Day 1: Welcome to Madagascar!

Accommodations: Les Flots Blues

Meal: Dinner

Most flights to Antananarivo arrive late at night. You will be picked up at the airport and taken to your hotel where you can relax for the evening before embarking on the tour on the second day.

Day 2: Andasibe Mantadia National Park

Accommodations: Feon’ny Ala 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at the hotel before we head out. We will stop for lunch along the way. After a couple of hours on the road, we will stop quickly at the Peyrieras Zoo to see different types of amphibians, reptiles and butterflies.  You will have a chance to see some of the species that are very difficult to observe in the wild. We will then continue the journey to the park.

In the evening, we will hike in Andasibe Park and may even get to see some lemurs, time permitting. Dinner will be at the hotel.

Day 3: Andasibe Mantadia National Park

Accommodations: Feon’ny Ala

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Visit Andasibe Park, where you will have a chance to see 14 lemur species, including the indri lemur (the largest living lemur, which has a territorial call similar to a whale song), and the silky sifaka. Orchids are also very abundant, as well as chameleons, insects, and birds.

At this park, you will be able to decide whether you prefer a shorter hike or longer one, a steeper hike, or one that is relatively flat. There are options available to suit people of all abilities. 

There is also an option to see the village and learn about the daily life in this area of the highlands of Madagascar -- from rice farms to small markets. 

Day 4: Antsirabe

Accommodations: Hotel Hasina

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Leave Andasibe in the morning and travel by vehicle south along RN 2 and RN 7 (National Road 7). Pass through small villages and see the typical two-story brick houses of the highland region of the country.

Stop in the town of Ambatolampy to visit a foundry where much of the country’s aluminum cookware is made. By lunchtime, arrive at our destination, the larger town of Antsirabe. This town is known for its thermal springs and artisans.

In the afternoon, there will be an opportunity to visit some of the workshops where artisans transform cattle horns into jewelry and decorations.

Day 5: Ambositra

Accommodations: Chez Gaspart

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

In the morning, we go for a walk by Lake Andraikiba in the outskirts of Antsirabe. We will then continue our journey south along RN 7.

By midday, we will arrive in the town of Ambositra, known for its woodcarving crafts. After lunch, you will have the opportunity to visit workshops and stores selling carved wooden sculptures and decorations.

In the afternoon, we will continue by road to the village of Ranomafana, where we will have dinner and rest for the evening.

Day 6: Ranomafana National Park

Accommodations: Chez Gaspart

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Take the entire day to discover the rainforest plants and animals of Ranomafana National Park. The park is home to 12 species of lemur including Verreaux's Sifaka, several species of Bamboo Lemur, and the smallest of the lemurs (Microcebus rufus). Ranomafana also has an estimated 114 species of birds, chameleons, and unique plants, many of which are used locally for medicinal purposes. You will be able to take a guided hike within the park including a picnic lunch (4-5 hours), and also learn more about this region at the renowned scientific research center, Centre ValBio.

Day 7: Ambalavao an Anja Community Park

Accommodations: Chez Alice

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, continue the journey south by vehicle. The first stop of the day is Ambalavao, a charming small town known as the hub of zebu (cattle) trade in the region. You will have the opportunity to visit artisan workshops where Antemoro paper is made and wild silk is spun and woven into scarves and fabric.

After lunch, we will continue our journey overland. The scenery become more open as we descend from the highlands to the southern grassy savannah.

In the afternoon, we will stop for a short hike in Anja, a park run by the local community. Here you will have the opportunity to see the famous Ring-Tailed Lemur. In the evening, we will arrive in the town of Ranohira for dinner and rest.

Day 8: Ranohira Isalo

Accommodations: Chez Alice

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This day is dedicated to the discovery of the fauna and flora of Isalo National Park, one of Madagascar’s most popular sites. Isalo contains grassy savannah landscapes and eroded sandstone outcroppings and cliffs, as well as a large network of streams that feed into the Mangoky River. This park is also considered sacred to the local ethnic group, the Bara, whose ancestral graves can be found high up in the canyons.

While hiking through the park, keep your eyes open for the many animals found here: 82 species of birds, 33 species of reptiles, 15 species of frogs and 14 species of mammals including 3 different species of lemur (Ring-Tailed Lemurs, Red-fronted Lemurs, and Verreaux's Sifakas).

Day 9: Toliara and Ifaty

Accommodations: Princesse du Lagon

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

The journey will continue southwest along RN 7. You have the opportunity to enjoy the scenery of southern Madagascar, home to ethnic groups such as the Antandroy, Antanosy and Mahafaly.

By midday, we will arrive in the coastal city of Toliara, where we will have lunch before continuing our journey along the coast. In the afternoon, we will arrive at our destination: Ifaty, a seaside village located 20 kilometers north. 

Day 10: Ifaty

Accommodations: Pricesse du Lagon

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, we will take a short hike through the Baobab forest in the outskirts of the village to see the trees typical of this arid region. 

The rest of the day is spent at your leisure on the beach. You can swim, snorkel, or even take a boat ride with local fishermen in the traditional outrigger sailing canoe. A beachside dinner where you can view an ocean sunset caps off the day.

Day 11: Fly back to Antananarivo

Accommodations: Les Flots Blues

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, we will return to Toliara by vehicle. You will have some free time to look for souvenirs in the market before our flight to Antananarivo. Depending on flight schedules, you may also have some free time in Antananarivo in the afternoon.

Day 12: Antananarivo

Accommodations: Freshen up before  your flight at the Les FLots Blues hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

On your last day in Madagascar, you will be able to explore the hilly capital city Antananarivo. You may wish to take advantage of the numerous markets and boutiques selling handcrafted souvenirs. If you wish, you can also explore some of the city’s tourist attractions, such as the famous Queen’s Palace at the city’s highest point. You may also opt to explore some of the royal palaces in the outskirts of the city, from the Merina monarchy that ruled in the late 1800s.

In the evening, return to your hotel room to freshen up, repack bags, and have dinner. You will then proceed to the airport for your return flight, which generally departs very late at night.