$1,579 pp (USD)
This tour is offered in EUR.
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Arrival
Arrival
Day 1
Antananarivo
Antananarivo
Your arrival in Tana will follow a meet-and-greet at the airport, then transfer to your hotel.
Antananarivo means City of thousands. Its story began 500 years ago; the king Andrianjaka sent over 1000 soldiers to cut the forest and conquer the land. Then the great King Andrianampoinimerina, attracted by the beauty of the city, decided to build a palace there, which later became his successor's main palace. From here, the same king started to unify the different kingdoms of the island. During King Radama's reign, Antananarivo became the capital of all of Madagascar. Antananarivo is built on 3 levels: the high city, where the queen's palace is situated, the first area occupied during the royal period; then the mid-city, the administrative area where all the better boutiques of the capital are found; then the low city, which is the commercial area of the town.
- Main Destination:
- Antananarivo (City)
- Accommodation:
-
Gassy Country House
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 2
Antananarivo - Antsirabe
Antananarivo - Antsirabe
After breakfast, if time permits, you have a city tour of Tana, the capital of Madagascar. Then, with a private car, you drive southward to Antsirabe across the highland landscape with its beautiful terraced rice fields and its spectacular eroded hills called "lavaka". Optional stop in Ambatolampy, an agricultural city, also known for its aluminum recycling workshops that you might visit during the weekdays. The next hour, you'll drive through rural scenery with thatched-roof villages, valleys, rivers, rice and vegetable fields. This region supplies vegetables and rice to almost the whole country. If time permits, you'll have a short city tour, visit a lapidary of semi-precious gems, then a workshop making "pousse pousse'' and cars in miniature.
Day 3
Antsirabe - Miandrivazo
Antsirabe - Miandrivazo
You continue to Miandrivazo; the landscape is changing. You will be in the highlands during your drive. You will see Highland villages and erosion called lavaka. Situated on the Tsiribihina River, Miandrivazo is a very fertile region for cotton, corn, manioc, beans, tobacco, and rice. The rest of the day is at leisure, either to enjoy the countryside or relax at the hotel.
- Main Destination:
- Miandrivazo (Town)
- Accommodation:
-
Princesse Tsiribihina Hotel
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 4
Miandrivazo - Kirindy Forest
Miandrivazo - Kirindy Forest
You'll have breakfast at the hotel. Then, you depart for a 6-hour drive to Morondava; the landscape is dominated by baobabs, rice fields give way to empty hills, and red soil. Just before entering Morondava, you see your first couple of baobabs. The centre of the Sakalava kingdom, Morondava is a prosperous rice-growing area. It is also known as a seaside resort, with a laid-back atmosphere. Many different cultures and religions manage to intermingle in this region, which makes it special.
Continuation to Kirindy: 60 km of track from Morondava. You pass through the "Allée des baobabs". Arriving in Kirindy, after check-in, you will have a 1-hour hike in Kirindy Park with a guide. Rich in wildlife and home to 8 species of diurnal lemurs. At around 6 pm, you will meet our guide again for a night walk to see nocturnal animals, then stay at the hotel.
- Main Destination:
- Kirindy Forest
- Accommodation:
- Relais du Kirindy
Wildlife in Kirindy Forest
giant rat Common
Northern
bokiboky
mouse lemur Common
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 5
Kirindy - Morondava
Kirindy - Morondava
You have breakfast at the hotel, followed by a morning visit to the reserve. In the afternoon, you drive back to Morondava, with plenty of time to enjoy the surroundings and capture the spectacular sunset along the iconic Avenue of the Baobabs. This region is home to the magnificent Grandidier's baobab (Adansonia grandidieri), Madagascar's most emblematic baobab species.
- Main Destination:
- Morondava (Town)
- Accommodation:
- Laguna Beach
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 6
Morondava
Morondava
Day free. Morondava lies on the beach. The Morondava area was the center of the Sakalava kingdom, a prosperous rice-growing area. It is also known as a seaside resort with a laid-back atmosphere. Many different cultures and religions manage to intermingle in this region, which makes it very special.
- Main Destination:
- Morondava (Town)
- Accommodation:
- Laguna Beach
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 7
Morondava - Miandrivazo
Morondava - Miandrivazo
After breakfast, you drive towards Miandrivazo. En route, you experience varied landscapes and the transition from the very dry west to the red soil and rice fields around Miandrivazo. Situated on the Tsiribihina River, Miandrivazo is a very fertile region for cotton, corn, manioc, beans, tobacco, and rice. The rest of the day is at leisure, either to enjoy the countryside or relax at the hotel. Your overnight stay is at the hotel.
- Main Destination:
- Miandrivazo (Town)
- Accommodation:
- Princesse Tsiribihina Hotel
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 8
Miandrivazo - Antsirabe
Miandrivazo - Antsirabe
You continue the journey to Antsirabe. You will also notice changes in the features of the local people as Asian heritage becomes more prominent. You finish the day in Antsirabe. The city of Antsirabe has about 100,000 inhabitants and was founded by Norwegian missionaries in the late 18th century, who were attracted by the pleasant climate. It lies on the slopes of the nation's second-highest peak, Tsiafajavona, in the Ankaratra Mountains, and has nearby thermal springs, locally renowned for their healing properties. The city is also known as the centre of Madagascar’s brewing industry. Indeed, you will smell the brewery on the way into town. You will stay overnight in a hotel.
- Main Destination:
- Antsirabe (City)
- Accommodation:
- Le Royal Palace Hotel
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 9
Antsirabe - Andasibe
Antsirabe - Andasibe
After breakfast, you head to Antananarivo at the end of National Road 7. From there, you take National Road 2 and travel east to Andasibe through lush green landscapes and the region's luxuriant vegetation. This leg of the journey takes you into the humid part of the country, with its primary forests and lakes. Along the way, you'll pass Merina villages perched on the hills. You stop in Moramanga for a short visit to the local market. Optionally, you may visit Peyrieras Reptile Reserve to see chameleons and other fascinating reptile species. You then continue for another two hours to reach Andasibe.
- Main Destination:
- Andasibe-Mantadia National Park
- Accommodation:
- Andasibe Lemurs Lodge
Wildlife in Andasibe-Mantadia NP
brown lemur Common
chameleons Common
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 10
Andasibe-Mantadia National Park
Andasibe-Mantadia National Park
In the morning, you take a 3- to 4-hour hike to Andasibe National Park, a huge tropical rainforest in the east. 9 species of lemurs can be spotted there. The highlight is the Indri Indri which is the largest lemur of the island. This 810-ha reserve is also home to numerous unique species. It contains a wide variety of orchids, canopy, endemic animals like chameleons, tenrecs, and many birds.
In the afternoon, you will visit the private park of Vakona on the island of lemurs, which is the best spot to take pictures of lemurs. You go back to your hotel, where you will stay overnight.
- Main Destination:
- Andasibe-Mantadia National Park
- Accommodation:
- Andasibe Lemurs Lodge
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 11
Andasibe - Antananarivo
Andasibe - Antananarivo
Very early in the morning, you take a 5- to 6-hour drive back to Tana, transfer to the airport to catch your international flight.
- Main Destination:
- No major destination visited
- Accommodation:
- No accommodation (End of tour)
- Meals & Drinks:
