Ultimate Madagascar Discovery Tour

Following breakfast, you will go on a guided tour of Analamazaotra National Park. It's advisable to depart from the hotel early, around 7:30 AM, to easily spot the Indri-Indri and the Diademed Sifaka in their natural habitat. The tour lasts approximately three hours.

Within a mile of the park, you can hear the distinctive call of the indri early in the morning until noon and again in the late afternoon. Indris, known as Babakoto in Malagasy, are the largest living lemurs, reaching up to one meter in height. Andasibe is the prime 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 attempt to explain their origins, as they are regarded as sacred animals throughout Madagascar. In addition to the Indri, thirteen other lemur species inhabit these forests, 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, you'll have an incredible opportunity for an up-close encounter with lemurs on the private Lemurs Island, followed by a visit to the Vakona Reserve Zoo, where you can observe numerous species, including crocodiles in the river enclosure, native birds, and other wildlife in beautifully maintained surroundings.

After the visit, we will depart from Andasibe and drive directly back to Antananarivo, the capital.

After breakfast, you'll be transferred to the airport for your flight TNR, departing at 11:00 AM, to the island's west coast, with an arrival in Morondava MOQ at 12:00 PM. Upon arrival, you'll drive approximately 42 km north along a winding secondary road to reach the renowned Kirindy Park. Check in at your hotel, Relais du Kirindy.

At around 6:30 PM, guided night walks will commence at Kirindy Reserve. This is the premier location on the island for observing fosa, along with other nocturnal species such as 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 at around 7:00 AM, we will begin our guided day tours at Kirindy Reserve. This reserve is home to seven lemur species, with the common brown lemurs and Verreaux’s sifakas being the most prevalent.

These long-legged lemurs, weighing about seven pounds, are white with dark patches and can be seen leaping between tree trunks high in the canopy, thanks to their strong hind legs while maintaining an upright stance.

In addition to lemurs, the forest is also home to 40 bird species, 50 reptiles, and 15 amphibians.

After our visit, we will head back to the road and take a ferry across to the small village of Belo sur Tsiribihina, where we will stop for lunch. We will then continue north through a landscape of rice fields and small villages, arriving in Bekopaka by late afternoon.

After breakfast, take part in a guided tour of Bemaraha National Park (Grand Tsingy). You can select any tour that suits your preferences for the day, in consultation with your local guide and driver, based on your energy and enthusiasm. The park offers trails suitable for all fitness levels.

In this World Heritage site, nature is beautifully intertwined with the dramatic limestone mountains. The vegetation includes a dry western deciduous forest, along with plants characteristic of these arid limestone regions, such as various Aloe species, the baobab Andasonia, the vibrant red-flowered flamboyant tree, and Madagascar’s native banana, Musa perrier. You'll also encounter typical rocky area plants like pachypodium and orchids.

As for wildlife, you might spot the stump-tailed chameleon Brookesia perarmata, along with 53 bird species and 7 lemur species, including Decken’s sifaka (Propithecus verreauxi deckeni).

For lunch, your guide will arrange a picnic. Afterward, you will continue your exploration of the Small Tsingy.

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

The journey to Morondava will include two notable stops: the first at Baobab Amoureux and the second at the renowned Avenue of the Baobabs, where we can enjoy a stunning sunset.

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

Today, you will go on a lengthy drive, so it's advisable to depart from Morondava early at 7:00 AM. After breakfast, head directly to Antsirabe while taking in the stunning scenery of the Menabe region, characterized by its striking red hills. If needed, there will be opportunities to stop along the way for photos and breaks. Enjoy lunch in Miandrivazo before continuing your journey to Antsirabe.

Our destination is the highland town of Antsirabe, known for its broad colonial streets, volcanic lakes, and vibrant rickshaws. Referred to as "The Place of Salt," it is the hub of beer production in Madagascar and famous for its handicrafts. Established by Norwegian missionaries in 1856, it uniquely resembles a European city, featuring an elegant spa and a railway station. The temperate climate allows for the cultivation of fruits and vegetables typically found in cooler regions. Once you arrive, check in at the hotel.

After breakfast, we will go on a brief city tour using Rickshaws, stopping at the railway station, Independence Avenue, and the renowned Hotel des Thermes.

We'll visit several of the town's well-known artisans to observe their craftsmanship with the precious and semi-precious stones that Antsirabe is famous for.

Today, we will continue our journey through the picturesque landscapes of the Highlands, where the homes feature intricately carved wooden balconies and brightly colored shutters.

As we proceed, we will pass by "le col de tapia," a tree species that is resistant to bush fires. The scenery remains dominated by stunning rice fields, pine forests, eucalyptus trees, and rocky hills.

In Ambositra, the capital of Malagasy arts and crafts, we will take a leisurely walk through the city, visiting workshops of Zafimaniry artisans—talented sculptors known for their marquetry work with rosewood and ebony.

