Grand Madagascar Explorer

Following breakfast, there will be a guided tour of the cultural and historical Ambohimanga Royal Palace, situated 20 km north of the capital. The Royal Hill of Ambohimanga features a royal city, a burial site, and a collection of sacred locations. It holds significant national identity and has preserved its spiritual essence and sacredness in both ritual practices and public perception for over 500 years. It continues to serve as a place of worship, attracting pilgrims from Madagascar and beyond.

After the tour, we will head directly east towards Andasibe, which is 130 km from Antananarivo. Along the way, we will make several stops to appreciate the scenery, take photos, and rest if needed. After approximately four hours, we will arrive in Andasibe village and check into the hotel.

After breakfast, we will go on a guided tour of Analamazaotra National Park (it’s recommended to leave the hotel by 7:30 AM). This early morning adventure is essential for spotting the Indri-Indri and Diademed Sifaka in their natural habitat. The tour lasts approximately four hours. You can hear the distinctive call of the Indri, known as Babakoto in Malagasy, from within a mile of the park during the early morning until noon and again in the late afternoon. Indris are the largest living lemurs, reaching up to 1 meter in length. Andasibe is the premier location for observing Indris, as there are a few families that are accustomed to human presence. They live in small groups and cannot thrive in captivity. Various legends surround their origins, as they are regarded as sacred animals throughout Madagascar.

In addition to the Indri, the forest is home to 13 other lemur species, including the woody lemur, grey bamboo lemur, diademed sifaka, brown lemur, red mouse-lemur, red-bellied lemur, and black-and-white ruffed lemur.

In the afternoon, enjoy an intimate experience with lemurs on Lemurs Island, followed by a visit to the Vakona Reserve Zoo, where you can see a variety of species, including crocodiles in a large river enclosure, native birds, and other wildlife in well-maintained habitats.

At around 6:30 PM, join a guided night tour lasting an hour and a half before returning to the hotel.

After breakfast, head straight back to the capital, making a stop at Pereiras Park. This intriguing park, owned by the Peyrieras family, is home to Cocquerel's Sifaka, various chameleons and reptiles, as well as other Malagasy wildlife like butterflies, moths (including the giant Atlas Moth), and tenrecs.

After your visit, continue on to Antananarivo. Following lunch in the city, enjoy a 45-minute tour of the Queen’s Palace (Rova Manjakamiadana) situated on a hill, where you can take in stunning views of the capital. The remainder of the day is yours to spend as you wish.

After breakfast, you will be transferred directly to Antananarivo airport for your flight to the island's west coast, heading to Morondava. Upon arrival, you'll hop into a 4x4 vehicle to travel north to the Menabe region, approximately 42 km along a somewhat winding secondary road, to reach the renowned Kirindy Park. Check in at your hotel, Relais du Kirindy. Around 6:30 PM, you'll start guided night walks in Kirindy.

Kirindy is the premier location on the island for observing fosa. Other nocturnal species you may encounter include the rare Coquerel's giant mouse lemur, pygmy mouse lemur, fork-crowned lemur, grey mouse lemur, western fat-tailed dwarf lemur, and red-tailed sportive lemur. The mammal population is further complemented by various bats, tenrecs, mongooses, and rodents.

Following breakfast, we will set off early in the morning. The journey north covers approximately 152 km along a somewhat winding secondary road, leading us to the village of Bekopaka, which is situated at the entrance of the park.

After a few hours on the road, you'll be treated to stunning views featuring various types of baobab trees. We will then take a ferry to the small village of Belo sur Tsiribihina, where we will pause for lunch.

Afterward, we'll continue our journey north through a landscape dotted with rice fields and small villages, arriving in Bekopaka by late afternoon.

Following breakfast, prepare for a day of exploration at one of Madagascar's most stunning locations, the renowned Tsingy, a UNESCO World Heritage site. In the morning, we will go on a full day of trekking through the famous Tsingy, enjoying a picnic lunch within the park.

This hike will lead you to discover the iconic peaks and the diverse flora and fauna of the region. You'll trek trough the towering cathedrals of intricately carved limestone that form the Tsingy peaks, and cross a hanging bridge over the rift networks. At the summit, you'll be treated to a breathtaking sunset before returning to the hotel in the afternoon.

After breakfast, we will return to Morondava, stopping for lunch at Belo sur Tsiribihina.

In the afternoon, we will make a special stop at the renowned Avenue of the Baobabs to enjoy a stunning sunset.

We will arrive in Morondava in the early evening and then transfer to the hotel.

You will be going on a lengthy drive today, so it's advisable to depart from Morondava early at 7:30 AM.

After breakfast, head straight to Antsirabe, making stops along the way for photos and breaks if needed.

Enjoy lunch in the city of Miandrivazo before continuing your journey to Antsirabe.

In the early morning, following breakfast, we'll go on a rickshaw tour of Antsirabe, visiting notable sites such as Independence Avenue, the renowned Hotel des Thermes, the stone market, and a small horn factory.

As we head south, we'll take in the stunning Betsileo landscape, characterized by terraced rice fields.

Our main stop will be in Ambositra for lunch, after which we'll take a brief tour of the city to explore the region's traditional Malagasy crafts, including marquetry, weaving, and particularly wood carving.

Finally, we will proceed to the village of Ifanadiana, famous for its proximity to Ranomafana National Park.

In the morning, we will set off to explore the lush rainforest of Ranomafana National Park, a protected area that is part of the remaining forest corridor in the eastern region of the island.

We will discover the rich endemic biodiversity of the area, including rare and critically endangered lemurs, various unique plant species, and plants used by the local community for traditional medicine.

Our trek through the forest will follow a trail that leads to stunning waterfalls, where we may encounter some of these rare species along the way.

After returning to the hotel for lunch, you can relax and unwind after a long morning of exploration or enjoy some time at the spa before resting for the evening.

After breakfast, we’ll hit the road heading south to the city of Ranohira, where we’ll visit Isalo National Park.

We’ll stop for lunch in Ambalavao and take a brief tour of a factory to learn about the history of the renowned Antemoro paper. Throughout the journey, we can pause frequently to admire the changing landscapes of mountains and rice fields.

We’ll arrive in Isalo by the end of the day.

Following breakfast, the day will be spent trekking and exploring the park, which features a Jurassic-era massif resembling ruins, showcasing some of Madagascar's most stunning landscapes.

You will hike and visit sites such as the Makis Canyon and a natural pool where you can take a refreshing swim, among other attractions.

A picnic lunch will be enjoyed within the park.

In the late afternoon, you'll return to the hotel, stopping at the renowned Isalo Window to take in a breathtaking sunset view.

After breakfast, we headed towards the southern city of Tuléar.

Upon arrival, we took a brief detour to the Antsokay arboretum to explore the area's endemic and endangered plants, followed by lunch at a local restaurant.

After dining in town, we continued our journey to the small fishing village of Ifaty, located 30 km north of Tuléar. We spent an hour visiting the Reniala reserve, a dry forest characteristic of the southern region, where we encountered a variety of local flora and fauna, including different types of Baobab trees.

The rest of the day was free for you to enjoy the beach at one of the beautiful lagoons on the island.

Following breakfast, proceed directly to Tulear Airport for your flight to the capital city, which will last 45 minutes.

Upon arrival, enjoy lunch in town before exploring and shopping for souvenirs at the artisanal market on Digue.

Finally, transfer to the airport for your international flight.