Ultimate Madagascar Adventure
21 days
From
$ 3699
Duration21 days
Home to mind-blowing scenery, lush rainforests, curious lemurs, and all the outdoor splendour you could possibly ask for (and then some), Madagascar was made for adventure travel. This comprehensive tour takes you deep inside Africa’s amazing jungle island for close encounters with both wildlife and humans over 22 incredible days. Sit down for dinner with a ghost-talker at a homestay near Lake Andraikiba, swim in natural pools and splash about under waterfalls, encounter the unique trees of Baobab Alley, and soak up nature at its finest in some of the island’s national parks. Madagascar is so incredible it feels like another planet. Get out there.
This tour is operated by
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Duration: 21 daysService level: Standard
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Physical Grading: Demanding
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Ages: 12+
Tour Gallery
Itinerary
Day 1: Morondava
There are no planned activities until an evening welcome meeting.
Arrive at any time.
Please contact your booking agent if you would like to book pre-tour accommodation or road transfer to Morondava.
Day 2: Morondava/Kirindy Forest
An early start to the day to see the sunrise at the Baobab Alley. Continue to Kirindy Forest Reserve, where you may be lucky enough to spot the giant jumping rat, or Fossa, the largest carnivore on the island. This evening, enjoy a night walk, the highlight of a visit to Kirindy.
Meals: D
Day 3: Kirindy Forest/Bekopaka
Load into 4x4's and head out on sandy roads heading north to Bekopaka, before arriving cross the Tsiribihina and Manambolo rivers by local ferry.
Continue to Bekopaka, our gateway to the National Park of Tsingy de Bemaraha.
End place: Bekopaka
Meals: B, D
Day 4: Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park
Start place: Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park
Morning canoe adventure on the Manambolo River, with an afternoon exploring the Little Tsingy's.
End place: Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park
Meals: B, D
Day 5: Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park
Start place: Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park
Enjoy a full day exploring the peculiar rock formations of the 'Great Tsingy'.
Hiking the Great Tsingy is more adventurous than the Little Tsingy and involves sections of scrambling on exposed rocks, crossing hanging bridges and large vertical drops. It is not technically difficult, but should not be attempted by the faint hearted or those suffering from vertigo. (The panoramic views are worth the effort though.) If you do not want to visit Great Tsingy on this day, there are alternatives to spend an additional day in Little Tsingy.
End place: Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park
Meals: B, D
Day 6: Bekopaka/Morondava
Start place: Bekopaka
The sandy track leads back to Morondava passing through Baobab Alley in time for sunset.
A full day driving back to Morondava, stopping for sunset at the Baobab Alley.
Meals: B
Day 7: Morondava
Opt for a group farewell dinner as the trip draws to an end.
Free day in Morondava to relax on the beach, visit the local market, or explore five species of mangroves in a dugout canoe.
Day 8: Morondava/Antananarivo
Free morning in Morondava, then fly to Tana.
The limited Air Madagascar flight schedule to Morondava can change at any time, and your CEO will have the most up to date flight information available to you, on your tour.
Day 9: Antananarivo/Andasibe
Depart the capital and continue east, with stops along the scenic rainforest route of world-renowned Andasibe-Perinet National Park.
Continue on to the national park. With free time over the next two days, opt to visit other small private or community reserves around Andasibe, and go on guided night walks inside those reserves or along the main road. Walk to the little town of Andasibe or simply enjoy the relaxing tranquility of the surrounding forest.
Continue on to the national park. With free time over the next two days, opt to visit other small private or community reserves around Andasibe, and go on guided night walks inside those reserves or along the main road. Walk to the little town of Andasibe or simply enjoy the relaxing tranquility of the surrounding forest.
Travel to Andasibe-Perinet National Park with scenic stops en route. Stay in a quiet area near Andasibe and explore the Indri Special Reserve section of this massive area.
Our accommodation here are simple bungalows with shared facilities.
End place: Andasibe
Day 10: Andasibe
Start place: Andasibe
Explore the Indri Special Reserve and national park located 1.5km (0.93 mi) from the town of Andasibe. One of the park’s primary purposes is to protect the natural habitat of the indri, a large black and white diurnal species that feeds on leaves and fruit. In addition to the indri, the park has 10 other diurnal and nocturnal lemur species, large chameleons, and the rarely seen blue coua.