This morning, we explore the rainforest of Ranomafana National Park with our local naturalist guide in search of lemurs. This high-altitude rainforest reserve is where the Golden Bamboo Lemur was first identified in 1986. It also hosts 11 other lemur species, endemic chameleons, Leaf-tailed Geckos, Mantella Frogs, and a wide variety of birds.

Our goal is to find the elusive “Hapalemur aureus,” or Golden Bamboo Lemur, which is unique to Ranomafana. We will also encounter various bird species, including Ground Rollers. The park is rich in plant life, featuring many species not found anywhere else, such as different orchids and ferns.

Covering approximately 40,000 hectares, Parc National de Ranomafana is renowned for its rainforest-covered hills and diverse wildlife, making it one of Madagascar’s top attractions. The park’s elevation ranges from 800 to 1,200 meters above sea level. In addition to its dense forests, the terrain is marked by numerous small streams that cascade down to the picturesque Namorona River. While much of the surrounding area has been logged, the park still preserves relatively large sections of primary forest.

The day will involve challenging hikes through the rainforest. After four hours of exploration, we will return to the hotel for lunch and a brief rest before embarking on a guided night walk around our hotel to look for the Rufous Mouse Lemur, the Greater Dwarf Lemur, and other nocturnal wildlife. After this excursion, we will head back to the hotel.

We set off early to drive through Fianarantsoa, the cultural heart of the Central Highlands, and on to the charming rural town of Ambalavao. This town hosts one of the largest livestock markets in the South, which operates only on Wednesday mornings.

During our visit, we explore a local winery and a workshop that produces the distinctive Antemoro paper, crafted from the bark of a native tree using traditional techniques passed down from Arab culture. We also tour a silk factory in the area to learn about the local methods of creating fabric from silk thread and dyeing it with natural colors.

Next, we head to Anjar Community Reserve for a brief walk, where we might spot Madagascar’s famous ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta). Due to past interactions with visitors who fed them, these lemurs are quite accustomed to humans and often approach us for photo opportunities.

We then proceed to Ihosy, the capital of the Bara tribes, known for their Zebu cattle herding. Further along, we pass the volcanic peaks of the Andringitra massif, which marks the transition from the lush Highlands with their stunning granite formations to the arid southern region.

As we journey southward, we drive trough a landscape characterized by unique rock formations typical of the dry Grand South, some of which are considered sacred. We pass through the famed ‘Porte du Sud’ and cross the barren Plateau de Horombe, known for its deep red soil, arriving in Ranohira late in the afternoon, which serves as the gateway to Isalo National Park.

Today, we will journey through the breathtaking desert landscapes, expansive canyons, sandstone formations, grasslands, and palm-fringed oases of Isalo National Park. We aim to spot the three lemur species that inhabit this area: the Red-fronted Brown Lemurs, Ring-tailed Lemurs, and the agile, upright Verreaux’s Sifaka. Additionally, we will encounter various plant species, including Uapaca bojeri, Pachypodium rosulatum (commonly known as 'elephant's foot'), and Aloe isaloensis, a native aloe unique to Isalo.

The eroded mountains also served as a burial site for the Bara people, where they kept their deceased before interring them in their final resting places. Please note that this day will involve some challenging hikes.

We will enjoy a picnic lunch within the park.

In the evening, we will return to the hotel, making a stop at the famous Isalo window to take in a stunning and unforgettable sunset.

Today, we need to depart from the hotel as early as possible to make it to our flight on time. Our journey continues along the paved RN7, leading us to its endpoint in Tulear on the southwestern coast, where we'll encounter new landscapes amidst the dry forests of the west and the spiny desert of the south. We will pass through Ilakaka, a sapphire mining boom town that has a Wild West vibe.

Along the way, we will see various ornate hillside ‘Mahafaly Tombs’ built for chiefs and kings, adorned with stones, sculptures, and horns. The significance of the deceased is reflected in the number of horns and statues decorating the tombs, with one of the largest featuring over 700 zebu cattle horns! Since this is a sacred site, we will only be passing by, and photography is not allowed.

We will also pass through the area known for the ‘Antandroy Tombs.’ This region, referred to as the “Deep South,” is the driest part of the country, characterized by spiny forests filled with cactus-like euphorbias. Here, you can find giant baobab trees that can live for hundreds of years. For most of the year, these resilient trees are leafless, making their bare branches resemble roots—hence their nickname “upside-down trees.” This area has dry, sandy soil, and local residents struggle to find drinking water.

Upon arriving in Tuléar (also called “Toliara”), we will transfer to the airport for our flight back to Antananarivo (TLE Departure: 09:30 am) (TNR Arrival: 11:10 am). After landing, our driver will meet us and take us to the craft market for some shopping and souvenir purchases. Finally, we will head directly to the airport for your international flight.