Great Tour of Madagascar

Day 1 — Antananarivo

Arrival at Ivato International Airport and private transfer to central Antananarivo, Madagascar’s bustling Highland capital. Explore the city’s red‑brick houses, rice paddies, and lively markets if time allows. Overnight at Havana Resort Hotel or similar.

Day 2 — Antananarivo → Antsirabe

Drive south along RN7 through the Highlands of the Merina people, with terraced rice fields and traditional villages. Stop in Ambatolampy to see artisanal aluminum foundries. Continue to Antsirabe, a cool spa town with colonial architecture. Pousse‑pousse city tour to silk, gemstone, and zebu‑horn workshops. Overnight at Royal Palace Hotel or similar.

Day 3 — Antsirabe → Miandrivazo → Masiakampy

Visit volcanic lakes Andraikiba and Tritriva, ringed by pine forests and farms. Travel west as the landscape becomes drier toward Miandrivazo, then on to Masiakampy, a riverside village and departure point for the Tsiribihina River descent. Free time to walk through the village or relax by the pool. Overnight at Eden de la Tsiribihina Hotel or similar.

Day 4 — Masiakampy / Tsiribihina River Descent (Day 1)

Board a traditional barge on the Tsiribihina River. Drift past tobacco fields, rice paddies, and gallery forests alive with herons, egrets, kingfishers, and occasional lemurs in the trees. Stop at a waterfall and natural pool for a refreshing swim. Dinner by the campfire and full‑board camping on a sandbank under the stars.

Day 5 — Tsiribihina River Descent (Day 2)

Continue along the Tsiribihina River, passing small riverside villages and open savanna. Watch daily river life—fishermen in pirogues, children on the banks, cattle at the water’s edge. Depending on the season, look for chameleons, bats, and waterbirds roosting on cliffs. Second night of full‑board camping on the riverbank.

Day 6 — Tsiribihina River → Belo‑sur‑Tsiribihina → Bekopaka

Disembark and travel by 4x4 over dusty tracks and plains to Belo‑sur‑Tsiribihina, a small town with a lively market. Continue north through arid zones, seasonal wetlands, and baobab groves to Bekopaka, crossing the Manambolo River by local ferry. Bekopaka is the gateway to Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park. Overnight at Olympe de Bemaraha Hotel or similar.

Day 7 — Bekopaka — Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park

Full day in Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park (UNESCO), famed for its razor‑sharp limestone pinnacles. Walk suspended bridges and narrow rock corridors with spectacular viewpoints over the “stone forest.” The park shelters several lemur species, endemic birds, and specialized plants. A ~5‑hour hike in the Grand Tsingy reveals canyons, caves, and pockets of dry forest. Overnight at Olympe de Bemaraha Hotel or similar.

Day 8 — Bekopaka → Morondava

Return south by 4x4 via Belo‑sur‑Tsiribihina, crossing rivers by simple ferries and passing remote villages. Near Morondava, stop at the Avenue of the Baobabs, where venerable Adansonia trees flank a red dirt road. Enjoy sunset as the trunks glow in golden light. Overnight at Laguna Beach Hotel or similar.

Day 9 — Morondava → Belo‑sur‑Mer

Drive along sandy coastal tracks to Belo‑sur‑Mer, a lagoon‑side fishing village. See traditional dhow (wooden sailing boat) construction on the beach. The route passes spiny forest, baobab savanna, and rice fields. Relax on white sand beaches, watch fishermen at work, and wander the quiet streets. Overnight at Belo Beach Hotel or similar.

Day 10 — Belo‑sur‑Mer / Kirindy Mitea National Park

Excursion to Kirindy Mitea National Park, a coastal protected area combining dry forest, dunes, beaches, and mangroves. Walk (~3 hours) to spot birds, lemurs, and striking baobabs while enjoying views over the Mozambique Channel. Return to Belo‑sur‑Mer for a relaxed afternoon on the beach. Overnight at Belo Beach Hotel or similar.

Day 11 — Belo‑sur‑Mer → Morombe

Long travel day south through one of Madagascar’s most remote regions. Pass through Manja, a frontier‑style inland town. Continue to the wide Mangoky River and cross on a hand‑pulled ferry used by local vehicles and residents. Landscapes feature dry scrub, scattered baobabs, and isolated villages. Arrive in Morombe, a small coastal hub. Overnight at Paletuvier Hotel or similar.

Day 12 — Morombe → Tsiandamba

Follow a rugged coastal track toward Tsiandamba, an isolated Vezo fishing village. En route, see the sacred millennial baobab, revered by local communities, and the Enchanted Baobab Forest, with fantastically shaped trunks. Reach Tsiandamba, a tranquil settlement with pristine beaches and traditional fishing canoes. Overnight at Manga Bay Lodge or similar.

