8-Day Trekking - in the Ridges and Canyons of Isalo

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

Arrival in Antananarivo - Antsirabe

Arrival at Ivato Airport. You will be welcomed at the airport by our representative. You'll take the road directly to Antsirabe. You'll be passing in the city of Ambatolampy where the workshop of the pot of foundry is. You'll arrive in Antsirabe, the name means "a lot of salt." It is an elegant city.

Main Destination:

Antsirabe (City)

Accommodation:

Soa Guest House

• Budget guest house

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Antsirabe - Fianarantsoa

You'll have a city tour by rickshaw then workshop tours for visits of local handcrafts and products including jewelry made from zebu horn, and toys crafted from old tin cans. You'll take the road to Ambositra, the village of Zafimaniry known as the town of handcrafts in Madagascar. Afterward, you'll visit some handcraft markets. You will continue to Fianarantsoa.

Main Destination:

Fianarantsoa (City)

Accommodation:

Hotel Mahamanina

• Budget hotel located in Fianarantsoa (City)

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Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Fianarantsoa - Ranohira

You'll have breakfast, then a city tour of Fianarantsoa. The name means "place of good learning." The city is separated by a steep climb: the lower and upper town. You will continue the trip and stop in Ambalavao for a tour of the manufacturing workshop of the famous paper Antemoro. You'll visit of ANJA private reserve held by the village community. You'll continue your tour till Ranohira. On your arrival, you'll continue to the Namaza parking area for around 20 minutes, then walk 800 m to reach the Namaza camp. You will enjoy a short walk around the camp.
Your dinner and overnight stay will be in tents.

Main Destination:

Ranohira (Town)

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast & dinner (Lunch not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

First-Day of Trekking in Isalo National Park

After breakfast, it is time to explore Isalo National Park. It is a sandstone landscape that has been dissected by wind and water erosion into rocky outcrops, plateaus, extensive plains, and up to 200 m (660 ft) deep canyons. Fourteen species of mammals are reported for Isalo, including several different species of lemur. You'll visit the Namaza canyon where there are black and blue pools and the waterfall, at the bottom of the canyon. You'll continue to the plateau via the ridge and the panoramic viewpoint. You will be arriving at the natural swimming pool at around 2 pm. After swimming, you'll return to the camp. You'll have dinner around the campfire. Your overnight stay will be in a tent.

Main Destination:

Isalo National Park

Best Time To Visit May to October (Cooler, sunny days)

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

Best Weather June to August

Wildlife in Isalo NP

Ring-tailed
lemur Common

Western
plated lizard Common

Verreaux's sifaka Occasional

Red-fronted
brown lemur Occasional

Oustalet's
chameleon Occasional

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Jewel chameleon Occasional

Stump-tailed
chameleon Occasional

Merrem's
Madagascar swift Occasional

Grey
mouse lemur Rare

Red-tailed
sportive lemur Rare

Painted
burrowing frog Rare

Blue-legged
mantella Rare

Fossa Very Rare

Madagascar
tree boa Very Rare

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• Inside Isalo NP

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Second-Day of Trekking in Isalo National Park

You'll have an early breakfast. You'll depart for a long day's trek to Maki Canyon. Apart from the fauna, the botanical inventory of the Isalo region began with collections by Perrier de la Bâthie in 1910. Only 10 of the over 400 species that have been documented in Isalo are non-native species. Most (over 70%) are vascular plants that are endemic to Madagascar.
After the visit to the site, you'll take the bus to reach the camp outside the park.

Main Destination:

Isalo National Park

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• Just outside Isalo NP

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Ranohira - Ambositra

After breakfast, you'll depart to Ambositra, the little Betsileo town. Ambositra is the centre of Madagascar's woodcarving industry, a charming, warmly-coloured town with typical brick houses. Set in a mountainous landscape, Ambositra is surrounded by rice terraces and eucalyptus plantations as far as the eye can see.

Main Destination:

Ambositra (City)

Accommodation:

Hotel Artisan

• Mid-range hotel located in Ambositra (City)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Ambositra - Antananarivo

You will enjoy a delicious breakfast. You will leave the village of Ambositra to join Antananarivo, passing through Antsirabe, an elegant city. You will have a stop visiting Ambatolampy, a village of metalwork. Cast aluminum souvenirs are often for sale along the main road. After the visit, you'll continue to Tana. On your arrival, you will transfer to the hotel.

Main Destination:

Antananarivo (City)

Accommodation:

Green Palace

• Budget guest house located in Antananarivo (City)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Antananarivo

This is the last day of your trip! After breakfast, you will have a quick city tour of Antananarivo by car then you will go to the colourful local markets. You will be able to buy some souvenirs.
You'll transfer back to the airport for check-in.
We say you "veloma"!

Main Destination:

No major destination visited

Accommodation:

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

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