Lemurs, baobabs & Malagasy coast

Arrival at Ivato International Airport in Antananarivo and transfer to your hotel. Welcome to Madagascar! The rest of the day, you can relax from the long trip or start exploring your new surroundings at your leisure. Overnight stay in Antananarivo.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today you’ll discover the city of Antananarivo by exploring the highlands, lowlands, and the picturesque Anosy Lake. Later, you’ll depart towards Antsirabe, enjoying the beautiful landscapes along the way, full of traditional homes.

On your way there, you’ll stop at Ambatolampy, a quaint village at the foot of the volcanic rock of Ankaratra, the third-highest point in Madagascar. You’ll visit an aluminium artisan workshop to observe the founding process and development of local tools.

You’ll continue towards Antsirabe, a colonial and thermal town once known as “The Malagasy Vichy”. Once you arrive in the city, you’ll take a ride in a pousse-pousse (local transportation, similar to a rickshaw) and visit a diverse array of local workshops: zebu horn, traditional candy and semi-precious stone carving, art symbols, and Malagasy creativity. Overnight stay in Antsirabe.

Total transfer: 112 miles, approximately 6h.

Breakfast at the hotel. You’ll leave early for Manandona, a lovely village where you’ll discover the everyday life of the Malagasy townspeople: their traditions, hospitality, and typical architecture. You’ll walk among rice plantations and get to know local families, sharing unique moments in their homes. You’ll also visit a women’s association working with silkworms, a solidarity initiative aimed at improving community schooling.

You’ll continue towards Ranomafana, through rice terraces and mountain landscapes. This old spa town, whose name actually means “hot water”, is famous for its natural thermal fountains originating from the volcano, also known for their healing properties. Overnight stay in Ranomafana.

Total transfer: 155 miles, approximately 7 h.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, you’ll depart for Ranomafana National Park, a natural treasure offering total immersion in the heart of the Malagasy tropical forest. During your tour through its trails, you can enjoy a magical and fresh atmosphere, surrounded by tall trees covered in moss and lichens.

The park harbors extraordinary biodiversity, with many lemur species, multicolored chameleons, and exotic birds, turning every step into a fascinating experience for nature lovers.

After your visit, you’ll continue your trip to Fianarantsoa, passing through the beautiful landscapes of the Highlands. Overnight stay in Fianarantsoa.

Total transfer: 40 miles, approximately 2 h.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today you’ll be heading to Ambalavao to visit Anja’s community reserve. This little natural paradise, surrounded by granite formations, protects a unique ecosystem in the southern heart of Madagascar.

While you walk the path, you’ll enjoy a close encounter with ring-tailed lemurs, easily spotted as they jump among the rocks or groom their families. This reserve offers impressive views, endemic flora, and a serene environment that invites you to connect with nature. You’ll continue until you reach Ranohira, where you’ll be transferred to your hotel. Overnight stay in Ranohira.

Total transfer: 168 miles, approximately 4 h.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, you’ll explore Isalo National Park, a natural treasure of over 80,000 acres that captivates with its canyon vistas, rocky Jurassic formations, and hidden oases.

During your morning walk, you’ll see impressive hills until you reach the Natural Pool, set between rocks and tropical vegetation, where you will be able to take a refreshing bath. The park also has extraordinary biodiversity, with over 80 bird species, reptiles, amphibians, and mammals, among them the charismatic ring-tailed lemurs (Maki), sifakas, and varikas. Isalo’s flora is just as breathtaking.

At the end of the day, you’ll enjoy an unforgettable sunset at “Isalo’s Window”, one of Madagascar’s most emblematic views. Overnight stay in Isalo.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today you’ll leave for Tuléar, passing through changing landscapes that reveal the Malagasy South. You’ll pass through Ilakaka, the legendary town of sapphire hunters that reached its peak of popularity in 1998, with a cultural mix that recalls the “Far West”. Ahead, the first baobabs announce your entrance into one of the arid southern regions. During your journey, you’ll admire the traditional tombs of local ethnic groups, true funerary works of art.

Before reaching the shore, you’ll visit Reniala Reserve, also known as the “Baobab Forest”, where endemic flora and unique birds live. You’ll continue to Ifaty, a tranquil coastal town bathed by the warm waters of the Mozambique Channel. Its white sand beaches and coral reef make this an ideal refuge for snorkeling and scuba diving. Overnight stay in Ifaty.

Total transfer: 82 miles, approximately 7 h.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, you’ll have a free day to enjoy Ifaty’s charm at your leisure. You can rest at one of its paradise beaches, or maybe practice snorkeling and diving in the coral reef, home of multicolored fish and sea turtles. Overnight stay in Ifaty.

Breakfast at the hotel. You’ll transfer to Tuléar airport to embark on your flight back to Antananarivo*. After transferring to your hotel, you’ll be able to enjoy your final hours here. Overnight stay in Antananarivo.

* Your domestic return flight to Antananarivo and your international flight back home are booked separately. For this reason, if you do not have enough time to rest for a few hours in a hotel before your international flight, you will need to leave the airport and go through the check-in and security procedures again for your next flight.

Breakfast* at the hotel. It’s time to conclude this natural adventure. At the indicated time, transfer to the airport for your flight back home**, carrying with you the memories, colors, and sounds of Madagascar’s untouched beauty.

*Depending on the return flight schedule and the hotel breakfast service, you may not be able to enjoy the included breakfast on the last day. 

**Depending on the choice of flight, you may arrive back in the US the following day.

Please note that depending on your return flight time, you might not be able to enjoy the full last night of your stay.