The flora is just as spectacular with numerous species of trees, palms, and orchids (which flower in October/November).
The flora is just as spectacular with numerous species of trees, palms, and orchids (which flower in October/November).
Spend the day exploring this national park. Stay in a quiet area near Andasibe and explore the Indri Special Reserve section of this massive area.
End place: Andasibe
Day 11: Andasibe/Antsirabe
Start place: Andasibe
Travel to the ancient colonial town of Antsirabe. Along this stretch of road you will see Merina tombs and the labour-intensive cultivation of rice paddies.
Antsirabe is known as a thermal city because of its volcanic lakes. It's also famous for its precious and semi-precious stones and handicrafts.
Opt to explore this quaint little city upon arrival.
Antsirabe is known as a thermal city because of its volcanic lakes. It's also famous for its precious and semi-precious stones and handicrafts.
Opt to explore this quaint little city upon arrival.
Travel to the colonial city of Antsirabe, stopping to see rice paddies along the way.
Day 12: Antsirabe/Fiadanana
After a short visit to Lake Andraikiba, continue on to the small village of Fiadanana. This beautiful village is surrounded by breathtaking landscapes of rice fields and panoramic views of the nearby mountains.
Get to see how the villagers live by interacting with them and enjoy a chance to learn their rituals during an authentic community experience.
Get to see how the villagers live by interacting with them and enjoy a chance to learn their rituals during an authentic community experience.
Visit Lake Andraikiba before continuing to the small village of Fiadanana. Opt to explore this beautiful village. Listen to a ghost talker, enjoy a stay at a community guesthouse, and dinner with a local family.
Accommodation is in a traditional style house that has been purpose-built to meet the needs of guests. There is a kitchen and a dining/lounge area to enjoy lunch or a drink, and a beautiful veranda overlooking the rice terraces. It is equipped with shared, basic shower facilities and outdoor toilets (a squat toilet and one western-style toilet). This accommodation is basic but, for one night, the experience of living like a local and staying somewhere unique and remote is worth it.
Dinner with a local family.
End place: Fiadanana
Meals: L, D
Day 13: Fiadanana/Ranomafana
Start place: Fiadanana
Enjoy a local breakfast and take in stunning views of Mt Ifasina.
After, hike back out to the bus (about 3.5km/2.2 mi) and continue to Ranomafana, a little village named after the hot springs in the valley.
The nearby national park is one of the most important mammal sites in Madagascar.
After, hike back out to the bus (about 3.5km/2.2 mi) and continue to Ranomafana, a little village named after the hot springs in the valley.
The nearby national park is one of the most important mammal sites in Madagascar.
Learn traditional rituals from the local villagers. Hike back to the bus taking in the stunning views. Continue on to Ranomafana.
An early breakfast of a soup with rice, some bread and tea/coffee.
End place: Ranomafana
Meals: B
Day 14: Ranomafana/Ambalavao
Start place: Ranomafana
In the morning go for a forest walk, a swim in a hot spring, visit the local town and market, or get a massage.
Enjoy the wonderful changes of landscape along the way to the pleasant rural town of Ambalavao.
Visit a little paper factory where the locals will share their traditional methods of producing this unique, hand-made paper.
If time allows, opt to visit a silk factory in town and learn about the local way of making fabric or clothing from silk, and the process of dyeing it with natural dyes.
Enjoy the wonderful changes of landscape along the way to the pleasant rural town of Ambalavao.
Visit a little paper factory where the locals will share their traditional methods of producing this unique, hand-made paper.
If time allows, opt to visit a silk factory in town and learn about the local way of making fabric or clothing from silk, and the process of dyeing it with natural dyes.
Opt for an early morning forest walk to get a feel for the incredible wildlife of the area, or explore on your own. In the afternoon, enjoy a scenic journey heading south through Madagascar's wine-producing region.
Day 15: Ambalavao/Ranohira
Journey from Ambalavao to the Anja Community Reserve and on through diverse scenery. Travel through the savannah before the massif of Isalo becomes clearly visible.