Day 13 — Tsiandamba — Beach and Local Life

Full day in Tsiandamba. Walk the beach lined with colorful pirogues, observe fishermen preparing their sails and nets, and experience daily Vezo life. Swim or snorkel in clear waters (conditions permitting), or simply relax and enjoy the sense of remoteness. Overnight at Manga Bay Lodge or similar.

Day 14 — Tsiandamba — Leisure and Exploration

Another day in Tsiandamba for beach time and optional activities. You may explore nearby reefs by boat, visit neighboring hamlets, or stroll along the coast to see more of the Vezo communities. Ideal for unwinding in a wild, little‑visited corner of Madagascar. Overnight at Manga Bay Lodge or similar.

Day 15 — Tsiandamba → Ranohira (Isalo)

Depart the coast and head inland, joining RN9 then RN7. Watch the environment change from sandy bush to broad savanna and rocky plateaus. Arrive in Ranohira, the gateway town to Isalo National Park. In late afternoon, visit the Isalo Window rock formation for a striking savanna sunset framed by sandstone cliffs. Overnight at H1 Isalo Hotel or similar.

Day 16 — Ranohira / Isalo National Park

Full‑day hike in Isalo National Park, famous for its eroded sandstone massifs, canyons, and natural pools. Walk across open grasslands into narrow gorges lined with palms and pandanus. Look for lemurs (including ring‑tailed lemurs (Lemur catta) where present), endemic birds, and unusual succulents. Refresh with a swim in one of the clear natural rock pools. Overnight at H1 Isalo Hotel or similar.

Day 17 — Ranohira → Anja Community Reserve → Ambalavao → Ranomafana

Head east to Anja Community Reserve, a community‑run forest beneath granite boulders. Easy walk to see habituated ring‑tailed lemurs (Lemur catta) and viewpoints over the countryside. Continue to Ambalavao, noted for its colorful houses and production of Antaimoro paper, visiting a traditional workshop. Then drive into the lush, misty hills of Ranomafana, a key rainforest conservation area. Overnight at Setam Lodge or similar.

Day 18 — Ranomafana → Ambositra

Morning visit to Ranomafana National Park, a rainforest criss‑crossed by streams and hot springs. On a ~3‑hour guided walk, search for lemurs including the golden bamboo lemur (Hapalemur aureus), as well as other bamboo lemurs, chameleons, frogs, and forest birds. Learn about the park’s high endemism and conservation projects. Afternoon drive to Ambositra, capital of Zafimaniry woodcarving, with many carved houses and shops. Overnight at Ivato River Lodge or similar.

Day 19 — Ambositra → Antananarivo

Visit Zafimaniry woodcarving workshops in Ambositra to see artisans create intricate geometric designs on furniture, doors, and decorative pieces—part of UNESCO‑listed intangible cultural heritage. Then travel back to Antananarivo via RN7, passing terraced rice fields and Highland villages. Free time in the capital depending on arrival. Overnight at Ikopa Hotel or similar.

Day 20 — Antananarivo → Andasibe

Drive east from Antananarivo through a landscape of eucalyptus, small farms, and rolling hills to Andasibe. In the afternoon, visit Mitsinjo Private Reserve, a community‑managed reforestation and amphibian‑conservation site. After dark, enjoy a night walk in VOIMMA Reserve along the forest edge, looking for nocturnal lemurs, chameleons, frogs, and insects. Overnight at Feony Ala Hotel or similar.

Day 21 — Andasibe / Andasibe‑Mantadia National Park / Vakona

Full day in Andasibe‑Mantadia National Park, one of Madagascar’s richest rainforests. On a ~4‑hour walk, listen for the haunting calls of the Indri Indri (Indri indri) and try to observe family groups in the trees. The park hosts many other lemur species, birds, orchids, and ferns. Later, visit Vakona Reserve, where semi‑habituated lemurs live on a small island and other wildlife (including crocodiles) are kept in enclosures. Overnight at Feony Ala Hotel or similar.

Day 22 — Andasibe → Antananarivo (via Ambohimanga)

Return to Antananarivo and continue to the Royal Hill of Ambohimanga, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore the former royal palace, sacred burial grounds, and forested areas that remain an important spiritual center for the Merina people. Learn about the island’s pre‑colonial monarchy and rituals. Return to central Antananarivo. Overnight at Chat’o Park Hotel or similar.

Day 23 — Antananarivo — Leisure / Final Activities

Free day in Antananarivo. Possibilities include visiting handicraft markets (La Digue, Analakely), exploring museums, or walking in the historic upper town to see colonial buildings and churches. Ideal for last‑minute shopping and city exploration before your departure. Overnight at Chat’o Park Hotel or similar.

Day 24 — Antananarivo / Departure

Transfer from your hotel to Ivato International Airport. Depending on flight time, enjoy a final glimpse of Antananarivo’s hills, rice fields, and neighborhoods before departure from Madagascar.