destination:

Masoala National Park

Accommodation:

Masoala Forest Lodge

• Mid-range lodge located inside Masoala NP

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinks not included

Fly back to Tana and connect home

This morning, you will return to Maroantsetra by boat in time for your scheduled charter flight back to Antananarivo. Upon arrival at Ivato International Airport, your driver-guide will be on hand to assist you with the check-in process for your onward international flight, ensuring a seamless and stress-free conclusion to your extraordinary Madagascar adventure.

Main Destination:

No major destination visited

Accommodation:

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinks not included

• Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost.
• You'll be dropped off at the airport.