Natural treasures of Madagascar

Upon landing at Ivato International Airport in Antananarivo, you will be greeted by your personal driver, who will ensure a smooth transfer to your accommodation. Unwind and rejuvenate after your travels, preparing for the exciting adventure ahead.

After breakfast at your hotel, you'll set off on a day of discovery by road to Andasibe, a town located around 3 hours northeast of Antananarivo. On the way, a must-see stopover awaits you at the Pereyras private reserve. This reserve is home to an incredible diversity of reptiles and insects endemic to Madagascar. You'll have the chance to observe chameleons, snakes, lemurs, birds and many other fascinating species in their natural habitat. Your journey then continues to Analamazaotra National Park, a true jewel of biodiversity, home to a multitude of natural wonders. This park is a forest corridor where you can admire the majestic Sifaka and the emblematic Indri Indri, the world's largest lemurs. You'll also discover wetlands, wild orchids and a varied fauna including 11 species of lemur, carnivores and numerous endemic birds. Overnight in Andasibe.
Your hotel: Lemurs Lodge
Website: www.andasibe-lemurs-lodge.business.site.com

After breakfast at the hotel, you'll prepare for a day's drive to Antsirabe, a charming town nestled in the heart of the Malagasy highlands. On the way, you'll pass through magnificent landscapes of rice paddies, green hills and typical villages, offering an authentic glimpse of rural Malagasy life. Your journey will also take you to Ambatolampy, where you'll have the opportunity to discover ancestral local craftsmanship during a visit to a workshop producing aluminum, bronze and copper objects, as well as cookware. Your journey continues to Antsirabe, nicknamed the “Malagasy Vichy” for its thermal springs renowned for their healing properties. Nestled amid fertile plains and surrounded by majestic mountains, this town offers a picturesque setting to explore. You'll check into your hotel in the late afternoon. Overnight in Antsirabe.
Your hotel: Menabel Hotel
Website: www.antsirabe-hotelmenabel.com/en/

Start your day with a delicious breakfast at the hotel, then prepare for a day of immersion in Manandona, 22 km south of Antsirabe. This day will plunge you into rural Malagasy life, offering an authentic immersion in the heart of the villages. An easy 3 to 5-hour walk through the villages allows visitors to discover the peasant way of life at different levels. You'll have the opportunity to explore the reasons that led traditional Malagasy people to build their houses, observing their orientation, shape and room layout. You'll be warmly welcomed by friendly local families, who will invite you into their homes for an enriching and convivial experience. After this enriching human encounter, relax with a swim in the charming natural pools, followed by a picnic lunch by the waterfall, already prepared in advance. Then set off for a pleasant stroll through the rice fields, providing you with memorable souvenirs of your visit. You'll also have the opportunity to visit the village's Women's Association, dedicated to raising silkworms with the aim of increasing the school enrolment rate of the village's children. End this enriching day with dinner and an overnight stay at the Manandona stopover gite, where Malagasy hospitality awaits you.
Your hotel: Gite d'étape de Manandona

"Begin your morning with a hearty breakfast at the guesthouse before setting off for a new adventure. Head toward Ranomafana, passing through Ambositra, celebrated for its significance in Betsileo culture and as a hub for traditional Malagasy artistry. Along the route, take in scenic landscapes filled with rice paddies, fir trees, and eucalyptus groves. Don’t miss a stop at the renowned 'At Victor’s Workshop,' known for its intricate wood carvings in rare materials like palisander and ebony, as well as its exquisite marquetry creations. Continue on to Ranomafana, a charming spa town tucked within a lush forest. Arrive by late afternoon and unwind in the tranquil ambiance of this picturesque destination. Stay overnight in Ranomafana.
Your accommodation: Ny Tanana
Website: www.nytanana-hotel-ranomafana.mg

