Madagascar - A classic tour of the South and East
15 days / 14 nights

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This tour gives you a cross section of the different landscapes, fauna and flora of Madagascar. Drive to the South, visiting the Ranomafana and Isalo National parks. In Tulear visit the Arboretum before flying back to Tana, to continue on to the east, visiting the Perinet Park, and along the Pangalanes Canal to Tamatave. Fly to Sainte Marie Island to relax on the beach, with a possible extension there.

1st day :    EUROPE - ANTANANARIVO

Met at Ivato international airport and transferred to your hotel. In the afternoon: city-sightseeing including a visit of lemur's park where you can see various species of lemurs living freely in a forested area.

2nd day :    ANTANANARIVO - ANTSIRABE ( 170 km )

Depart to Antsirabe ( about 3 hours drive ) through a landscape composed mainly of mountains and rice fields.

Tour the "Town of Water" - so called because of its two crater lakes and numerous thermal springs. Visit a gemstone factory. Overnight at the hotel.

3rd day :    ANTSIRABE - RANOMAFANA (240 km )

After breakfast, drive to Ranomafana ( about 5 hours drive ) - a national park of rainforest which is home to various species of lemurs such as the golden bamboo lemurs, brown lemurs, and a multitude of birds, chameleons, frogs.

Stop in Ambositra to visit some Zafimaniry handicrafts and woodcarving centers, before driving on to Ranomafana and your hotel. Night walk to see nocturnal species of lemurs. Overnight at the hotel.

4th day :    RANOMAFANA - FIANARANTSOA ( 70 km )

After breakfast, visit the park with its lemurs, chameleons, spiders, frogs, and varieties of orchids and medicinal plants. After lunch, drive to Fianarantsoa ( about 1hour 30 minutes drive as it is rough road )- the capital of the Betsileo tribe. Overnight at the hotel.

5th day :    FIANARANTSOA - RANOHIRA ( 290 km )

Early departure to Ranohira ( about 6 hours drive ). Stop enroute in Ambalavao - the commercial centre of the southern Betsileo region, renowned for its arts and crafts. Visit a wine producer for wine tasting and the "Antemoro Paper" factory. This paper is a delicate, handmade, flower-decorated paper made from the fibres of the "Avoha" tree. Another stop 12km south of Ambalavao to visit the Anja park, where you can see families of ring-tailed lemurs in their natural surroundings. Arrival in Ranohira at sunset. Overnight at the hotel.

6th day :    RANOHIRA

A whole day trekking inside the Isalo National Park to explore the massif of Isalo, its ruin like sandstones, canyons, endemic fauna and flora (Lemurs and endemic plants such as Pachypodium , aloes,..). Enjoy the sunset at "La Fenêtre" (the Window) on your return to the hotel.

7th day :    RANOHIRA - TULEAR ( 240 km )

After breakfast, off to Tuléar along a straight road ( about 4 hours drive ). The landscape is composed of high bushes, thick gallery forests and some proudly decorated Mahafaly tombs. In Tulear, visit the Arboretum with its many species of endemic plants. Overnight at the hotel.

8th day :    TULEAR - ANTANANARIVO

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for the flight back to the capital . Meeting at the airport and transfer to the city. Overnight at the hotel.

9th day :    ANTANANARIVO - ANDASIBE ( 140 km )

After breakfast, drive to Andasibe ( about 30 hours drive ) through a landscape composed of rice fields , waterfalls, and remote forest stations. Before dinner, take a night walk to see some nocturnal species of lemurs. Overnight at the hotel.

10th day :    ANDASIBE - AKANIN' NY NOFY (190 km )

After breakfast, visit the reserve to discover the species dwelling inside this forest such as the teddy like Indri, the largest species of lemurs, which has a famous haunting morning cry. Drive to Manambato ( about 4 hours drive ) then transfer by a motorboat to Akanin' ny Nofy, which literally means "Nest of Dreams" Overnight at the hotel.

11th day :    AKANIN' NY NOFY

A full day to discover this beautiful area on the clear and calm waters of the Ampitabe Lake. Visit of the private Palmarium Park which is home to the biggest variety of lemurs in one area. Overnight at the hotel.

12th day :    AKANIN'NY NOFY - TAMATAVE - SAINTE MARIE

Transfer early morning by motor boat along the Pangalanes Canal to Tamatave ( about 2 hours sailing ). Pick up at the port and transfer to the airport for the flight to Sainte Marie. Met at the airport and transfer to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

13th day and 14th day :    SAINTE - MARIE

Days free. Options are to take an excursion by car and/or by boat to visit a fishing village, pirate's cemetery and a lagoon, or visit the "île aux nattes". From July to September, you might see some humpback whales near the island. Stay at the hotel.

15th day :    SAINTE MARIE - ANTANANARIVO - EUROPE

After breakfast transfer to the airport for the flight to Antananarivo. Met and connect for your international flight home.