Stop at Anja Community Reserve, known for groups of ring-tailed lemurs. Continue on through the ever-changing landscape to Ranohira and Isalo National Park.
End place: Ranohira
Day 16: Ranohira
Start place: Ranohira
In the morning, pack a lunch to take into the park with you to eat during a picnic break later in the day - your CEO can help you arrange this.
After a short trek within a small canyon, take a break from the sun and stop at fresh natural swimming pool. Continue on to the "cascades", considered to be amongst the best waterfalls in Madagascar and has a large natural swimming pool.
With a little luck, you may see sifaka, brown lemurs, or ring-tailed lemurs.
After a short trek within a small canyon, take a break from the sun and stop at fresh natural swimming pool. Continue on to the "cascades", considered to be amongst the best waterfalls in Madagascar and has a large natural swimming pool.
With a little luck, you may see sifaka, brown lemurs, or ring-tailed lemurs.
Spend a full day exploring Isalo National park on foot, stopping at a natural swimming pool and waterfalls.
End place: Ranohira
Day 17: Ranohira/Ifaty
Start place: Ranohira
En route to Toliara, drive through the magnificent wide-open and vast desert landscape. Pass through several unique frontier-style sapphire mining towns, and babobab trees en route.
This drive will also pass by the tombs of the Mahafaly; a local tribe in Madagascar known predominantly for their large tombs. They were built for chiefs and kings and are covered in stones, sculptures, and horns. The more important the deceased, the more horns and statues the tomb is adorned with. One of the largest tombs has over 700 zebu horns! As this is a sacred site we will just be passing by, and photography is not permitted.
Continue on to Ifaty to relax and enjoy the breathtaking beaches of the Mozambican Channel.
While in Ifaty, opt to ride in a dugout canoe, visit the spiny forest reserve, go snorkelling or diving on the reef, or simply relax on the beach.
This drive will also pass by the tombs of the Mahafaly; a local tribe in Madagascar known predominantly for their large tombs. They were built for chiefs and kings and are covered in stones, sculptures, and horns. The more important the deceased, the more horns and statues the tomb is adorned with. One of the largest tombs has over 700 zebu horns! As this is a sacred site we will just be passing by, and photography is not permitted.
Continue on to Ifaty to relax and enjoy the breathtaking beaches of the Mozambican Channel.
While in Ifaty, opt to ride in a dugout canoe, visit the spiny forest reserve, go snorkelling or diving on the reef, or simply relax on the beach.
Drive through the desert landscape, viewing Mahafaly tombs and giant baobab trees en route. Continue to the beautiful Mozambican Channel beaches of Ifaty.
End place: Ifaty
Day 18-19: Ifaty
Start place: Ifaty
Spend two full days enjoying this gorgeous area. Opt to do some hiking or hit the beach.
End place: Ifaty
Day 20: Ifaty/Antananarivo
Start place: Ifaty
Due to the unpredictability of local flights, if we are unable to secure your domestic flight, we will instead transport you in 4x4 vehicles. This journey can take approximately 10 hours.
Travel to Toliara for a flight to Antananarivo and an optional last night out on the town.
Day 21: Antananarivo
Depart at any time.
Inclusions
Included
- Your Welcome Moment: Meet Your CEO and Group, Morondava Your Local Living Moment: Community Guesthouse and Traditional Dinner, Fiadanana Your Discover Moment: Ifaty
- Sunrise and sunset at Baobab Alley
- 4x4 journey between Morondava, Kirindy and Bekopaka
- Guided night walk in Kirindy Reserve
- Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve guided visit
- Canoe excursion on the Manambolo River
- Internal flights
- Andasibe Indri Special Reserve guided walk
- Artisan workshop visit
- Traditional healer visit
- Paper factory visits
- Anja Reserve walk
- Isalo National Park visit
- All transport between destinations and to/from activities
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Transport
Private minibus, Plane, Walking, 4x4, Canoe -
Accommodation
Simple hotels (16 nts), Community guesthouse (1 nt, multi-share), Huts (4 nts)