Trek Across Madagascar’s Southern Highlands
This itinerary covers over a fortnight. It starts in Antananarivo and finishes on the beaches of the Mozambique Channel.
Following Route Nationale 7, travel through the Malagasy Highlands. Cultural tours include the woodcarving traditions of the Zafimaniry people, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
It continues to the rainforests of Ranomafana National Park, then the heights of Andringitra National Park. This includes a hike to Pic Boby, the second highest peak on the island.
The route passes the granite cliffs of Tsaranoro Valley and the canyons of Isalo National Park. It crosses the Ihorombe Plateau before reaching Ifaty.
This itinerary includes cultural heritage, high-altitude trekking, wildlife, and beach relaxation.
- ✦ Drive along Route Nationale 7 through Merina highland villages and terraced rice paddies
- ✦ Explore Antsirabe’s Tsara Sabotsy Market and colonial streets by pousse-pousse
- ✦ Trek through Zafimaniry cultural heartland, a UNESCO Intangible Heritage region
- ✦ Homestay in traditional carved wooden houses in Sakaivo
- ✦ Full-day mountain hike past artisan villages and Matsiatra Valley viewpoints
- ✦ Trek in Ranomafana National Park: golden bamboo lemurs and thermal springs
- ✦ Andringitra National Park high-altitude trek to Pic Boby (2,658 m)
- ✦ Descend across the wind-sculpted alpine plateau to Iantaranomby Valley
- ✦ Hike into Tsaranoro Valley beneath Madagascar’s iconic granite climbing wall
- ✦ Cross the Ihorombe Plateau and visit a traditional Bara cattle village
- ✦ Full-day exploration of Isalo National Park: sandstone canyons, natural pools, and Isalo Window sunset
- ✦ Relax on the Mozambique Channel lagoon in Ifaty with coral snorkeling and Vezo village visits
Here is the cleaned, humanised version with links and semantic HTML, following all your formatting rules:
Day 1 – Antananarivo
Arrival at Ivato International Airport, private transfer to central Antananarivo. Day at leisure to explore the highland capital. Overnight at Havana Resort Hotel or similar.
Day 2 – Antananarivo → Ambositra → Antaniditra
Early departure on the RN7, crossing the highlands with views of rice terraces and Merina villages. Stop in Antsirabe for lunch, a visit to Tsara Sabotsy Market and a pousse-pousse ride through colonial districts. Continue through Ambositra, known for Zafimaniry woodcarving, to the village of Antaniditra. Overnight at Ivato River Lodge or similar.
Day 3 – Antaniditra → Antoetra → Sakaivo
Transfer to Antoetra, gateway to the Zafimaniry villages. Walk with a guide through green valleys, rice terraces and forested hills. Visit hamlets where woodcarving traditions are recognised as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. Arrive in Sakaivo for a homestay in a traditional carved wooden house. Overnight in village accommodation.
Day 4 – Sakaivo → Faliarivo → Ankidodo
Full day hiking through high‑altitude forests and mountain scenery. The path passes artisan workspaces, historic cemeteries and viewpoints over the Matsiatra Valley. Cross suspended bridges and meet local communities. Arrive at Ankidodo campsite in the late afternoon. Overnight in tents.
Day 5 – Ankidodo → Antoetra → Ranomafana
Morning walk back to Antoetra, then drive south to Ranomafana National Park. The landscape changes to humid rainforest. Arrive at your eco‑lodge. Overnight at Setam Lodge or similar.
Day 6 – Ranomafana → Ambalavao
Morning walk in Ranomafana National Park, home to the rare golden bamboo lemur and other lemur species, waterfalls, hot springs and medicinal plants. In the afternoon, drive to Ambalavao, a town known for crafts and markets. Overnight at Aux Bougainvillées or similar.
Day 7 – Ambalavao → Namoly → Andriampotsy
Transfer to Namoly to enter Andringitra National Park. Trek through high‑altitude grasslands and rocky ridges to Andriampotsy Camp (2,050 m), set in a granite cirque. Overnight in tents.
Day 8 – Andriampotsy → Pic Boby → Iantaranomby
Pre‑dawn start to climb Pic Boby (2,658 m), the second‑highest peak in Madagascar. On clear days, views reach the Indian Ocean. Descend through the “alien plateau” with its rock formations and alpine plants. Camp in Iantaranomby Valley. Overnight in tents.
Day 9 – Iantaranomby → Tsaranoro Valley
Descend into the Tsaranoro Valley, with granite walls rising up to 800 m. Cross dry forests and seasonal rivers to reach your lodge at the foot of the cliffs. Free time to enjoy the surroundings. Overnight at Tsarasoa Lodge or similar.
Day 10 – Tsaranoro Valley → Ranohira
Cross the Ihorombe Plateau, a vast savannah with termite mounds, home to Bara herders. Visit a Bara village to learn about their culture. Continue to Ranohira, gateway to Isalo National Park. Overnight at H1 Isalo Hotel or similar.
Day 11 – Isalo National Park
Full day in Isalo National Park. Trek through sandstone canyons, swim in natural pools, and look for ring‑tailed lemurs and Verreaux’s sifakas. Sunset at the Window of Isalo. Overnight at H1 Isalo Hotel or similar.
Day 12 – Ranohira → Ifaty
Drive 270 km (≈7 h) through arid landscapes and spiny forest to Ifaty, a coastal village on the Mozambique Channel. Overnight at Bamboo Club Hotel or similar.
Day 13 – Ifaty
Free day to enjoy white‑sand beaches, a turquoise lagoon, coral‑reef snorkeling and visits to Vezo fishing villages. Overnight at Bamboo Club Hotel or similar.
Day 14 – Ifaty → Tuléar → Antananarivo
Transfer to Tuléar Airport for a domestic flight to Antananarivo. Arrival and transfer to an airport‑area hotel. Overnight at Chat’o Park Hotel or similar.
Day 15 – Antananarivo
Private transfer to Ivato International Airport for your international departure flight. End of services.
- Havana Resort Hotel, Antananarivo
- Ivato River Lodge, Antaniditra
- Traditional village homestay, Sakaivo
- Mountain camp tents, Ankidodo
- Setam Lodge, Ranomafana
- Aux Bougainvillées, Ambalavao
- Camping in Andringitra
- Tsarasoa Lodge, Tsaranoro Valley
- H1 Isalo Hotel, Ranohira
- Bamboo Club Hotel, Ifaty
- Chat’o Park Hotel, Antananarivo