After breakfast, you'll set off to explore Ranomafana Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This park is home to exceptional biodiversity, with flora and fauna that are unique in the world. You'll have the opportunity to observe an impressive variety of lemurs, including the rare Golden Hapalemur, as well as numerous species of birds and orchids. Marvel at the density of the rainforest and the richness of its wildlife. Then continue your journey to Fianarantsoa. On the way, stop off to visit a blacksmith's village where you'll discover ancestral techniques dating back centuries. This experience will immerse you in Malagasy history and tradition, offering a fascinating insight into daily life as it was practiced two centuries ago. Arrive in Fianarantsoa, where you can soak up the warm atmosphere of this historic town. Spend the evening relaxing and soaking up the local culture. Night in Fianarantsoa.
Your hotel: La Rizière
Website: www.lariziere.org

After a delicious breakfast at the hotel, you'll head for Ambalavao. There, you'll have the opportunity to visit an Antaimoro paper-making workshop, as well as a silk workshop where you can learn about the production process. Afterwards, a stroll through Ambalavao's bustling market and town center will allow you to explore the local culture. Your journey continues with a visit to the Anja reserve, home to several colonies of catta makis. You'll have the chance to meet these adorable lemurs and observe a variety of reptiles, including chameleons. After this enriching experience, you'll enjoy a picnic lunch in a local village. Then it's back on to Ihosy and Ranohira, crossing the ruiniform Horombe plateau and the “Portes du Sud” before continuing through the savannah. This region is known for its particular biodiversity, home to a variety of species adapted to its dry environment, including baobabs, euphorbias, lemurs and endemic birds. Overnight in Ranohira.
Your hotel: Orchidée de l'Isalo
Website: www.hotel-orchidee-isalo.com

After breakfast, you'll be driven to the Isalo National Park. Once there, you'll embark on a day of discovery through the ruiniform Isalo massif, a geological marvel adorned with spectacular reliefs and granite sculptures formed millions of years ago. During this excursion, you'll have the opportunity to observe the “lemurs fulvus rufus”, as well as remarkable desert plants such as the pachypodium rosolatum, also known as the “dwarf baobab”, which unfurl their beautiful yellow flowers. During the day, hikes will take you to a natural pool of translucent water, fed by a small stream winding through pandanus and other fascinating aquatic plants. You'll also have the opportunity to swim and relax in this enchanting setting, while enjoying a delicious picnic lunch prepared on site. After a day rich in discovery and wonder, you'll return to your hotel for a peaceful, relaxing evening. Night in Ranohira.
Your hotel: Orchidée de l'Isalo
Website: www.hotel-orchidee-isalo.com

After a delicious breakfast at the hotel, you'll set off for Ifaty. On the way, you'll stop in Tuléar, nicknamed the City of the Sun and crossed by the Tropic of Capricorn. You'll cross a desert landscape dotted with arid vegetation and thorny plants, offering a first glimpse of the majestic baobabs, and pass through Mahafaly country. Your itinerary then takes you to Ilakaka, renowned as the sapphire capital of the world, with some of the world's largest sapphire deposits. This town, nicknamed the “mushroom town”, is divided in two by the RN7 and evokes the gold rush. You'll stop to take photos and visit the impressive open-pit mines, characterized by huge, thirty-meter-deep holes. Next, you'll have the opportunity to visit a lapidary, where you'll discover the 102 colors of sapphires and fossil exhibits. Finally, you'll head back to Ifaty for the next leg of your journey. Overnight in Ifaty.
Your hotel: Bamboo Club
Website: www.bamboo-club.com

You'll enjoy a day at leisure, with a host of optional activities to enhance your stay. You can choose from a variety of options (not included) such as scuba diving to discover the wonders of the underwater world, big-game fishing for fishing enthusiasts, or scenic rides in a traditional “Vezo” outrigger canoe to the coral reef. Overnight in Ifaty.
Your hotel: Bamboo Club
Website: www.bamboo-club.com

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After enjoying a final breakfast at your hotel, you'll have some free time for a little sightseeing around Antananarivo, depending on the time of your return flight. On the way to the airport, you can make a stop at the La Digue craft market for your last purchases of Malagasy handicrafts, offering the perfect opportunity to take home some unique souvenirs from your trip to Madagascar. Afterwards, you'll be transferred to the airport, where our team will assist you with check-in formalities, allowing you to catch your flight home with complete peace of mind.